JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Art from Just shy of the ditch

All kudos to the offense, but looking at the standings, our defense is ranked first in points allowed. I am hopeful that trend and level of play continues. It is much harder to put up Ws when the score is not high. The run defense is extraordinary and the secondary has a big test coming up in Cincy, no letdowns allowed!

The Jaguars indeed enter Sunday's Week 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, ranked No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense – and as Jaguars Analyst Bucky Brooks is fond of saying, the only two defensive statistics that matter in the NFL are points allowed and takeaways. This is because professional football is hard and designed to promote offense, which means it is difficult, if not impossible, to not allow yards at times. Acknowledging that, the keys for defenses are to allow as few points as possible while the other team is inevitably gaining yards and to force takeaways to "break serve" while both teams are somewhat inevitably gaining yards. The Jaguars in that vein not only have a very good defense this season, they have a very good run defense and a defense that creates turnovers. That gives them a chance to be consistent overall and have games in which they create opportunities for the offense. One obvious area that must improve is pressuring the quarterback, particularly in crucial situations. Stopping the run gives you a chance to rush the passer, but you still must take advantage of those chances and get pressure. The Jaguars were not elite in this area last season and they struggled in their one close game this season – a 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 3. It is difficult to win if your defense can't pressure the quarterback in close games, and the Jaguars didn't pressure the quarterback in that close game. Pressuring Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is a "have-to" Sunday, a day when the Jaguars' very good defense should get a serious test.

Haney from Little Elm, TX

We always find a way to lose close games in Cincy. How can they get over the hump against one of the best quarterback/wide receivrer combos in the league?

By playing as well as they have offensively in most of their last 11 regular-season games and by pressuring Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow enough to force a few timely mistakes.

Sam from West Sacramento

Is it wide receiver Josh Cameron's job to lose now? And if so, would GM Funk be willing to explore the swap of wide receiver Bryan Thomas Jr. for another young receiver that might need a change of scenery like Marvin Harrison Jr?

TRADE MACHINE!!!!!

Russ from Calhoun, GA

How do coaches help guys who drop passes? Are there specialists who can be brought in, or are there position coaches that are drop whisperers much like Coen is a quarterback whisperer? Or is this a player's responsibility to get help in a specific area? It seems like I is time to get a particular player some special help. A tragedy to see otherwise great talent being destroyed by drops!

This is an age-old dilemma. Players can work at it in various ways. They can work on the JUGGS machine after practice. They can take extra repetitions. They can focus on watching the ball into their hands better. Coaches often counsel players to do these things and stand close to the players while they are working on these things. There are times you see improvement from these efforts. There are other times you don't. Sometimes a guy just does not have good hands.

Rob from Jax

Hey, O. I think the most impressive thing for me in these last 10 of 12 wins (or whatever the correct number is) is the margin of victory. Like you said, this isn't the Southeastern Conference, but the Jags are kind of making it feel that way more often than not. Do you remember another team winning this consistently in the last 10 years by this big a margin? Thanks O.

The Jaguars' run of one-sided victories is impressive, though not unprecedented. The Los Angeles Rams last season won eight games by 14 or more points. The Seattle Seahawks also won eight games last season by 14 or more points. The Jaguars have won eight of their last 13 regular-season games by that margin. So … yes, teams sometimes get on rolls when they win a lot of games by wide margins in the NFL. But it's relatively rarefied air and absolutely the mark of a good, high-functioning team.

Steve from Shreveport, LA

Hey, KOAF. I like to look at scoring differential for sports. Generally, the winning teams have a good sized "plus" differential and the weak ones get the dreaded "red" numbers. It is only three games but the Jags are second only to the San Francisco 49ers with a plus-46. It's a good trend. But what is really noteworthy is that while we have scored 82 points, (there are a host of teams in that area) the defense is rocking. Holding three teams to 36 total points is far and away best in the league. Go Jags.

Go Jags.

Sad Sam from Happy Valley

Seems like Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (and others in a similar situation) would consider the very real risk of injury while contract negotiations drag on. Assuming he has a many millions offer already, maybe just take it and be pleased with the success so far.

Washington and his representative understand injury risk as it relates to his contract situation. Washington is a very aware, intelligent young an in addition to being really good at football. It's easy for observers and fans to have "thoughts" on what a player should or shouldn't do in given situations, but this is their life and their financial future. Washington as an adult with quality representation has every right to decide for himself what he will be pleased with in this situation.

Richard from Jacksonville

Does Head Coach John Oehser put wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter on Bengals cornerback Ja'arr Chase in man coverage for the entire game?

Certainly not. No NFL team can play exclusively man or zone coverage for an entire game. If offenses know what you are doing to that extent, they will scheme you to the point they are almost impossible to stop.

Steven from Orlando, FL

In six quarters that the starters have played at home, they are dominating 62-6. That one quarter in Denver is an outlier. Let's get that revenge game in Cincy! Duval!!

You go, girl.

Daniel from Urbandale, IA

In order to trade you have to have someone worth trading. Do you have a sense what wide receiver Brian Thomas would even be worth (hypothetically)?

Some sort of mid-round selection. This is not a commentary on Thomas as much as a reflection of the reality that trades for veteran players often bring far less in return than many fans and observers expect.

Zac from Austin, Tejas

When writing, sometimes you use "quotes" to set a phrase apart, and sometimes you use capitals (see: "playing field" or Very Important On Television). How do you decide when to use which?

"I'm Not Sure."

Josh from Atlanta, GA

So, now I am reading from the pundits that Cleveland has an "excellent" defense. Just a few weeks ago: "It was the Browns." My, what a week-to-week league we live in. Week 1 can be weird. I am just saying that win is looking even more impressive. Also, the broadcasters were seemingly shocked reading through the stats of Coen's tenure at home thus far, and it is genuinely impressive. My question for you as someone who was at both games; how did the in-stadium feel and crowd noise/involvement versus the New England Patriots compare with what you heard/saw with the Broncos game? It sounded awesome via broadcast, just curious how we stacked up with one of the toughest environments in the NFL.

I am a bad judge of this because the press box at EverBank Stadium, while not completely "soundproof," keeps sound out very well. Not all press boxes are like this. For this reason, Jaguars players and coaches often talk about crowd noise being a major factor in home games where I didn't notice it all that much.

Scott from Jax

The last two times the Jags lost, they won the next game 35-6 each time. Time for another nine-game win streak then?

Stay tuned.

Mike from East Alabama, (Pensacola)

Was a 20-year season ticket holder until I had to move a state away. I have never been so excited. I just spent a ton of my money for the 11/29 Titans game, and will puke my lungs out for this team. Word.

A friend of mine had this sort of experience once. He thought he was being a great fan. It turned out it was the street oysters. Never, ever eat the street oysters.