JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it … Tom from Loughborough, England:
I'm intrigued. Are the Jaguars looking to start Blair Brown at linebacker this season?
John: The Jaguars as of now are projecting second-year veteran Blair Brown as the starting strong-side linebacker with Myles Jack moving to the middle full time after starting at strong-side linebacker and playing middle in nickel situations last season. If Jack and weak-side linebacker Telvin Smith are healthy, Brown likely will play strong-side in base situations and come off the field on passing situations. There was speculation the Jaguars could select a linebacker to play Brown's spot in the 2018 NFL Draft. Had the board fallen that way early, that might have been their direction. But once the draft moved past the third or fourth round, it made sense to stay with Brown.
Nick from Palatka, FL:
Mr. Zone, TIAA Bank Field? Doesn't just roll off the tongue now does it? I'm glad I'm not Shadrick!
John: Yes. Yes, you are.
Bodd from Dresden, NC:
John, do the rookies and unsigned players get paid at all during camp?
John: Rookies get paid about $150 a day for per diem during the offseason program, which doesn't include the housing provided by the team. They get about $1,000 a week for training camp and that also doesn't include the housing provided by the team.
Adam from Jacksonville:
Hi.
John: Shut up.
Dave from Oviedo, FL:
O-Zone, on 12/31/14, Doug Marrone quit the Buffalo Bills. On 1/20/15, Marrone became the assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. On 12/19/16, for the last two games of the season, Marrone became the interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. At this point, I don't think anyone would have predicted that this story would end with Head Coach Doug Marrone leading the Jacksonville Jaguars, just a few plays away from a Super Bowl appearance. This is truly a Cinderella Story … with a baloney sandwich on the side. Yes, one fer Doug Marrone, but also one fer Shad Khan and Tom Coughlin for believing in Doug Marrone, when there was reasonable doubt, they saw through all the hoopla, and picked the right man to lead our team.
John: Fair point.
Biff from Jacksonville :
September 22: Jason Isbell-The Decemberists-Lucero in St. Augustine. September 23: Jags host Titans. I think we need an O-Zone gathering at the Amphitheater on the 22nd. And someone in one of those bands needs a Jaguars jersey.
John: Also a fair point.
Jessie from Richmond, VA:
The injuries on kickoffs don't seem to be as big a deal to fans watching at home because of the way the games are structured for TV. There is always a commercial timeout following the kickoff, so unless the player is down for a significant amount of time, it may not be shown. These are also often less "notable" players, and commentators may not mention it, particularly as they are often covering highlights of the previous drive/score. Sorry, I guess that wasn't really a question, I just want people to realize that a ton of injuries happen on kickoffs, even at the high school level.
John: I was surprised when I learned that concussion risk was five times more on kickoffs than "regular" plays. That's a huge number. But I wasn't surprised the risk was higher. And I wasn't surprised that it was considered the most dangerous play in football. I have seen some sickening collisions on kickoffs, and I do think the game can survive with kickoffs altered and/or eliminated. I don't want to see them eliminated, necessarily, but if eliminating them can make the game dramatically safer then it may be a step that needs to be taken.
Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Why not find a 300-pound offensive lineman who blocks good and has good hands and make him a tight end? That's what they need. Is that hard to do?
John: Yes.
Marcus from Jacksonville:
Hey, John: Why did we not keep Chris Ivory? I felt that he made a great running back duo with Leonard Fournette, and we could use Corey Grant as a speed back.
John: Ivory was playing sparingly or not at all at the end of last season and in the postseason. He also was comparatively pricey on the salary cap. For a 30-year-old running back, that's a difficult combination.
Cliff from Callahan, FL:
I guess I don't understand the meaning of "local revenue." I thought it was the amount of money brought in from "home games" including London. The Jaguars have 10 home games (including preseason) so even if each home game generated an equal amount of revenue that would be 10 percent per game. I would think that a regular season game brings in a bit more than a preseason game, so if London is only bringing in 11 percent that seems like it's right in line with a normal Jacksonville game. Can you clarify?
John: Local revenue essentially is money generated by teams themselves as opposed to revenue shared by the teams and generated by the television contacts. It includes the 10 home games, and also includes other revenue streams – merchandising and sponsorship included.
Rhonda from Jacksonville:
If Jaguars Owner Shad Khan buys Wembley Stadium, is there any chance we can play a back-to-back home and away in London? I think that could be a tremendous advantage.
John: I certainly wouldn't rule that out.
Rick from Franconia, VA:
O, do you think the Jags would be willing to enter the season with just Leonard Fournette, T.J. Yeldon and Corey Grant at running back (plus a fullback) in order to keep more talented players at other positions?
John: No, but I think they would open next season with that group plus Tim Cook at running back. They like Cook more than many people realize.
Daniel from Jersey City, NJ:
O-man, sometimes I have really good questions. Clearly, sometimes I don't.
John: Good question.
Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Defensive end Calais Campbell and defensive tackle Malik Jackson won't stay young forever. The front office has to constantly look for the Yannick Ngakoues and Taven Bryans to ensure the quality doesn't drop off. You gotta churn the butter.
John: Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop. Draft and develop.
Wayne from Atlanta, GA:
Just wanted to pass along that Wayne from Atlanta will soon be Wayne from Jacksonville. After 21 years away I am moving back home in June. I just wanted to take a moment to thank this website. I have lived several places over these years, from Pennsylvania, Georgia and California and a couple of places in between, and finding any Jaguar information was pretty much impossible. When I found this website, what, back in 1999 or somewhere there about, it became my regular source for anything Jags. I set this page to my home screen on pretty much every browser I've used over the years. I have depended on you, and with pretty much 100 percent consistency, your site has been there for me. Not sure if anyone there now has been around since the start, but for everyone that has had an influence on this place over the years, THANK YOU!
John: I do a great job. I don't think anyone would argue that. If they do, they have no idea what they're talking about and are stupid.
JPO from Duval:
Why haven't teams been interested in Del Rio since he was fired from Raiders?
John: I don't know. Former Jaguars and Raiders Head Coach Jack Del Rio clearly is an accomplished defensive coordinator. He could work in the league if he "so desires." He has made a lot of money coaching and is at the point where he almost certainly doesn't have to coach. It's a time-consuming profession and he has done it a long time. Perhaps he doesn't "so desire" right now.
Tommy from Jacksonville:
John ... I remember seeing you in Bink's record store back in the eighties. I was buying the latest album by the Pretenders and you were purchasing the new Air Supply record. Has your taste in music improved since then? Just curious.
John: I spent my fair share of time at Bink's Records and Tapes. Good store. But while guilty of many fashion and even musical transgressions in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I am not guilty of buying an Air Supply record. I'm not saying I wouldn't have bought it. And I'm not saying I never bought an Andy Gibb record. I'm not saying I didn't own a Grease T-Shirt with Olivia Newton-John in black leather. I'm not saying I never wore a Beatles belt buckle. I'm not saying I never owned a T-Shirt with a KC and the Sunshine Band iron-on decal. I'm not even saying I didn't see the Bee Gees at the old Coliseum. I am saying never bought an Air Supply record. I'm sure of it. Or at least I'm almost sure of it.