JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

William from Jacksonville

Shouldn't the end of the dead zone be when they put on pads? Or actually play a game? Asking for a friend.

My overworked Scooby Sense – and not my Scobee Sense – tells me you're waiting for the "dead zone" to come alive as we grind through the early days of 2025 Training Camp. And it's indeed true that the usual whirlwind of O-Zone emails has been slightly less windy through that early period. Which may be to expected. As previously noted here, the first four days of camp are a "ramp-up" period – i.e., without pads and therefore not quite so intense as the padded practices that are scheduled to begin Monday. Could we reassess our "dead zone" definition and say it ends when pads go on instead of when training camp begins? I suppose. I also suppose the interest level in this topic might not merit the effort such reassessment would require. The intensity will rise in these parts soon enough. Pads go on Monday. The scrimmage is Friday. The preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers is eight days hence. Panic and angst will rule the day soon thereafter, merited or not, and the zone will come alive. A final note on your email's end, which specifies that this is for a "friend." I've been writing in this forum going on 15 years. I increasingly wonder if people who finish answers with "asking for a friend" have as many friends as they think.

Mike from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Needed: Backup tight end. Any sign they understand this?

Brenton Strange, a second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, is expected to be the Jaguars' every-down tight end in a lot of single tight-end sets in 2025. Teams often also play two tight-end sets. The Jaguars this past offseason also signed free agents such as Johnny Mundt, Hunter Long and Quintin Morris to play tight end extensively with Strange in various situations. Your email suggests they must do more. The Jaguars don't necessarily agree with the suggestion.

Steve from Nashville, TN

Evan Engram tells me he beat you into the building most – if not all – mornings?

What's "morning?"

Rob from Orange Park, FL

I know it is a new scheme, defense is easier to learn, no game-planning for practice, etc. Regardless, given our history, I would still rather hear the offense is winning in practice.

Jaguars Training Camp began Wednesday. Sunday marked the end of a four-practice-in-five-day "ramp-up" period. I have covered 31 previous NFL training camps. I can't remember who "won" or "lost" any of them. I damned sure can't remember who "won" or "lost" a ramp-up period.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. I know that quarterback Trevor Lawrence always talks positive about the team and progress. There is also a chance that the new offense being installed doesn't fit Lawrence and his strengths, which would result in some level of struggle. One size does not fit all. What worked for Baker Mayfield may not for Lawrence. Do coaches adjust their system for the quarterback if they see the fit has problems or do they continue to force the square peg into the round hole the entire season?

Lawrence by all accounts is progressing fine in this offense. A version of this offense has been employed not only in Tampa Bay last season with current Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen as offensive coordinator but in recent seasons in NFL locales such as Los Angeles (quarterback Jared Goff) and Minnesota (quarterback Sam Darnold). Mayfield indeed flourished last season under Coen in Tampa Bay, but the offense has proven effective with various quarterbacks of various skill sets. Coen's reputation is as a coach who can adapt. I expect he will adapt to Lawrence if the peg is having trouble fitting the hole.

CaptBob aka Lazarus

KOAF, can you relay my sincere and heartfelt regards to defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and his family for their son's recovery from leukemia? As a former 28-year-old who was given six months to live, AML leukemia, I know how difficult it is to keep going forward each worrisome day. Now, 42 years later, I survived by a strong will to survive, support and prayers from even strangers. All that kept me taking one day at a time and determined to see the next glorious day that only days before my diagnosis was just a day taken for granted. My prayers are with his entire family.

Inspiring stuff.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

I've heaped praise on this regime (Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli, Coen and General Manager James Gladstone) and by all accounts, justifiably (to this point) so. I've gotta say, though. I'm not a huge fan of whoever with the team it was telling the media that (paraphrasing), "Travis Hunter had too much time in between offensive practices." Broadcasting that the team, particularly your quarterback, was given a test on the offense seems senseless to me as well. As Jeff Lageman went on to so eloquently demonstrate ... that only breeds further questions like "If it was a grade, what did he get?" It's one thing to be transparent for the sake of the betterment of relationship between your fans and organization. But, transparent for the sake of allowing national sports media sticking their fat noses where they need not be - and fueling the subsequent rhetoric that inevitably will come about by them scrambling the information and regurgitating it - doesn't strike me as advantageous to anyone around here. Too much? Maybe. That doesn't make me wrong, either.

Really? We're upset about this? Coen indeed told the media about a test coaches gave Jaguars quarterbacks at the start of training camp, doing so to make the point that Lawrence did well on the test and therefore is showing increasing knowledge of the offense. He also told media coaches had adjusted rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter's practice schedule between the offseason program and training camp after realizing they didn't want him going so long between days on which he worked on offense. The comments gave away no game-plan information. No state secrets were revealed. No crimes were committed. I guess we can nitpick whatever we want to nitpick, but I'm not sure this is a big thing. Or even a thing.

John from Jacksonville

If you gave a big, fat playbook to your quarterbacks to learn wouldn't you be negligent as a coach not to test them on it? So, what was Nick Mullens' score?

I was going to ask, but I didn't want to upset Bradford.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John. In 2024, Ventrell Miller emerged as a key piece of the linebacker corps, showing that he can find the ball and make plays. What are your expectations for the former Gator as he enters Year 3 with the Jags, but only his second healthy season?

I expect Miller to be the weakside linebacker and to continue being a really good, productive player for this defense. You want players such as Miller on the field.

Chuck from Originally Lancaster SC, Currently Margate, FL

My birthday is Monday. I believe we were born the same year. That would make you one week older than me. Like it or not, I have to respect my elders. I'm thankful for your dedication to your craft. Now for my question. How do you see the linebacker group shaking out? Also the tight end group?

I expect Miller to start on the weakside with Foye Oluokun starting in the middle and Devin Lloyd on the strong side. I expect Strange to be the No. 1 tight end with Long, Mundy and Morris playing extensively.

Deane from Hill AFB via Daytona Beach, FL

Yo O-Zone!!! It was said that linebacker Chad Muma made an interception with a cast on his hand the other day at practice. Yet, I do not recall any report that he was dinged up. Are you able to elaborate on his injury O-Zone???

He has a hand injury.

Bill from Ponte Vedra, FL

I was at the practice on Friday and was struck by the fact that Travis Hunter will never get a full complement of reps on either offense or defense as long as he is trying the two-way thing. Isn't there a risk of making him "Jack of all trades Master of none?" I think the team needs to decide if he has superstar potential as a receiver or a corner and then make him focus on that position exclusively.

Hunter is expected to begin practicing on both sides of the ball in the same practice this week. The Jaguars plan to play Hunter on both sides of the ball. They have a plan to do this. They will follow that plan. If at some point it is apparent that the plan isn't working, or that Hunter would be better with a different plan, there will be a new plan. There is as of yet no plan for a new plan and no indication that a new plan is necessary.