JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Bob from Ponte Vedra, FL
Why did the Jags put the tag on Cam Robinson? I've watched him play and he is not a great left tackle. Former Jaguars right tackle Leon Searcy said recently that Cam was average at best. Why not try and sign Trent Williams? We know he could protect Lawrence.
The Jaguars put the franchise tag on Cam Robinson because they believe he is a functional left tackle – and because offensive line coach George Warhop believes in Robinson. They also tagged him because left tackle is a difficult, expensive position to find in the NFL; even average left tackles are difficult to find and expensive. Why not try and sign left tackle Trent Williams? Because you don't know the cost – and because that cost might be prohibitive. But mostly because you might try and fail. If you try and fail to sign Williams and let Robinson leave as a free agent, you don't have a left tackle. That means you're probably starting a rookie left tackle drafted late in – or outside – the first round. Is that an upgrade over Robinson? Maybe. Or it could be a drop off. That's not what you want, particularly if you plan on starting a rookie quarterback. Which the Jaguars might do.
Pat from Duval
Thrilled that we're resigning Tre Herndon. He's one of the best tacklers on our team!
The Jaguars on Friday announced they had re-signed cornerback Tre Herndon and reports are they will re-sign center/guard Tyler Shatley. Both moves make sense. They are veteran players who have proven capable when called upon. I don't know that either will be penciled in for starting roles, but they are experienced players who can contribute when needed. You need that in the NFL.
Fred from Naples, FL
Did Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football really say on your podcast that the Jaguars have an "excellent" offensive line? Wow … you may wish to share this with all the readers who disagree.
Colin from Jacksonville
Find a way to draft defensive tackle Christian Barmore from Alabama and safety Trevon Moehrig from Texas Christian by trading draft picks. I believe these two players can lift this D tremendously. Having Barmore and DaVon Hamilton in the gut will allow Josh Allen and K'Lavon Chaisson to do what they do best ... speed on the outside. Linebackers will be fine with Myles Jack and Joe Schobert, so having Moehrig on the third level should help our defensive backs. Moehrig tape is no joke and will get his picks and great tackles with the D-line. Let's do this JAGS, winning is in our future.
I'm perhaps not as quite as passionate as you about trading up for Barmore and Moehrig, but if I could get one at No. 25 I would definitely take that.
David from Orlando, FL
KOAF – If Robinson doesn't sign the franchise tag by the start of free agency, shouldn't the Jaguars be saying to themselves, "Oh, snap! We may not have a left tackle, somebody get Trent Williams on the phone?" Isn't it in Robinson's best interest to sign that tag as fast as he can, because if he doesn't, it will likely cost him millions … and if he wants to know how that feels, he can call Yannick.
While it's hard to imagine Jaguars Head Coach Urban Meyer or General Manager Baalke walking into one another's office with hand on hip and sassily uttering "Oh, snap," your point that Robinson not signing the tag could prompt action by the Jaguars in free agency is fair. It's not exactly like former Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue's situation; the Jaguars never have offered Robinson a long-term contract – or at least such negotiations never have been made public. But it probably would behoove Robinson to sign the tag and work to be part of the Jaguars' future. That doesn't guarantee he will do that, but it would … you know … behoove him.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: Free agent quarterback Alex Smith coming to Jacksonville would make me upset. I always root for the underdog and for players to make dramatic comebacks in their careers. If Smith came to Jacksonville as a backup, then the courageous journey from a life and death injury to legitimate NFL starting quarterback will end. The only way Smith would get a chance to be a starter in Jacksonville would be if our No. 1 draft pick isn't playing. For the No. 1 pick to not be playing that means either he is injured, a horrible player, suspended or the Jaguars want to "groom him for part of the season." None of those options inspire much hope in the long-term success of the Jaguars. I want the Jaguars, Smith and the No. 1 draft pick to succeed, which just isn't possible with Smith on the roster.
OK.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
I'm starting to think you are not very nice.
Welcome to life, Gary.
Vince from Farmington, NM
Mr. O: I was watching a report on Trevor Lawrence regarding his rehab, and that he is "ahead of schedule" on his recovery. During this report it was mentioned he has had numerous Zoom meeting with the Jaguars, and that "they are keeping him up to date on as much as possible." Coaching staff is regulated as to what contact they can have with players, especially football content. Do the same rules apply to undrafted athletes such as Lawrence, or does declaring for the draft place them in the same restrictive bubble the contract players operate in? That could be an additional benefit to the No. 1 draft pick, especially if you are choosing a quarterback that needs to get up to speed quicker than, say, lower draft picks? Could this also be why the staff has not publicly acknowledged the presumed pick?
Teams can have five one-hour zoom calls with a particular prospect. As of Wednesday, Baalke said the Jaguars have had two such calls with Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. They also have had and will continue to have such calls with many prospects, including other quarterbacks.
Sean from Jacksonville
It is difficult for me to not send you "Let's get so-and-so..." comments and questions right now. The urge is strong, but I must resist adding them to your Inbox.
Stay strong, Sean. For the love of God, stay strong.
Steve from Wallingford, CT
In a recent answer to Todd from Nashville, you stated, "Second, while outside 'grades' make interesting reading, I've never considered them overly accurate – particularly for offensive linemen, because you can't grade the position without knowing assignments on specific plays." Yet Pro Football Focus prides themselves on breaking down every assignment on every play and the impact of that player to grade them out and says this about Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson: "In his four years in the NFL, Robinson ranks dead last among qualifying left tackles in PFF grade (56.2). That mark is seven grading points worse than the second-lowest-graded left tackle and 14 grading points worse than third place." I think what most of us are saying is what we see, and what every other source sees, is that our O-Line is not effective, and sources whose job it is to break down assignments and impact confirm what we see.
I sense the incessant back and forth here on the subject of the Jaguars' offensive line is getting tedious – even more tedious than much of my writing. So, we'll probably reach a point of agreeing to disagree on the offensive line soon. The good news for me? I still will be right, so I will sleep the satisfied slumber of the smugly correct. Regarding "grading," know this: I understand what you and others are saying. I understand what PFF says about Robinson, and I understand that PFF is a respected service that takes pride in its work and does many things well. I also understand that however much pride they may take, the analysts at PFF analyze offensive line play without knowing play calls or assignments – so I don't put as much stock in their grades for offensive linemen as their grades at other position. And frankly, I don't really put all that much stock in any grades done by outside analysts. I understand that some people do, and that's fine. I like the guys at PFF. They do a good job analyzing the league and providing a discussion point – and before PFF existed, there was pretty much zero way to measure offensive line play available to most fans. In this sense, PFF is far better than zero. And if you like PFF's work, support it by subscribing to the service. But I don't take PFF's grades as football gospel, and quoting them to me is not going to sway my otherworldly-accurate analysis of the Jaguars' offensive line. I'm going to slumber now. Smugly. And smiling.
