JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Victor from Troy
There were many people who doubted the Jaguars were good this year despite their good record. I didn't believe in them at the start of the year due to all the pre-snap penalties and drops. I don't think the Jaguars were able to effectively address issues in previous seasons, but Head Coach Liam Coen has done a great job at getting this team to improve week to week. I also don't know if the Jags of yesteryear would have bounced back after losing to the Texans in the way they did. All that to say, I am happy I was wrong and happy to watch a good team play meaningful football in December! Happy Holidays.
You weren't alone in doubting the Jaguars this season, and it seems many doubts are finally waning as the Jaguars (11-4) prepare to play the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday. Evidence that the Jaguars are good has been there all season. They never have been under .500 this season they have beaten a slew of really good teams and their only losses since Week 2 have been to "power" teams such as the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans. Still, it's understandable that people doubted. This team has been bad for a long time and disappointed a lot of fans for a long time – and when the Jaguars squandered a 19-point fourth-quarter lead in a Week 10 loss to the Texans, it expectedly caused a lot of fans to think this team was no different than many past teams. But this team is different. It's getting better now – and you're correct that a major defining trait of this team has been its ability to improve as the season has continued. Don't worry about being wrong then. Just enjoy being right now. Happy Krimma.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Obviously lots of things are coming together on the Jags' incredible run to the playoffs this year!! I noticed that the offside movement penalties have come down over the course of the season. So maybe one cog in the new machine is settling in on the Coen offensive pre-snap movement schemes? The commentators have pointed out these pre-snap shifts from time to time, but with no explanation. Does this really create some sort of "tell" for the offense (Robert Saleh)? TL does appear to change the play prior to the snap a good bit? Can you explain?
Coen's scheme – like many NFL offenses these days – indeed depends much on pre-snap motions and multiple formations giving the quarterback "tells" about the defense. The offense typically goes to the line of scrimmage with multiple options – and what play is run depends on looks the defense gives. The system is complex, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence absolutely gets the offense in and out of plays just before the snap quite often. If he wasn't doing this, the system would be much less effective – to the point where it wouldn't really be the same offense. Is some of the recent success due to players better grasping the pre-snap activity? Of course. It often takes time for offensive players to get used to the system. It's not entirely coincidental that the Jaguars have scored 25 or more points in all eight games since a Week 8 bye. They're improving. It's what often happens with time and repetition.
Ken from Rabun Gap, GA
Hey, Zone! Feelin' good these days. I'm hearing scenarios regarding a No. 1 seed, but more likely is we win out and only one of the Denver Broncos or New England Patriots lose once. In that case, if either loses once and we win out, do we clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC? (Obviously meaningful with the two home games). Thanks, carry on with the Funk.
Yes.
Raymond Sis from Windermere
To the Trevor haters, my butt is available for kissing.
We talk a lot here in the O-Zone about being nice. It's important to be nice. This e-mail was funny. After I blinked once or twice and processed the imagery, I laughed. But it was not nice.
Pedal Bin from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Oh Mighty 'O'/King Of All Funk, oh my. 11 wins. It has been a while. Happy Christmas to you and your family!
Happy Krimma.
John from St. Augustine, FL
What is UP with our offense? This is incredible. How are they doing it?
The Jaguars are good offensively. Coen is scheming and calling plays at a high level. The offense as a whole is balanced enough that it's very difficult to know what to try to defend. Running back Travis Etienne Jr., wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Tim Patrick and tight end Brenton Strange are all legitimate options in the passing game. And Lawrence is playing at a very high level. It's tough to defend all that.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even on Christmas, you still suck.
This didn't feel very merry.
John from Section 206 even next year!
We are Jacksonville. We don't like you either!
I smiled at this.
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
Two things: 1) Having just read "These aren't one-offs. This is Lawrence now. He's good." ... I think i need a drywall guy. 2) Coen sending that comment back to Sean Payton on the heels of a two touchdown victory, at their venue - i must ask ... "Has there ever been a bigger home run, than hiring that guy as head coach?"
Two things. 1) OK. I've got a drywall guy. I'll text you his number. 2) The Green Bay Packers hired Vince Lombardi in 1959. He did OK.
James from Schenectady
How about this for our new slogan? "TEAL with it!!!!"
OK then.
Derek from Brookings, SD
I told a couple of my friends at the end of last week the Jaguars would win against the Broncos 34-17. Partly just some healthy trash talking and I was told I was delusional, but I just had a feeling the number of playmakers the Jaguars have on offense made it possible. It even feels that the best is yet to come. Have you ever covered a team that seems to play so complimentary come together so quickly?
I've always kind of thought "complementary football" was code for a lot of different areas playing well. Have I ever covered a team that has improved this quickly? The 1996 Jaguars were 4-7, finished 9-7 and were a strong team for the next three seasons. So, yeah … that team got better everywhere very quickly. As for the improvement this season … it's not only the defining trait of this season, but perhaps one of the more remarkable developments around the franchise in recent seasons.
Mike from Bridgeport CT
Can I get a HELL, YEAH !!!
Heck yes.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
I hope we re-sign all our good players we drafted to second contracts. We're finally in position to draft, develop, re-sign and not rely on buying other teams rejects. Will this happen? If not, it will be a huge red flag. This next offseason is going to be critical. We need to be a playoff team for the next 10 plus years. We have our coach and quarterback, after all.
I expect the Jaguars to re-sign multiple key veterans in the 2026 offseason. I do not expect them to sign all players all fans want them to sign or believe they must sign.
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
I get it's his O-Zone-shtick now. But maybe Gary from St. Augustine could try and at least offset all the "not nice" with a lil' "nice?" We have talked about the importance of that. I'm a fair guy, but I certainly do not play "mess with my teammates." After all, O ... what is life without teammates?
What's a "teammate?"
Sam from Orlando, FL
Any truth to Eugene "Dynamite" Frenette being lured out of retirement for this playoff run? Some say he was spotted around Normandy Blvd running on all fours at or near Cheetah speed . The animal, not the former all pro receiver.
Former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette remains comfortably retired. I'm not saying that means he was running Normandy. I'm not saying that means he wasn't. I'm just not saying.
Ross from Mechanicsville, VA
Another year and the streak continues. Thank you for our free and entertaining daily Jags fix for all these years! Happy Holidays to you, yours, and everyone!
Happy Krimma.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: And here I thought it was all because of the Prowlers! Here is wishing everyone in the entire Jags organization and their families a wonderful Christmas and happy holidays. Regardless of what may happen going forward, all of their (and your) hard work and commitment has resulted in a true gift for all of us Jaguars fans. Thank you!
Happy Krimma.
