JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Jay from THE BURG, FL
Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen said Brian Thomas Jr. is going to help us win on Sunday. He might do that by lining up in the slot in 12 personnel and running deep – like Randy Moss deep – to all parts of the field. And Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence off play action throwing the ball where only Thomas can catch it. Coach Coen did not say that, but it might happen. I bet no one thought wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter was going to line up at running back, either.
We perhaps kinda sorta have mined the Brian Thomas Jr. Situation as deeply as possible – at least until we see what happens when the AFC South-leading Jaguars play the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium Sunday. While the persistent focus on the third-year wide receiver's "slump" is understandable, fans' fascination and accompanying anxiety is perhaps misplaced – or at minimum overblown. Remember: While Thomas' production indeed is dramatically down this season compared to his 2024 Pro Bowl rookie season and even his 2025 season, the Jaguars' offense has not experienced a corresponding dropoff. The Jaguars were as good as any team in the NFL offensively in the last 10 games of last season. They are very good offensively this season, and the thought here is they have a very real chance to trend steadily toward being an efficient, postseason-ready offense. Would the Jaguars' offense be better if Thomas managed to magically become a "No. 1 receiver?" Perhaps. And it would be wonderful for the Jaguars if that were to happen. But they in no way need for it to happen – and whether it happens or not isn't likely to be a season-defining storyline for this team. The Jaguars are good. They're a playoff contender and very possibly a Super Bowl contender. If they stay healthy, I expect they will be playing in January with a chance to be playing after that. That's true no matter what happens with Thomas in the coming weeks and months.
Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA
I like the college transparency approach to the replay calls where the viewers can hear the discussion. To your knowledge, is there a chance that the NFL will experiment with this? And as for the Jags and the rest of the season, if the small market Brewers can win a Major League Baseball championship, why not the Jags? Go Jags!
I expect the NFL will consider having viewers be able to hear replay discussions. Those who bother to watch college football seem for the most part to like it and there seems relatively little risk from the NFL's perspective. As for a small-market team being able to win a Super Bowl … of course it's possible. Kansas City is a comparatively small market and the Chiefs routinely have contended for – and won – Super Bowls in recent seasons. This isn't baseball. Small-market championships don't qualify as miraculous.
Pradeep from Bengaluru
Hi, John. When are we going to see deep throws from Lawrence? Definitely, he is very much capable. Is it something to do with the offensive line not giving enough time to him? Or is it due to offensive coordinator Grant Udinski? Don't we feel deep throws add new weapons during the second half and in playoffs?
When the deep ball is there, they will throw it.
Steven from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
I would like to caution the fans that are saying this should be an easy victory over the Colts this Sunday. I agree the Jaguars should (and I believe will) win this game, but even though the Colts' administration is hitting the reset button, it doesn't mean the players and staff are doing the same. Each of those players has something to play for. First, they are not even close to mathematically out of playoff contention. Second, even if the players have lost hope for the season, they are playing for the next job. If I were in that scenario, I might find a little "extra" motivation to ensure I either keep my job or get a job somewhere else next year. I know the Jags players are not thinking this is a lock of a win, but it sure does seem a lot of fans feel this way.
If the Jaguars play well, particularly if they start well, I expect they will be able to control the game and win. Perhaps "easily." If they play poorly, they can lose. If they don't start well, or play just OK, I expect the Colts to play competitively deep into the game because it's the NFL and it's hard to win in one-sided fashion in the NFL just playing OK. I find it amusing that NFL fans can watch the sport they love for years and never fully accept that most teams are capable of beating any other teams most weeks – even when the results show this to be the case every week. Bad teams beating good teams isn't a once-a-generation. Close games aren't weird. They're the norm. This is professional football, not the Southeastern Conference. Winning is almost always hard.
Pedal Bin, IFOTY from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Oh Mighty 'O'/King Of All Funk. You said, "A great man once said you never know the difficulty of an NFL schedule until about Week 5 or 6. I wish I could remember the identity of that great man." Pretty sure it was former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette.
Good eye.
Kerry from Millersville, Md
KOAF, while I agree that sacks are important and we need to get more, the bigger picture should not be lost. The "generational" defense in our division, the Houston Texans, are tied for fourth in sacks per game (yet tied for 19th in points allowed per game) and are 2-5. The Jags, while struggling to sack the opposing quarterback (tied for 22nd in sacks per game), are third in the league in points allowed per game and more importantly are 4-2. Sacks (and turnovers) are cool. Fans like them, but the points on the scoreboard determine the winners, not cool plays. And fans surely (?) like wins most of all!
Fans fan. It's what they do. And because fans are human, they voice displeasure at imperfections. What a boring world this would be if fans were otherwise inclined.
Roscoe from Southside
Zone. If the Jags aren't able to acquire some defensive line pass rush help before the trade deadline, does Campanile scheme up some blitz packages like Steve Spagnuolo of the Kansas City Chiefs to create quarterback pressures? We are already giving up quite a few explosives. Could we see more five-man fronts? Thanks.
Every defensive coordinator has blitz packages. Every defensive coordinator also must balance the risk and reward of blitzing. The major issue with the Jaguars' defense this season has been "explosive" plays allowed. Blitzing takes defenders out of coverage, which is hardly a guaranteed formula for reducing explosive plays. That doesn't mean Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile won't call more blitzed moving forward. But it's not a cure-all.
John from Jacksonville
Who would most likely be the Jaguars swing tackle in the event Walker Little or Cole Van Lanen sustain an injury?
Based on who has been active in the first six games of the season, I expect this will be second-year veteran Wyatt Milum.
Art from just shy of the ditch
Big games ahead! Time to take care of business! Refreshing to hear the TV talking heads ramble on about other franchises trading away, while our new and stellar Jags leadership positioned otherwise! Not saying we couldn't or shouldn't improve and generate depth to strengthen, but what a change from years past! What's your guess on the flex potential for Week 17? Thought we had a chance, but no longer sure that one will be as interesting as the others...
The NFL doesn't really "flex" specific Week 17 or 18 games as much as it leaves the entire schedule open so it can create the most compelling schedule for television viewing. It's way too early to have the vaguest idea how that will look. If the Jaguars are playing games that matter for the postseason that week, there is a good chance the games will be in prime television spots. If not, that's much less likely.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: Once off injured reserve, would Mrs. O-Zone consider a back-up play-by-play and analyst position? She could sub for the Jaguars first-team announcer and/or analyst in the event of an unfortunate vocal cord injury to either. Being able to play multiple positions is a priority with the Jaguars.
This isn't a bad idea. When a receiver drops a pass or a quarterback throws an incomplete pass, Mrs. O-Zone often notes that the receiver should have caught the pass and the quarterback should have completed it. I find these thoughts hard to argue and have suggested she voice start a podcast.
