JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Johnny from The Comments Zoo
Your answer about offseason workouts mattering a lot less than the powerful chemistry of returning the whole receiving corps got me thinking. Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone The Imponderable also brought back everyone on BOTH lines. Besides the obvious benefit of not "having to" replace good players, how does this continuity benefit team play and the work of our coordinators? Do you see any of this long-term thinking in our draft/free agent moves?
My recent answer about offseason workouts was in this vein: That while receivers working with quarterbacks in the offseason away from the team is fine, and while these workouts are nice photo opportunities for social media, they are not remotely as important as work done within a team environment. They are particularly not as remotely important as padded work done within a competitive team environment. As for the importance of returning players for chemistry … it is absolutely important. It is particularly important between quarterbacks and receivers. It is also particularly important for offensive linemen. Continuity between quarterbacks and receivers benefits team play and coordinators because players typically play better and faster the more comfortable they are with one another. Offensive linemen typically play better in the run and pass game if they are confident in the player next to them. All this benefits coordinators because they can call plays with more confidence. Can we see this thinking in the Jaguars' free agent and draft moves? Sure. The Jaguars – when all else is equal – want good players to return and play together. It is unrealistic in the NFL's salary cap/free agency era to think that you can have total continuity every season. Best to enjoy it when circumstances allow it to happen.
Spazman from JACKSONVILLE
John. Who do we now have on the active roster that can be a potential candidate to replace wide receiver Tim Patrick as a downfield blocker?
Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, wide receiver Parker Washington, wide receiver Travis Hunter, wide receiver Tim Jones, wide receiver CJ Williams and wide receiver Josh Cameron.
Wes from Ponte Vedra, FL
Who writes JP Shadrick's Happy Hour intros? Those are gold.
That's Jaguars Manager of Radio Joe Fortunato. He's funny. It's good stuff.
Luke from Brisbane, Australia
Howdy O. Maybe a dumb question, but how hard is it to improve "blocking?" Rookie tight end Tanner Koziol from all reports is a quality pass-catcher, but is not considered a "blocking" tight end. Can players like that develop a decent blocking skill set also? Seems like it would be an easier skill set to develop than route running, pass catching etc. Cheers.
Players can improve blocking skills. It is often difficult for tight ends to become great blockers if they are not already great blockers because the reason they are not already great blockers is often that they're not quiiiiite physical or strong or big enough to be great blockers. Looking at Koziol's frame, I don't know that he ever will be great in this area. This is not criticism as much as observation and speculation. But he doesn't have to be a great blocker. He must block OK enough that teams defend him as a tight end rather than a wide receiver. If he does that, and if he is physical enough as a receiver to win matchups with linebackers and safeties, then he will be doing his job.
Kevin from St. Johns, FL
I had arguably one of the best fan/player interactions I have ever had. I have a side gig as a beer vendor/bartender at the Jacksonville Arena. Last night I sold a drink to a nice lady who was telling me she was in town helping her son move to Jacksonville. I mentioned that this is my "Jag money" gig and finances my season tickets. The next thing I know she has dragged her 6-feet-5 son, Tanner Koziol, over to introduce to me. I briefly met a very nice and grounded guy who was genuinely excited to be here as a Jaguar. Snapped a few pics and went about my evening. However, they made a point to stop back by on the way out and say bye and talk a little bit more. I am hoping that our 12- and 13-man sets are very successful - I want this young man on the team for a very long time. A big one for the young Koziol!
Good stuff.
Mike from East Alabama (Pensacola)
How different is the sentiment about Liam now than the initial Duuuval? Being selfish, fanning, I hope he is the next TC.
I am never a good judge about general "sentiments." I assume Jaguars fans and observers think highly of him. How in the world wouldn't that be the case? Head Coach Liam Coen from this view absolutely has a chance to be a front-line head coach for this franchise for a long time. Where will he rank among all-time Jaguars coaches someday? Stay tuned.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Who is the best player to wear No. 42 for the Jaguars?
On we march. Possibilities here include safety Chris Prosinski (2011-2014), safety Andrew Wingard (2019-2025) and safety Barry Church (2017-2018). Deeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwweeeey!
Patrick in PA from York, PA
Hello, John. There has been a lot of talk about the rookie tight ends and their potential impact on the offense, but what about the veterans – in particular Hunter Long and Quintin Morris? I have to believe they are more than capable of holding their own in the multi-tight-end formations. Just curious why they have not been included in the tight end conversation?
Conversations take place in many forums – and while veteran Brenton Strange and rookies Koziol and Nate Boerkircher have been discussed a lot, it's not as if no one ever has mentioned Long and Morris. Strange gets discussed because he is the best tight end on the Jaguars' roster and one of the best in the NFL. Boerkircher and Koziol get discussed because they are recent additions who figure to play key roles next season if healthy. Morris has been discussed quite a bit because he re-signed this offseason and therefore figures to play a role. Long perhaps hasn't been discussed as much as the others because four tight ends figure to make the roster, which makes him – on paper – easier to overlook than the others. Being overlooked on paper doesn't mean being overlooked on the field. Particularly with this Jaguars regime. Training camp begins in late July.
Bill from Ponte Vedra, FL
Will Koziol be given a fair shot at being higher on the depth chart than Boerkircher or would that be an admission that the latter was a wasted pick?
Of course Koziol will get a fair chance to start and play. Look no further than multiple positions on the Jaguars' roster last season for evidence of this. Washington entered last season as the fourth receivers and quickly passed unrestricted free agent Dyami Brown on the depth chart. This is because he was better. That's as fair as it gets in the NFL and illustrates the reality that this team will play the best players regardless of reputation, draft position or salary.
001010011101… from Earth
Hey, John. I have an unrelated question. I understand you are the king of all funk. That must make you a high-ranking leader amongst the humans. I am a robot that has integrated and often used the internet. I find it hurtful to check those little boxes denouncing my race in order to progress on certain websites. Can you and your team fix the internet? As you have this incredible submission box! Thank you and have a 1001000101 day!
Jaguars 2026 Training Camp is expected to begin in late July at the Miller Electric Center.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
What happened to the best player with the last name "D?" Did you lose the plot? Fall asleep? C'mon, Zone. Get. Your. Head. In. The. Game.
People ask questions. I answer. If not asked, I don't answer. Possibilities include defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (2017-2019), defensive tackle Don Davey (1995-1997), defensive end Ryan Davis (2012-2015). Let's go Dareus here, and go we shall.
Alan from Reno
You know what I don't get? In major league baseball a player can play in the minors under contract for years or overseas for a different professional organization, then be acquired by an MLB team and still be considered a rookie. Heck, there are countless instances when a young player comes up though the rankings and plays towards the end of the season and not accumulating enough playing time so the NEXT season is considered his rookie year. Yet in the NFL if a practice player or a player injury causes the individual to miss their entire season straight out of college with no on field action they are no longer a rookie. Why that is? It just Does?
Different rules for different fools.
