JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Dmiz from Jagsonville
Scott from Aruba asked a fantastic question about hope and I loved your answer. It's such a difficult position to see all the new changes. The vibe is certainly different than years past. The current leadership being so young seems to bring a different level of energy. Yet, we as longtime fans have such a pessimistic view from so many past regime changes, it's really difficult to have confidence in the possibilities. I want to go all in going forward, but part of me still has a huge trepidation. My trepidation, however, is indeed tempered by the new regime. It's an ongoing conundrum of so many feelings. Just sharing thoughts because we might experience a sudden turnaround or it might take time. I just HOPE we see a positive direction.
Hope and anxiety indeed seem to be the major themes among Jaguars fans as 2025 Training Camp approaches, along with healthy doses of excitement and skepticism. It's true that this can be said of Jaguars fans – and most fans of most teams – as most NFL seasons approach, but it perhaps is particularly true this offseason for the Jaguars because of the legitimate enthusiasm around the new regime headed by Head Coach Liam Coen, General Manager James Gladstone and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli. I've said and written often this offseason that this anxious feeling of having and not trusting hope is really the only way Jaguars fans could be expected to approach the season because they indeed have been burned often by offseason hope. Should Jaguars fans have hope? Should they be excited? Is it OK to be "all in?" Sure. What is being a fan if not experiencing such hope and anxiety? If you don't want that, watch scripted television. I have little to add here than to again say this: This regime is doing things right. I expect the Jaguars to be a prepared, disciplined team next season. I expect players to believe in the direction of the team. I expect it to be a team that looks better in 2025 than it did in 2024, and I expect fans will feel better about the team next January than they do now. I'm optimistic, and I'm not overly optimistic by nature. Stay tuned.
Scott from Saint Johns, FL
The passage of time allows for a deeper reflection on the impact of a player's career on an NFL team. This year marks the 15th anniversary of David Garrard's last season in a Jaguars uniform. When looking at his career QBR, it is interesting to note that his rating is the highest of any starting quarterback in the history of the Jaguars. In fact, he sits at No. 52 in the all -time career rankings and is ahead of some notable Hall of Famers such as Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, and Fran Tarkenton. I realize that QBR does not precisely delineate the caliber of a quarterback over their career, nonetheless it is impressive to see where David Garrard ranks. John, would you comment on the significance of his career in the context of the history of the Jaguars franchise?
I missed Garrard's career with the Jaguars, with the team releasing him shortly before my first season back in Jacksonville in 2011. Don't read too much into historical QBR ratings. The game was different when players such as Staubach, Tarkenton and even Aikman played. But there's little question that Garrard ranks among the franchise's top quarterbacks – just behind Mark Brunell. One fer Garrard? Absolutely.
Steve from Nashville, TN
Conventional wisdom says you could never be the KOAF!
Conventional wisdom can kick rocks.
John from Jacksonville
You call this a football column? The dead zone sucks. How many days until football season?
I've never called this anything except a place where people ask questions and I do my best to answer. Reader questions mostly dictate direction. From this view, this dead zone has been a bit less "dead" thanks to the questions. We'll be all football all the time soon enough. Jaguars 2025 Training Camp begins in July with veterans reporting July 22.
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, I believe we both agree that the Rock n' Roll HOF is a bit of a joke. Boston should be in. Grand Funk Railroad should be in. There could be an argument for hometown 38 Special and possibly Molly Hatchet.
I've always considered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame silly and a bit ironic. "Rock and Roll" at its heart is the music of youth, with many artists rebelling against the establishment during their defining years. To enshrine these artists in a black-tie(ish) event has always felt a little tone deaf. As for who should or shouldn't be in … from this view, it's whatever. If artists reach people and matter in their lives, that's their legacy. Anything more is extra.
Ed from Jax by Lionel Playworld
We've talked about life around Regency Mall in the 1980s. I have fond memories of the Chan's restaurant. In fact, I remember Steve Beuerlein's image on a billboard advertising a car dealership across the street from Chan's. What Regency-adjacent places did you frequent? Did you partake in Chan's or neighboring Shogun, frequently? Did you wait for over an hour to get seated at Outback Steakhouse when it opened?
My Regency Mall memories are primarily from the 1970s and 1980s, so I recall vividly when Regency expanded to include a movie-plex and the Food Court – areas that for a brief time served as an integral part of what passed for Ozone's social life. I worked in the hardware department at Sears in the summer of 1984, an ironic position considering I didn't know the difference between an Allen wrench and a drill bit at time. Friends worked at what was then May Cohens and elsewhere around the mall – and in later, post-college years, my wife and I frequented Houlihan's. Bottom line: We're hardly alone in our fond Regency memories, memories that younger readers likely can't understand considering its current state. Anyone up to go to Kona?
Al from Fruit Cove, FL
With all of your experience covering football, perhaps you can explain something ... For the most part, position names in football relate to their location or purpose. The center is in the center of the line, defensive ends are aptly located, linebackers can usually be found in back of the line, QBs, HBs, and FBs historically were lined up that way behind the center, guards are responsible for guarding, etc. But how did we come to assign offensive tackles that name? They can't tackle anyone without incurring a holding penalty. They don't line up across from the defensive tackles (who can tackle, of course), as that's where the guards are. And, with the possible exception of the EVP, most OTs are not really offensive. Is this something you can put your crack research staff on?
The term "tackle" stems from the origins of football, when players played two ways. "Tackles" in those days played key positions on the offensive and defensive line. When the sport evolved into "two-platoon" football – with players primarily playing either offense or defense – the terms "guard" and "center" evolved on offense and "end" evolved on defense. Tackle held its name on both offense and defense. That's the generally accepted, google-able explanation.
Michael from Dew
Reading Pynchon is for readers who have built up vocabulary and comprehension skills over decades. The first ten pages of a Pynchon novel feels like wading through hip deep swamp waters. I enjoy the visions produced reading Gravity's Rainbow and try to be descriptive in my writing. Alas writing a short stories compilation about the 38 most insane Uber rides in Las Vegas makes for restraint in honor of delicate taste.
I confess I never have read Thomas Pynchon, and my literary tastes typically lean to authors that emphasize clarity and conciseness rather than high-handed vocabulary. There's no need to impress with obscure words when familiar ones available that all can understand. I googled Pynchon, though, and read a few passages. He doesn't seem to be trying to impress and seems quite digestible. I may be smart enough to try him. Someday.
Jesse from Texas
I recall before the '21 draft one time you wrote that the only player you would trade the Jags' number one pick for was Patrick Mahomes. I'm guessing that you would agree there's quite a few quarterbacks that have consistently outplayed Trevor since then. So, what's the one biggest reason that he hasn't lived up to expectations?
There are too many factors for there to be one reason, and not being elite yet doesn't mean Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence won't ever be elite. This story is still being told.
Gator from Gainesville but almost a garage in Jacksonville
I don't know bout Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon. but Feeling Gravities Pull by REM ain't so bad. Stomp gravity into the floor.
Peel back the mountains. Peel back the sky.
