JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Rey from West Virginia

A win would do a lot for this young team in Week 1. But what do you need to see personally that would make you think this team is on the right track after one week?

A victory matters above all else, and there's no doubt it's the Jaguars' priority entering Sunday's 2025 regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium. This group is about winning – and while there is a feeling that the team will be better and more stable moving forward after this season, there's an equal feeling that the Jaguars can contend in 2025. Analyzing any one NFL game – even a regular-season opener – can be tricky as a representation of a team's long-term prognosis, but there are multiple key areas to watch through the first month or so of the regular season. Are the Jaguars playing physically on offense and defense? Is quarterback Trevor Lawrence confident and poised in Head Coach Liam Coen's offense? Are the Jaguars showing strides toward stopping the run effectively? Do they respond well to adversity? Do they show signs of being able to run when they want to run? Those will be areas of focus. If the Jaguars are improving steadily in those areas early in the 2025 season, they're moving in the right direction.

Bradley from Kansas City, MO

Who is B.J. Green II and why was he on a preseason all-rookie team? I don't keep up as well as I could, particularly when it comes to undrafted free agents, but is this guy supposed to be a diamond in the rough? I actually have always kind of thought the writer that came up with this team is pretty knowledgeable league wide.

Greene is an edge defender/defensive end from Colorado who signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft. He and Minnesota defensive end Danny Striggow were the two UDFAs who made the Jaguars' 53-man roster. Greene presumably was on that All-Rookie team because he had a standout preseason – and yes, the Jaguars believe he and Striggow absolutely can be "diamonds in the rough." They're very high on those players.

Sean from Oakleaf, FL

Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had 900 receiving yards from their running backs with current Coen as their offensive coordinator. The Jaguars had less than half that. Do you expect Jaguar running backs this year to approach last year's Buccaneer number in receiving yards?

Yes.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. What is the maximum number of running backs that can be on the field during any play? Also, the same question for receivers as a combined unit (wide receiver, tight end and running back)? I must say that the O-Zone is special because it's like you are at the mic and we are the press getting to ask questions. You should see my editorials.

Teams can theoretically play any number of skill position players as they choose – up to six. This is because teams must have five linemen on the field. Beyond that, if they want to have six running backs, or six wide receivers, or six quarterbacks, or six tight ends, they could do that. It would be sort of silly, but I'd watch it.

Doug from Jax Beach, FL

Have you heard of the group "Here Come the Mummies?" They have been at the Florida Theatre twice in the last year and a half and are really fun. Dirty Minds and Freak Flag are two of my favorites. I saw yesterday that they actually have a song called "Oh Zone." It's not all that good, though.

Neither am I.

Sanford from Jacksonville

Seem's like Kyle Trask would be a logical choice to pick up given relationships with our coach. I guess he is still available for a reason?

Nick Mullens is the Jaguars' backup quarterback behind starter Trevor Lawrence. Mullens has extensive experience in this offense.

Ryan from Green Cove Springs, FL

"I'll pass this along to Gladstone – assuming that is, he didn't realize that he should target all-time greats in their sports and positions when piecing together a roster." <-- This made me laugh out loud. While you're at it, could you invite Herm Edwards down to give first-year head coach Liam Coen a pregame pep talk? You know, in case he hasn't realized that "you play to win the game!"

I am the king of all funk.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

When you look at the depth chart for the offensive line, I don't think we necessarily have the best front-line starters by any means. However, I don't think I have ever had the confidence in our backups when someone inevitably goes down. It may not be our biggest strength, but they have done a stand-up job in building this line across the ones and twos. Would you agree or disagree? Before the pads come on of course.

The Jaguars focused this offseason on revamping the offensive line. It's very difficult – if not impossible to replace every player on an offensive line in one season, and the Jaguars didn't believe such wholescale change was necessary. They changed 40 percent of the starting line, with Patrick Mekari at right guard and Robert Hainsey at center. Left tackle Walker Little, left guard Ezra Cleveland and right tackle Anton Harrison are starting following training camp competition – and Cleveland had perhaps the best camp of any Jaguars linemen. The Jaguars like their line overall. They like the starters. They love the depth and versatility. It's not last season's line and I don't think this season's line will be next season's line. But from this view it's headed in an improved direction. And yes … depth might be the defining characteristic of this line. The Jaguars feel confident playing any lineman on the active roster.

JT from Palm Coast, FL

The biggest issue that I see with Trevor is that ridiculous phantom rollout that he does when he senses pressure. If that can be coached out of him, then I don't see many flaws besides fumbles. For whatever it is worth, I am more optimistic than I have been since the beginning of last year.

OK.

J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL

Yo, Zone. I am cautiously optimistic about the way this new unit is going to look. I agree with most of the points you make regarding this first game. Above all, Trevor. Man, I just hope he lights it up and finds a rhythm that carries over. I feel like he's been stuck in a rut since he came into the league. Here's hoping. My question for you (as a journalist), what does "Ps and Qs" mean and where does it derive from? I could Google, but I don't trust the internet. Go Jags!

"AI" tells us there a few popular theories about the origin of the phrase "Mind your Ps and Qs." One is it was a way of reminding typesetters to pay attention to details – the theory being that "p" and "q" are so close in lower-case form that it was easy to confuse them. Another theory is that the phrase reminded "tavern patrons" to "mind" their pints and quarts. There are other less plausible theories, but I like the tavern-patron version. Insider tip: Always take quarts over pints. Go big or go home.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Hi.

'Sup.

Stephen

John, how much does hometown optimism play into your most important first power poll about the Jaguars?

I ranked the Jaguars 24<sup>th in my all-important pre-Week 1 power rankings this week. That's the last team in the third quartile of the league. Is that all that optimistic?

JT from Palm Coast, FL

The NFL seems to be a league of "one-score" games. Jags were horrendously bad/unlucky at those games last year. If we win half of those kind of games this year, then I can see us competing for the playoffs/division. Am I off base on this thought?

No. Good teams in the NFL win close games more often than not. Any team that fares well in close games is almost always going to have a good chance to contend for the postseason. That holds true for the 2025 Jaguars.

Rob from The duuuuuuuuuuu

I'm confused, John. How is Ventrell Miller not one of the Top 3 linebackers? Is there a difference in body type for the third linebacker spot? I'm surprised that both Devin Lloyd and Dennis Gardeck would be in before Miller if there were three linebackers on the field at once. And is Lloyd starting over miller more a reflection of improvement on his part or of miller regressing.

Jaguars linebackers Devin Lloyd and Ventrell Miller are listed as co-starters. Remember: The roles of the Jaguars' linebackers – particularly at weak and strongside – will vary based on situations and packages. I expect Gardeck to play extensively when the Jaguars want pass rush. I also expect Miller to play a lot in a lot of situations.