JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Tim from St. Augustine, FL
Perhaps I can explain this for you, good sir. You ask why more people don't believe Travis Hunter will play offense and defense. Because it probably won't happen. I know he wants to do it. I assume the team is going to let him because that's what they're saying. It does not mean it will actually happen. Your arrogance on the matter is what's annoying.
I'm annoying for many reasons, few of which have to do with the Jaguars or this column, so I suppose arrogance may as well be among them. But there's nothing arrogant – or personal – about a recent O-Zone answer regarding Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter. As recently discussed in the O-Zone, there seems to be a weird amount of uncertainty regarding Hunter in the month since the Jaguars selected him No. 2 overall. I have received multiple O-Zone questions about this, and people who ask me about the Jaguars outside this forum also seem fascinated and/or confused about the topic. Hunter was the best prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft at both corner and wide receiver. He always has played corner and wide receiver. The Jaguars selected him with the idea that he was a player who could reshape the sport. That means him playing – and playing at a high level – at both positions. I don't know how Hunter's career will play out. No one does. I do know that he's going to play both corner and receiver for the Jaguars.
Aaron from Jacksonville
Your insistence on ignoring the big story of this franchise continues to amaze. Hint: It's T-Law. Always T-Law.
Wow. So much anger, irritation and even some antagonism here in the O-Zone on this Friday morning. And while I'm not sure it's fair to say I have ignored quarterback Trevor Lawrence as a topic at any point in his NFL career, it's absolutely fair to say he's the franchise's biggest story – and he always will be its biggest story as long he plays for the Jaguars. Lawrence must stabilize and improve his play compared to how he played last season and late in the 2023 season. He dealt with injuries during that time, and he wasn't always benefitting from a high level around him, but he still must be better. The Jaguars have a ton of storylines entering 2025. A new "quarterback-friendly" head coach in Liam Coen. New offensive and defensive coordinators in Grant Udinski and Anthony Campanile. A revamped secondary. A retooled offensive line. The ascension of wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The addition of Hunter. But of course Lawrence is the biggest story. He's the quarterback and will be the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. If the Jaguars are to be a perennial Super Bowl contender, which is of course the only real objective, he must be elite. That's the story.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
We know you are not into unis and helmets, leaving just 1 p.m. starts, Letterkenny and Bullet Bobs at Strings, is that it?
Hold, please.
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
"Wednesdays at noon, Bucky." LOL. You three bring a good energy to the show.
You're referencing the Huddle Up Podcast with Bucky Brooks featuring Bucky Brooks with special guests Bucky Brooks and Bucky Brooks. And occasionally Bucky Brooks. J.P. Shadrick hosts it, and I appear occasionally, which means weekly. It's a fun show. Shadrick likes it.
John from Orange Park, FL
When are we leaving?
Get out in the middle of the street while I start the car.
Tpoleddy from JAX
After months of in-depth research, I finally have it all figured out. You should try it.
Well done. I work with a lot of people who have it all figured out – only without the in-depth research. Their numbers are amazing and their success in the work force sometimes is inexplicable.
Fred from Naples, FL
I think it's funny how you listen to and read about how bad the Doug Pederson era was. I hear it from the Tony Wiggins podcasts to the local Jacksonville media. I believe the biggest mistake Doug made was the firing our prior defensive coordinator and the hiring of Ryan Nielsen. I guess when you see that the Eagles went to two Super Bowls and won one of those without him, maybe he wasn't so great after all. Now for my question: How do we get Trevor Lawrence to "calm down" at the start of games where he has a tendency to throw high balls? Now THAT could be helped with some good coaching!
When regimes fail in the NFL, as most regimes eventually and somewhat inevitably do, it's very easy to lay all blame and criticism on the head coach; it is, after all, ultimately "on" the head coach – and it is the head coach who ultimately loses his job. I tend to agree that firing then-defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and the defensive staff after the 2023 season was sort of symbolic of what was going wrong with the Jaguars at the time. It seemed from this view a quick-trigger move reacting to a 1-5 finish to the 2023 season, and many of the free-agent signings the following offseason had the same reactionary – and unnecessary – feel. Quick-trigger moves in the NFL often yield the sort of results we saw in in 2024 when staying the course often is the better approach. How do the Jaguars' new coaches get Lawrence to "calm down" early in games? This is a fair question, because Lawrence has started games slow at times in four seasons. Part of Coen's philosophy is to calm the quarterback's environment and make his decision-making more systematic. This is part of the reason a lot of the quarterback's decision-making is based on footwork and timing. Perhaps those elements will help this area.
William from Orange Park, FL
Why don't you ever answer my emails?
Sometimes I'm sleepy.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
I've now watched several 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers possessions and through my amateur eyes it appears that Etienne is a better fit in that offense than Bigsby. Could it be Tank that is dealt and does he have any trade value?
Several whole possessions? When you do sleep? Eat? Shop for shoes? First, while there are seemingly endless interweb "reports" to the contrary, there is no guarantee that any Jaguars running back will be traded before the 2025 regular season. If – and it remains a big IF – one was to be traded, it kinda sorta makes sense that it would be Travis Etienne Jr. because of contract status/years experience. But to answer your question (finally) … no, I don't expect the Jaguars to trade Tank Bigsby this offseason. Does he have trade value? Sure. Some. Though very few running backs have the sort of value that would excite fans were a trade made.
Robert from Elkton
Loved Letterkenny. I think I grew up with most of its citizens in the farm country that is Elkton … just a different accent. Question, have you ever tried Father Ted?
I have not tried Father Ted. I will, though at first I thought you were referring to a different "Ted."
Pedal Bin from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Oh Mighty 'O'/King Of All Funk, I have recently read The Beatles Anthology Book and the debate raged throughout as to who was the "Fifth Beatle" with suggestions including record producer George Martin, manager Brian Epstein, press officer Derek Taylor or Neil Aspinall their road-manager-turned-business-executive. Early members Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best were also mentioned as possibilities. However, one photo seemed to be of a young looking former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette who is alleged to have told John and Paul in 1962, "I'm not overly keen on the haircuts. So, I'm going to trying this Sports Journalism thing for a bit." Could this be the same Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette?
Billy Preston was the fifth Beatle. If you've seen pictures of "Early Haircut Gene," you know that the Beatles would have gladly conformed to his look. Gene actually turned down the Beatles, though this of course did not end his musical career. Knowledgeable historians will tell you that it was Gene a few years later who alienated folk music by "going electric" at the Newport Folk Festival. This is not to say Dylan didn't do the same. It's just that Bob, like so many of our cultural heroes, was simply following Gene's lead.
The Creeper from South Mandarin Almost to SJC
Are you aware how glad we all are that you are here for us? Your stories are funny, insightful and doggone it, just plain funny! I look forward each and every day…Wait…What?! Oh my bad. I thought this was Gene Frenette's column. Nevermind… col
Wait? What?
Matt from Pace
"Mean Gene and the dancing Jean Kings" … well done, sir!
I am the king of all funk.
