JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Paul from Jacksonville

I am worried, Zone. The offseason program is over, which means (cue overly dramatic music) … we are now in the … dead zone. We have made it through these times before, but as you tell us often, this is not scripted television. Nothing is guaranteed. Will we make it through again? Enquiring minds need to know.

The so-called O-Zone "dead zone" indeed is upon us – and for those new to this forum, the dead zone is the time between the mid-June end of the offseason program and the late-July beginning of Jaguars Training Camp. The "dead zone" therefore opened this past Thursday. It is unquestionably a perilous time for readers, with pre-training camp nerves combined with a lull in the NFL/Jaguars making for a long and anxious five weeks. The aforementioned lull in the news cycle understandably makes this perhaps the slowest time for O-Zone emails. Because this is a reader-driven column – readers ask questions, I answer; that's the format – O-Zone columns veer further away from football and more into whatever else happens to come up during these weeks than any other time of year. Want to talk about football? Want this forum to thrive for the next five weeks? Ask questions. Stay on the grind. We will get through it together. We always have before. Jaguars Training Camp begins in late July. Here we go.

Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville

With the advent of NFL stadiums being either replaced or renovated to the tune of billions of dollars (and with, arguably, greater frequency), increasing ticket, merchandise and concession pricing, and more and higher value television contracts with the various networks and streaming services, player salaries are of course on the rise at what appears to be an exponential rate. And rightfully so – who's to say the players are not owed their fair share of the pie given they are the driving force? Having established all of this, it is getting more difficult for me to turn a blind eye to the notion that we the fans are financing the player salaries while the owners, vendors and broadcast corporations line their pockets. This is all, of course, not to mention that taxpayer dollars almost always finance at least half of new stadiums and/or upgrades. Please kindly correct me if I am misled.

I can't remotely say you're misled. Taxpayer dollars are often heavily involved in financing professional sports stadiums – and the reality is that the smaller the market, the more taxpayer dollars must pay for NFL stadiums and upgrades. That has become increasingly the case in recent decades, and I doubt that will change. As for player salaries … the league's ever-increasing television revenue actually funds much of that area. But do fans pay a high price to finance a league in which players, coaches, owners and executives make insane levels of money? Sure. That's no secret and it's probably not changing anytime soon, either.

Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX

KOAF: You mentioned that this season has better feeling about it than past years when coming off a great season. Isn't the front office concerned about playing too well and thus fans being bored by winning all the time and winning too easily especially when they start getting the referees 'respect in terms of calling penalties? I swear we can't have anything nice here as a fan. Just kidding. but sadly I think this will be the mindset of some fans.

Fans fan. It's what they do.

Kevin from Jacksonville Beach, FL

Hi, John. If the Stadium of the Future will be configured to host major league soccer, how do you think the Fulham Football Club fans would feel if they lost a home game to Jacksonville every season, and what do you think the chances are of that happening?

I expect Fulham fans in this scenario might have the same reaction as Jaguars fans have when the Jaguars play a home game in London – with some hating it, some not minding as much, some taking the time to understand why it's necessary and others liking the opportunity to travel to see their team play in a new locale. I have no idea whether Fulham might play a home game in Jacksonville in the future, though I don't get the sense it's all that much more imminent with the Stadium of the Future than it was with the stadium's past incarnation.

Doug … I mean Dave from Jacksonville … I mean Jacksonville Beach, FL

I agree with Doug. The new stadium doesn't need old unis running around in it. Plus, Doug from Jacksonville seems really cool.

Well, we all have our thoughts, don't we?

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Wow. Here we are at No. 49 already.

Life comes at you fast in the NFL, and evidence suggests we have arrived at No. 49 in our discussion of Jaguars players who have worn a specific number. Possibilities here include tight end Ty Hallock (1996-1997) and defensive end Arden Key (2022). We will go Key here because whatever.

Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville

I distinctively recall one of the few ways to defeat the Indianapolis Colts during the Quarterback Peyton Manning Era was to run the ball at defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis since they were both spectacular pass rushers who were weaker at defending the run, so it was pass the ball and stop the pass. Given that Jaguars defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker and now players such as Danny Striggow, B.J. Green and Wesley Williams are in the fold, it strikes me that this Jaguars team appears positioned to pass the ball and stop the run – which, in turn, would theoretically make opposing passing offenses one-dimensional and would also therefore stop the pass without elite pass rushers. This seems to be an example of tailoring the schematics to the talent available. Is there anything to this?

I don't know that I quite see the parallels here, though that may be a "me" issue more than a "Kaydie" issue. My sense is this team under Head Coach Liam Coen wants to lean into physicality a bit more on both sides of the ball than the Colts teams of Manning, Freeney and Mathis. This Jaguars team also would love to be able to rush the passer and close games as efficiently as those Colts teams. Remember: This Jaguars team is entering Year 2 of this regime. We saw the beginnings of an identity last season. The thought here is we will get a clearer idea of the vision in the coming few seasons.

JAY from THE BURG, FL

No. 47... I'll take current Jaguars defensive end Dennis Gardeck. If the door to the stadium was locked that guy would play in the parking lot.

One fer Gardeck.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

What about J?

We apparently have reached "J" in this discussion about all-time Jaguars players with a specific final initial. Possibilities include linebacker Myles Jack (2015-2021) Wasn't Down (2017), defensive tackle Malik Jackson (2016-2018), defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (2024), safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2021-2023), running back Rashad Jennings (2009-2012), left tackle Luke Joeckel (2012-2016), safety Antonio Johnson (2023-2026), quarterback Rob Johnson (1995-1997), defensive tackle Abry Jones (2013-2020), tight end Damon Jones (1997-2001), fullback Greg Jones (2004-2012), cornerback Jarrian Jones (2024-2026), quarterback Mac Jones (2025), wide receiver Matt Jones (2005-2008), wide receiver Tim Jones (2022-2026), wide receiver Zay Jones (2022-2023), running back Maurice Jones-Drew (2006-2013), running back Randy "First Touchdown" Jordan (1995-1997) and defensive tackle John "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" Jurkovic (1996-1998). With apologies to aaaaaaaaallll the Joneses on this list, and with acknowledgement that there have been a lot of good "Js" for this franchise, Jones-Drew is a pretty clear choice here. One fer MoJo here? No doubt.

Wes from Ponte Vedra

Since there has been a little bit of uniform talk in the O-Zone lately, let me give my hot take that has the potential to be less popular than Doug's stance that the Prowlers are ugly. I think the 2013-2017 Jerseys were the best design in team history. They had that unique angular font that stood out from the rest of the league (and must still be well-liked by the organization as it is still used for most Jaguars branding and signage). It had the shield/crest near the shoulder that, if memory serves, was an homage to the military presence in Northeast Florida. And it had accents of color at the collar, sleeves, and bordering the numbers that definitely looked better than the current plain-Jane solid-color jersey that could easily be mistaken for the practice jersey of any other team.

OK.

Ralph from FLEMING ISLE

Tell Mrs. O-Zone I know how she feels. I'm recovering from total knee replacement on March 11 of this year. It is a long process but will be worth it.

Mrs. O-Zone indeed is recovering from offseason knee replacement surgery. It's not an easy recovery. I always knew Mrs. O-Zone was far tougher than I – and while this is a "low bar," she is clearing it, nonetheless.