JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
In 2013, the Jaguars hired Gus Bradley as head coach and David Caldwell as general manager. At the time, Bradley had no head coaching experience and Caldwell had never been a general manager. It seems to me much of what is being said about the new regime of Head Coach Liam Coen and General Manager James Gladstone is similar to what was said about Bradley and Caldwell in 2013. What do you believe are the differences between the two regimes, and other than different players, what does the new regime have to offer that is different than 2013?
A few thoughts on this topic – and it's at least somewhat timely, with the 2025 offseason program ending this week and 2025 Training Camp now approaching. And we indeed have talked throughout the offseason about the new regime of Coen, Gladstone and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli bringing a new approach and vibe to organization. One thought is that you're right that there are similarities in resume/experience between Coen/Gladstone and the Bradley/Caldwell duo that in retrospect didn't produce desired results. Another thought is that while you seek an answer that doesn't acknowledge a difference in players, the reality is one reason this regime has a better chance of succeeding than the Bradley/Caldwell regime is the roster is decidedly more developed – and from this view, more talented. This team has players such as defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Allen, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., middle linebacker Foye Oluokun, wide receiver Travis Hunter and quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The 2013 team's top six(-ish) players weren't at that level of accomplishment and/or talent. A third thought is that ultimately the premise of your question has merit. We don't yet know for sure if the Coen/Gladstone/Boselli triumvirate will lead the Jaguars to different results than past regimes. And it's true that most – if not all – failed NFL leadership regimes started off with a similar giddy feeling to that currently being felt around the Jaguars. What I can tell you is it feels as if this regime is operating correctly. There's an attention to detail with this coaching staff, and there's real buy-in from players. Gladstone appears to have a clear plan and the ability to communicate that plan. Boselli, like Gladstone, is a high-end communicator – and that can facilitate the organization operating in one direction. Those are positives that should give the Jaguars a chance to succeed. That's all we know for sure for now.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Is there a generally accepted definition of "small market" for the NFL and are we in one?
A description such as "small market" can describe many different situations, and – like many descriptive phrases – it doesn't always describe everything all that accurately. In this case, the NFL does break down teams market sizes into quartiles. Jacksonville and the Jaguars' market are very much in the fourth quartile. So, yes … when it comes to the NFL, the Jaguars are generally and correctly accepted as a "small-market" team.
Gary from Centerville, OH
"If this forum offers anything it's a slightly more educated, experienced view that's at least a few degrees closer to reflecting how the league really works." I laughed way too hard at this. Oh? You were serious? Seriously? Oh my, that's even funnier.
Keep laughing, Gary. Just keep laughing.
Michael from New York, NY
Zone: I believe I remember Gene Upshaw raging about enshrining a punter into the HOF as – by definition – punting is a failure to pick up a first down, and failure should not be celebrated. Notwithstanding the exceptional skill that some punters display, he has a point.
I don't remember Upshaw saying this, and I would be surprised if he actually did say it. This is because Upshaw was teammates with Pro Football Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy on the legendary 1970s/1980s Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders teams. It's also a little illogical to say you shouldn't celebrate a player's accomplishments because a unit on which he doesn't play failed. By this logic, should we not "celebrate" a goal-line stand by a defense just because the offense fumbled on its own one-yard line – which by any definition is an offensive "failure?" I'm not particularly big on specialists in the Hall of Fame, but cases can be made for exceptions.
Jerry from Jacksonville
It's the dead zone, right? Best movie? Best comedy movie?
Ever? I'll go "chalk" with the best movie of all-time and go "Godfather." Best comedy movie is tougher. The original "Fletch" is difficult to beat, as is "Christmas Vacation." I probably saw "Sixteen Candles" back in the day more than any movie I've ever watched. And if you watch Urban Cowboy through a certain lens it's pretty damned hard to beat – even though I suspect the filmmakers didn't see it through that lens.
Mason from Jacksonville
I heard Liam Coen's comments on Anton Harrison recently, and it sounded like he wasn't 100 percent confident with him right now. Is there a competition at right tackle and what do you expect out of Anton this year?
This is what Coen said about right tackle Anton Harrison this week: "I think obviously the footwork, the athleticism, the ability to pass-pro on an edge. When Anton wants to go, he can go. Just consistently doing it on a day-in, day-out basis. Smart, he understands the 'why' of what we're trying to get accomplished. As much as he can continue to rise going into year three as a first-round pick, to take a huge step this year and be a lockdown tackle for us." This is a fair assessment. Is Coen "100 percent" confident in Harrison? Perhaps not. But remember: This entire coaching staff is coaching players with whom they've never worked. There are few – if any – players on the roster in whom the staff is "100 percent" confident. Such confidence – like trust – must be earned through the adversity and challenge of the regular season. The Jaguars like Harrison very much. They believe he has the ability to be a front-line tackle in the NFL. They believe he is very important to this offense and this franchise. But he must be more consistent on game-to-game basis. That's not criticism as much as it's being honest about what they want from a very important player.
Skipper
The Jags ought to give their starting cornerback that would have Travis Hunter subbing for No. 17, which would offer more confusion to the opposing quarterback about who he is throwing against.
Were Hunter happiness mitigating victory greeting victory not Main Street over the rainbow giddiness by the ocean.
Joel from Mandarin
KOAF, Do you think Travis Hunter is that intangibly rich player who will take the team out to Waffle House to celebrate his first of many NFL touchdowns and the Jaguars going on to win that game?
Giddiness by the ocean mitigating victory were Hunter happiness greeting victory over the rainbow not Main Street.
Steve from Nashville, TN
I am with Marlin on Logan Cooke. While I am sure he is a fine person and a good punter, his job is to come in when the team fails to make a first down and is too far away for a field goal attempt. That makes him extremely valuable to this team because it fails to make first downs a lot. The average NFL salary for a punter is $1.3 million, just a few hundred thousand above the League minimum for any player. Punters don't score points and are just there to mitigate the impact of failure. I will say I do appreciate the skill and acumen required to drop a ball and launch it on your moving foot and have it downed inside the 20 fifty yards away on a consistent basis.
I'm sure Cooke appreciates your appreciation, but punters are extremely valuable to any team – not just teams that struggle. The teams that don't appreciate good punters are sometimes the teams that have good punters. When your punter stinks and you lose field positions at key times in games routinely, you start appreciating them quickly.
Rick from Jacksonville
Who's cooler? Bo, James or Liam.
Not No. 71.
Stephen from 113 from Jacksonville via Pennsauken NJ
John, What's the inside dope on the movie Ballerina? The Jags got an early preview and a shoutout from Ana de Armas. What's is the link between the movie and the Jags? How did this movie night come about? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks.
There was no particular inside dope here. Many NFL teams have deals where they can prescreen movies, and the Jaguars prescreened "Ballerina." The star, Ana de Armas, "shouted out" the Jaguars because stars these days sometimes give social-media "shout outs" in such situations. Such is the world in which we live.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even during minicamp, you still suck.
Jaguars 2025 minicamp ended Thursday. Jaguars 2025 Training Camp will take place beginning in late July at the Miller Electric Center.
