JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
So, as long as a coach bases a decision on being aggressive, it can't be questioned? When does aggressiveness become stupidity? Question mark.
People can question whatever they like. So can fans. My point when repeatedly saying that Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen likely will continue being aggressive in fourth-and-short situations is to remind fans – whatever their thoughts on specific situations or philosophy – Coen's approach likely will not change. At least not significantly. When does aggressiveness become stupidity? When it's done without regard to circumstances or percentages, I suppose. Take the situation Jaguars fans have discussed ad nauseam this offseason, for example: Coen going for a first down on fourth-and-2 from the Buffalo Bills 9-yard line in the second quarter of a 27-24 loss in an AFC Wild Card Playoff this past January. The percentages and game circumstance said going for it was smart because a touchdown would have given the Jaguars a 14-3 lead – and even if the attempt failed, the Bills had to drive more than 90 yards for a touchdown. The percentages said the Jaguars likely would get the ball back after a Bills punt or field goal. Because the Bills scored a touchdown on the drive, it's remembered by many observers as a bad decision. Had the Jaguars gone for a first down on fourth-and-2 from their own 9-yard line … yeah, that's probably overly aggressive. If Coen went for it routinely inside the Jaguars 30-yard line … yeah, that's probably overly aggressive. But given the Jaguars' philosophy under Coen, going for it in the situation they did against the Bills was a pretty easy decision. Period.
Chris from Mandarin, FL
Going for it on fourth down repeatedly is a strategy you have to employ when your team is not as talented as your opponent. It serves to level the field, but over time it will bite you in the rear end. Coen needs to learn to pick his spots because he clearly hasn't quite figured that part of things out yet.
Going for a first down on fourth down in "non-traditional" situations is a strategy many NFL head coaches increasingly employ. It serves to allow teams to score touchdowns instead of field goals when successful – and data shows that over time, it allows teams to succeed more than fail. Head coaches who follow this trend believe that not paying attention to this data will bite them in the rear end. I expect Coen absolutely will continue picking his spots on when to do this, as he did last season. I suspect most fans will dislike this approach, particularly when it fails. Good decisions are ones that work and bad ones are ones that don't work. Always.
DMiz from Jagsonville
People keep referring to our dismal loss to Buffalo and asking whether Coen will continue to be aggressive on fourth down. With the addition of running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. and the 12/13 – multiple tight end – Personnel sets, I think Coen will be even MORE aggressive. Not that I agree with that philosophy, but why wouldn't he? If the line remains healthy and we develop the running game, he SHOULD go for it if the analytics say so. I think Coen is amazing and will be one of the greatest coaches for the foreseeable future.
I don't know if Coen will be more aggressive moving forward. I expect he will continue to be aggressive because there is no logical reason he shouldn't. He certainly won't change his approach based on the loss to the Bills for a couple of reasons. One is that the play call was fine. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence missed the first down by inches and easily could have made it. Another is the defense easily could have stopped the Bills and gotten the offense the ball back. Perhaps the biggest is that the organizational belief is that going for the first down in that situation is the right call and will benefit the team in the long run. The long-term reward is therefore worth the short-term risk.
Sal from Austin, TX
Let's talk about momentum. How much did the Bills offense get when the Jaguars didn't convert?
Some. That's the risk.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Who is the best player in Jaguars history to don No. 75?
And so on we go. This is a decent list, with possibilities here including left tackle Eugene Monroe (2009-2013), defensive end Eric Curry (1998-1999), offensive tackle Erick Flowers (2018), defensive end Jared Odrick (2015-2016), right tackle Jawaan Taylor (2019-2022) and defensive end Marcellus Wiley (2005-2006). One fer Taylor here. Or Monroe. Coin flip.
DMiz from Pro bowler Jagsonville
I am still laughing. That was freaking funny!!
I am the king of all funk.
Roscoe from Southside
John. One thing that I have noticed while watching the World Cup is that fans and players enjoyed (maybe even performed better, too) the air-conditioned stadiums more than those stadiums that were not. Can't the Jaguars and their architect see the advantage of having the Stadium of Future be air conditioned? It is much better for the Jaguar's games as well as all other events (concerts, games, etc.).
Cool conditions are, well … cool. People like them. This is why the Jaguars and their "architect" have addressed the issue when designing the Stadium of the Future. While the stadium won't have "traditional" air conditioning, it will have a fixed roof for shade designed to reduce heat retention by 70 percent. It also will have breezeways designed to circulate cool air. I understand there will be skepticism about this approach because the Jaguars won't be needing a bunch of HVAC guys on call on game days, but the stadium is expected to be cool. I expect fans will like it if they don't have preconceived ideas about how to be cool.
Fred from Edison, NJ
On the defensive players to put into the Pride of the Jaguars … I think safety Donovin Darius would be a great name to throw in the hat. I felt like he was a key factor in our identity as a physical defense in the 2000s and was feared across the league by most accounts. That was quite an era for strong safeties in general, but I always thought he deserved more recognition.
OK.
Rob from St Augustine, FL
When it is mentioned that a defensive back is at "left" or "right" corner, is that from the quarterback's view or from the view of the defense? And does this mean anything? Like when a left tackle used to be viewed more important than a right tackle?
There are few – if any – "musts" when it comes to how players are listed, but usually when people say "left" or "right" with positions it means from the view of their side of the ball. Left or right corner really doesn't mean much, which is why you don't see it specified all that much.
Scott from Gilbert, AZ
Zone, while it's hard to project seventh-round rookies impacting outcomes in a big way, I have a feeling that Zach Durfee will not only make the 53 but be active on game days and provide some plays that will alter a couple contests. In a league where teams can typically only afford and/or dress four defensive ends comprised of two highly-drafted and highly-paid guys that can both stop the run as well as get to the quarterback, a later-round guy on a rookie contract who is decent at both in the event of an injury to one of the starters, and a guy who is more of a pass rusher than a run defender for obvious passing situations, is valuable. My gut tells me the Jags are going to dress five defensive ends because of the additional spot that wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter creates, and that it will be Durfee because he can not only be a core special teams player, but because there will be times at the end of a half or last two minutes of the fourth quarter when you don't have a single concern about setting an edge and could truly use someone with fresh legs on a very inexpensive contract who can bend the corner like a gymnast shot out of a cannon to help close out games.
One fer Durfee, evidently.
Joe from Living in St. Johns, down by the river
Hey, John. Speaking of Dead Zone music exploration, I challenge you to listen to "Hocus Pocus" by Focus. They were (maybe still are) a Danish band from forever ago and the song is epic and a bit insane. Follow that with "Goat in My Car" by Massive Hot Dog Recall, another hilarious and insane song, then if you dare, research the lineage of the lead from MHDR. So, when does training camp start?
Jaguars 2026 Training Camp is scheduled to begin July 28 at the Miller Electric Center, with rookies and quarterbacks reporting July 25.
