JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Anita from Springfield

Big Bo used to talk on the radio about not prioritizing the best "DE/CB/QB/etc." but rather the best "football player." I'm increasingly feeling this team is full of good "football players," and that their versatility and eagerness to go play will pay off. Thoughts?

The Jaguars under the new leadership trio of Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli, General Manager James Gladstone and Head Coach Liam Coen have acted strongly in this area – placing "players who love football" very high among their priorities. The concept is a big part of Gladston's "intangibly rich" mantra. Most NFL organizations say they want players who love football. Not all prioritize this desire and stick to it when making difficult decisions. This group's commitment to that ideal is among the main reasons I expect the Jaguars to steadily improve moving forward.

Haney from Little Elm, TX

Almost two decades of futility and this team still has zero identity. Nothing about the Jags scares the opponent because they know if they can stop the run, quarterback Trevor Lawrence is not going to beat them. This cycle will go on and on. New coaches, new coordinators, new general managers until this team can figure out how to win. What would you say is this team's identity heading into '25 under a new regime?

Your assessment, while understandable considering the results of the last season and a half, is a bit outdated – and very much based on the recent past. No, the team didn't have much of an identity last season; most teams that finish 4-13 lack in that area. The Jaguars in 2025 want to be a team that's mentally tough, plays physical on both sides of the ball and runs/stop the run well. A lot of teams want that as their identity. We'll see if the Jaguars earn it.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

(Respectfully) of course we know that what most ailed the Jaguars - even leading up to, throughout the 8-3 season in '23 - was coaching, for sure (see how nice I was, at least leaving '22's hot streak to breathe for former Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pedersen). If for no other reason - and there are more than a couple - because "I'm tellin' ya". My wife's "opinion" be damned ... and I'm not saying it isn't a factor - but my primary reason for being out here isn't "just to hear myself talk."

It's always coaching in the NFL.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

How often have we kept four running backs in your time with the Jaguars? I know that's not exactly quick-trigger memory fodder. I'm just curious if it has happened frequently or will be the anomaly if/when it happens.

The Jaguars from what I can tell have kept four or more running backs on the initial 53-player regular-season roster nine times in the 14 seasons I've covered the team for the Jaguars. Six or seven of those times were from 2011 through 2017 or so when the team often was employing a fullback and they also kept four in 2020 and 2024. It would be relatively unusual to keep four, but this is a deep running back room – Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby and LeQuint Allen Jr. – and sometimes you do unusual things when you have a really deep position.

FreezeF from Jacksonville

If a Superhero can have "Spidey sense," the KOAGF can have "Scooby Sense."

Damn right.

Tim from Jax

So, the new defensive coordinator states that communication was one of the larger issues. This sounds like last year's defensive coordinator, which shouldn't shock anybody seeing that it's mostly the same fools out there outside of Jourdan Lewis and Eric Murray.

Or maybe the Jaguars' defensive struggles last Saturday in a 31-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers were at least somewhat because it's a new defense with a new coordinator in a brief appearance in Preseason Week 1. The Jaguars' defensive players as a group are not fools. I'm not saying this group is the greatest collection of defenders professional football has known, but they're not fools.

Nick from Milton, Canada

For those in panic mode after our first preseason game, just note the Denver Broncos' talented starting defense gave up a touchdown to the San Francisco 49ers' backup offense in their first preseason game. Oh, and their starting offense gave up a safety to the 49ers' back up defense … preseason is not the indicator of a successful season!

Good eye.

Bill from Jacksonville, FL

John, now that Jaguars kicker Cam Little has kicked a 70-yard field goal in a game, if you were the head coach and down one with three seconds left on your own 40-yard line, would YOU let him try a field goal or would you try a Hail Mary?

I would hesitate to trot Little out for a 77-to-78-yard field goal. That probably strains the limits of the man's potential.

Rob from Northside

I realize fans gon' fan, but for those wailing and gnashing their teeth over defensive end Josh Hines-Allen in coverage, that's the play that sealed a division title not so long ago. I know it feels like forever ago, but it isn't. I'd rather learn flaws in preseason, where the games don't count.

Okey-doke.

Beavis from the Southside

I get that we won't expect Cam to kick exceedingly long field goals except perhaps at the end of a half, but can we expect to see him more frequently at a closer range? Or will we get one yard when we need three on fourth down still? I know you don't call the plays, but what's your take on what the coaches will decide?

I expect Coen to be more aggressive than many old-school NFL types such as myself – if only because the NFL overall is leaning that way. Just what that means in every situation we'll only know when situations arise.

Billy from Middleburg

I've, like the majority I think, have been a proponent of deferring and receiving the second half kickoff. Hopefully after scoring to end the first half, having back-to-back possessions. But I liked the decision to receive the opening kickoff and if the defense would have cooperated, the Jaguars would have had the chance to go up two scores early, a position they haven't been in recently. Being notorious for slow starts, I think this still was a good coaching move. Do you like deferring or letting your offense depict the beginning of the game?

I generally like receiving the second half kickoff because the momentum from scoring a touchdown – or allowing a touchdown defensively – usually feels significant.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

I was at that glorious day of Jaguars football in 2006, and I remember the Jaguars' 44-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in December of that season it kicked off with a monster run on what I feel like was the first play from scrimmage by running back Fred Taylor. To this day, it was one of the most fun games I have been to as a fan in my entire life, and was also the first Jags game my dad took me to. No question, just will GLADLY take a few more of those kinds of games, score wise, over these next few years.

One would think.

Chevin from Riverside, Jacksonville

I feel fairly certain the Jaguars are going to be able to pass the ball and stop the pass this year. The hope is they will finally be able to run the ball, but obviously that remains to be seen. One has to believe this team will be at least moderately better at running the ball than it has the last few years given the new staff, scheme and players. However, this fan is starting to have concerns about being able to stop the run. Travon Walker and Hines-Allen are extremely good at setting the edge in run defense and attacking ball carriers, but the interior defensive line appears to consist of either aging or inexperienced talent. I would like to hear your thoughts if would you care to opine on this topic?

The Jaguars need veteran nose tackle DaVon Hamilton to play at a high level, and they need a player such as second-year defensive tackle Maason Smith to fulfill his potential. They also need a few young drafted veterans such as Tyler Lacy and Justin Jefferson to be solid. Smith, Lacy and Jefferson aren't exactly proven, but you can't have "proven" at every position in the NFL's salary cap era. You at some point must depend on drafted players to develop, and that's what the Jaguars need at that position.

Anita from Springfield

A buddy who's a Giants fan heard me talk about punter Logan Cooke a lot last year, and now with Cam's highlight he's convinced we have the greatest kicking duo in the league. Plus we have long snapper Ross Matiscik. Where do our specialists stand league wide, and compared to some good dudes we've had before?

Way up there.