JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Ben from Columbus, OH

I can't tell you how refreshing it is to hear this new leadership speak over the last few days. Listening to Liam speak on how there is no room for agenda and ego in this process. Listening to James talk about what he's looking for in players and Tony talk about how everything will be about supporting the head coach. I feel this mindset has been truly lacking in the past regimes. How do you feel about all this, John? This has to succeed, right?

These are giddy, optimistic times around the Jaguars – a giddy optimism that expectedly continued when Head Coach Liam Coen and General Manager James Gladstone spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine Tuesday morning. This came a day after the duo spoke along with Executive Vice President Tony Boselli and other Jaguars leaders in a press conference at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville introducing Gladstone as general manager – and the trio indeed have been impressive in their ability to communicate vision and set a tone for a franchise transitioning to a new era. All three are new to their positions, and all have strikingly clear and encouraging thoughts on what will make the Jaguars successful moving forward. They are aligned on the idea that there's no room for agenda and ego – and they have solid, sound, aligned ideas on how the Jaguars will operate. I can't in good consciousness say I never have heard such talk around the Jaguars; most NFL types talk about not having an agenda or operating without ego. I can't say there never has been optimism around this organization after a regime change. I can say I like Coen's approach – and I think he will be able to reach players. I'm uber-impressed with Gladstone's intelligence and communication skills – and I think he will be able to communicate a clear vision to coaches and personnel officials. I'm also impressed with Bosell's approach and believe he will help instill a culture this organization sorely needs. As far as this "having to succeed…" there are no guarantees in the NFL. It looks good now. Things will be done right. This will have a chance. Stay tuned.

Rich from Dacula, GA

OK, let the honeymoon begin. The new leadership pretty much will be able to do whatever they want to improve the Jags. On the surface it certainly appears to be a step in the right direction if you believe in the youth of all members. With some good – not elite – players on the roster, what would you think if all goes well a timeline during the regular season to start to see the results of the new Jaguars? Slow improvement but lasting – or immediate improvement – a direction that the team will make. Is this a one-, two- or three-year project?

It's fair to expect immediate improvement. I don't know if that means winning Week 1, but it's fair to expect this team to – at minimum – be around .500 in 2025. The belief within the building is the Jaguars will be much-improved and contend in the AFC South in Year One. That's reasonable. The step after that is yearly contending/winning with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations in the vein of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. That's probably at least a two-to-three-year project.

Ray from Jax

John: So it is good to have an outstanding tackle who needs no help with his guy. Just watched the old Buffalo playoff game tape. Tony Boselli handled Bruce Smith. Has he ever mentioned that?

Not that I recall.

J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL

Question: Wow. I'm really impressed by all these young cats' communication skills. It seems they know exactly what they want and how to get it there. They're really sharp in their responses and acumen. I think this Gladstone guy might be a shark. All warm and fuzzy until he talks trades and deals. Lol. I also appreciated Coen's comment "players not plays'! I guess that sums that up.

Gladstone is impressive. His ability to articulate his vision is high-end, and I suspect he has perhaps the most important skill for a general manager. That's the ability to make sure all within the organization – coaches, personnel officials, etc. – are of the same mind when it comes to what the team wants in players. This is a sharp bunch. It has a chance.

Joe

Who takes Boselli's place on the radio ... guess?

Stay tuned.

Jason from North Pole, AK

Les Snead of the Rams is widely considered an elite general manager. James Gladstone probably has a working knowledge of who Snead likes in free agency and the draft. Do you think that is an unforeseen benefit to hiring him just a few weeks before the start of the league year? Certainly can't hurt come draft day?

A bit, I suppose. But Gladstone and Snead have worked together closely enough and see players/process similarly enough that they will like a lot of the same players by default. I doubt Gladstone will operate this offseason based on a blueprint of who Snead did or didn't like.

Chance from Tecumseh

This is always an exciting time of the year for Jaguars fans, but this year seems more exciting than ever! When will we start to see some roster changes? When will some guys get released, and when will some guys restructure their deals? I assume this is all done in advance of free-agency? #DTWD

Gladstone was just hired Friday, with coaches and personnel staff holding initial meetings regarding free agency and the roster beginning this week. This is fairly normal timing for such matters, which is why most teams make comparatively few roster moves or announcements until early March. That's when the combine ends and the March 12 start of the NFL League Year starts approaching, which is why the next few weeks will be busy with the news for which you thirst.

Jim from Middleburg, FL

Oh, John, John, John. Sometimes your writing is funny. You recently told a writer that the defense has a chance to get better! We all know they could be slightly worse. We are sure they have a chance to be "much, much better!" From the bottom the most likely, but not guaranteed outcome is better. Love the Jags and never give up your DUUUUVVVAL.

My team is on the floor.

Daniel from Johnston, IA

Based on your answer to Jor from NZ about the lines, is it fair to summarize your position as: You'd rather have an average offensive line with a great defensive line than a great offensive line with an average defensive line?

You want to be as strong as possible on both lines, and it's hard to be good without being at least good on both. I do believe you can get by a little more with scheme, design and play-calling to help an offensive line more than you can a defensive line, so yeah … I probably would go great defensive line and average offensive line were I forced to make your regrettable choice.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John - At James Gladstone's introductory press conference, there was a lot of talk about the new leadership's vision and approach for the future, which sounds exciting and promising. But I found it striking and interesting that no player from the current roster was mentioned. With all the established pieces in place and uncertainty about bringing back several key veterans, why was there no discussion about the players?

No one asked.

Daniel from St. Johns, FL

If you're making $5 million a year, or $25 million, or $50 Million … do you really expect more than couple weeks off work? John, you have one of those big-paying, super-elite jobs and yet you do 365 days a year and not because you have to? Because you so love it and you don't want anyone else to outwork you and take away your dream of a Super Bowl ring!

You're seemingly referencing NFL players getting extended time off during the offseason – and there seems to be some sarcasm dripping through the reference. Yes, NFL players expect more than a couple of weeks off work each year. This is a reasonable, fair expectation with the major reason being that NFL Player is a different job than a "normal occupation." It's different in the sense that from late July through at least mid-January it is – or should be – a constant commitment with only one "day off" a week. There also is the obvious physical toll each week takes on players. This answer is not meant to garner sympathy for the "poor" NFL players who toil for millions with "only" one day off per week. It is to note that it's not a normal occupation and therefore doesn't operate by a "normal" calendar or clock. By the way, what's a "big-paying, super-elite job?"

Jordan from Mandarin

Game on.

Damn right.