JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it … Dakota from Copperopolis:
I know it's easy to pick on play-calling, and we fans do it way too much, but I think it's clear we saw the worst play call ever on Sunday. Agree?
John: Obviously there have been worse play calls in NFL history. But given the profile of the game – and given the presence of Marshawn Lynch in the backfield … and given that the Seahawks had a timeout … well, it's a head-scratcher. Wow. Just wow.
Dean from Rochester, NY:
You run the ball, John. You run the ball. What the …?
John: I don't know.
Henry from Jacksonville:
Why would Blake Bortles choose to work with career backup quarterback Jordan Palmer during the offseason? If his (Palmer's) fundamentals are so exemplary, wouldn't he have a starting job in the NFL?
John: Not necessarily. You can know an awful lot about fundamentals, teaching and coaching and not have the pure talent needed to start in the NFL. From being around Palmer for a short time, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he has a long career working with young quarterbacks after his playing days are over. It's something he's interested in doing, and while this is hardly a scientific assessment, from watching him at Bortles' Pro Day last offseason, he appears knowledgeable and comfortable in that environment. Perhaps most importantly, Bortles trusts Palmer and feels that working with Palmer helped him considerably last offseason. It's Bortles' career. He's an adult and a professional. If he has confidence in Palmer, then he should work with him.
DUVAL DOOM from Jacksonville:
Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I actually posted on Twitter how happy I was the team has an offseason sponsor. Stability.
John: Yes.
Keith from Palatka, FL:
I have beaten the drum for years that the Jaguars' offensive line has to be fixed. I applaud the hiring of Doug Marrone, but hope the Powers That Be do not think that the only solution to the problem is to just "coach 'em up." Certainly, the offensive line needed better coaching, but we also need some better players on the offensive line. I hope that right tackle is not the only position addressed in free agency and/or the draft. Do you think the Jaguars are finally serious about fixing the offensive line?
John: General Manager David Caldwell appeared to lay this out pretty clearly in his season-ending press conference when he said the Jaguars felt good about left tackle, right guard and center. He left out right tackle and said Zane Beadles improved in the second half of the season. Listening to that, it's reasonable to think the Jaguars will pursue right tackle heavily and try to improve at left guard if possible. As far as the Jaguars being serious about fixing the offensive line – they used the No. 2 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft on left tackle Luke Joeckel, signed Beadles in free agency last offseason and also drafted center Luke Bowanko and guard Brandon Linder last offseason. That's four significant acquisitions in two offseasons while also rebuilding the rest of the roster … how much more serious about the offensive line are they supposed to be?
Rick from Panama City, FL:
I heard Brian (Sexton) say (on Jags of the Round Table) the Jags might (or should) draft a running back. My question is: Are the players on the team currently not good enough? And who do you think will be cut if they do draft one?
John: The running backs on the team are good. Denard Robinson and Toby Gerhart in particular can start in the NFL and run effectively if the offensive line plays well. But there are certainly better running backs in the NFL and if the Jaguars could improve that area in the offseason, this may be the year they do it. Who would get cut? Well, we're way, way ahead of ourselves here, obviously, but … I would think Jordan Todman could be on the team for special teams. That would probably mean Storm Johnson not being on the active roster, though he has practice-squad eligibility remaining.
Mike from St. Mary's, GA:
"Yes, and maybe it won't be." Meaning the Colts will be running away with the division ...
John: Why?
Jamie from an Oil Rig in the Gulf of Mexico:
With the talk of the stadium improvements and shipyards, possible practice bubble, etc. … Realistically how far away are we from hosting another Super Bowl? Go Jags!!
John: Realistically, the city is probably a long way away – as much because of national and league perception as its merits as a Super Bowl city. I continue to believe that Jacksonville has a chance to host the game again, and there's no question that the concept of improving the Shipyards – whatever those plans may be – will help dramatically toward that end. When Jaguars Owner Shad Khan has been asked about this in the past, he has talked of a lot of things needing to be done – stabilizing the franchise, stadium improvements and upgrades, etc. Once those things get done, though … well, let's just say that while Khan hasn't publicly embraced the idea of getting the Super Bowl in Jacksonville, if he sets his mind on something there's a good chance of it happening.
Jimmy from Jacksonville:
Let's say the Jags trade back in the first round and draft a right tackle. Would you view such a move as a wise decision, given the depth of LEOs in this draft class?
John: You don't know for a long time if a draft-day move is a wise one because you don't know for a long time how draft selections ultimately develop. But I'd have a hard time saying a first-round right tackle is a wise move. The old-school, "safe-pick" guy in me says there are certain positions you take if you have an early first-round draft pick and right tackle isn't one of those positions. And as far as waiting to take a Leo pass rusher later in the draft … I don't know. The Jaguars already have "good" pass rushers and they have some "very good" pass rushers. What they need is what most teams need: great ones.
Sam from Bellmore:
With the third pick in the draft, what positions do the Jaguars need to go shopping for?
John: The Jaguars need an impact player with the No. 3 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. You want impact players from every selection, of course, but it's easier to get them selecting early. My guess right now – nearly three months out – is that the Jaguars will select a pass rusher/defensive linemen there. We'll see.
Ross from Mechanicsville, VA:
We can't handle the truth. We want you on that wall. We need you on that wall... Please?
John: K.
Chris from Jacksonville Beach, FL:
The chatter is starting about Marcus Mariota's spread background scaring off potential employers, yet wouldn't it be the perfect storm if he were to drop to No. 3 and the 20-plus teams looking for a quarterback were suddenly willing to unload multiple picks?
John: There is indeed a lot about Mariota and the spread that concerns NFL teams. But the same chatter that would drop him to No. 3 could drop him further than that. If that happens, I don't know that this storm would be all that perfect for the Jaguars.
Wallace from Jacksonville:
Offensive coordinator Greg Olson saying he wants to have an improved rushing attack is a great goal. But isn't that what nearly every OC says? All this talk about Bortles is the focus I think is a little off base. The offensive line needs just as much focus. Coach 'em up Doug Marrone!
John: I'll pass it along.
Roger from Jacksonville:
John, fans are worried about Olson and the offense – that the players won't fit his scheme. If memory serves there was this coach that was under Don Coryell. He became a head coach and wanted to run the Air Coryell offense. He saw that he did not have the personnel to run it, went in a different direction and talked a running back out of retirement and went on to win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. Also had a place kicker win the league MVP.
John: You're taking about Joe Gibbs, who indeed had the ability to adapt to personnel perhaps as well as any coach in NFL history. It's why the Redskins won three Super Bowls during his first stint as head coach, and it's why he's a Hall of Famer. I wouldn't put Olson in that category, but yeah, it's not unheard of for a coach to adapt to personnel.
Nate from Golden:
Hey O-Zone! I was thinking about your amazing, self-proclaimed, new nickname "True Winner" and I came to this conclusion: I can now call you TW for short. This makes me think of Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods makes me think of actual tigers. Tigers are kinda like Jaguars.
John: I stopped reading at True Winner. #Truewinner
Brian from Orange Park, FL:
FYI, the Patriots beat the Seahawks, 28-24 in the Super Bowl Sunday. You said the Seahawks would win and it wouldn't be close. What happened, Zone?
John: I was wrong.