JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it … Ronny from Jacksonville:
I'm so tired of the "small-market"-vs.-"big-market" debate. Jacksonville has roughly an 850,000 metropolitan population, which is the 13th-most populated area in the United States. That doesn't scream "small market" to me. That being said, no matter the populous of the city, how much does a team's success contribute to its overall identity?
John: I'm sorry you're tired. Being tired can be, well … tiring. While your statistics are no doubt well researched and passionately cited, I can't in good conscious argue that Jacksonville isn't a small market. When you take the entirety of the area and compare it to other "entireties" of other areas, Jacksonville absolutely is a small market. That being the case, this franchise does have challenges to overcome. But that's OK. The Jaguars are in the process of doing just that. As far as your final question, a team's success contributes very much to its overall identity. If it's successful, then that team is identified as being successful; if not, it is not.
Gabe from Washington, DC:
I want a free safety. What is the earliest you think the Jaguars might draft one, and do you know if this is a particularly strong/weak draft class for the position?
John: It's considered a weak free safety class, particularly at the top of the draft. I think that's a big reason the Jaguars pursued Sergio Brown in free agency and I doubt they select one in the first two rounds of the draft.
Antwon from Largo:
Hey Big O, why do you think the Jags have never been on Hard Knocks? As a fan I think it's interesting and shows us more "behind-the-scenes" stuff.
John: In 2004, the Jaguars were on "Inside Training Camp: Jaguars Summer," an NFL Films-produced series that aired on NFL Network.
Will from Jacksonville:
I understand that the Jaguars could use Leonard Williams. That being said, doesn't the Odrick signing suggest that either Caldwell thinks Williams will be gone by the third pick or that he plans to take someone else? It just seems like $8.5 million per year for Jared Odrick could have been better spent if Williams was going to be our pick.
John: You can find places for good players to play, particularly on the defensive line. Remember: defensive linemen rotate as much as any position in the NFL, and the Jaguars really value depth and freshness on the defensive line. I still think there's a pretty good chance Williams is gone and Caldwell may well have projected that to be the case. But that doesn't mean Odrick and Williams couldn't play in the same defense.
Brian from New Hampshire:
The Rivers vs Eli questions are funny considering Eli was drafted by the Chargers and Rivers by the Giants then traded for each other when Eli and Archie started crying.
John: Why does that make them funny?
Cade from Orlando, FL:
So let's hypothetically say we do add a pass rusher along the lines of Dante Fowler Jr or Vic Beasley. Do you think Chris Clemons stays on the roster as a mentor or does he have a better chance of being released before the start of the season?
John: If Chris Clemons is on the roster it will be as a Leo defensive end and not at all as a mentor. I think Clemons would be on the roster in your scenario.
Aaron from Chantilly:
Zone bone, I can't get past the Washington Redskins loss from the last year. Our secondary was scorched by one Kirk Cousins, who marched up and down the field in succession with efficiency only to get benched two games later because he was lit up by other teams. Our defense, the bright spot from last year, was so ill-prepared for the game it was obvious. I know no one saw it coming, but that time is gone. I hope we start practice tackling, live snaps and knowing where to be this year. What else should we see improvement upon from last year?
John: I wouldn't focus much on one game from last season. Enough went wrong that that game can't really be considered a season-defining moment. Besides, while the Redskins game was difficult and ugly, it wasn't representative of the defense's entire season. It's also not a cause for long-term concern. It's hardly uncommon for a team to have one or two awful games on one side of the ball or the other – and for the Jaguars' defense, that was the game. I'd say the Jaguars should be improved in just about every area this season; that's the hope, anyway.
David from Ormond Beach, FL:
What does it feel like to be a first-time season-ticket holder? Answer: Great!!!!!!!!!!!:) Can't wait to modachay !!!
John: #DTWD
Kyle from Clearwater, FL:
John, I'm not expecting you to have the answer, but do you think the Jags will have any Sunday or Monday night games this season? There aren't any regulations that dictate which teams get prime-time games, right?
John: There are no regulations, but every team is featured at least once either on Thursday, Sunday or Monday nights. Sunday and Monday prime-time games usually go to teams that the networks and the league believe will draw ratings, and the Jaguars right now understandably aren't such a team. Therefore, I don't expect the Jaguars to have a Monday or Sunday night game. I do expect they will have a Thursday night game, and when the team starts winning consistently, I do expect them to have Monday and Sunday night games.
Kyle from Pensacola, FL:
The best defensive tackles in the league last year were Suh, McCoy, Dareus, and Donald. If Williams isn't going to automatically be No. 5 on that list next year, then I think you have to take Fowler. With his versatility in our scheme I think he could be a top-five edge rusher as a rookie.
John: Leonard Williams probably would play defensive end for the Jaguars and most other teams.
Redmond from Duval:
What is the other position opposite of the LEO called and what are his responsibilities? I know you have answered this, but could you provide more clarification?
John: I assume you're speaking of the five-technique, strong-side defensive end position. His responsibilities are primarily making the strong side of the defense stronger against the run.
Troy from York, PA:
Hey, John, the more I think about it, it's like Justin Blackmon doesn't want to come back and play football. I see all these other guys applying for reinstatement but still no word from Blackmon. What do you think about the situation being that all the organization is doing is waiting for him to make a decision?
John: I think very few people actually know what Blackmon wants, and I think there are a lot of fans who understandably do a lot of speculating on the topic. I don't say "few people actually know what Blackmon wants" in any sort of a snide, derogatory way toward Blackmon; I say that in the sense that because he has not spoken and because the team does not have contact with him, so to analyze what he's thinking is a bit presumptuous. But when you say "all the organization is doing is waiting for him to make a decision," you couldn't be more incorrect. I get that there is this public perception that coaches and team officials are waiting on pins and needles with baited breath and some other cliché about anticipation for a decision on Blackmon. I get that people think some draft-day decision or long-term piece of planning depends on the team receiving words on his status. I can't stress enough that this simply is not the case. If Blackmon returns, the Jaguars will welcome him back, but the team is not counting on it and there's not a whole lot of internal talk about it. Really.
Malosi from Santa Clara:
Not a question, but I wanted to say why the Jaguars should restructure, trade or cut Marcedes Lewis. My main reason is that the Jaguars can roll over cap space, so overspending now can limit future money that could be used on young cornerstone players. That being said, I think Lewis is valuable, just not at his current price.
John: Yes.
Tim from Kings Bay, GA:
In reference to the Boselli question, what he was talking about was in the 96' playoff game.
John: At this point, there have been so many Boselli questions that I don't remember The Original Boselli Question. Let's sum it up this way: Boselli DID not motion Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith to follow him down the field after a certain big play by the Jaguars. Ever. That iconic moment occurred in a Monday Night Football regular season game in 1998, when Boselli did motion Miami Dophins defensive end Jason Taylor to following him down the field after a big play by the Jaguars. Boselli did dominate Smith in a playoff game following the 1996 season and that was indeed the game that many nationally first noticed Boselli. There wasn't much taunting or motioning from Boselli that day; to hear him tell it, he had enough going on making sure he kept Smith blocked.
Jason from Duval:
Draft, bottle, or canned?
John: Yes.