JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. So, we have the "13 Personnel" package as a new offensive trend in the NFL. On the defensive side, it may be the "big nickel" package. From the internet: "Traditional nickel defenses put a smaller, coverage-heavy cornerback in the slot. Big nickel replaces that player with a bigger safety (often a "money backer") who can match up physically with massive pass-catching tight ends." Is this a response to the move towards the 13 Personnel? Which player(s) would be the money backer for the Jaguars?

The NFL-wide and Jaguars-specific move toward more "12 and 13" – two- and three tight end – Personnel packages on offense this offseason is largely a response to the increased use in recent seasons of nickel (five defensive-back) defenses. Teams indeed traditionally have played a corner as the fifth defensive back, but that has been evolving in recent seasons with many teams now playing more "big nickel" or "three-safety" defenses. The Jaguars used these extensively last season in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's first season and a big reason they selected safety Jalen Huskey in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft is they plan to continue playing more than the traditional two safeties in a lot of looks moving forward. Safety Antonio Johnson played something like the so-called money backer role last season for the Jaguars.

Hooks from Mandarin

YO, Zone! Is there any way we could get a little documentary of this virtual room with someone who can explain how it works while showing what exactly it does? From what has been quoted, ours seems to be pretty amazing. I am sure that would be worth clicking on if Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli would put a stamp of approval. I think this would be super cool.

I don't control the size or subject matter of Jaguars Media documentaries, or other videos on jaguars.com. The virtual training room – also known as the virtual meeting room – has many virtues and is essentially what the name suggests: an expanded room where players can walk through game situations virtually and therefore get mental repetitions without having to do so physically. It's therefore a valuable tool for injured players. It's a big enough room for an entire side of the ball to easily maneuver in such a way to get solid mental repetitions and simulate plays. It's cool stuff.

Matthew from Tamarac

Hey O. I haven't heard any of the Jags Media mention former Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker as an unrestricted free agent target. Is this because Stones doesn't want to tip his hand? Jokes aside, is Decker too rich for our current caps' blood? Re-signing wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange are oft-mentioned priorities for the cap, and I'm sure signing Decker – even as the only UFA signing before regular season – could carry the most value into the season, especially with Cole Van Lanen's relative uncertainty. Thoughts?

No one in Jaguars Media has mentioned Decker as an "unrestricted free agent" target because it would be surprising if the Jaguars made such a move.

John from Fernandina Beach, FL

Hey, John. How about giving us a quick review of your impressions of each organized team activities practice?

The Jaguars held their first three 2026 OTA practices this week – one each on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Jaguars allowed media viewing Tuesday, so that's the practice from which we have an impression. My impression on that day was that quarterback Trevor Lawrence seemed at ease and comfortable, and that he seemed to have good chemistry with his receivers – particularly wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Aside from that, my impressions were that the practices were well-run, efficient and focused – as has been the norm under Head Coach Liam Coen. I also noted that there were a lot of football players running around without pads, which meant that the practices – while important for players from a mental standpoint – meant little in terms of evaluation. I expect that also would have been my impression from practice Thursday and Friday and I expect that will be my impression the rest of the offseason.

AB

Now that the Djoker is out, who?

This is a great question – and if I was good enough to feel good about the answer, I imagine I would be covering tennis rather than the NFL. Novak Djokovic of Serbia indeed lost to Joao Fonseca of Brazil Friday – one of the bigger upsets in a 2026 French Open that has had more upsets to this point than any major men's tennis tournament in decades. Djokovic's loss – along with the absence of Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Jannik Sinner of Italy losing early – has left this men's draw as wide open as any in recent memory. The clear favorite is now No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, but the reality is there are no major champions left in the men's draw. It's hard to pick against Zverev, but I like the chances of Casper Ruud of Norway and Andrey Rublev of Russia. The reality: Any one of eight or nine players could win this thing. Or more. It has been that kind of tournament.

Mark from Archer

John, am I in the minority of not worrying about Ventrell Miller taking over for Devin Lloyd? Lloyd had a great year last year. But let's be real. Before last year, he was honestly just an average linebacker. I think his success last year was more about the system he was put in. I think that system is going to allow any average linebacker to be successful.

I don't know how many fans or observers are or aren't worried about Ventrell Miller starting at outside linebacker for the Jaguars in 2026. I do know he must still earn that position, and I know that the Jaguars aren't overly worried about the position no matter the eventual starter. Lloyd had a really good season last season – unusually good in terms of forcing turnovers. But there's every confidence inside the Miller Electric Center that the defense and the linebacker position can be just as good if not better this coming season.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Who's the best player in Jaguars history to wear No. 31?

The discussion here perhaps centers around players such as cornerback Davon House (2014-2015), cornerback Aaron Ross (2012), fullback Daimon Shelton (1997-2000) and cornerback Darious Williams (2022-2023). Recency bias perhaps would tell us to lean toward Williams, but Shelton was a good fullback for multiple seasons, so maybe Shelton? Maybe Williams? Whatever, I suppose.

Jordan from Lincoln, NE

No. 31… Darious Williams, I guess.

Sure.

Yeti Daddy from Somewhere and Yet Nowhere

I am really interested in how well the offensive line will perform this year. We have a fair bit of familiarity, which should develop chemistry, which should lead to consistency. I know the schedule is different each year, but which game should be the toughest and which should be the hardest for the offensive line?

I expect the matchups against the Houston Texans to be major tests for the Jaguars' offensive line because the Texans are one of the NFL's best defensive lines and are major tests for most NFL offensive lines these days.

Sam from Orlando

To hell with the numbers, Poindexter, who is the greatest Gene in Jaguars history?

The Jaguars according to my research never have had a starter named "Gene." I suppose we could lean into a discussion involving former left tackle Eugene Monroe or former offensive lineman Eugene Chung or former General Manager Gene Smith. I guess we may just have to accept that it's a shame that former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette never played for the Jaguars. I'm not saying he couldn't have played. I'm not saying he didn't have talent. I'm just saying he didn't play and it's a shame for all us that he made that choice.

Kevin from St Johns, FL

Funny thing about that sign, every time I pass it (about once every couple of weeks when I visit the grandkids) I just cringe internally, for it represents personal failure. My daughter has Derrick Henry on het fantasy team. She beat me two out of the three times we played this year including a devastating 65-point margin loss in the playoffs. (She did go on to win the league this year.) She is a server at a fish house in the northside and Derrick Henry came into the restaurant during last year's offseason. She made sure to let him know he is an important component to her team. She took a picture with him. That picture gets posted to the fantasy league group chat every time she beats me. Nothing more nothing less, just the subtle dig every time she beats me. It still hurts thinking about it ...

You should be very proud of your daughter.