JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

Over the last 22 years, only two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks were not elite (Joe Flacco and Nick Foles, although they were both Most Valuable Players of the games). Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has not shown he's anywhere close to those guys, much less the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Jalen Hurts, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, etc. Teams win Super Bowls with elite quarterbacks most of the time. Why are we supposed to believe the Jags can win a Super Bowl with Lawrence?

Many readers, observers and fans apparently believe Lawrence is terrible. That's fine. Readers, observers and fans can believe what they like. The reality is Lawrence has not yet proven he is great and he at the same time is not terrible. He has played at a high level at times, has struggled at other times and right now he is a developing quarterback in a new system. He from this view appears to be growing in that system. Many readers, observers and fans see him from a different view – a view that leads them to believe he is a lost cause who never can quarterback a winning team. This is not the belief of those within the Jaguars' organization. Beyond that, a decade and half answering questions in this forum has taught me this much: If people see things from a certain view, it's difficult – if not impossible – for them to believe otherwise. If you believe in Lawrence, believe in him. If you don't, then watch and see where this goes.

Fred from Naples, FL

This new regime thus far has put to rest past negatives regarding our franchise. First, we beat the Houston Texans at home for the first time since 2017. Gee, I wonder what happened in 2017? Playoffs? Secondly, we have won on the West Coast for only the second time in the past 20 years. Check that box. I am certain that Head Coach Liam Coen and company will now check that third box- winning in prime time on Monday Night Football against an elite franchise.

The Jaguars have won on the West Coast three times since 2019 – in Oakland against the Raiders in 2019, in Los Angeles against the Chargers in 2022 and in Santa Clara against the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. I point this out to note that while this was a "thing" for many seasons it's not really a "thing" anymore. My sense is that the Jaguars moving forward under this regime will make a lot of "things" not "things." When you make enough "things" former "things" you tend to be playing well and winning. It would be cool if the Jaguars won Monday. I believe they will. Either way, I think they will be doing a lot of playing well and winning moving forward.

Keith from Saint Augustine, FL

I am tired of the Trevor Lawrence bashers. If the Jaguars' receivers had caught just 10 of the 16 passes that they dropped, then Trevor would be in his usual 65 percent completion percentage. When receivers drop balls that are well-placed and should be caught at the professional level, that is not on Trevor. Trevor has two touchdown passes dropped which also affects his stats – specifically his passer rating. I am sick of the Trevor bashers. Will it ever stop?

Probably not. At least for a while. Fans fan. It's what they do.

CD from Fleming Island

Hey, John. I know fans gonna fan, but I'm really surprised to hear so many down on Lawrence. For what it's worth, I watch even the great quarterbacks in established systems overthrow and underthrow receivers all the time. And it's clear Coen's system is more complex, so I understand there's more growth needed. But what I've been most critical of Trevor in previous years is him being jumpy in the pocket, running from phantom pressure, etc. I've seen a LOT of improvement in that area this year. Credit the offensive line for giving him a clean pocket, and Coen successfully and unpredictably mixing pass, run and play pass. But Trevor's done his part as far as staying in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield. I think that should be noted. Have you seen the same or am I fanning too much?

I'm seeing the same thing. So are the Jaguars' coaches. They're also seeing the same thing fans see from Lawrence – some missed receivers, some inaccurate throws at key times. But the staying-in-the-pocket, keeping-eyes-down-field stuff is real stuff. It's important stuff. It's the stuff that gives him a chance to keep improving. Stay tuned.

Andrew from Halifax

I thought the Houston Texans were our "real test" and then thought, OK, the San Francisco 49ers are the "real, real test" and now the Chiefs feel like the "real real REAL test." I am just going to enjoy watching a fun offense and dynamic defense until it is not longer fun.

Good plan.

Michael from Fruit Cove, FL

You've said a few times recently that you think this early success is sustainable. I hope so. But we thought the same thing going into a Monday night home game against an AFC contender just a couple years ago, only for it to all fall apart remarkably quickly. That team had more success leading into that game than this team has had going into this one. So what are the differences this time around? Culture? We felt pretty good about the culture back then. We probably felt better about the quarterback going into that game than we do now. You only had good things to say about the coach/GM back then, even if most fans disagreed with you. So why will this time be different?

That team in retrospect handled adversity relatively poorly. The Jaguars were 8-3 entering 2023 Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and two injuries sustained in that game – one to wide receiver Christian Kirk and another to Lawrence – in retrospect began a downward spiral from which that team/regime/era never recovered. The NFL is as much about how you handle adversity as how you handle success. My sense is that this regime will fare well under adversity. This is speculation and projection, and it's impossible to guarantee speculation and projection. But that's my projection.

Al from Orange Park, FL

Liked Charles' Teal Takeaway defense name. Also liked Steal Curtain. I know that getting a name to stick has to happen organically, but may we jump start that with an O-Zone survey?

Kings of all Funk don't do "surveys."

CD from Fleming Island

Hey, John. I get the angst of fans who see all the points and plays left out on the field in the past few games. But looking back on the runs of the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, I can't count the number of times they'd pull it off in the end with me thinking "How in the hell did they win this game?" I'm sure I'm not alone there. I've softened my outlook on the ugly, shouldn't-have-won games. Good teams win pretty and win ugly. But they win.

The NFL isn't college football. Most NFL games are about big plays, momentum and situations. Most NFL games are one-score games and most games that aren't one-score games are a situation or two – or a play or two – from being one-score games. A really good, dominant team on occasion will have a season with a lot of double-digit victories, but most successful seasons are built on multiple so-called "shouldn't-have-won games."

Jake from Hawthorne, NJ

It's evident that Devin Lloyd has become a crucial part of the defense, and it has been very rewarding to watch his growth and performance this season. My concern is whether we'll be able to re-sign him given how valuable he has become. Do you think the team has enough cap space to bring him back, or is it more likely he ends up securing a massive contract elsewhere?

If the Jaguars want to re-sign linebacker Devin Lloyd they will be able to re-sign him.

Zachary from Washougal, WA

You smugly would tote the "it's always coaching" when we were (rightfully) criticizing the former gestapo. Well, Johnny boy, the players who have been here all along are performing in a way we all knew they could. Running back Travis Etienne Jr., linebacker Devin Lloyd, wide receiver Parker Washington. I guess it really is "always coaching."

Of course. Coaching matters in the NFL. How a locker room responds to a head coach and the tone he sets is absolutely critical. I've never said or written anything different and can't imagine I ever would. Fans also blame coaching whenever anything goes wrong. This pretty much is always true, too.

Weird from St. Augustine, FL

In a recent answer to Steve, I think there may have been an editing error in your answer. hate those auto-fill AI things! Your answer finished by stating, "This isn't weird. This is winning." Considering we're talking about the Jacksonville Jaguars, didn't you originally write, "This is winning. This is weird."?

No.

Brian from Round Rock, TX
No Zone?

We received multiple emails in this genre Saturday when apparently multiple readers could not see the October 4 O-Zone on the site. A glitch in the system. This happens from time to time in our online world. Not a tragedy. Paul is Not Dead. Neither am I. Yet. The O-Zone was produced and the belief is it is now visible on the site for all the world to see. We now resume whatever this is.