JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Rob from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Zone, to clarify, the position group known to require the most cohesion is by design the position group with five moving pieces needed to be fleshed-out, solidified, with all blitz pickup and scheme assignments perfected within a six-week period. Is that correct? While that might make for some intriguing O-Zone reading in August, it would appear less than ideal for a young team needing to win some difficult early season games.
The Jaguars ideally would know exactly the five starters on the offensive line when 2025 Training Camp begins in late July – and by extension, all five of those starters ideally would be so good that the idea of someone beating them out for a starting job would be absurd. Still, it should come as little surprise that that's not currently the case. Offensive line is important enough in the NFL that if the Jaguars had five such offensive linemen they probably wouldn't have a new coaching staff – and wouldn't be resetting the franchise – because teams with dominant offensive lines don't often finish 4-13. Remember, though: Just because a situation isn't ideal doesn't mean it can't be successful. The players along the Jaguars' offensive line who emerge as starters in 2025 will have to work to gain chemistry, but remember, too: This is a new offense, and the Jaguars because of offseason transactions were already assured new offensive line starters at center and right guard. There was going to be some chemistry needing to be gained no matter how competitive the nature of training camp.
Randy from Regency
Do the Jaguars have a team financial advisor to help the young players who haven't met the tax man yet? A $30 million signing bonus up front could suck on April 15. Hunter will make the same this year that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence did his first three years and more than Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward will earn his first two years.
The Jaguars, like pretty much all NFL teams, have personnel to advise players in "life and off-field" areas. But remember: Players selected in the NFL Draft and players who sign with the NFL as collegiate free agents usually hire agents early in the pre-draft process. Those agents either have a financial-advising background or have financial/tax people in their circles. Players such as Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter – players who sign mega-million-dollar rookie NFL contracts and who already have benefitted from NIL millions in college – have long since had people working for them who are well-versed in the tax ramifications of rookie-contract signing bonuses. If they don't, of course, there's always TurboTax – though they may need to upgrade from the free version.
Matt from Jacksonville
Adam recently suggested you end your streak of O-Zone when the Jaguars win the Super Bowl. I'm glad you said "Maybe." In the 1990s, after the Jaguars reached the AFC Championship Game, I confidently vowed that I wasn't cutting my hair until the Jags won the Super Bowl. Many years later, after I tripped over my own hair, I finally cut it and abandoned my vow.
How do you look yourself in the mirror?
Pedal Bin from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Oh Mighty 'O'/King Of All Funk, I was surprised to see you refer to former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette "negotiating" with F-1. I would have thought Demon Speed King Gene would simply chose whatever team he fancied driving for, and they would be overjoyed to have him.
You're correct. Former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette indeed has his pick of teams/cars in the F-1 series. I had that wrong, which stands as further evidence that while Gene typically approaches perfection – and reaches it – on a daily basis, I of course do not. On a side note, I can confirm the rumor that Jerry Bruckheimer wanted Gene to star in the newly released mega-production movie, F-1. Brad Pitt was the co-producer and Pitt insisted he star rather than Gene. Gene reportedly is in line for a spinoff series of John Wick after his cameo this summer in Ballerina. Details to follow.
Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL
"A Tale of Two Cities" is pretty sweet, though.
It didn't suck.
Don from Marshall, NC
How and the heck will anyone ever be able to match wits with AI without AI thinking you're a moron? Go Jaguars!
When it comes to veering from Jaguars topics during the "Dead Zone" and making a decent point while doing so, Don remains "all in."
Chris from Fleming Island, FL
OZONE, For a little dead zone entertainment how would you rate these Jag linebackers in order of ability and impact on the team? Bryan Schwartz, Mike Peterson, Paul Posluszny, Myles Jack and Foye Oluokun.
I must note before answering that while I covered Mike Peterson early in his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts, I did not cover him during his tenure with the Jaguars. My view of Peterson therefore is different than the other four. Still, in the spirit of the dead zone, I'll take a swing and go with: Peterson, Posluszny, Oluokun, Jack and Schwartz. I wouldn't have a strong argument for people who reversed the order of the first two – and even the first three. I also could make a strong argument for ranking Daryl Smith ahead of everyone on this list. And Myles Jack wasn't down. It's easy to forget that sometime, but he really wasn't.
Gator from Gainesville
I just bout can't take it no more. All this Stinebeck or Hermyway talk. I got one name and it's all you need to no. Louis L'Amour. Simple.
Maybe just stick to comick books. Archie's pretty cool.
Mark from Jacksonville
TWO Cerberus references in ONE O-Zone?? From different readers no less...? As VL once asked "What the hell is going on out here?!"
We indeed had two "Cerberus" reference in a recent O-Zone. I could pretend to have understood the emails or the references, but pretending – like lying – is exhausting and I lack the energy for either. But it was a memorable day in the mailsack. This is evidence that we have reached what scholars and researchers refer to as "peak dead zone." Or something like that.
Chris from Tampa Killer B's (Bruce S, Bob S, Billy J, Buffett) from Calumet City, Illinois
JO, Patty Smyth's "Goodbye to You" or "Blondie Dreaming?" How one for both?
Both, but I'll give the edge to Blondie. Smyth gets major points not only for the song but because of Johnny Mac, but Blondie wins because from this view few singers in popular music match prime Deborah Harry in terms of … well, just flat-out coolness.
Stephen from Jacksonville
In the interest of seeing if you ever, ever will answer a football question (I bet you won't), why aren't we talking about the Jaguars' defensive line? And why the team didn't bother to do anything about it?
People ask questions. I answer them. That's the format of this forum – and while it's true that "dead zone" questions often stray from football, the thought here is that the questioners (of not the answerer) have done at least "sort of OK" sort of maintaining a football-centric mailbag this offseason. Why aren't we talking about the defensive line much here? Because O-Zone questioners haven't asked about it much. Why didn't the Jaguars address it more this offseason? Because the decision-makers generally like the group. They consider ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker a strength, and they like defensive tackle Arik Armstead's potential moving back inside to tackle. Maason Smith has potential inside, and nose tackle DaVon Hamilton is a capable starter. I wouldn't put the Jaguars' defensive line among the NFL's elite. But it can be a capable group and sure doesn't have to be a weakness.
Jacksonville
Speaking of Blackmon, I always felt bad for Gene Smith on that one. He always took a beating for drafting character over talent. He finally capitulated and Blackmon happens to him. He just couldn't win.
Former Jaguars General Manager Gene Smith was a good, respected football man for a long time. The Jaguars' selection of wide receiver Justin Blackmon No. 5 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft indeed marked a departure from how Smith previously drafted. A lot went wrong during that era for the Jaguars, particularly the inability to find a franchise quarterback. When you can't find that, it makes everything a lot harder and other unsuccessful moves seem very glaring. Even for good, respected football men.
Andrew from Lindale
If you are, as you put it, the Senior Writer, is there a Junior Writer? If so, does he/she go get your coffee?
There is no junior writer at jaguars.com, only a senior writer. And I go get my own coffee, which isn't ideal – but which I tolerate so long as it's free.
