JACKSONVILLE – A word to O-Zone readers:

Please indulge me as I start this Saturday O-Zone with a thought on a former colleague and friend.

Mike Richey, longtime executive for the Florida Times-Union, passed on Tuesday. Most young O-Zone readers – or even older ones – probably don't remember or never knew Mike. He was an editor who worked "inside" the newspaper and wasn't in what we now call a "face-forward position."

Mike was the executive sports editor of the Florida Times-Union in August 1988. It was then he hired yours truly. I had zero journalism experience or skills, which some would say remains true today. Mike hired me to answer calls from high school football coaches on Friday nights, and to turn statistics from those coaches and perhaps an anecdote or two into a few paragraphs for Saturday's paper. That was it. That was the job.

Mike shortly thereafter hired Nico Van Thyn as the high school sports editor. Mike and Nico gave me an opportunity to cover high school sports – at first part-time and later as a full-time staff member. It's possible they saw something in me. More likely, they were desperate. Either way, that was my start.

Mike moved from sports to higher positions, retiring as managing editor in 2008. During my 13 years with the T-U, his support was key to my career. He far more importantly was a damned good newspaper man and a valued friend, quick with a smile. And when you had Mike's respect – which I like to think I did – it meant something.

Mike was influential in moving me from the University of Florida beat to the Jaguars beat in 1995. And while he had moved on from sports by the time the Jaguars began, he was a mammoth Jaguars fan and helped shaped the newspaper's coverage of the team in the early days of the franchise.

Wherever I am today, I started because of Mike. My life wouldn't be what it is if not for him. I'm honored to have worked with him and will savor his memory.

Let's get to it …

Deane from Hill AFB via Daytona Beach, FL

Yo, O-Zone!!! I'm digging the roster, and I'm glad that the Marine Officer made the team! OOO-RAH!!! I understand that NFL schedules are tricky, and with Carolina on deck, I wish that would be a permanent game. We entered the league together; our first game, at the Hall of Fame game, was against them. To me, it just makes sense to have that rivalry each year.

There was never much doubt rookie safety Rayuan Lane would make this roster. He's a quality special teams player with potential. The NFL schedule isn't all that tricky. Teams play six games within their division, four games against teams from another division in their conference and four against teams from a division in the other conference. The other three games are based on the previous season's record and the standings the previous season. There's no room for variation – even for potentially cool rivalries.

Tony from Suwanee, GA

Is there a chance when the first depth chart is released next week that Bhayshul Tuten is listed first? Tuten has comparable measurables with Bucky Irving. who exploded onto the scene under now-Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen at Tampa last year, but Tuten is much faster. Will we see Bucky Irving 2.0 because we need a back like that?

I think it's a matter of time until Jaguars rookie Bhayshul Tuten is the starting running back. I don't expect that time to be Week 1 of the 2025 regular season.

Tony from John's Creek, GA

O, again this upcoming season I predict the Jaguars running the table all the way through the Super Bowl. I'm as right as anyone else on the eve of the first game.

Let's go, Jaguars.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

I need more, Zone. You say the Jaguars can all four running backs at the same time? How can this be?

I didn't say or write that the Jaguars could play all four of their running backs – Tuten, Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby and LeQuint Allen Jr. – at the same time, though I did write that all four could be active on game day. While having them all active would be unusual and difficult, teams find a way to do difficult and unusual things with good players who can contribute on game day. I expect Etienne to start because he has earned the status, and because he does a lot of things well Coen needs backs to do well in his system. I expect Bigsby to be active because he's a dangerous back who also is a very good kick returner. I expect Tuten to be active because he's too good not to be active and because he's shown in preseason he can get tough yards in tough situations. He's also the fastest of the Jaguars' backs. I expect Allen to be active because he's the Jaguars' best pass-blocking back and he should play a key role in passing situations. I don't know yet, exactly, how all this will look or how many snaps each player will play. But I do expect all four to play.

Bill from Jacksonville

Is this the dead zone? This feels like the dead zone.

Labor Day weekend isn't an official O-Zone "dead zone," though it has in the last few years become sort of sneaky deadish. While Labor Day weekend – the week before the regular-season opener – used to be the weekend on which teams made final cuts and therefore replete with news and reaction, it's now a bye week. It has the feel of the last chance for peace before the action begins and it's therefore a little deader in the inbox than most August/September weekends. The inbox is still open. I'll answer questions.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. When a team installs a brand-new offensive playbook, is it generally easier for players to grasp and execute running plays compared to passing plays? While every team aims to establish the running game early for ball control and to keep the defense honest, there is another possible factor at play. Is it worth considering whether the Jaguars (Jags) emphasize the running game early in the season, in part because a new playbook may make running plays simpler to execute for players who are still learning the system and adapting to new plays?

Running plays can be a smidge easier to grasp than passing plays, though it's sometimes easier to execute a passing play than a running play because all parts must work together in the run game. I don't expect the Jaguars to emphasize the run more early in the season because running plays are easier to execute. I expect them to emphasize the run game because they want to emphasize the run game.

Andy from Jacksonville

Do you really think the defense will be better? Weren't they awful last season?

The Jaguars' defense indeed was awful last season. They couldn't stop the run well enough, and they gave up far too many big passing plays. I don't know that the Jaguars' defense will be great this season. I do think it can stop the run better enough and rush the passer well enough to force turnovers better than it did last season. If those areas improve, the defense can improve.

Edward from Jacksonville

Who cares about tennis? This is a football column.

I care about tennis. I watch it quite a bit. I like answering questions about it from time to time, particularly during the major tournaments because it interests me. I don't answer questions in this column about tennis solely because it bothers some people. I call that "a little bonus."

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John. I agree with your "big picture" take that the Jags "can be better" in 2025. Your prudent assessment and cautious optimism is befitting of a Senior Writer and your wry temperament. But now is the time for fans to have unabashed enthusiasm about the upcoming season as our hopes may be dashed soon enough. As such, I have taken some of your takes a step or two further: The Jags will sweep Houston on the way to an AFC South title. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence ill fulfill his potential as an "elite" QB1. The running game will be consistently effective in short-yardage situations and Bigsby will emerge as a top-tier back. The Jags' edge rush of defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen will be the dominant combination in the league and pivotal to a defense that keeps the team alive late in games. If these things transpire, the Jags will certainly be substantially better than last year. Just fanning? Go Jags!

If the Jaguars sweep the Houston Texans, and if Lawrence is elite, and if the Jaguars run consistently well, and if Allen/Walker are the best pass-rushing combination in the NFL … yes, if all those things happen in 2025 the Jaguars will be pretty good.