JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Daniel from Las Vegas, NV
Hey John, given the never-ending issues with Leonard Fournette, do you think that the running-back position may need to be addressed in the upcoming draft?
Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette reportedly was arrested Thursday for driving with a suspended license. He reportedly was stopped for going 20 miles per hour over the speed limit Thursday and was arrested because he didn't pay a traffic ticket from an incident last fall when he was going 12 miles per hour over the speed limit. It's a bad look considering all that has gone on with Fournette since he has been with the Jaguars. Yes, it's another example of Fournette needing to grow up. Yes, it's a damned silly thing for which to draw negative attention to yourself and the team. But this specific incident is comparatively minor and almost certainly won't change Fournette's situation with the team – or the Jaguars' approach in the draft. I believed the Jaguars were going to address the position on Day 2 of the draft – likely with a back who is a receiving threat out of the backfield – and I still believe that.
Dave from Los Angeles, CA
Fournette appears to be crushing the draft-bust aptitude test.
Let's not overreact to Thursday's incident. It was silly. It's another example of Fournette needing to grow up. It has comparatively little bearing on whether Fournette will live up to his status as the No. 4 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Sean from Jacksonville
Leonard, Leonard, Leonard ... if you can't pay a $204 fine and then have your license suspended, causing you to be arrested … well, I'm guessing you're still not a mature player and may end up being on the outside looking in or warming up the bench for more games than you thought possible. I want you to succeed very badly. I don't want to see you fail, but you have to take full responsibility for all of your actions. Here's hoping for an outstanding 2019 and no more nutty situations.
Young people don't always make great decisions. Fournette has made a lot of bad ones, but Thursday's incident doesn't strike me as one that makes him a bad guy. It won't cause Fournette to be benched, but it's time for Fournette to stop making news for things that easily can be avoided. No question about that.
Jerell from Columbia, SC
Fragile Fournette didn't sprain any of his fingers when he was booked? Don't need him missing time. Guy is a joke.
Unless there's something more to this than has been reported, it shouldn't cause Fournette to miss time.
Larry from Duncan, OK
Hey Mr. O, Has Leonard Fournette burnt the last bridge between him and the Jaguars? Also, does his arrest doom his contract guarantees which are currently before an arbitrator?
All arrests aren't created equal. This isn't that …
Jim from Jagsonville
O-man, how do you feel the front office address Fournette's continuing maturity issues? As a wise man once said (or a thousand times this offseason) "sometimes it's time to move on"...
… and it's certainly not that.
Jon from Southampton, UK
Hey John, I always enjoy watching "A Football Life" and the stories of becoming a Hall of Famer. It seems to me Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles has had an interesting "football life" so far. Would one more Super Bowl (with the Jags) make him a Hall of Famer? If not, what would? It would at least make a good episode.
One more Super Bowl victory alone wouldn't make Foles a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He also likely would need to start a few more full seasons with high-level success.
Mason from Palm Bay, FL
You recently mentioned Alex McGough. Are we hoping he competes for the backup job? Does the team view him as a project quarterback? I know it's hard to split reps at practice, so what does he have to do to stick around?
Be better than the Jaguars' other quarterbacks except for Foles. This is not out of the question.
Ryan from Farmington Hills, MI
Cornerback depth is not really being talked about as a big need, though I feel like it is a position the Jaguars should covet on Day 2 or 3. Tyler Patmon is gone and the depth behind Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye and D.J. Hayden consists of three former undrafted rookies. Agree or disagree?
Mildly disagree. The Jaguars indeed let Patmon go as an unrestricted free agent last month, but that's because they liked what they saw from rookie cornerbacks Quenton Meeks and Tre Herndon last season. Both indeed were undrafted free agents, but both showed enough to be the fourth/fifth cornerbacks next season. The Jaguars could address corner on Day 3, but it's not a necessity.
Darren from Jacksonville
Why does Ramsey get all the play as the great one and Bouye doesn't seem to get much attention at all? It doesn't seem to me that Ramsey's that much better than Bouye. Is he?
Bouye got a lot of attention in 2017 when he was very good, deservedly making the Pro Bowl and being named second-team Associated Press All-Pro. He didn't play as well this past season and accordingly did not receive the recognition. But yes … Ramsey is that much better than Bouye. That's not a knock on Bouye; it's a statement of fact about Ramsey.
Red from the O-Zone Comments Section
Didn't realize Coughlin was a big winning-lunch guy! Does he share his lunch with you, often?
No. That's why he wins a lot.
David from Chuluota
Big O - Although, our defense played well last year, I feel it under performed against running quarterbacks. Last year, quarterbacks such as Deshaun Watson of Houston, Marcus Mariota of Tennessee and Josh Allen of Buffalo had way too much room to run … and with the growing popularity of running quarterbacks, this is a problem that needs a solution. I think it's fair to say that our linebackers had a down year last year. I'm not sure signing a linebacker coming off a major knee injury counts as "help is on the way." For these reasons, with the 7th pick of the 2019 NFL draft the Jacksonville Jaguars select Devin White, linebacker, LSU.
Nah. Besides, who are you taking off the field in passing situations to get White on the field? Telvin Smith? Myles Jack?
Emile from Tallahassee, FL
Why are we talking about Foles as a question mark at the quarterback position like any quarterback situation isn't a question mark?
Fair.
Bradley from O'Side, CA
High-level tight ends create match up nightmares and get first downs on third-and-7s. They keep your defense off the field. They bring a toughness and a swagger to your franchise. There is a can't-miss prospect in this here draft. The Jags should draft him. I can hear the chants of Hock cascading at home games. I can hear Tony Romo describing him as Hockcules and Jim Nantz chuckling at the wit of his broadcast partner. Dreams can come true, right?
Maybe.
John from Playa Del Carmen
I think I might chuckle a bit when the world mocks Jawaan Taylor to the Jags at 7, the majority of Jags fans go through two weeks of angst and anger about how it's too early to draft a right tackle, and then the New York Giants go ahead a pick Taylor at No. 6 on draft day.
I would be surprised if the Giants take Taylor at No. 6 overall, but it's the draft so it's not beyond possibility.
Jeffrey from Keystone Heights, FL
I realize this comment deserves a "duh" reply, but with all the frenzy of questions about what we should do in Round 1 – pick quarterback or offensive line or defensive line – it really highlights the freedom teams have in draft and free agency when the quarterback position is settled. Imagine you're the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots ... with quarterback settled for a decade or longer. To go that long without quarterback decisions. Wow!
Duh.
J. Hooks from Fleming Island
Yo John!!! I know you gave your percentages and draft predictions, but the closer we get to the big day, I find myself thinking that we're going edge rusher as priority one. It makes sense to me. Have you changed your opinion at all or are you still of the mind O-Line is the 7th pick?
I believe offensive line is the most likely selection for the Jaguars at No. 7 overall followed closely by defensive line, but it won't be decided by position. It will be decided by who's available when the Jaguars select.
Unhipcat from Retiredtown, USA
John, I'll be in Oatman, Arizona during the draft. Wild mules rule the street (singular) there, and I think it could be an omen of some sort regarding the Jaguars' picks. Do you, as a shaman, believe this to be true, and if so, what does it mean?
I'm not a shaman. Yet.
