JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Sorry, KOAF. This really just sounds like so much fluff. Just because a team says all offensive linemen are offensive linemen, and not tackles or guards, I'm supposed to believe there is competition? Really? Seen this movie before. Not buying.

Wow. We seem to be testing our "cynicism" wings here in the O-Zone as of late – and we seem to be sort of weirdly angry about sort of a minor thing, too. Either way … the Jaguars indeed listed all offensive lineman as "offensive linemen" or "OL" when 2025 organized team activities began this past Monday – a listing that reflects the team's approach that all players at the position must earn positions, and that the team's objective is to start the best five offensive linemen. This has been an ongoing theme since Head Coach Liam Coen, General Manager James Gladstone and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli were hired to their positions earlier this offseason – that competition entering the 2025 season will be the rule, and not the exception. That's particularly true on the offensive line, where the team signed four unrestricted free agents in the offseason – center Robert Hainsey, guard Patrick Mekari, tackle Fred Johnson and Chuma Edoga. They also selected guard Wyatt Milum (Round 3) and center Jonah Monheim (Round 7) in the 2025 NFL Draft. The "projected" starting offensive line for 2025 is left tackle Walker Little, left guard Ezra Cleveland, Hainsey, Mekari and right tackle Anton Harrison. But while such May projections in the NFL usually at least come close to playing out, there are absolutely no guarantees for this group. The real Week 1 starting offensive line could look very different from the projection. It's a new regime, and there's no clearer example of that than the team's approach to this position. Buy or sell what you want, but that's reality.

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

Is the tush push actually innovative? Isn't it essentially a variant of a wedge play? That's been around since 1892, so it's not new.

I see we're testing our "arguing" wings here in the O-Zone now, too – or something like that. It's true that the so-called "tush push" has its roots in the century-old "wedge" play, just as most things "new" in football have their roots in things that are actually "old." In football, as in life, discovery often isn't as much about uncovering something unique as rediscovering and repurposing something from the past. Still … while pushing the tush in the NFL may not technically be the definition of "innovating," what the Philadelphia Eagles have done with the play was significantly different than what most other teams were doing at the time, so maybe it's kinda, sorta innovating – even if the nitpicky among us might find fault in calling it that. And in everything else.

Bruce from Owensboro, KY

Asks Bucky Brooks if he ever had a nickname. #shadricksighting. In all seriousness, it's great that you and the Jaguars allow such in-depth team content. The Ozone Podcast and EVPodcast are excellent! Keep up the good work, John.

I'm awesome. Just ask me.

Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA

O, This is the most exciting/anticipated season for the Jags in many years. I believe you have stated that eight-to-nine wins are possible while competing for the AFC South title. I agree, but doesn't this all distill down to whether Lawrence develops into a top NFL quarterback? I know it's "always coaching" in the NFL, but the quarterback is always the key to success. Do you agree?

Not completely. It's true that there is excitement over this Jaguars season – and from this view, that excitement is warranted. I absolutely believe eight or nine victories are possible for this team, and the belief within the organization is that this team can compete for the AFC South championship. But while quarterback Trevor Lawrence's developing into an elite player at the position is key to the team developing into a year-in-year-out Super Bowl contender, he doesn't have to reach that level for the team to improve – or to compete for the division. You can get good by developing around a quarterback. It's just hard to be great on a sustained basis taking that path.

Scott from Orlando, FL

Any chance Trevon Walker holds out for a new contract?

Is there a chance? Sure, I suppose. There's also a chance I will win the lottery, and that I suddenly will become irresistible to women and that a talent agent will realize I can sing like Sinatra and dance like Beyonce and that I will be the first performer at the Stadium of the Future when it starts hosting mega events in 2028. None of this is particularly likely, just as I can't imagine Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker holding out this offseason. This is because he has two years remaining on his contract and his window for a new contract only opened this past January. This doesn't feel like holdout time yet.

Paul from Jacksonville

We never seem to talk about the preseason when the schedule comes out. Are there no preseason games you're excited about?

We talk about the 2025 preseason if you like. The Jaguars will open the preseason at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers August 9 at 7 p.m. They will play the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans on August 17 at 1 p.m. They will then close the preseason on the road against the Miami Dolphins on August 23 at 7 p.m. We will learn more as we approach the preseason about how Coen wants to play starters, backups, etc. Then they will play the games. They will be interesting when starters play and give us a small idea of where the team stands. They will be interesting when backups play because we'll get a small idea about competition. It's possible they will be interesting for other reasons, perhaps – I just can't think of the reasons right now.

Howard from Homestead, FL

When a team is offsides, why doesn't the referee stop play immediately? Why allow play to continue until a goal is scored and then pretend all the hockey after the offsides didn't happen?

This appears to be a hockey question. I loooove NHL playoff hockey. I don't pretend to know enough about it to know the theoretical whys and why nots of the rules. I'll listen to any theories, though because I love me some learnin'. I do know that in football referees don't stop play on a defensive offsides because it allows the offense a "free play," which adds to the excitement of the game by possibly creating points. The exception to this is if a defensive player is deemed to be "unabated to the quarterback." The play is then stopped for player safety reasons.

Richard from Jacksonville

Regarding the Pride, wouldn't it make sense that the franchise's all time touchdown leader be included?

Former Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew is the Jaguars' all-time touchdowns leader with 81. He absolutely deserves to be in the Pride of the Jaguars and I expect he will be enshrined in the foreseeable future. Here's hoping. When discussing this topic in the O-Zone in recent days, we were discussing former Jaguars wide receiver Keenan McCardell. I wrote that I believed McCardell should be in and that his enshrinement is long overdue. This was not meant as a slight to Jones-Drew. It was simply a discussion of McCardell.

Gator

Kennan??! Harvey. Fowler. Reggie Nelson. Mike Pearson. And never….never forget

You keep being you. I can't imagine anyone else will. Why on earth would they?

MattChetti from Duuuuval?

I've argued with my friend about the tush push. The truth is, with the rule in place defenders CANNOT push one another, it gives the offense even more of an advantage. Defenders are facing an offensive lineman, along with the force of the quarterback and the force of the people pushing him forward. If the defenders not being able to push is for "safety concerns", then why isn't it the same on offense? I remember there was a rule on that until 2005. You da man, O-Zone!

There's not a rule about pushing a ballcarrier on offense because the NFL usually leans toward rules being called objectively rather than subjectively. It is easier in that sense to allow pushing by offensive players rather than having referees try to make judgements on whether a "push" is violating a rule. Also: Allowing teammates to push a ballcarrier benefits the offense, and NFL rule-makers generally lean toward promoting offense.

Brad from The Avenues

Can Trevor dance? I'm remembering a time when dance, particularly ballet was employed to improve the connection between an athlete's brain and his feet. An added plus would be if someone were to capture a video of Trevor Lawrence pirouetting and such around the room.

I'm assuming Lawrence can dance. Maybe this is the next episode of the Hunt.