JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Chevin from Riverside, Jacksonville

New head coach, new offensive and defensive schemes, many new and younger players; do you anticipate a slow start to the regular season?

There's indeed a lot of new around the Jaguars entering the 2025 regular season, and the newness means there's a very good chance the Jaguars will be better at the end of the season than the beginning – provided they remain relatively healthy. That doesn't necessarily mean the Jaguars can't win early in the season while they are working through the newness and gaining camaraderie, cohesion and communication. The Jaguars' schedule on paper looks tricky through the first seven or so regular-season games, but that's based on last season and you can't base one season's results on the previous season. Could the Jaguars start slow? Sure, but I would expect at least an OK start more than a slow one.

Aiden from Jacksonville

How's our new backup quarterback looking? Hopefully, we won't need him, but you never know.

Jaguars backup quarterback Nick Mullens thus far in 2025 Training Camp has looked a-ight. A-ight is a normal and acceptable level for an NFL backup quarterback.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

Bro, you realize that we've been kicking the "former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is getting a hard time from the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame voters" can back and forth for, I believe, going on three years now. You never staunchly disagreed, but leaned toward it'll inevitably happen. I didn't/don't disagree ... but still staunchly lean towards "former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is getting a hard time from the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame voters". "Small-market, shmall-market." He deserves to be in. And his numbers don't bear out him having to have waited this long. There's, obviously, bigger deals in the world. Just sayin'.

Former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I continue to believe he will be elected someday.

J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL

I've been meaning to write in since last week about this ridiculousness they pulled for the Hall of Fame this year. What was the stupid reason for only having four inductees? It makes zero sense. Especially when we have a perfectly deserving FINALIST waiting way more patiently than he ever should. Realistically, how long is this gonna set Fred back with Frank Gore and whoever else is coming up this year? Whatever. In the words of Rocky, "It STINKS, Mick! The whole thing STINKS!"

The Pro Football Hall of Fame indeed had just four modern-era enshrinees this year, the first time since 2007 the Hall has had fewer than five modern-era enshrinees. The details of the rules changes are tricky and complex, but the idea was to make enshrinement "more exclusive" by requiring at least 80 percent of Hall voters to vote for a finalist for him to be enshrined. If fewer than three finalists meet that 80 percent threshold, the three finalists with the most votes will be elected. The system apparently yielded the desired results with a smaller class in 2025. It's hard to know how this will affect Taylor and other candidates, but it can't help.

JWG from Aurora, CO

Question about the team's decision to play the ones versus the twos in the Friday scrimmage: Wouldn't it have made more sense for the ones to play the ones and twos to play the twos? Heard a lot about both first teams looking good but I would hope so as they were playing against backups and anything else would have been alarming. I would have thought that the first teams playing each other would have been a more accurate representation of performance both good and bad.

The Jaguars set up the scrimmage that way because they thought it was the best way to get the best work for the entire roster. There were also periods – including one late in the scrimmage – in which the starting offense went against the starting defense.

P Funk from Murray Hill

Assuming the offense isn't going to show their hand by taking rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter off the field for running plays, what are the expectations of him as blocker on run plays or in the screen game?

Hunter will be expected to block as any receiver is expected to block. I don't know that the team expects blocking to be how his career is judged.

Eric from Duval

Please provide some analysis on the offensive line group thus far into Training Camp. If you are of the opinion that the offensive line is a glaring red flag, do you also believe Jimmy G will make a move to solidify the position group?

The Jaguars' offensive line through close to two weeks of camp seems to have had more good practices than not, and Chuma Edoga has played well enough to be listed as a co-starter along Patrick Mekari. Fred Johnson also appears to be playing well enough at tackle that the Jaguars will consider themselves deep across the line heading into the regular season barring injuries. My thought at this point is the Jaguars consider this a relatively strong position and not at all a glaring red flag. If that's incorrect, I don't for a moment believe Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone will hesitate to address it.

Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL

What traits define a "third-down back?" Is it pass-catching and pass-blocking? But then is a third-down-and-short back different than a third-down-and-long back?

A third-down back can be a good pass-catcher or a good pass-blocker. He also can be a quality run-blocker or short-yardage back. A third-down back can be very different depending on the situation.

Will from Jacksonville

KOAF. Any news from camp on linebacker Ventrell Miller and where he fits in this linebacker corps? He flashed in limited reps last year and seemed primed for a larger role, yet I haven't heard his name much so far.

Miller currently is working as a second-team linebacker. He hasn't from this view stood out quite to the level that he did last season in training camp, but that's this view and one person's view isn't always everything in an NFL practice.

Aaron from Guyton, GA

Should we be concerned with both defensive tackles Arik Armstead and Maason Smith being banged up already? Could be another long season on defense if we have problems stopping the run again.

Armstead is not practicing because of a back injury and Smith is on the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury. There's no indication yet that either is a long-term situation.

Johnny B from Howey In The Hills

Dr. O: In one of the recent NFL Network web articles, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf said the Steelers' defense was as good as he has seen. Should be fun for the first offense to face them Saturday.

OK.

Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX

KOAF: Two things. One, How cool would it be for Jaguars cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter to get an interception and then on the following drive score a touchdown? Two, Are your trolling us with the comment "Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead is reported by the team to have a sore back and is considered day-to-day." Is this former Jaguars cornerback and All-Pro Jalen Ramsey all over again? Talk me down from the ledge.

Nicholas: Two things. One, that would be cool. Two, the comment "Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead is reported by the team to have a sore back and is considered day-to-day" is neither a comment nor trolling. It's what's happening with Armstead.

Ken from Rabun Gap, GA

Greetings, Mr. Oehser. With Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen coming from the Sean McVay tree, do you think his views on playing in preseason games will mirror McVay's? Not sure what Tampa did last year, but McVay doesn't seem to play starters in any of the preseason games. Thanks!

Coen addressed this Tuesday, saying he hadn't yet decided on playing time for the Jaguars' preseason opener against the Steelers at EverBank Stadium Sunday. He also discussed the differences between the Los Angeles Rams, who indeed rarely play starters in the preseason under McVay, and Tampa Bay – where Coen worked last season and where starters played extensively in the preseason. Coen said the issue was indeed something of a dilemma but didn't offer much of a hint at how he might handle it. My guess is the Jaguars probably will play starters for a series of two Saturday and a little more in at least one of the final two preseason games. But that's only a guess and I expect Coen over time will settle on a preseason routine.

Jim from Beaches East of Jax

O-Zone, you are doing a commendable job in replacing Gene as the "King of all Funk." Big shoes to fill, but you are up to the task of parrying with the Jag fans. Still curious, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Alive.