JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Wow. Asleep at the wheel much? Teams that need pass rushing help go out and GET pass rushing help. C'mon, Jags. Get in the game.

My Scooby Sense – not my Scobee or Spidey Sense – tells me you might kinda sorta be upset about the Los Angeles Rams and not the Jaguars trading for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett Monday. But although it is the nature of the TRADE MACHINE!!! that fans of every team not involved with such a trade bemoan their franchise not "being in the game," there are always realities with these types of "megadeals." The reality in this case is we really don't know if this ultimately will be a better deal for the Rams or the Browns. Consider: The Rams gave up not only defensive end Jared Verse, but three draft selections – a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder. That's a lot of equity, even considering Garrett's status as perhaps the NFL's top defensive player. There's also an element of organizational philosophy and timing involved, with the Rams – a franchise given to trading draft selections for veterans over the last decade – seemingly in an ultra-aggressive mode with quarterback Matthew Stafford now 38 years old and entering the one-season-at-a-time career stage. While the NFL always is a win-now league these days, the Jaguars are perhaps a little more about sustainable winning than trading draft selections for 30-year-old veterans. This is not to say the Rams' approach is wrong. Or that it won't work. It's just a bit different than the Jaguars' approach right now.

Mark from Archer

Well, I think it is safe to say that the Browns game just got tremendously easier.

The Jaguars play host to the Browns in the 2026 regular-season opener at EverBank Stadium September 13. Garrett's absence on paper and in theory takes away a very difficult matchup. But be wary of assuming the absence of any great player – particularly one who does not play quarterback – automatically means an easy or easier matchup in the NFL. That's a fool's game.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

I've got a fever, and the only solution is more OTA news. What's going out there, Zone?

This is an understandable request and – as always is the case with organized team activities – I will do my best to answer accurately without being misleading. This is difficult to do in OTAs and minicamps because the unpadded nature of those periods leads often to meaningless analysis – particularly at positions such as offensive line, defensive line and running back. While OTAs are important for those positions in terms of mental work, evaluating those positions without pads and contact leads to a lot of hyperbole and unwarranted excitement with very little substance. So, what's going on at OTAs? We have seen two sessions – last Tuesday and this past Monday. These were OTA sessions Nos. 1 and 4, with Head Coach Liam Coen saying on Monday there has been major emphasis on situational work and stressing players mentally. Perhaps the biggest storyline of the first sessions has been a strong start for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who appears to have far better chemistry with quarterback Trevor Lawrence than was the case last offseason. Wide receiver Parker Washington also has looked very good, as has wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. None of these aforementioned observations are unexpected or shocking, but they are positives. This also appears to be a deeper, stronger team than was the case a season ago. How much of this is real? How much do these observations matter? Tune in in August. The observations may be no better then, but what's happening on the field will matter a lot more.

Woody from Dunlap

KOAF: It is still very early, and pads are not yet on. Am asking if any of the undrafted free agents currently out on the practice field have caught your attention yet – and if so, who they might be?

With the previous answer as the backdrop, I'll say that running back J'Mari Taylor looked very, very fast on a play I watched last Tuesday. I thought to myself at the time, "Taylor looked very, very fast on that play I just watched. I wonder how he'll look in August."

Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA

Do you ever watch a score in tennis and think, "That's another point for Milos?"

On occasion.

Steve from Shreveport, LA

Hope is important. I hope the Jaguars have as great a year as last year, if not better. I hope that the O-Zone never stops. And until Monday, I hoped that one day you would email me back as you got through the list of thousands if not millions of O-Zone readers. Something simple like "Hey Steve C, (there are many Steves in the Zone) good to have you on the team." But after Monday's answer to James, I don't have that hope anymore. I just hope the Jags' year goes better than mine.

I'm wondering why you thought this. I'm not saying you were wrong for thinking it, just that it just never occurred to me that you would.

Peter from Jacksonville

Insanity on the red clay. Pure insanity. Who ya got now?

We have kinda sorta been keeping up with the ongoing French Open tennis tournament here in the O-Zone – likely to the chagrin of many O-Zone readers – and a slew of upsets indeed has made this one of the more insane tennis majors in recent memory. The list of top seeds out is too long to list here, but there will be a new men's and women's champion. I still like No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men's draw, and I think he may win relatively easy now that Jannik Sinner of France and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain are out. It's still very hard to pick against No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the women's draw. We're still holding out hope in Casa de O-Zone for Meera Andreeva of Russia. Stay tuned.

Jordan from Lincoln, NE

I'm sure a lot of people will say James Stewart for No. 33. I'm going with Greg Jones.

Possibilities for the discussion about the best player to wear No. 33 in Jaguars history include running back Chris Ivory (2016-2017), fullback Greg Jones (2004-2012), linebacker Devin Lloyd (2022-2024), running back Dare Ogunbowale (2020-2021), running back Devine Ozigbo (2019-2020), running back James Stewart (1995-1999) and running back Bhayshul Tuten (2025-present). It's a tough choice between Jones and Stewart here. I suppose I'm leaning toward Stewart. Or Jones. Or Stewart. Or …

Sam from Orlando, FL

The biggest hurdle that Greg Jones would have to clear in a battle with Eugene "Clementine" Frenette is if Gene is able to get to all fours and use his patented cheetah speed.

We joke sometimes here in the O-Zone about former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette. But there's no room for jokes when discussing Gene's athleticism and strength. Does Gene have cheetah speed? No doubt. But he needs only two legs to reach what he calls "kitty cat" speed, not two.

Taylor from Ellicott City, MD

Hi, John - For the fan who asked about the NFL experience at M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens' stadium … I am going with a large group and they are welcome to tailgate with us. I am from the area and have never experienced any undue harassment. The more Jaguars fans at the game the better!

This is in response to a recent O-Zone question from John from Pennsylvania about how Baltimore Ravens fans treat opposing fans. It was asked in advance of the Jaguars' playing a Thursday night game there on November 5 of the 2026 season. I didn't have a great answer. This is a better answer than mine.

Kerry from Millersville, MD

Hey, Zone. Aa note to John from Pa. - Although a night game might be a little different (more drinking?), Ravens fans are just like most others. Since relocating to the D.C. area, I have been to Baltimore, Philly, New York (actually New Jersey) and others for games wearing Jags gear. Have never had an issue at any of them. Was actually at the Ravens game when we won on the field goal after the game clock was at 0:00 (following at defensive penalty), so clearly an "upsetting" loss for the home team and we (my adult daughter and I) had no trouble with the opposing fans. Of course, we weren't jumping around mocking the Ravens fans, but we also didn't slink out hiding our team colors. A big thing to know for the Ravens is there is almost no parking surrounding the stadium, so there is little reason for fans to "hang out" just outside, which is where the majority of "incidents" occur. We also have our four tickets for that game as well.

This is a good answer, too.