JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
If this ain't the dead zone, Zone, I don't know what it is. This is boring. The draft can't get here fast enough.
I'm sorry you're bored. Being bored can be, well … boring. But whatever your mood or perception of this stretch of the NFL offseason, this current zone really isn't all that dead at all. Not only are teams preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, and not only are teams still exploring "second-and third-wave" free agency, we're also entering one of the newsier weeks of the offseason. The 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting begins Monday at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Ariz. This once again is an important "tentpole" event of the offseason – perhaps the most important NFL offseason event in terms of news, with the NFC Coaches breakfast scheduled Monday and AFC Coaches Breakfast scheduled the following day. Those are critical moments for offseason news, and Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen will speak at Tuesday morning's breakfast. Also: NFL Owners are expected to vote this week on where the Jaguars will play home games during the 2027 season – the final season of renovation before the 2028 opening of the Stadium of the Future. Dead zone? Hah, I think not. At least not yet.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
Has enough time passed, and is it dead enough in the O-Zone, that you might share some thoughts on what did go down with Baalke? I'm thinking we might not have had the coach and the year we just had if some machinations hadn't occurred to cause Shad to move on from Baalke. I would like to know more about those few days.
I don't know that there's that much to share that hasn't been "shared" already. Jaguars Owner Shad Khan on the day following the 2024 season dismissed Head Coach Doug Pederson and retained – for a time, at least – then-General Manager Trent Baalke. Khan said at the time that if any head coach candidate expressed reservations about working with Baalke – or organizational structure – he would be willing to address the issue. Baalke also had made clear he would step aside if it was an issue. Coen shortly thereafter initially pulled out of the Jaguars' head coaching search and planned to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as offensive coordinator. The Jaguars and Baalke parted ways shortly after Coen initially pulled out of consideration, and the Jaguars agreed to a deal with Coen shortly thereafter. Sometimes it takes the process to get a situation right. I don't know how the Jaguars' 2025 season would have played out had Coen not been the head coach. I do know the Jaguars' decision-making regime of Coen, General Manager James Gladstone and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli form an impressive, cohesive organizational structure that bodes well for the future.
Jim from Reno, NV
Not a question, but some random comments. I love the passion shown in this forum, most of it anger, and mostly around the lack of free-agent signings, is defensive end Travon Walker really worthy of an extension, and the ongoing saga with wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. I saw my first NFL game in 1962, and followed the then-San Diego Chargers right through their 1995 Super Bowl appearance. Talk about years of ups and downs. Been part of the Jaguars since the day I bought season tickets in 1993. My nephew is now employed by an NFL team. My take on all of this is more relaxed and measured. I completely trust this regime to do the right thing. Go Jags!
Good eye.
Nick from London
The opponents are probably harder this year; there's significant dead cap; maybe a lot of rookies don't make a fairly unaltered 53. Is this season looking more like 11-6 and 2027 is the better prospect for success? 11-6 likely to make the playoffs though ...
The Jaguars' schedule could be a smidge more difficult in 2026 than 2025. Such is the nature of a first-place schedule in the NFL. Remember, though: The Jaguars played very well against good teams in 2025 – beating postseason teams such as the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans. They also beat the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at points in the season when those teams were considered strong contenders. A tough schedule shouldn't mean the Jaguars can't succeed next season. I have no idea how the 2026 season is looking for the Jaguars because we're still nearly a month from the draft and more than five months from the regular-season opener. There's a decent chance the Jaguars won't win 13 games again. That doesn't remotely mean they won't have a successful season and I wouldn't at all say there's a better chance for success in 2027 than next season.
Cliff from Orange Park, FL
Wow, longtime reader and I think O-Zone just acknowledged the comments section, where I never go, in his answer to Roger from Jacksonville. Is this a first?
Did I acknowledge a "what?"
Kaydie from Riverside, Jacksonville, FL
I am aware we cannot necessarily package things up so simply but, generally speaking, from a player personnel standpoint, would it be accurate to state that prior regimes were a bit more focused on attributes, potential and projections whereas the current regime of Coen/Gladstone/Boselli seem to be focused more on whether a given player fits into the culture they desire and whether or not a player loves the game and can play football really well regardless of measurable attributes?
It's fair to say that both regimes took/take attributes/potential/projections into account in personnel decisions, just as it's fair to say both regimes took on-field performance and culture fit into account into those decisions. But yes … it's fair from this writer's view to say the current regime leans into on-field performance more than the previous regime and that the previous regime was more traits-based than the current one. Neither approach is wrong and both approaches have produced winning results around the league. The good news for the Jaguars is that the current regime's approach appears to be working.
Rick from Jacksonville Beach, FL
I keep reading that you're the king of all funk, or the king of all grizzly funk, or KOAGF or KOAF or whatever. Do you know how ridiculous this sounds? Enough already. Answer football questions, please.
I am the king of all funk.
JAY from THE BURG, FL
Travis Hunter is a football player. Anyone can see that. In his limited amount of play as a rookie, his ability at the NFL level was clear. He has to come back from a difficult injury. That's the nature of the game. The information from the front office and the coaching staff is positive that he will do so. They just have to trust each other, then like a racehorse turn him loose. He's a playmaker that can line up naturally at multiple positions. That provides options that create an advantage. And that's what this team is all about now. Anyone can see that.
It's the nature of Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter's NFL circumstances that he will be one of the league's most-scrutinized – and criticized – players. This will be true for the foreseeable future – and it might be true for his entire career. That's how it is when you're the No. 2 overall selection in the NFL Draft. It's particularly how it is when you are attempting to do something unique, which Hunter is certainly trying to do by playing extensively on offense and defense. Because Hunter is now also returning from a season-ending knee injury, there's certainly very little chance he will be less scrutinized than before. The positive for Hunter and the Jaguars is they appear to be approaching it in the measured way your email indicates – i.e., by letting Hunter do whatever's best for the team in as natural a way as possible without much thought about all the scrutiny. The more the Jaguars and Hunter can take that approach, the better for Hunter and the Jaguars.
Biff from City of Funk
With all this "fool" focus, shall we start an April 1 playlist? I pity the fool that would disagree with this. Ship of Fools. Fool on the Hill. Fool for the City. What a Fool Believes. Fooling Yourself. Love Fool. Fooling'. Fools Gold. Fooled Around and Fell In Love. Foolish Game. Now I'm thinking this is an "about me" playlist.
You're fooling no one with this drivel and if I may say so, you're on the verge of sounding foolish. As the great hair band Cinderella famously sort of said through a stunning amount of product, "I'm not your fool, Nobody's Fool … I'm no fool." It's foolhardy to think otherwise, if you ask me.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
When you're boring us to tears writing about tennis, you suck even more than usual.
I can't argue this.
