JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Fred from Naples, FL

The question from the media regarding the performance of Travis Etienne went something along the lines of "how has Travis Etienne looked so far?" No one from the media asked Jaguars Head Liam Coen if there was any truth to the rumor that Travis might be traded. Why did Liam Coem elect to answer a question that was never asked?

You're referencing Coen discussing running back Travis Etienne Jr. Monday following Day 7 of Jaguars 2025 organized team activities. Coen in response to the question you cite praised Etienne's offseason approach, then finished his comments about Etienne saying: "He has done a great job. I don't really understand some of the stuff that I've seen out there. That's absolutely inaccurate." Why did he choose to say this? I assume he had seen or been told about the interweb chatter speculating that Etienne could be traded this offseason. I further assume he wanted to assure observers and media – and even Etienne – that that chatter was unfounded. That would certainly make sense.

William from Jacksonville

Tell the truth, KOAF. Is quarterback Trevor Lawrence looking as good in OTAs as your biased reporting is telling us?

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has looked fine in '25 OTAs. He has looked better in recent weeks than he did early, exactly the sort of improvement you expect from a quarterback in his first season under a new regime. The Jaguars' coaches and decision-makers like what they're seeing. They really like his approach and his progress. So far, so good.

Benjamin from Jacksonville, FL BWO Upstate SC

Outside of a high draft pick, Dawuane Smoot was the guy I hoped the Jaguars would bring in to be the rotational third pass rusher. Glad to have him back in teal. Do you have any noteworthy Smoot stories from his first seven seasons in Jax?

I don't know that I have any great specific stories about Smoot, who re-signed with the Jaguars Tuesday. I do know I enjoyed covering him as much as any player in the last decade and a half. I enjoyed watching him mature from a "green" rookie to a mature, contributing player. He is from this perspective a good guy who sincerely loves playing in Jacksonville, loves this community and works to get the most from his NFL career. The Jaguars' current decision-makers talk a lot about wanting players who love football. They absolutely did that Tuesday when they re-signed Smoot.

John from Pinehurst NC

Smoooooot! Glad to have him back. What do you think his chances are to make the roster?

Quite good.

Glenn from Schofield Barracks, HI

Johnny! One fer Smoot!! Welcome home!

One fer Smoot …

Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville

SMOOOOT!!

… and another …

Dmiz from Sacksonville

Wow, John. D SMOOT IS BACK. Heck, yeah!!! Even if he is on the practice squad, I love this move. Definitely increasing the level of the team imo. I don't want to get too excited because of all the past frustrations, but I'm cautiously optimistic about this new coaching regime. Let's go Sacksonville!!!

… and still another fer …

Jim from Jagsonville

SMOOOOT!!

… Smoooooot!

Sam from Orlando, FL

I was in attendance at "Bash at the Beach" 1996 when Eugene "Hollywood" Frenette shocked the world, dropped the leg and joined the NWO. Frankly, nothing has been the same since.

Former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette apparently was involved in something at the beach with something called NWO. Gene's reach perhaps unsurprisingly extends well beyond what even I previously imagined.

Travis from Chattanooga via Ormond Beach

Hi, OZ! What about the Stanley Cup Finals? Still sticking with Edmonton or switching to the defending Cats?

My untrained NFL eye has told me from the beginning of this postseason that the Edmonton Oilers are the best team. They were impressive Wednesday, rallying to beat the Florida Panthers in overtime, 4-3, in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. I'm sticking with the Oilers.

Doug from Jacksonville, FL

You may be the KOAF but not even that allows you to speak with sacrilege concerning longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette!!!!! You dared answered the question about his motivational speaking role for the team with "Give him time to rest." Travis Hunter gets tired watching him. To imply he needs to rest implies he is merely mortal. I hope they have moved your office and he no longer knows where to find you.

Fair. That one's on me.

Howard from Homestead

When can we expect to see longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette in the "Pride of the Jaguars?"

Whenever he damned well wants.

James from Salt Lake City via Jagsonville

Mr. O, I meant to write you back when this happened. Last year, I remember watching Trevor at the podium for one of his press conferences. I think even during preseason. And he was smiling, was not saying anything. Then he pointed to the back, and said I'm waiting on Gene. I figured it had to be the one and only Jean Franette. Who else could it have been?

Honestly? No one.

Ken from Jacksonville

If Kyle Pitts still had two or three years on his rookie contract, you would give up next season's second-round pick. right? I think it would a great move, too – if there was a way to rework his contract for years to come given he's only 24. What say you, O?

I say there's often more to potential NFL trades than what is reported – and I say there often are reasons mega-talented players are available in free agency or via trade. This is not to say I wouldn't want the Jaguars to trade for Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts if the Falcons were so inclined -- and it's not to say I wouldn't want to sign him to a long-term contract if warranted. But it is to say that I would want to know why a player as talented as Pitts is so readily available if I was committing a lot of high-end, long-term resources.

David from The Island

At what level in the organization would some like Schefter or Rapaport be comfortable to use as an "unnamed" source? Do folks inside the building likely know who the source is? How often does the source find out that his security card doesn't work the following Monday?

I can't speak for Adam Schefter of ESPN or Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, but I respect both as reporters and journalists – and based on their reputations and consistent accuracy, it can be safely assumed that their "unnamed sources" are almost always from very high levels. Respected national media such as Schefter and Rapoport usually have solid relationships with key decision-makers – i.e., head coach and general managers – in most NFL organizations. They also have close, working relationships with all/most prominent agents representing most of the NFL's key players. I don't have a feel for how many people inside how many NFL teams know who does or doesn't talk to national media, but yes … if the wrong people in that building say the wrong things to those national guys the wrong people's security code might be an issue the following day.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John. It is not the "Dead Zone" yet. There are several intriguing storylines coming out of OTAs. One of the most interesting is the veiled revelations from some of the leaders of the Jags' defense about the actual level of disfunction last year under then-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. With each narrow loss, many in The Zone wondered about guys playing out of position, the incessant rotations at inexplicable moments, key players looking overweight and slow, blown coverages on key downs, etc. Now the players have tacitly confirmed our suspicions and pointed the finger of blame. No organization can move forward without reflection on lessons learned. Are the players being fair in scapegoating Coach Nielsen, or is he just the convenient excuse needed to put last year to bed and move forward?

We're reaching the point where there may be little left to analyze in this topic here in the O-Zone. The results last season are enough evidence that whatever was happening for the Jaguars defensively just didn't work. The comments of multiple Jaguars players this offseason have made relatively clear they didn't believe in defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. I don't know how to responsibly or accurately assign blame in matters such as these because it's impossible to know ALL facts and circumstances. I do know once NFL players don't believe in a coach there's little chance that what a coach is doing will work.

Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter

John - I think Trevor should play every game this season with mittens on, Cam Little should kick left-footed, and the defense should rotate into different positions volleyball-style after each play. Please forward these suggestions to Mr. Khan. I've always wanted to be an NFL coach.

Shad Khan … hire this man!!