JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Bradley from Sparks, NV
It seems like a James Robinson/Travis Etienne Jr. one-two punch should be the identity of this offense. They had 21 combined touches last week. What do you think the number will be this week?
Robinson and Etienne certainly will be key to the Jaguars' offense this season, but people who are waiting for this to be a run-first offense based on giving the ball to that duo and letting everything else play off that are going to be frustrated. Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson discussed this multiple times this week and gave zero indication that he plans to dramatically change the offense. The plays called against the Washington Commanders in Week 1 were there. The offense moved effectively. A few key mistakes cost the Jaguars a bunch of points. I would expect Robinson/Etienne to maybe get a few more combined touches Sunday, but I wouldn't expect a major change.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
I was encouraged by James Robinson's performance last week. Will he be featured this week? This seems like a run the ball, stop the run week.
Robinson will be integral to the Jaguars' offense. If you're expecting him to be featured in an old-school sense of featuring a running back … well, I would not expect that.
Kait from Fleming Island
O: If the coaching staff and players can continue to make adjustments when things are falling apart, I think we'll be OK. Hopefully, homefield advantage will kick in this week and we won't have too many adjustments. Also, what is a Bullet Bob??
A Bullet Bob is an India Pale Ale from Strings. A strong argument could be made that I spend too many Friday evenings at Strings. A similar argument could be made for other evenings. An equally strong argument could be made that I have imbibed too many Bullet Bobs. If loving Bullet Bobs is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Ronnie from St. Pete, FL
What makes you think this season has something to keep us hoping for? Same old shenanigans from the front office, yet it's just another year.
This answer depends on your perspective, your expectations and your definition of success. If your definition of success is the postseason and nothing less will satisfy you, I suspect it will be "just another year." I could be wrong, but I don't see the 2022 Jaguars as a playoff team. And it's OK for that to be the only definition of success. But if you see success as improving and showing signs of being a serious contender moving forward, then I saw a lot in the regular-season opener to make you think that's possible. Very possible.
David from Chuluota, FL
Zone - Remember many years ago, there used to be this saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say nothing at all?" How about "treat others the way you want to be treated?" When did these sentiments go out of fashion?
When did Twitter start?
Sam from Orlando, FL
This isn't a knock on Trevor Lawrence. This is more of a question about how important a quarterback is to a football team. If Justin Herbert or Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback for this team in 2022, what is the ceiling? In your opinion.
I would project the Jaguars wining nine or 10 games(ish) with Mahomes and eight or nine(ish) games with Herbert. As you say, this not a knock on Lawrence. It's more about Mahomes and Herbert being at different levels of development in their careers than Lawrence.
Richard from Beaver, PA
If you are thinking that you have ten items to overcome to attain victory, what are your odds? So the Jaguars made so many mistakes ... maybe the opponent had something to do with that, but we do not want to talk about that.
I assume you're referencing our "Ten Things" article, a jaguars.com tradition that predates my dated tenure as senior writer. Your question makes me wonder if you read this article, because it is not – and never was – ten items to "overcome." It's 10 things the Jaguars need to do to win. It's a way of setting the stage for a game, not a way of finding team weakness or "gotchas!" And yes … the Jaguars made mistakes in a Week 1 loss to Washington. No one around the Jaguars ever said the Commanders had nothing to do with that. Who didn't want to talk about that? Where's the conspiracy? Is there always a conspiracy? Seriously.
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John: Not a knock on Lawrence, but he was considered an almost can't-fail first pick. What is different about Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow or Drew Rosen that made them more successful while Lawrence is "figuring it out?"
All quarterbacks are different and enter the league in different circumstances. Lawrence spent his rookie season in a mess of circumstances and now this season he has played one game in what appear to be better circumstances. Drew Rosen?
Just shy of the Ditch The Ville
Strange feelings in advance. Nervous that Indy comes in with a chippy attitude and Jags are caught. Please tell me the pros are laser focused and don't let emotions which win ball games on Friday and Saturday to infiltrate The 'Bank?
I confess to not knowing exactly – or remotely – what a lot of this means. I expect the Colts to enter Sunday's game focused because their 26-11 loss to the Jaguars last December shook their franchise. It's hard to believe there won't be at least some emotions and motivations stemming from that. But I doubt that will win or lose the game for the Colts. I expect the Colts will win because I see them as the best team in the division and division-winning teams typically win one of their first two games – and because they're a more mature roster than the Jaguars. Perhaps I'll be wrong. That would be cooler than being right.
Don from Marshall NC
It has been enjoyable watching Matt Ryan over the years. That guy has put some serious career stats on the board. He has got to know that all the chunky soup in the world is not going to help this Sunday. Doug Pederson era begins first home game. This to me feels like a big game. Go Jaguars!
Don is ready for some football.
_John from Sebastian _
O, how do you see Jags' offensive line stacking up against Colts' defensive line? Should Trevor have more time in the pocket?
This will be a key matchup because of the presence of Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue. I expect those two players to impact – but not wreck – the game.
Daniel from Jersey City, NJ
O-man, how does a team practice "making less penalties"?
It's more about emphasizing it than practicing it. You emphasize it, then you play and hope.
Mark from Orange Park, FL
For all "fair weather" fans I simply ask them to contrast the first game last year versus the first game this year, it's day and night in terms of improvement. We're heading in the right direction. Your thoughts?
My thoughts are that the Jaguars' improved from the 2021 regular-season opener to the 2022 regular-season opener, and that it would be hard not to see that improvement when looking through a reasonable and analytical eye. It's not the responsibility of fans to look at games through a reasonable and analytical eye, and I'm never surprised when they don't. When Jaguars' direction translates into winning, more fans will see the improvement. As would be expected and as is completely understandable.
David from Oviedo, FL
Ozone – You and most football prognosticators expect the Jags to win around five to seven games this year. If we win seven games, that means we lose 10 games. It seems some fans are not prepared for what "losing more games than winning" looks and feels like? Good thing, the Ozone is open every day so angry fans can vent and abuse you, until they figure it out.
Yeah, that's great.
James from Jacksonville
I know that you are going to say that I am overreacting, but I still fear that our OL needs help. We received way too many penalties throughout the game, but our offensive line does not look good to me. What am I overlooking that brings hope for our O-Line?
Offensive lines can improve throughout a season as they play together. Rookie centers such as Luke Fortner can improve as they gain experience. And quarterbacks such as Lawrence can help their offensive line as they gain experience at the line and in the pocket.
Jess from Glen Carbon, IL
Zone, you've been accused of saying numerous things over the years that may or may not have any merit. However, I have not known you to outright lie to your readers. So I was quite shocked with your response that Northeast Florida cultural icon Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette's power has its limits. That may go down in the annuls of history as the greatest lie ever spoken.
My bad.
