JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kevin from Jacksonville Beach, FL

Hi, John. Why worry about the schedule? This is a week-to-week league. Put together a game plan for who you are playing this week and don't worry about what's next. Win now and everything works out. Otherwise you're picking early in the draft next year.

This is how most good NFL head coaches and administrators I've known approach the schedule. They may naturally look at a few "premium" matchups and mentally circle a prime-time game – or perhaps a game against a former team – upon first seeing the schedule, but soon after that they remember what anyone who really knows the NFL knows – that it's a year-to-year league in which "power teams" and difficult matchups can change quickly. And even a so-called "bad" team more often than not is a tough matchup. Remember last season? When the Jaguars were one of the NFL's worst teams at 4-13? They had a very real chance to beat the eventual Super Bowl champion, the Philadelphia Eagles, on the road late in the season. They also had a very real chance to beat the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, two of the NFC's best teams, at home during the meat of the regular season. The difference between good and bad teams is usually small and can be determined by belief, momentum and/or injury – all things that are hard to project when the schedule is released in May. Play the schedule, realize all games are tough and make plays late in close games. If you do that, you give yourself a chance for a successful season more often than not.

Steven from Ponte Vedra, FL

I am excited to see wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter on both sides of the ball this year. I think the approach for him to play full time on offense and bring him along a little slower on defense is logical. I am curious to see how he holds up at the beginning of the year versus the end. The humidity in Florida can make even the best athletes struggle late in the early season games. But wear and tear near the end of the season can be an issue as well. I hope he can hold up as well as Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone predicts.

These are legitimate concerns and storylines regarding Hunter, but legitimate concerns are part of the terrain when you're doing something without precedent. It's likely correct to assume that ordinary athletes would have the issues you cite and that ordinary athletes would have difficult overcoming those issues. But extraordinary athletes are different than ordinary athletes and can do things physically that ordinary athletes can't do. Hunter is an extraordinary athlete and time will tell just what he can do.

Rob from San Antonio, TX

KOAF, sign me up for O-Zone commercial items: mug, running shorts, even your own line of eyewear! The possibilities are endless and the masses demand it!

"masses"

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. I wonder how you are taking the Jaguars' strength of schedule being the most difficult this season. Only 10 games with 1 p.m. start times. Are you coping OK?

I long ago gave up any realistic chance of my dream schedule of 17 1 p.m. home games, though I indeed continue to seek it on a Quixotic quest – a quest I would like to call noble but is better described as sad. I therefore no longer get emotional about the Jaguars' schedule. I instead do what I usually do these days – take my loss like a half a man, weep a bit and stagger forth for the next challenge.

Sean from Saint Johns City

Is there any chance the mug can have a ponytail?

Ew.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. One upgrade to the Jags through free agency and the draft, we have all noticed, is speed. Wondering how many positions that actually affects? Per your articles certainly running back and wide receiver. Any other notable spots? Thanks.

The most notable area where the Jaguars have improved speed this offseason are wide receiver and running back – with the addition of Dyami Brown and Hunter at wide receiver and Bhayshul Tuten at running back. That's some serious speed and should be very noticeable immediately. One would presume they're also a touch more athletic and fast at cornerback with the addition of Hunter there.

I am Jeff from USA

Not a question, more of a Statement: James Gladstone is going to reshape the NFL hierarchy. NO longer will we have a player that is the "Face of the Franchise." The young man just has an aura about him that says "I'm in charge". In my opinion. Just what the Jags need.

I don't expect Gladstone to be the face of the franchise – at least not any time soon. I don't expect him to want to be the face of the franchise. General managers by their nature are high-profile around the draft and free agency before being more of a behind-the-scenes presence thereafter. I do expect him to a major reason the Jaguars start looking like a better team soon, and that's his focus.

Johnny from Syracuse, NY

I'm pretty excited that the Jaguars continue to find talent from Syracuse football. Before was Andre Cisco who had a few good seasons, but better yet LeQuint Allen, who was picked up this year I think will prove to be more valuable. Do you believe he stands a decent chance of playing with such a crowded backfield? Thanks.

Definitely.

Marty from Jacksonville

Hey, John, Regarding Travis Hunter, I am skeptical that anyone can play both ways full time in the NFL. But what excites me is that, even if he doesn't play both ways full time, at the very least he gives us a choice: we can have possibly the best set of wide receivers in the history of the franchise, or we can have the best set of cornerbacks in the history of the franchise. What a choice to have. At the very least.

Brian Thomas Jr. is well on his way to being really good as he enters his second NFL season. Hunter appears to have a chance to be very good. They will have to be very, very, very good for a long time to be the best set of wide receivers in franchise history.

Ed from Jax by Lionel Playworld

If the Jaguars are a competitive playoff team over the next three years, and Travis Hunter is the third best wide receiver and cornerback on the team in each of those years, would he have met the team's expectations?

Probably not. I expect the Jaguars at minimum expect Hunter to be one of the best two receivers – and making a significant impact offensively – and I expect they expect him to be a top-level corner. It remains to be seen how playtime will look over the next two-to-three seasons, but he should be playing at a Pro Bowl level somewhere at some point.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

How does post-game availability get decided for interviews? I have a feeling rookie wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter will be selected early on, just due to performance.

Quarterbacks and head coaches typically speak at podiums after games. All other players by rule are supposed to available to talk either in the locker room or – if the performance and demand merits it – at the postgame podium.

Jesse from Texas

Did former Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis tell the coaches/front office that he wouldn't be willing to be on special teams? Has there ever been a case where a player such as him underperformed to this extent, and then chose to give part of his salary back to the team?

Players don't have to tell coaches and the front office if they're willing to play on special teams; if you've never done it in five seasons, it's hard to start doing it in Year Six. As for players giving money back to the team if they underperform, I've never heard of it. Remember, too: Players are like normal people. When things don't work out, it's usually someone else's fault.

Jeffrey from Middleburg

New rookie general manager. New rookie head coach. New rookie executive vice president of football operations. New playbook. New offensive and defensive coordinator. New revamped offensive line. Second-year No. 1 receiver. New rookie wide receiver/cornerback with expectations through the roof. New cornerback and safety. Compete to win the division and playoff appearance? Man I hope so but that's lofty goals. Head Coach of the year type of stuff.

Fair.

Steve from Nashville, TN

In a five-wide set, I see Hunter and Thomas there but who are the other three pass catchers opening day?

I expect Thomas, Brown, Travis Hunter, Parker Washington and a player yet to be determined to be the Jaguars' five wide receivers in Week 1.

Armand from Jacksonville

John how are the front office and scouts looking now that the draft is over?

Good.