JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Steve from Jax Beach

Well, that was underwhelming. Guess all the change leads to the exact same Jaguars. Penalties, defensive busts and bad defense. I'm not sure what I was expecting, or if my expectations are fair, but this feels like 5–12 just waiting to happen. Is it too early to feel this way (again)?

This was a common theme in the inbox Saturday night – and while I have read and responded to enough Preseason Week 1 emails in this forum to not be surprised at such a reaction, I confess to being at least a bit amazed at the postgame vehemence. The Jaguars' starting offense and defense played one series each in a 31-25 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 preseason opener at EverBank Stadium Saturday. One series each. In PRESEASON WEEK ONE. Yes, the Jaguars had too many penalties – and Liam Coen was pointed in addressing the area after his first game as the Jaguars' head coach. But make no mistake: This was not disaster. This was not disturbing. This was not a reason for panic. This was barely more than a really intense practice. This was a first glance and nothing more. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the most part looked poised and in control in his first series in Coen's offense, and rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter played both offense and defense in the first half –and looked quick and not overwhelmed by the situation. Those were quick impressions and – emails to the contrary – quick impressions are all that can be drawn when starters play less than a quarter in the preseason. We'll get more into a few specifics in the next few emails, but that's the overriding theme from Saturday. This game was a start. Any conclusions drawn are wildly premature. We're a looooooong way from knowing the identity of the Jaguars for 2025. We weren't going to know it no matter how long starters played Saturday. But we darned sure don't know it after a series each for the starting offense and defense.

Bo from Winter Springs, FL

At least we can score three points from anywhere on field.

Jaguars kicker Cam Little converted a 70-yard field goal on the final play of the first half Saturday. Had it been a regular-season game, Little would have broken former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker's NFL record by four yards. That's unbelievable except for the fact that Little hits from that distance on a relatively routine basis in practice – and except for the fact that he hit long field goals with yards to spare as a rookie last season. It was a really cool moment and showed again that Little is one of the NFL's best young kickers. I wrote and said last season I thought Little very well could set the NFL record for longest field goal. Little said after the game he thinks some kicker in the NFL will break the record this season. Here's hoping Little gets a chance to be the guy.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

No question, just SEVENTY.

What was perhaps most notable is no one who has seen Little kick with any regularity was all that surprised. When I watched him line up, I thought, "I wouldn't be surprised if he makes this." When he made it, I thought, "I'm not surprised he made that."

Ron from Orlando, FL

Wow, this sure was disappointing. Offense looked exactly like last year: some decent plays, Lawrence running out of a perfectly good pocket and settling for field goals. Starting defense was completely carved up. Anything positive here, Johnny O?

Absolutely. The first-team offense played just one series and Lawrence looked as he had looked through most of camp – poised and in control in Coen's offense. He wasn't spectacular, but he completed six of seven passes for 43 yards and his incompletion was on target. He made good reads. He went through his progressions well. This was a good start. He was fine and when you're playing one series in the preseason, fine is just fine.

John from Ramsey, NJ

Offense still can't move the ball efficiently. Just don't understand no matter how many weapons we put around Trevor, we're still lackluster on offense. But hey … at least we have Cam Little! There is nothing little about a 70-yard field goal when time expires.

The Jaguars' first-team played one series and moved 44 yards for a field goal. That wasn't staggeringly great. But it was absolutely efficient.

Clayton from Shawnee, OK

OK, Coach Oehser. It's a one-possession game in the fourth, Jags up a touchdown and Cam Little has a chance to make it a 10-point game. The kicker: it's a 70-yard attempt. Do you take that chance?

Probably not. That takes courage and a lack of courage is one of my identifiable character traits.

Nick from Milton, Canada

The first-team defense looked horrible versus the Steelers' second-team offense. On another note, that 70-yard field goal was wild, would have been good for at least 75 yards! Would it have been the same outcome in a real game with starters trying to block it?

Yes, if they blocked it.

Sam from Orlando, FL

Was that Josh Hines-Allen dropping back into the middle zone on second-and-18? Why? Why can't we just have our pass rushers rush the passer?

Because edge defenders occasionally drop in coverage in the NFL. I wouldn't expect this to be an overriding theme moving forward.

Brandon from Louisville, KY

That was the starting defense, right?

Yes. For a series. Then it wasn't.

Mike from Lakeland

Pretty concerning/uninspiring first drive by the defense. Is this fixable?

The first-team defense allowed a long touchdown drive to the Steelers on its only possession Saturday. One issue that Coen noted was that defenders were playing a little too far off receivers in the first game under coordinator Anthony Campanile. I expect that will be a focus.

Raleigh from Jax Beach

Two touchdown drives to Steelers backups in a half of a preseason game. We played starters for the most part, right? Please explain how this was anything positive at all from a defensive perspective. From the living room, it absolutely sucked. THEIR BACKUPS.

You would have liked the Jaguars' defense to have been better Saturday. That it wasn't was a little disappointing. It is not a crisis.

Tony from Johns Creek, GA

O, the starters lost the first quarter. Penalties and a defense that looks a lot like last season's debacle. Can't anyone on defense cover the middle of the field?

Sigh.

Jim from Jagsonville

No! Trevor, don't run! Who is responsible for this? Fire everyone!!!

Jim's got jokes …

Jim from Jagsonville

12 men on the field? Who's coaching this clown outfit? Fire everyone!

… and more jokes.

JT from Palm Coast

Defense looked real suspect on that first drive. Also noticed Hunter wasn't in on that drive at all.

Travis Hunter did not play defense on the first series Saturday. He played the second two series with the second-team defense. This was not a surprise. The plan always has been for Hunter to play extensively as a starter on offense from the beginning and to play situationally – but extensively – on defense and likely play more defense moving forward. Hunter's playing time Saturday was consistent with that.

Chief from Biloxi, MS

Same as last year, cannot stop the run or the pass. Is going to be a long season, again.

There was a time early in my life this would have amazed me. I am less amaze-able now.

Paul from St. Augustine

It's early in the preseason, but I don't see the improvement I was hoping to see in last year's areas of need. And we played more starters than the Steelers did. Hope it was opening night jitters.

This email was sent in the first quarter of the preseason opener, so yes … it was early in the preseason. About as early as possible.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

It quite literally does not mean anything at all. Scripted. First of the year. Tired. Whatever. I just really hoped a backup quarterback would not go 7/7 for 70 and a TD on the opener. That was comical and intimately familiar. On the other side, If we can consistently run seven-minute drives, this team will be so dramatically different, my goodness. Trevor looked confident and in control, Travis looked freaky quick, and there was no turnover, lol. Let's keep it going and let's start scoring touchdowns.

OK.

Tom from Moncks Corner

What has changed? No offense, field goals not touchdowns. No defense against either the run or pass. Poor fundamentals. Trevor doesn't even try to throw downfield. You guys promised a new and improved team, yet we get the same old slop.

The Jaguars' second 2025 Preseason game is against the New Orleans Saints next Sunday. My understanding from the NFL office is that that game won't count in the standings, either.