MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Let's get to it …

Dale from Jacksonville

O, I read a few different articles after the joint practice that the team looked tired and worn out. I really hope the fatigue from training camp won't show Week 1 versus the little cats. From your experience covering the league, do you think the team will be at full energy Week 1 or still a little tired from a long training camp? Thoughts?

The Jaguars worked for about two hours in a joint practice with the Miami Dolphins Thursday at the Dolphins' practice facility, the Baptist Health Training Complex. This work was two days ahead of the teams playing in the preseason finale at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Thursday's practice was a bit sloppy from this perspective, and I got the impression from Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen before and after that the practice wasn't structured as he had hoped. My guess is he wanted a few more periods closer to live, which didn't happen mostly because the Dolphins already had had multiple joint practices during this training camp – and he Dolphins therefore didn't want a particularly intense, taxing session Thursday. I can't speak for what those writing other articles saw, but I didn't see a particularly tired or fatigued team. I saw a team that didn't have a dynamite practice but that made some plays, particularly on defense in a late "close-to-live" period. I also saw an offense that moved the ball well during that late period after having a little trouble in an early red-zone period. Either way, we're two weeks from the Jaguars' regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers. There's no reason to think the Jaguars will be fatigued from training camp entering that game.

Steve from San Marco

King O. I believe it was 2017 when Jags had joint practices with the New England Patriots. Since then, I've heard several analysts who were there comment something to the effect that it was men against boys. The Pats looked organized, professional and well-coached compared to the Jags. Of course Tom Brady was directing the Patriots' offense compared with Blake Bortles with the Jaguars. Do you recall it that way? How would you say we look today under Liam compared to then? And how do we look compared to Miami regarding structure, discipline and talent?

I remember the Patriots in 2017 in those joint practices looking like they knew what they were doing, and I remember thinking that made sense because they were at the time a mature, model franchise. I don't recall it seeming like "men against boys," though the Patriots' offense and Brady were expectedly impressive. I don't recall 2017 in enough detail to make a pertinent comparison to then and now. This Jaguars team under Head Coach Liam Coen seems like a team "on the same page" moving in the right direction and I thought Thursday's practice looked like two capable and disciplined teams. Perhaps others who were there observing drew more stark, dramatic conclusions and perhaps some of those observers found incidents to fit what they believe. My experience is that happens quite a bit when people try to draw conclusions from short, practice situations.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

" ... stunningly premature and incorrect it calls into question the ability to reason of those drawing the conclusion." Well said. Those in your profession that do that, that's what's drives me bananas. And my inference is that's done based on their own preconceived notions and biases. It's unprofessional and poor quality work. It's unfortunate there is no check and balance operation within the profession (or, really, many to most others) that makes an "analyst" accountable for these ilk infractions against, actual, respectable, journalism.

People can say what they like. Analysts can analyze how they like. Try not to let it bother you. Life is short.

JT from Palm Coast, FL

John. I am wanting to be optimistic about this season and borderline irrational. I am struggling with always feeling like the Jags are a year away from being a year away. I see a lot to like about EVERYTHING this regime is doing. The issue I am having is my logic brain is telling me that from top to bottom, this is a brand new regime. Can this year's team truly compete for the playoffs and further? In all of your years of covering the NFL, how often have teams succeeded like that in year one?

I don't know exactly what a year away from being a year away means. I have been pretty consistent in how I see the 2025 Jaguars, and that's as a team that will look better for the most part than the 2024 Jaguars. I think they will be a faster team at the skill positions on offense with a better short-yardage running game and an improved defense. I think those improvements can get this team to around .500 – and if you're around .500, you can compete for the postseason if circumstances break right. I haven't covered that many regimes that have made the postseason in Year One, but it has happened twice in recent seasons for the Jaguars – 2017 and 2022.

Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA

O, Don't you believe that the Jags are blessed to have Trevor Lawrence as an established quarterback? There is much discussion around the league as to teams without an established quarterback. This worry the Jags don't have.

I don't know about "blessed." I do know there is a positive in having a stable quarterback situation, and having one puts the Jaguars in a better quarterback situation than many teams. There are also multiple teams that right now feel more "blessed" at quarterback than the Jaguars. This season is largely about Lawrence showing where the Jaguars belong on the "blessed" scale, I suppose.

Ray from Jax

John: People need to calm down about a first-round pick getting nicked up. Tony Boselli missed the first four games his first year and things turned out just fine. Jalen Ramsey missed time with a bad back after getting mad at a man in his 70s and … oops I forgot I had to be nice.

You were close. Don't give up. Don't ever give up.

Art from Just shy of ditch jax

Reports and results from Jags/Fins scrimmage were certainly a concern: Eight of 14, two touchdowns and two interceptions? and the offensive line had there proverbial A$$ handed to them? Please show something else in the final preseason game

People tend to see joint practices in different ways. The Jaguars do not plan to play starters Saturday.

Sailor2uall from Acworth GA

How much of the stadium will be under wraps for this season's games due to construction?

Construction at this point is mostly effecting the exterior of EverBank Stadium, which means entering and exiting the stadium may be different in the past. Capacity inside the 'Bank is not significantly different.

Brandon from Louisville, KY

I really hope the Jags have a great season and think they could. It's a bit deflating hearing about Trevor throwing interceptions at practice on Thursday. Just getting concerned that he might never step into where he was drafted. Somewhat disappointing. Am I right to be concerned?

Lawrence didn't have the best practice Thursday. He has looked fine in the preseason. THe regular season starts in two weeks.

Robert from Elkton

Zone, one thing you hear/read constantly from media is "based on his salary, they HAVE TO START HIM!" People make the proclamation as if it is some scientific natural law. In your many years experience, do you think you have witnessed this actually happening routinely? I could understand it possibly happening for a game or two to get a live-game evaluation. But I just can't imagine any coaching staff doing this for more than a handful of games when their jobs depend on wins.

Teams pay players based on expectations and they often structure their teams – and starting positions – based on those same expectations. It therefore can be very difficult for a team to change course once it projects a highly-paid player as a starter – particularly at quarterback. That's why weird situations sometimes linger, but you're correct in the sense that coaches typically won't let such situations linger for long. Their jobs depend on winning – and if they really believe a player is hurting their chances to win, they'll usually make the change.

Bradley from Kansas City, MO

Is ESPN good for the NFL?

ESPN is neither inherently good nor inherently bad for the NFL. The station allows people to watch games and listen to analysis about a sport. This has to happen somewhere. It might as well happen on ESPN.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Same old Jags. SMH.

You're seemingly referencing some "analysis" that indicates the Jaguars are having a bad training camp and preseason. Pay attention to it if you will. Worry if you will. The Jaguars open the 2025 regular season against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville September 7. We'll start find out the real stuff then. Until then it's just so much fluff.