JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
David from Ada, OK
I really liked it when Travon talked about getting one percent better every day, and I really hope he puts in the necessary work this season to achieve that goal. I'm really looking forward to Game 13. If he works at it, I'm pretty sure he can outperform No. 2.
The more you see and hear from Jaguars rookie outside linebacker Travon Walker, the more you like. It has been easy to see during 2022 Training Camp and preseason why the Jaguars selected him No. 1 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He is phenomenally impressive physically and showed in the preseason opener Thursday that he will match up fine with opponents. He also appears to have the right desire, work ethic, approach and coachability to succeed in the NFL. When you combine those elements, you usually get a player who succeeds and makes a team better. All early signs point to Walker being such a player. It doesn't particularly matter to the Jaguars who Walker does or doesn't outperform in the draft as long as he performs well here. So far, so good.
Al from Orange Park, FL
Is Jamal Agnew 100 percent recovered, healthy and playing? I don't think I've heard his name mentioned all summer.
Agnew, a wide receiver/returner who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in the 2021 offseason, spent the offseason and early part of 2022 Training Camp returning from a hip injury sustained in November. He has been cleared to practice full and did so Sunday.
Mark from Richmond, VA
In efforts to reduce his carbon footprint and save on travel expenses, wouldn't it have made sense for Trevor to have his head measured for his bust in the Hall?
Heh-heh.
Ivan from HOLLYWOOD
Five sacks extrapolates to 85 sacks over the season! Is sacksonville back?
The pass rush had some good moments in a 27-11 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in the Hall of Fame Game Thursday, particularly Walker and veteran defensive lineman Arden Key. That doesn't guarantee success, and I don't expect this pass rush to match the dominant 2017 "Sacksonville" pass rush, but I expect it to be better than it has been the past two seasons. That's a start.
Seamus from Sioux Falls, SD
Can you help a guy who won't have much radio access, how is Jaguars running back Travs Etienne Jr.'s name enunciated? Or is it "pronounced": "EH-tee-enn" or "EE-tee-enn"?
ETN.
Gary from Centerville, OH
After watching the Hall of Fame game, I came to the conclusion that they look just like last year's Jaguars. What I mean is that they are wearing the same helmet and a uniform combination they've worn before. The only other thing I learned that night that will translate to the regular season ... absolutely nothing.
Projecting the regular season based on preseason results is tricky – at best. Doing it with most starters out offensively and a bunch of key ones out defensively? Really tricky.
Tudor from Saint Augustine FL
It's truly remarkable how many folks are stressing based on that HOF game. That was a D-League roster on the field, not the starting lineup, chill y'all!
Fans do not chill. Fans fan. It's what they do.
Charles from Savannah, GA
Hi John, I was very happy to see Tony get inducted into the Hall of Fame. I was also pleased to see Dick Vermeil get inducted as well. My family and I watched American Underdog and Invincible. Coach Vermeil seemed to always give players a chance to prove themselves. Have you ever met him? He seems like a great guy.
I have covered multiple games with Vermeil as a head coach. I also am fairly confident I have covered games he worked as a broadcaster. So, I have been around him at times. But I don't recall meeting him on any sort of a level personal enough to have insight into him. I've always admired him, and I liked that he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He succeeded in the NFL doing things his way over a remarkably long period. He also succeeded with remarkable regularity. He won division titles with three teams (Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams), won conference titles with two teams (Rams, Eagles) and won a Super Bowl (Rams). He rebuilt each franchise and turned them into winners. That's impressive.
Howard from Homestead, FL
We didn't learn anything about how good the Jags can be, but there's almost no depth and just a couple of key injuries will have them back at the top of the draft board. Is that a good eye or bad eye?
It's a premature eye. Really premature.
Tom from Shenzhen, China
What's your take on the kickers from the HoF game? Elliott Fry made a layup but Santoso showing an absolute bazooka on a barely wide 60 yarder was intriguing.
I think Ryan Santoso's leg strength is intriguing and will make him difficult to release. I don't think we learned much from one preseason game except that Santoso's leg strength is impressive.
Ed from Jax by Lionel Playworld
How is the Roar looking in preseason? Did they hold out any starters in the first game? Any notable injuries or rookies to watch out for?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Jake from Cary, NC
Can you please stop using Devin Lloyd's absence as a reason our run defense wasn't any good against the Raiders? He hasn't had a single padded practice yet, and I can't remember the last time a Jags late 1st round draft pick made a meaningful impact in their first season (or maybe ever!?)
Lloyd, an inside linebacker selected No. 27 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, was one of four projected starters along the front seven who didn't play for the Jaguars in the Hall of Fame Game. The others were outside linebacker Josh Allen, defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi and inside linebacker Foye Oluokun. Whenever I have discussed the run defense in the Hall of Fame game, I have mentioned the absence of the four – all four – because the four players figure to be key players against the run. I at no point have said Lloyd's absence was the sole reason he Jaguars struggled against the run Thursday. People ask me questions. I answer them. I'm not inclined to stop using logic, reason and football knowledge to do so. Perhaps there are other free websites where people answer questions in ways you prefer. If so, that's fine.
Trevor from DeLand, FL
The game on November 8th, when Tony made that play, did we win or what!? You had me on the edge of my seat and didn't finish the outcome!
You're referencing a Sunday O-Zone answer that discussed a highlight play in the career of Jaguars Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli. As I wrote Sunday: "The Jaguars were playing the Cincinnati Bengals when Bengals cornerback Artrell Hawkins appeared headed for a touchdown with a fumble return, pointing at Jaguars players as he ran. Boselli chased Hawkins down, with the play indeed an example of Boselli's intense desire and passion to win. …" Yes, Boselli made the tackle. Yes, the Jaguars won – by a score of 24-11. The Jaguars usually won in those days.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Speaking of jersey numbers, I see the numbers 8 (Mark Brunell) and 71 (Boselli) are not currently assigned to a player. Should we read anything into that or is it just a coincidence?
There's nothing to read into this situation, and it's not a coincidence. The Jaguars currently don't issue Nos. 8, 71, 28 or 82 – the numbers of quarterback Mark Brunell, Boselli, running back Fred Taylor and wide receiver Jimmy Smith.
Steve from Nashville, TN
I am sure that Hall of Famer Tony Boselli knows where to find you but at this point would he even care to look?
Fair.
Gary from Centerville, Ohio
When you first started your career, did you think you would ever hear your name called during a Hall of Fame speech? Pretty special day for everyone.
I was touched and honored when Boselli mentioned me in his Hall of Fame speech. It was undeserved and unnecessary, but a very classy move for Boselli.
Unhipcat from Carlsbad, CA
Hi John. We lost two greats of the sports world last week, Bill Russell and Vin Scully. From what I've read and heard, as great as they were on the court and in the booth, both were far better people than sportsmen. RIP Bill. Rip Vin.
Good eye.
James from Socorro, NM
Oehser shout-out by Tony during his speech! That's nice of him!
He still knows where to find me.
Daniel from Jersey City, NJ
O-man, have you ever seen anyone look better in gold?
Somewhere exists a photo of me in a formfitting, gold "color rush" Jaguars jersey and pants. So, yes … yes, I have.
