JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Billy from Middleburg, FL
What do you think about throwing a lot of cash at Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams and Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson in free agency and drafting heavy on offensive line and pass rusher?
Good question. While big names are fun and "awesome," it's too early to know specifics in terms of how free agency will play out in the 2022 offseason. Still, conceptually speaking … I would be surprised if the Jaguars don't make a mammoth effort to address wide receiver in both free agency AND the 2022 NFL Draft. I expect them to focus heavily on offensive line and pass rusher in the draft, but not because they are particularly weak in those areas currently. I expect Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke to always focus on those areas because they are critical to having strong offenses and strong defenses. The Jaguars appear to have multiple strong, young pieces in both areas. Look for the Jaguars to keep building there and select a player at each position, but I wouldn't expect a slew of selections on either line.
Nick from Annapolis, MD
One of my biggest takeaways from the Bills game was that James Robinson is a very good running back. Carlos Hyde appears to run pretty well at times, but there were times it felt obvious Robinson would have gotten much more out of the play. The fumble comes to mind most prominently, but there were probably a half dozen occasions where his presence was obviously missed.
Jaguars running back James Robinson absolutely is a very good NFL running back. He is fundamentally sound and off-the-charts good in at least two areas: miss-ability and getting the most from every carry. These traits are hard to scout/project, which explains why Robinson went unselected during the 2020 NFL Draft. It also helps explain what was missing from the Jaguars' offense Sunday. One of Robinson's many strengths is keeping the offense in manageable/positive down-and-distance situations. Without him, the Jaguars' offense felt "behind the chains" a few more times than might have been the case had he played. Those few more times add up and yeah … they're why Robinson felt missed Sunday.
_Max from Jax _
O, I don't write in often cause what I have to say is usually covered, but it has been a few days now so I just wanna give props to Jaguars backup quarterback C.J. Beathard coming in cold against the Bills – and should have had a heck of a game-changing drive if wide receiver Jamal Agnew held onto the touchdown pass. I'm not at all suggesting sitting rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but just want to acknowledge Beathard's strong performances in the preseason and brief regular season and to say we should feel quite comfortable that we have a competent backup.
Good eye.
Jason from North Pole, AK
The Colts are a good team playing very well right now. Are we in for a big letdown performance after last week?
Is an improving team playing well and not winning in a difficult circumstance a letdown? If so … then, maybe. The Jaguars on Sunday will be on the road against a contending team. I think they will play well – i.e., as they did against the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals, perhaps. I don't expect them to win.
Richard from Virginia Beach, VA
For Trevor to be a franchise-type quarterback, he must improve his footwork and accuracy, but watching the amount of separation his receivers are getting for him. I'm certainly not envious of his situation.
Fair.
Cole from Jacksonville
Can Agnew develop into the deep threat receiver we desperately need right now? If he catches that TD pass from Beathard, look out!
Agnew absolutely can impact the offense. He absolutely can contribute. He absolutely has the speed and playmaking ability to stress a secondary at times. He already has shown this and done these things. I don't know that realistically he will be able to be a consistent No. 1 wide receiver who can strain a defense enough for coordinators to game plan against him – and the Jaguars don't appear to have such a receiver. But Agnew does appear to be the best option to give the Jaguars a downfield element in the offense the rest of the season.
Hilarious from Funnytown
Hey Zone, I've wondered about this for a couple weeks after watching the evolution of the league and would like your insight and opinion. If he made no changes to the way he played the game, would Hines Ward have a place in today's NFL? Is the league better now because of it? Thanks! #moodachay
Yes, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward could play in today's NFL. I have no idea if that's good or bad for the league.
Justin from Jacksonville
Hey, John! Can the Jags beat any team in the NFL?
Sure. It's professional football.
Chris from Mandarin
Maybe the defense is starting to come together. John, it's time. #FreeCisco
The Jaguars just turned in one of the top defensive performances in franchise history, holding the NFL's top scoring team to two field goals. They did so with safety Andrew Wingard in the lineup, presumably because the coaches who designed the game plan in that defensive performance believed Wingard gave them the best chance to win.
Dave from Orange Park, FL
John, is it safe to say that for the last two seasons that defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot has been the most underrated player on the Jags' defense? He brings solid effort on every play and rarely gets a mention.
Yes.
Daniel from Jersey City, NJ
O-man, who would have thought at this point that are defense looks to be taking bigger strides than our offense?
Fair. Many, including me, thought the Jaguars' offense would make strides this season. Injuries to wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. and running back Travis Etienne Jr. hurt – along with the overall lack of speed at receiver – have helped keep that from happening.
KC from Orlando, FL
KOAF - It was cool to see our Josh Allen get is much deserved kudos as AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He has been playing tough, and it showed. I know that he got plenty of praise for 10.5 sacks as a rookie, but it looks like he is playing better this year given that his rookie year numbers were based upon playing with a supporting cast of Campbell and Ngakoue. What do you think?
I agree.
Alan from Jacksonville
Is it my imagination or does it look like every time right tackle Jawaan Taylor drops back into pass protection he seems to move before the snap? He's always the first to move on the offensive line but he has zero false start penalties this year. Is he just that fast or is everyone else just slow?
Taylor, a third-year veteran, indeed has been getting very close to moving before the snap in recent weeks. He pushed it on Sunday against the Bills to the point that officials probably missed a couple when they didn't call it. He needs to be careful. My guess is if he pushes it as closely Sunday as he has been pushing it, he will get called for it.
JR from Tallahassee, FL
Can you explain how the waiver wire works? Why do players make it without being claimed but then are signed by a team after clearing waivers?
Teams can release a player in one of two ways – by releasing them or "waiving" them. Players are subject to the waiver system if they have four years or fewer accrued NFL seasons. All players are subject to the waiver system after the NFL's trade deadline and before the end of the season. All teams have a chance to claim a waived player, with the player becoming a free agent if he goes unclaimed. A reason many players go unclaimed is a team claiming a player off waivers claims that player's contract, and therefore must abide by the terms of the contract. Teams therefore prefer – if possible – to wait for a player to clear waivers and sign him as a free agent, at which time the team can negotiate its own contract with the player.
RJ from Jacksonville
Hey O-Zone: random NFL question, not necessarily Jaguars-related. My father asked me how do teams such as the Los Angeles and New York teams that share a stadium interact during the week aside from Sunday? I'm talking everything, from mealtime to the practice fields. Are they separate? I was stumped and couldn't really find anything online about it. Thanks.
The Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers both play at home games at SoFi Stadium, but they practice and train weekly – and year-round – at separate facilities. The same is true of the New York Giants and New York Jets, who play home games at MetLife Stadium but practice and train at separate facilities.
