JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Lonnie from Jacksonville
Mr. O. The Jaguars were given over/under 8.5 wins with four-to-five more losses than last year. In my eyesight, we should have been 15-2. We should have beaten the Cincinnati Bengals and blowing a 19-point lead to Houston Texans had me crying. But we went on a 9-1 run with the loss to the Buffalo Bills. To me, Cole Van Lanen coming into the Denver game was huge. It reminds me when Tony Boselli came back from an injury in 1995 – you saw an immediate improvement not only the offensive line, but the whole offense. Cole Van Lanen healthy come September 13, 2026, we look unbeatable to me just my opinion.
Loyal O-Zone readers – and he knows who he is – know I spend little time or energy worried about what national media or bookmakers or many other entities say about the Jaguars. This is because what those entities say or project has little bearing on reality and matters not at all once games begin. I don't remember what "observers" projected the Jaguars' record to be in 2025. My guess is the "over/under" wasn't close to the 13 victories they achieved. I have no idea why anyone would project the 2026 Jaguars under 10 victories because that doesn't fit with the sense I get around the Miller Electric Center. I expect the Jaguars in 2026 to achieve double-digit victories and contend for the AFC South title because I think they're a good team with a good head coach and a good quarterback – and a lot of solid-to-very-good position groups. They must remain relatively healthy and play with the same "buy in" and "belief" they did last season. There's no way to project or guarantee the former, but I expect the latter to happen. As for left tackle Cole Van Lanen … he was important all season last season – first as a starter at various positions around the offensive line, then as the starting left tackle. He's rehabilitating a knee injury and is expected to play this season. Yes, he matters.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: Do the Jaguars have any other backup long snappers other than DaVon Hamilton? While Davon filled in admirably last season, the defensive line players get "banged up" frequently. Last season, both defensive tackle Arik Armstead and defensive end Travon Walker suffered hand/wrist injuries. Have you noticed any other players practicing this skill during workouts?
My understanding is this there are multiple players on the Jaguars' roster who can long snap if necessary. My understanding is also that this is something that will get addressed – and determined – during training camp. My understanding is also that this is a very, very slow time for news and questions. That will change soon. Jaguars 2026 Training Camp is scheduled to begin July 28 at the Miller Electric Center, with quarterbacks and rookies scheduled to report July 25.
Armand from Jacksonville
KOAF, could we possibly keep two quarterbacks on the practice squad depending on how training camp goes?
Possible, but doubtful.
Scott from Jacksonville
Scumbag? That seemed a little harsh. #FREEMATTSCOTT. So, who's Matt Scott?
A reader called me a scumbag recently, which longtime O-Zone readers know is the sort of passionate – and accurate – name-calling that perhaps only a reference to former Jaguars practice squad quarterback Matt Scott can conjure. Fans during Scott's time with the Jaguars often wrote the O-Zone asking why coaches didn't "give Matt Scott a chance?" The answer often was #Freemattscott. #Memorieslikethecornerofmymind
John from Jacksonville
I didn't know "gibed" was spelled with a "g," so thanks for teaching an old man something new. When we were in high school my friend, Sam, asked me to hand him the "Swiss broom." I said, "What did you call it?" Sam reiterated, "Swiss broom." I said, " Where did you learn that?" Sam said his dad, mom and all of his brothers called it a "Swiss broom." Then, I had to explain that it was called a "whisk broom" for whisking away dirt. You could see the mental implosion on his face. The same sort of face my workmate Jack made when he discovered he had been watering a plastic plant at the Dunkin' Donuts for months. We told him to brush off the leaves because they looked dusty. He got pretty mad at us, but it was worth it. The dead zone is almost over, right?
I spelled "gibed" with a "g" recently. It is more commonly spelled with a "j" but you can spell it with a "g." I didn't write it with a "g" to make a statement or to educate and I may or may not have known "g" was right before I spelled it that way. I once told a story here in the O-Zone about my good friend Towson Fraser singing "pizza burnin'" instead of "Beast of Burden" when signing the 1970s Rolling Stones song. I thought at the time Towson was very original and funny – and he indeed was both. I since have learned that many people sometimes sing the same thing when signing "Beast of Burden." I don't care about that. I still think of Towson and smile when I hear the song.
John from Jax
Hi, KOAGF. Your expert's comments the other day on the stadium entry gates question: "There will be slight impacts to gate entries, as we are bringing two new grand staircases online." I am so happy that I will be able to enter the stadium online to get to my seat versus driving, parking and walking. Is there an app for this? On another note, is there a reason why NFL cameras don't show more plays from above the stadium to allow fans to see plays develop across the broader field? Seems this would be cool to watch but maybe most fans wouldn't like it?
Bringing something "online" in this case means bringing that something into existence when it did not previously exist. But I think we knew that already. By "NFL cameras," we'll assume you mean the cameras of the networks broadcasting the game. The camera angles they use are pretty tried and true, and angles from above the stadium might be more annoying than interesting.
Paul David Bavington from St. Augustine, FL
What's the greatest weight in the Jaguars' weight room to wear #50? The season can't get here quickly enough.
What?
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Who is the best player in Jaguars history to don No. 79.
Possibilities here include center Dave Widell (1995-1997), defensive end Red Bryant (2014), center Luke Fortner (2022-2024) and tackle Tony Pashos (2007-2008). I never covered Pashos, so I suppose we will go Widell here. Or maybe Pashos. On to the final 20.
Alan from Ellington Ct
On to No. 79! I am enjoying your work remembering the players of past years. Keep up the good work. I did some research and if you keep at the grueling pace of one a day you will reach No. 99 on August 10. The end is close.
Indeed.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. On Jags.com Austin Lane commented "with another year in coordinator Anthony Campanile's defense, more wrinkles being added, and the possibility of incorporating more speed packages in nickel and dime situations, I think the Jaguars could make getting after the quarterback a defining part of their identity." Curious as to what the new "wrinkles being added" are and how the Jags get more speed in the nickel and dime? Thanks.
Jaguars 2026 Training Camp is scheduled to begin at the Miller Electric Center July 28, with quarterbacks and rookies reporting July 25.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: Many questions for you today. 1: With the Dead Zone almost ending with certain players starting to report on July 25, do we have any expected holdouts this year to create needless superfluous storylines? 2: With regards to Trevor Lawrence knee scrapping the ground on fourth-and-2 in the playoffs, why is no one blaming the groundskeeper for the grass being too high; artificial turf and his knee misses the ground? 3: You talked about the cooling system in the new Stadium of the Future; what do you know about being cool? 4: Who do you got winning the Tour de France and winning King of the Mountains? 5. We talk about 12 and 13 personnel packages a lot. I am no expert, but I thought we could only have 11 players on the field at a time. Last but not least, Happy 60th Birthday to you and Happy early Birthday to O-Zone Jr.
1.I do not expect any holdouts in 2026 Jaguars Training Camp. 2.No one's blaming the "groundskeeper" because no one's thought of blaming "groundskeeper." Yet. 3. Nothing. 4. I confess I no longer follow the Tour, though I do have a circa 2003 Trek that I ride to Strings – shirt on – on occasion. 5. Nicholas' got jokes. Last but not least … thanks and thanks. Age is just a number, but the numbers get less cool by the year.
