JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Clyde from Deltona, FL

Hello, John. Because it's the Dead Zone, could you imagine a scenario where the Jaguar coaches ramp up Travis Hunter's offensive and defensive game snaps (Weeks 1- 4) for the Week 5 Monday Night game where TH starts/plays both sides of the ball for a full game? Could you envision the need for Travis Hunter's cornerback skills to help slow down Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' passes and also the need for Hunter's wide receiver skills to help score more points against the Kansas City defense? Plus, having a two-way player on Monday Night Football could be a "must-see" TV game for more than just the local Jacksonville, Florida, market.

I expect Jaguars coaches to play rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter extensively on offense and in more package situations on defense at the start of the 2025 season, and I expect this to be the plan until Hunter shows he can handle an increased workload defensively. I don't expect Jaguars coaches to plan Hunter's usage over many weeks working toward any particular game – even a game as high-profile as the Jaguars' Week 5 home game against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. This is because I expect Jaguars coaches to play Hunter wherever – and for however long – will help the Jaguars play as well as possible against all teams. Yes, the Jaguars will need Hunter's skills against NFL powers such as the Chiefs. But all NFL teams are good. They'll need Hunter's skills against the rest of the NFL, too.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John. It is kind of funny that the New York Giants' new rookie quarterback is named after the Jags' mascot. Jaxon Dart will likely have a no-pressure first year, essentially getting a season to apprentice under a Super Bowl champ and learn his offense before being expected to compete for the starting job. This is quite different than the situation Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence walked into where he was expected to not only start, but immediately turn around the Jags' fortunes. Which situation is better for a young quarterback entering the NFL?

Neither situation is inherently "better" or "worse" than the other. If an early-drafted quarterback is mentally ready to at least function and play passably, I've always figured he should play immediately so long as he isn't significantly hurting the team's chance of winning. Whether or not he is hurting the team in this way is more judgment on the part of the coaches than anything close to fact. Some would argue playing a quarterback too early in his NFL career can hurt confidence and "break" the quarterback. The thought here always has been that if a difficult rookie season "breaks" a quarterback that it might be true that the quarterback wasn't going to be "the guy" anyway.

Wayne from Jacksonville

Do you believe that you will see other expansion teams in your lifetime? Why or why not? If so, what do you think that would look like?

No. Because I'm old.

Kathy from Palm Coast, FL

Why is all this information about our defensive coordinator coming out now? It seems to me that it should have been discussed during the season. It was obvious that he was doing some strange things. It's too late now to make a difference for the team or the players. He could have made some adjustments during the season.

"Stuff" comes out in these circumstances when "stuff" comes out. Players tend to air issues and grievances less in real time and more later – and they tend to talk about "stuff" more when it's in the rearview than in the moment. I don't know that the timing of stuff coming out would have changed how defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen coached last season. Maybe. Maybe not. Whatever, I suppose.

Jesse from Texas

The 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars, in my humble opinion, without the desire to offend those who think different from my point of view, but looking at it in depth, taking into account the characteristics of each person, the biological construction and physical ability…I honestly think, I forgot what i was going to say.

OK.

J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL

Sorry, Armand. Another book question for the O. John, Catcher In the Rye. I found it annoyingly pretentious when I first read it. Then I kind of got it. What's your take? Stranger In a Strange Land by Heinlan! The unabridged version. I love that book. Thoughts?

Catcher in the Rye perhaps was a biiit pretentious. At the least, it's not at all surprising it could be interpreted that way. What's important about Catcher in the Rye from this view is the way it has resonated across decades. The vivid writing and unforgettable character(s) are stunning. The connection to generation after generation of young people also make it inarguably a classic. What's particularly impressive is I'm not sure it was J.D. Salinger at his finest. His book of short stories, Franny and Zooey, and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction still resonate to this reader as vividly as Catcher in the Rye. Salinger was a master at his craft – and is rightly worshipped as such to this day. As for Strange Land … I got nothin'. Apologies.

Dakota from Dupree, SD

Zone, there is nothing like a backup center competition debate to engage the readers. Maybe monthly updates throughout the off-season?

Jaguars 2025 Training Camp begins in late July, with veterans reporting July 22. Padded practices begin shortly thereafter, at which time meaningful competition for the backup center position will begin.

Scott from Aruba

Any truth that you'll be covering the Tour de France in a few weeks?

No.

Bradley from Kansas City, MO

I love the new regime. but one decision that I would second guess is the decision to release Engram. If you had a formation with Engram, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., wide receiver Travis Hunter, wide receiver Dyami Brown and running back Bhayshul Tuten would there be a faster group in the NFL?

The Jaguars didn't want to release tight end Evan Engram this past March. They did so reluctantly – and for salary cap reasons. The group of Jaguars skill players you mention indeed would be a fast group, but losing Engram doesn't make the Jaguars a significantly slower offense.

Homer from Springfield, VA

From one generational talent to another, don't you think the term loses some of its shine if it's used to describe a player in every draft?

Probably.

Ed

Fantasy football is all about stats and many of your readers care about fantasy football. Travis Hunter seems like a desirable fantasy player because he gets stats on offense and defense. The thing about getting stats is that a player needs snaps. Wide receivers need yards, receptions or touchdowns to score in fantasy. How often can we expect Hunter to be targeted on offense and how often will he play on defense?

I expect Hunter will be targeted on offense a lot. I expect he will play a lot on defense, though not as much as he plays on offense. At least at first.

Dave from Jax

John, The best part about selling an O-Zone branded Speedo is that you get to decide where to strategically place the "O" …

Uh oh. Oh no.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL

I was reading an article on ESPN recently that stated tight end Johnny Mundt was third in run-block win rate last year amongst all tight ends. I know this is one of Brenton Strange's strength as well. Not sure if you're allowed to report on this, but did it look like we had some 12 personnel packages with the two of them on the field together during mini camp?

You're correct that media covering Jaguars offseason practices can't report on personnel packages. The Jaguars will certainly run "12 personnel" packages next season on offense, and it's quote safe to assume they will use tight ends who are good blockers when doing so.

Bradley from Kansas City, MO

I had forgotten about humidity, it sucks, are there any new advances in dealing with it?

Wear a wide-brim hat, light clothing and stay hydrated. Always stay hydrated.

Joel from Yulee

We lost eight games by less than a touchdown last season. Now we have Travis Hunter. He will get us that extra touchdown per game – and instead of 4-13 and we are 12-5. Or something like that. Am I too optimistic?

It's probably a little too optimistic that Hunter will score a touchdown extra per game as a rookie – and an eight-game improvement in victories in one NFL season is really extreme. The Jaguars can be better than last season, though – pretty significantly better.

Mr. Nice Guy from Jamaica, right near the beach

What are the top three reasons why you wanted to be a writer?

The money. The women. The non-stop thrills.