JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John, for those who played football, if you were lucky, you had a great coach who was able to convey his love of the game and use that emotion as a motivating factor to make the team better. The more I observe Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen, he reminds me of the best coaches who use their knowledge of the game and enthusiasm for the sport to inspire the players to compete to their maximum potential. Are you starting to believe that it really is "always coaching" that makes the difference in the NFL?

I've never, ever, ever, ever, ever believed or said that coaching didn't matter in the NFL. As I have stated maaaaany times in this forum, coaching matters very much – and the way that it matters most is getting players to believe and "buy in" to the direction of the organization. What fans and observers overplay when discussing coaching is playcalling, in-game decision-making and even scheme. While those things obviously matter, they are dramatically overemphasized by people analyzing the sport – and therefore, dramatically overemphasized by fans. When I say tongue in cheek, "it's always coaching in the NFL," it's this dramatic overemphasis that I'm tongue-in-cheekily referencing. The aspect of coaching that matters – that truly makes a difference – is the connection between coach and player. As long as players believe what's coming out of the leader's mouth, a coach can coach effectively. Once the player begins rolling eyes at the words, the coach is effectively done. As for Coen, he absolutely is a high-end coach. One reason is he appears to be at the forefront of the NFL in terms of playcalling and offensive approach. He understands offensive football and can really coach fundamentals, scheme, etc. And all that is great. Good on him. But what makes him a front-line head coach – and the reason I believe he will be a very successful NFL head coach for a long time – is his leadership and connection with players. He appears from this front to be special in that area.

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

Etienne is really good and I like him. But he's not franchise-tag-money good.

How the Jaguars approach running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s contract when it expires following the 2025 season remains to be seen. I don't know if the team will use the franchise tag with Etienne. Given his importance to the offense, I wouldn't rule it out.

Don from Marshall, NC

Do you think there will come a day when the field-goal kicker gets a clean snap and Trevor Lawrence not get his flippers stepped on? Go Jaguars!

Don, while presumably remaining "all in," now apparently has "got jokes."

Chelten from Jacksonville, now in Chicago

After watching the Denver Broncos play and other teams' quarterback situations, T- Law isn't perfect but better than most and he has more upside/talent than the majority of quarterbacks out there.

Fans, particularly naysaying fans, from this view often judge players on "their team" more harshly than they judge players on other teams. Some of this is because they often see players on other teams in highlights when they are doing well and they don't as often see games in which other teams' players struggle. It's also easy to gloss over the struggles of other teams, therefore forgetting that even the greatest teams have games in which they "win ugly" – and that even great quarterbacks have games in which they struggle and throw errant passes. This is not to say Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is perfect at this point in his career. Or that he is elite. He absolutely must improve, and we're absolutely not sure he ever will be what he needs to be for the Jaguars to get where they want to go. At the same time, he is improving and showing signs of "getting there" – and he's certainly not as "awful" or as tragic as those who like to say "nay" seem predisposed to believe.

James from Titusville, NJ

Oh, no. The Broncos only beat the Raiders by three points. How sad? Wait. Just like the Jags do it. Winning is winning!

A great man once said, "Fans from this view indeed at times tend to judge players on their own team more harshly than players on other teams." He went on to say more great things, but I forget the rest.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. Based on the schedule and likely outcomes, we will be two games behind the Indianapolis Colts when we play them. The good news is that the Jags' fate for the division title will be in their own hands. The bad news is that the Jags need to fix a lot of things between now and then. On one note, will Travis Hunter be eligible to return by then?

I don't know what "likely outcome" means for the Colts, and I damned sure don't know what it means for a Jaguars team that seems likely to be playing in mostly one-score games – and that has beaten very good teams this season in such games. I expect the Jaguars will win some games people don't expect them to win in the final two months of this season, and I expect they will lose some games people expect them to win during the same span. I expect the Colts will do the same. Do the Jaguars need to fix some things as they enter that span? Absolutely. As for Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter … he will be eligible to return from a knee injury after three more games. Whether he will be able to do so remains to be seen.

JT from Palm Coast, FL

This game is becoming the injured versus the injured. The injury reports for both teams is LONG.

The NFL is about many factors. Never, ever, ever underestimate injuries – and while it's neat to say, "Next man up," and while it's understandably considered untoward for coaches and players to talk about injuries publicly, they always matter. This is a sport of attrition. That may not be the most important factor in this league. But it's up there.

Johnny from Jax

Can we please mic up Jaguars rookie running back LeQuint Allen Jr. every game?

I'd click on that.

Chris from Mandarin

Why do you think it is that the Jaguars have generally lacked the threat of a consistent pass rush this season? They have had the lead for a good majority of their games, and this should make rushing the passer more likely, but they just aren't getting home.

The Jaguars indeed had the lead for the vast majority of their first four games this season. That has not been anywhere near as true in the last four games – and the pass rush was from this view at least a bit more disruptive early in the season than it has been later in the season. Another reason the pass rush hasn't been as strong lately is defensive end Travon Walker has been playing through a wrist injury. When Walker has not been able to be as disruptive as "his normal self" this season, the pass rush has suffered.

Hilarious from Funnytown

Acquiring a wide receiver to throw the ball to our quarterback is the exact type of screwball we're familiar with around here. Call somebody an "offensive weapon" and have our kicker run back punts. Keeping the league on their toes since '95.

What?

Brian from Round Rock, TX

Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd looks like a physical freak to me. He seems like he could play defensive line, but he's doing all these things that smaller players are supposed to do. All I can say is that our previous coaching staff stunk. Don't say anything about "contract year," either. He was playing hard in the past. He just wasn't set up to succeed. Coaching, right?

Lloyd, the No. 27 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, has played for three coaching staffs. He's having his best season this season. Lloyd played very well at times in this first three seasons, particularly when he had a chance to make a play on the ball – and he also had issues at times with awareness and reacting once the play began. He made a ton of plays on the ball when healthy this season, and the Jaguars' defense could use plays on the ball now that he has returned to full health after missing the last two games with a calf injury. Is his improvement all coaching? Sure. It's always coaching in the NFL.

Chad 11.8 "Double Nickels" from Rockville, IN

HAPPY 4.0 COACH! Why 4.0 ... think of it like a system upgrade some new bugs to work out as well as some new features! You're doing amazing. Thank you for becoming a JAG! One for the COACH, Johnny O!!!!

One fer Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen on Saturday's 4.0? Absolutely.