JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

The 12/13 personnel package discussion has become as exciting as discussing the Leo position. I would be excited if I never heard about either again.

I am not sure if discussing 12/13 personnel – multiple tight-end packages – is any more or less exciting than discussing any other aspect of the NFL or football that leans heavily into "Xs and Os." We have discussed it a lot this offseason here in the O-Zone because readers have asked about it a lot. Readers have asked about it a lot because the Jaguars selected tight ends Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol in Rounds 2 and 5, respectively, of the 2026 NFL Draft with the idea of playing more multiple tight end packages moving forward. The Otto/Leo discussion, for readers new to this forum, was an ongoing topic in O-Zone Days of Yore – i.e., the 2013-2016 Gus Bradley era – with Bradley's defense calling hybrid edge defenders "Leo" and "Otto." There was a reason for them being called this that now slips my mind because life comes at you fast in the NFL. My thought is the 12/13-personnel discussion perhaps is slightly less tedious than Otto/Leo because the 12/13 figures to be a major – and recognizable – storyline into the regular season. Because of that, I expect we will still be discussing it for a long while. For whatever that's worth.

Will from Jacksonville

I am a bit new to this, so I guess I didn't know what the "dead zone" meant. This is the dead zone, I see.

Welcome, I guess. We indeed are in what we in the O-Zone call the "dead zone" – i.e., the time between the end of the offseason program and the beginning of Jaguars training camp. Because it is really the only period of the NFL calendar with no key dates or "tentpole" events, news often is slow and questions can sometimes dwindle to year-round low numbers. We have done a nice job to this point keeping this "alive" in this "dead zone," at least partly because of some ongoing discussions about numbers and letters. We are three weeks in with about three weeks remaining. Stay strong. Keep the questions coming. We'll keep this thing alive yet.

Chris from Jacksonville

The dead zone has given me time to reflect. Upon reflection, I really don't like you all that much.

Fair.

Jason from Da 'Hass

John, I understand the angst that permeates the fan base regarding Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. He had a down year last season. He dropped the ball waaaay too much. In all the commentary about him and how he struggled last seasons, I have not seen anything more than a sentence or two about having some personal struggles involving a friend or family member who passed away. I don't know if this is accurate, and hope you can shed some light on that. I know I would be affected if a close friend or family member died. Sometimes we forget that the players are human beings too, not avatars on our gaming console.

Thomas was very close with his former Louisiana State teammate, wide receiver Kyren Lacy, who died by suicide in April 2025. I don't know how much this affected Thomas last season. I do know we too often forget that NFL players are not avatars on gaming consoles.

Russ from Calhoun, GA

When I see comments about a certain room has a good number of quality players (perhaps just our own wishful thinking), I wonder about trade fodder. Certainly another team can wait to see who gets cut, but I imagine a trade for a draft pick (one of General Manager James Gladstone's favorites?) might ensure they would secure a target. Would you comment on trades during training camp, their likelihood, pros and cons, etc., and perhaps where the Jags might thin a good group of players for either future picks or even help in areas not so flush with talent?

Trade Machine!!!!!!

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Who's the best player in Jaguars history to don No. 64?

The grind continues, with possibilities here including defensive tackle John Jurkovic (1996-1998), offensive lineman Aaron Koch (2000-2001), guard Wyatt Milum (2025-2026) and offensive lineman Chris Reed (2016-2018). We will Yack with Jurko here – not just because he was one of the all-time characters in franchise history, but because he was a good presence on a good defensive line for a few seasons. Being a hell of a lot of fun while he was here also doesn't hurt.

J.Hooks from Mandarin

Yo, Zone! In response to Matt from Orlando: Ye,. Depeche Mode's Violator was and still remains a perfect album. The track list has no weak spots and its sound (especially with headphones) stands the test of time. I remember it pairing extremely well with Nine Inch Nails' debut album Pretty Hate Machine, which was released mere months before. Great times!!

We're from different eras, obviously, and I will assume your assessment of these albums is correct. My perfect albums fall along the lines of London Calling by the Clash – with multiple selections by Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, John Prine and the like pretty damned close. And, of course, anything by Taylor Swift.

Daniel from St J

Elvis died in 1977, so only impersonators were seen in the early aughts. Maybe Andy Kaufman?

This seems part of a conversation that started somewhere else, somewhere where I wasn't. I am fine with not being part of the original discussion, but now it has entered my world. What I am getting at is I am not sure how to answer this. I do know Kaufman was a genius. That probably doesn't answer your question.

Armand from Atlantic Beach, FL

If and when your O-Zone coffee mug come out a lot of occasional readers will buy them.

OK.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

We're getting to the end here, aren't we? What about "Y?"

We're indeed getting into the business end of this discussion of all-time Jaguars players with specific last initials, and the sparce candidates at "X," Y," and "Z" make this business end tricky. There not unexpectedly were no candidates at "X," with only four at "Y:" Running back T.J. Yeldon (2015-2018), tight end Todd Yoder (2004), cornerback Ashton Youboty (2011) and offensive tackle Sam Young (2013-2015). Nod to Yeldon here as we look forward to "Z."

Paul from Jacksonville Beach, FL

I am annoyed. Or maybe I am just irritated. Is there a difference? Whatever. We're more than a week into this and no Wimbledon thoughts?

I am sorry you are annoyed. Annoyance can be … well, annoying. People ask questions. I answer. That's it. That's the column. Though I have zero issue discussing Wimbledon or any other significant tennis topic, I shan't force it down the readers' throats in a football-oriented forum. But because you asked … my Wimbledon thoughts begin with the men's draw being more open than I anticipated before the tournament. No. 1 and defending champion Janik Sinner of Italy is the favorite, but he's not as dominant as I expected – perhaps because he played no grass-court warmups in the weeks leading to Wimbledon. I'm liking Taylor Fritz of the United States so far, and I think Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada has a chance to beat Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the quarterfinals Tuesday. Favorite story on the men's side thus far: Veteran Grigor Dmitrov's run to the Round of 16 as a wild-card entrant after his brutal injury at Wimbledon last summer. I still favor Sinner, but Dmitrov winning would be cooler. The women's draw is also damned intriguing. I would love to see Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic push further into the later rounds and I really like how one of my personal favorites, Madison Keys of the United States, is playing. Favorite here at this point: Jess Pegula of the United States. If Keys can't win a second major this week, I wouldn't mind seeing Pegula or Muchova win it.

Jacques from Versailles

Yes, you helped in WWII, but you wouldn't even have a country if it wasn't for France. Think about that next time you celebrate your Independence.

I like the French Open. I think I would call it my fourth-favorite tennis major because I don't like the red clay as much as I like the grass and hard courts. But it's a fine tournament. You should be proud. There's some cool cultural stuff in Paris, too. Or so I'm told.

Greg from Jacksonville

Zone, Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday announced that the 2026 World Cup will be his last. He's 41, so that's expected. What I found interesting was how he announced this: "Whatever happens tomorrow, Cristiano will leave with a clear conscience, not 100 percent but 1000 percent. I've given everything in football." Referring to oneself by one's name is "baller." Why don't you do this?

John does this. Cristiano got this from John.