JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Matthew from Townsville, Tropical Australia

Hi, O. So much of all this seems high risk, even by NFL standards. Hunter is extraordinary, like he flies amongst the earthbound, but he's built like a twig in a field full of logs. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has ability we've all seen, but can he learn to throw those bread-and-butter intermediate passes accurately when he never has done it his entire career? On the defensive line, so much hinges on an aging defensive tackle Arik Armstead and a yet-to-really-show-it defensive tackle Maason Smith. I think what seems most risky is the running backs. Rookie Bhayshul Tuten has electric pace and elusiveness, like Travis Etienne Jr., and Tank Bigsby's tough, but all three are droppers and fumblers - if they hand the ball over once for every hundred yards they gain, they will have contributed net nothing. Please tell me my fears are unfounded.

I suppose if every player you cite completely washes out and plays awfully, the Jaguars could struggle and the whole 2025 season could be a disaster. If they all play as All-Pros, I expect the Jaguars will contend for the Super Bowl. We will probably see something somewhere in the middle. How do I assuage your fears? I guess I can't. We will both have to watch the season and find out what happens, which is pretty much what people who follow the NFL have do to every season.

Brian from Greenwood, IN

I have been a fan since that day they shot the fireworks off over Jax Landing. The thing to me that is so incredibly different than all the others so far is the complete transparency this organization has taken. What an incredible podcast. What other NFL general manager would sit down and be so candid? You have been around many GMs. This is kind of unprecedented, isn't it?

You're referencing the O-Zone Podcast with General Manager James Gladstone last week – but you're really referencing the entire approach of this new Jaguars regime. I don't cover every NFL team, so I can't call the access the Jaguars are granting under this regime unprecedented. But I have been around the NFL enough to know this is high-level stuff – and from a fan's perspective, pretty damned cool.

Kirk from Jacksonville

Excited? I should say so, because we have great potential this year. I am entering into year ten as a season-ticket member and hope my time for a Super Bowl is near. Thoughts?

Stay tuned.

Steve from Nashville, TN

You have probably covered enough regime changes in the NFL to know if this one feels any different than all the rest?

I don't cover every NFL team, so I can't call this regime different than all the rest. I suspect it feels very much like the Los Angeles Rams because of Gladstone's experience and influence in that organization. But it does feel high-level and could be pretty damned cool.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. I think the largest hurdle we need to overcome early this season is the mindset to win the close games at the end. Those last five minutes in a game make or break a team. This was a routine failure for the Jags last season and I think we'll be fine this season if we get a couple to go our way right away. This alone will give us momentum, a winning record, and be in the playoffs. Do I get an "OK" from the zone?

The Jaguars will be much better in 2025 if they can be better in close games than they were in 2024.

Sam from Orlando, FL

If Travis Hunter only played one side of the ball, where would you have drafted him?

Jaguars rookie wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter was projected as the best receiver and best corner in the 2025 NFL Draft. The best player at these positions in a given year might go around No. 3 or 4-ish. So around there-ish. Give or take.

Armand from Jacksonville

KOAF, using your scooter sense, what do you foresee the roster looking like by position?

My Scooby Sense – and not my Scobee Sense or Scooter Sense – tells me you're wanting a depth-chart projection for the Jaguars in 2025. Among the most notable aspects of the 2025 Jaguars offseason and training camp is/will be that competition will be very real at multiple positions – and there are many positions at which there legitimately isn't a true favorite. With that as a backdrop, here's an early projection for starters: Hunter, Dyami Brown and Brian Thomas Jr. at receiver; Brenton Strange at tight end; Tank Bigsby at running back; Trevor Lawrence at quarterback; left tackle Walker Little, left guard Ezra Cleveland, center Robert Hainsey, right guard Patrick Mekari, right tackle Anton Harrison on the offensive line; Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker at defensive end, DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead at defensive tackle; Devin Lloyd, Foye Oluokun and Ventrell Miller at linebacker; Tyson Campbell, Hunter and Jourdan Lewis at cornerback; and Eric Murray and Caleb Ransaw at safety. I expect multiple of those projections to be wrong. Such is the nature of this regime change.

Ed from Danvers, MA

Concerning "a devastatingly handsome, hilarious intelligent writer" ... when does he start!?

I sense you're trying to be funny. I don't quite get the joke.

Sam from Geneville

TOUCH EM ALL GENE! YOULL NEVER COVER A BETTER TEAM!

We're seemingly still celebrating the career/retirement of former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette. And celebrate we shall. A damned fine career.

Dany from Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

In the recent article about the defensive line, DaVon Hamilton was omitted. Why is that?

You're referencing a story by yours truly last week on the Jaguars' defensive line. Yours truly was listing returning defensive linemen and yours truly mistakenly omitted nose tackle DaVon Hamilton. I expect Hamilton will start at nose tackle in 2025, so this was a mistake by yours truly. I've been right for 58 consecutive years. It was a good run.

Rob from the duuuuuuuuuu

Would it make sense to just give Hunter a specific player to cover on defense? I know we wouldn't want to telegraph man coverage but could the coaches hypothetically say "You cover Justin Jefferson" and the rest of the defense could play either man or zone knowing to leave that player one on one with hunter? Time management seems pretty mind boggling unless they find a way to simplify his game plan on defense. Saying you got this number seems simple and he might be good enough to erase some really good players.

The Jaguars plan to split Hunter's preparation time as a rookie about 75-25, with 75 percent of the time on offense and 25 on defense. I expect he will be one on one with good receivers a lot, but this approach is how the Jaguars plan to manage Hunter's time and allow him to play within the defensive scheme.

Henry from Florahome

A lot of teams use players in dual roles-mostly on one side of the ball – i.e., hybrid linebackers, nickels drafted to play safety, and tackle to guard. The important question would be if Trevor goes in to relieve the defensive line does he still wear No. 16?

Yep.

Kevin from Jacksonville Beach, Fl

Hi, John. Outside of football, have you ever met or been in the presence of someone that you were in awe of? I was once at a conference where Eugene "Gene" Kranz was a keynote speaker. He was the mission control commander for the Apollo 13 mission.

That's cool. I haven't been in awe often since joining the newspaper business shortly after college. You get sort of used to being around famous people in this line of work and realize most people aren't that awe-inspiring. When I was a freshman at Guilford College in North Carolina in 1984, Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins walked within a foot or two of me when they were walking into a North Carolina basketball game at old Carmichael Auditorium. I don't remember being in awe. I do remember thinking that was pretty cool.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL

Any insight on potential discussions to bring the NFL Draft to Jacksonville after stadium completion? Green Bay worked so I have to believe JAX could support it well.

I have no insight into this because the Stadium of the Future won't be completed until 2028. I expect Jacksonville to host the NFL Draft sometime reasonably soon after that because why wouldn't that happen?

Joseph from Palm Coast, FL

I'm concerned all the attention Travis is receiving as the next-best wide receiver sent from God may not be sitting well with our actual No. 1 receiver.

I suppose we must worry about something. I would be surprised if this something is a "thing."

Stuart from Cottonwood AZ

Blood, Sweat and Tears makes me so very happy. I'm so glad they came into my life.

What goes up must come down.