JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Scott from Gilbert, AZ
Zone, if we are counting undrafted rookies, and rearranged the order in which some guys were selected, the Jags' triumvirate is looking all right after two years. Theoretically, had they taken wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter first, running back Bhayshul Tuten third, defensive end B.J. Green II fourth, center Jonah Monheim fifth, safety Caleb Ransaw sixth, defensive end Danny Striggow or safety Rayuan Lane seventh in the 2025 NFL Draft, followed by guard Emmanuel Pregnon second, tight end Nate Boerkercher third, wide receiver Josh Cameron fourth, safety Jalen Huskey fifth, defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. sixth and defensive end Wesley Williams, tight end Tanner Koziol or nose tackle Albert Regis seventh round in the 2026 NFL Draft, the "draft experts" would be throwing all kinds of love and sunshine Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone's way. Not all rookies and second-year players make their respective teams every year. Thus, the ability to keep more than 14 on a very solid roster after two drafts is admirable!
I understand that the internet has birthed an explosion of draft "experts" that once would have been unimaginable, and that that explosion has given draft experts a striking level of "consensus" confidence – earned or otherwise. I also understand that this explosion and confidence – earned or otherwise – has caused many observers to believe that these "experts" are knowledgeable and that therefore their consensus views on drafts are to be taken as gospel. I can't control observers believing this and I can't control that observers now believe that concepts such as "consensus draft boards" are pertinent when discussing the NFL. I can tell you that the Jaguars were 13-4 with a good, improving roster last season. This means they're a good team. Rookies and young players often must wait to emerge as starters on good teams. We will have a better idea by late this season how the Jaguars are drafting and developing under this new regime. We also will know their record, which matters just as much – and maybe more – than how the consensus views the team.
Bruce from St. Simons Island
O, I echo Jim from Kansas in thanking you for bringing us some laughs and joy (as well as "sometimes" information). Now for the season: Looking at the Jaguars' 2026 schedule, this first game against the Cleveland Browns will be a good test for the Jags – and a necessary win. Cleveland looks to be improved this year (nowhere to go but up). I don't believe the Browns game will be a Jags blowout win. What do you think?
The Jaguars entering the 2026 season are a good team – perhaps really good. I expect them to be better than they were in 2025 when they went 13-4 and won the AFC South. That doesn't automatically mean they will win the AFC South or have better than a 13-4 record. That's because the NFL is hard, with most games legitimately in doubt in the final 10 minutes. None of this means I expect the Jaguars' Week 1 game against the Browns at EverBank Stadium to be a blowout. You usually don't blow teams out in the NFL unless they are a mess for some reason or they have given up on the season. There is no reason to think the Browns will be a mess or that they have given up on the season. There is also the reality that Week 1 is often the weirdest week of the season, with the weirdness often caused by teams not having yet showed tendencies for which to game plan. I expect the Jaguars to win Sunday because I believe this is a good team that knows how to win. I don't remotely expect it to be a blowout. And that is fine. This is not the Southeastern Conference. Most games are close because it is professional football.
Peter from Barnegat, NJ
So, John. Are you ready for the season or what? No more talks, or predictions. IT'S GO TIME! Get ready for some football!!! Win or lose (although I will hope to see more Ws than Ls and at least a wild card hope by thanksgiving).
OK.
John from St. Augustine, FL
Who crowned you King and why?
Sometime around 2018 or so a reader asked something about something – perhaps Parliament or Funkadelic or George Clinton or perhaps something else. I innocently enough, though correctly, responded that I was the King of All Funk. It grew into a phenomenon from there, as such things do.
Chris from Mandarin
No, John, that's not quite right. It's actually part of the same discussion. Benching a guy that gets hurt can hurt his future earning potential …
OK.
Dave from Los Angeles, CA
Walker Little was our new left tackle until Cole Van Lanen was our new left tackle until Anton Harrison became our new left tackle. Is there a plan here? Does there necessarily need to be? Just feels pretty random and maybe difficult to suss out who deserves to be getting paid what down the road...
The plan is to get the players in the position where they play their best, and where they most help the team. The Jaguars have people running the organization whose job it is to suss out who deserves to get paid what down the road.
Oscar from Palm Coast, FL
Hey, O. After everything you have seen from this team so far, what would you consider a successful season: playoffs, a playoff win, or something more?"
Any playoff season, particularly one in which a team wins a division title, is successful. That absolutely is within reach for this team with potential for more.
Jordan from Lincoln, NE
Hey O, now that we have entered the regular season, I thought it would be a good time to ask. Who's the best player to wear the No. 0 in Jags history?
(Nope.)
John from Cape May Court House
While it's not the dead zone, it sure feels like it when the only topics of discussion are the lack-of-respect and uniform decisions. I figure it would be good to switch things up and ask if you or Mrs. have been watching any soccer? In the past, I have only watched the World Cup and Euros, but I have gotten into the EPL this year. I have to say, a sport with a running clock, no timeouts and no commercials with Jake from State Farm trying to sell me unnecessary insurance is quite refreshing. Not to mention the games are on in the morning and done in two hours. Our leagues could take a page or two out of that book. That is all, as you were.
Mrs. O-Zone and I watched most World Cup matches this summer, with Mrs. O-Zone teaching me much about soccer – or as she calls it, "futbol" – along the way. I confess our interest in her adopted sport has waned bit since, mostly because we have been following tennis' hardcourt season heavily. Though I agree with you that futbol's running clock and limited commercial interruptions are appealing, we won't see the NFL copy that. I also doubt they will lean heavily into morning games. Then again, the EPL doesn't play morning games, either. While those games are on in the United States in the morning, they are played in the afternoon in England. Technology. What will they think of next?
D.J. from JACKSONVILLE
Merry Krimma!
Krimma!
Joe from Living in St. Johns, down by the river
Hey, John. I hope your Labor Day weekend includes no Labor (other than answering O-Zone questions, of course). The Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere. theme is a brilliant coaching mindset that I hope the players have bought into and will carry them through the season. This is excellent internal marketing. My question is who is behind this messaging? Players must play and execute, but messaging that people believe in gets you through the tough games and low points, and it elevates the great games and high points. Who gets the credit for this? Also, Sunday cannot get here fast enough! Should be a fun season.
Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen has been consistent since early this offseason about the 2026 "theme" being "anyone, anytime, anywhere." The reality is the Jaguars are playing just six times in Jacksonville this season and none next season, so I don't know if this message is as much "excellent internal marketing" as harsh reality. Whatever you call it, Coen indeed has communicated the concept to the team effectively enough that players have embraced it as a season theme. This is part of leading a large group of people, and Coen has proven since joining the Jaguars to be a high-end leader of people. As for Labor Day … it indeed shall include labor for the O-Zone. There was debate over this. I argued against labor. I'm not thrilled about it. Then again, me being thrilled isn't a major priority around here.
