JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Robert from Elkton
Zone, I have been optimistic many offseasons. Most of those years I was hopeful and eager to see how good a handful of starters and stars could be. But this year feels very, very different. I find myself more of the mind that we know the stars can be extremely good, some possibly All-Pro level. But for some reason this year, I am more excited to see who emerges from the backups. I find myself expecting to see several late-drafted, undrafted or just non-household named players play key roles in a great season and even become stars. And it's from seemingly every position group … both lines, corners/safeties, backers, defensive ends, tight ends and wide receivers. It is a strange and totally new feeling. Is this what having quality coaching, drafting, acquisition and position depth feels like?
This is an appropriate feeling for Jaguars fans this offseason, a feeling that makes far more sense than the angst I sense from some fans mentally preparing themselves for some sort of freefall from the high that was a 13-4 2025 AFC South championship season. Just recently, my good friend and prominent local attorney spoke of resigning himself to the "fact" that the Jaguars wouldn't be as good in 2026 as they were in 2025. He remained somewhat skeptical even as I assured him that this team had a far different feel than the 2018 and 2023/2024 Jaguars teams that slipped unceremoniously after division title seasons. That is what I would tell people to be more excited about than anything about these Jaguars. Yes, it will be intriguing and fun to watch what now seems to be a deep roster develop. And yes, this absolutely is what it looks like to have a well-run organization. But the fun part about the NFL is watching a team win and contend. And the Jaguars absolutely are in position to do that in 2026.
Nathan from Santaquin, UT
Zone, I was just looking for a Jags game to attend this season. At Denver seems like a fit. However, I also noticed what appears to be a brutal schedule awaiting this team. I would like to hear your take, objectively. I am not predicting wins and losses. Not yet, anyway. Let's consider: At Denver, at Giants, at Dallas, at Baltimore. Versus New England, vs the Eagles. Is this year's schedule brutal? Or is it business as usual? Am I overlooking any particular matchup outside the division?
There are no easy schedules in the NFL. This runs counter to those who like to circle games and declare them difficult or easy in May while forgetting that few NFL games are easy in the fall. Either way, "hard schedules" bother bad teams, not good ones. Remember: The Jaguars had a difficult schedule last season. They won at Denver, Indianapolis and San Francisco and beat Houston, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis at home. Why did they win those games? Because they were good. A "brutal" schedule and playing away from home should not – and will not – scare this team.
Mike from Azores
Hey, John. One more thought on points awarded for field goals. How about rewarding the offensive team for getting closer to the end zone? Field goals inside the 30-yard line are worth four points. Between the 30-and 50-yard lines are worth three points, field goals beyond the 50-yard line are only worth two points. This would reward teams for getting as close to the end zone as possible. It would also discourage some of the longer 60-yard attempts as the value of success is reduced to two points. It could also add value to a kicker who is highly accurate from all distances!
No.
Scott from Jacksonville
"It's damned sure not right" to be excited about special teams? Bonehead.
We talk a lot here in the O-Zone about the importance of being nice. And it is important to be nice. Maybe we should talk more about getting the joke.
Chuck from the Beach
Brittney is my spirit animal.
You and me both, Chuck. You and me both.
Adam from Round Here
When talking about last names with the letter "F," is it true that Leonard Fournette was driven out of town because his name was infringingly close to a Jacksonville and World Legend and Icon? That seems a bit like tugging on Superman's cape.
This is not exactly true. Though former longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette's presence in Jacksonville did influence former Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette's career here, it wasn't because of a similarity in names. It was a matter of Gene's athleticism, durability and missability being dynamic enough that it cut into Fournette's career. It became a manhood-versus-manhood, me-or-him thing. The choice was obvious. Playoff Gene>Playoff Lenny.
Fred from Naples, FL
My favorite "G" is Gary from St. Augustine, FL.
This continues our recent discussion of best Jaguars "players" with a specific last initial. Gary indeed is a player and he indeed is "all that." Hat tip.
Richard from Jacksonville
Who's the best Jaguars player born during a full moon?
Or this.
Fred from Naples, FL
You probably opened up a can of worms with your favorite Jag of all time by position, but what else is there to do during the dead zone? Brenton Strange over Mercedes Lewis? Wow.
The list to which you refer wasn't a list of my "favorite" Jaguars at each position. It was my not-particularly-well-thought-out all-time Jaguars team. I indeed placed Brenton Strange at tight end rather than Marcedes Lewis – aka, Mercedes Lewis – and yeah, Strange over Lewis may be premature. No doubt. Both players could play on my team, though I doubt either would want to play on my team.
Jon from Arcanum, OH
Have to find a spot for Calais on that list. I'm just not sure where.
Former Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell absolutely should have been on the aforementioned "list." Where? Wherever he wants, I guess.
Nicholas from Fort Hood, TX
KOAF: You were asked about putting together your all-time best Jaguars team. You left off all of special teams: kicker, punter, long snapper, kick and punt returner. Do you just don't think they matter in the game anymore? To leave off the long snapper only to mention him as best player to wear No. 46 means you deliberately chose to leave off special teams on your all time Jaguar list. Just kidding. We still like you, but do you have a favorite list of special teams players?
Special teams matter. They're not "a third of the game," but you don't have to be a third of the game to matter. I do not have favorite special teams players, though Josh Scobee knows where to find me. If I knew where to find him, we would have issues. All-time specialists: Scobee at kicker, Logan Cooke at punter, Ross Matiscik at long snapper, Parker Washington at returner.
Jordan from Lincoln, NE
No. 47 is full of journeymen, but Joe Schobert is the pick with a single productive season for the Jags.
We have reached No. 47 in our discussion of all-time Jaguars players to wear a specific number. It has not been a particularly popular number in these parts, and the discussion includes linebacker Joe Schobert (2020), outside linebacker Jake "Sixteen Candles" Ryan (2019) and defensive end Dennis Gardeck (2025-2026). I'll go Gardeck here, the boldness of Jordan's choice notwithstanding.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
What about "H?"
We have reached "H" in this discussion of Jaguars players whose last name begins with a specific letter. Possibilities include defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (2020-2026), linebacker Kevin Hardy (1996-2001), right tackle Anton Harrison (2023-2026), defensive end Derrick Harvey (2008-2010), defensive tackle John Henderson (2002-2009), quarterback Chad Henne (2012-2017), wide receiver Jason Hill (2010-2011), defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (2019-2026), kicker Mike Hollis (1995-2001) and wide receiver Allen Hurns (2014-2017). It's hard to choose between Henderson and Hines-Allen here. I won't bother. Good list.
Andy from Jacksonville
You talk tennis all the time, but you don't ever talk World Cup. Heathen.
This also was not nice. Remember: People ask questions and I answer. That is the forum. Always has been, always will be. I had not been asked, "Do you watch the World Cup?" I therefore had not answered, "Why, yes I have." I not only have watched the World Cup, I have watched all but a game or two. This pales in comparison to Mrs. O-Zone's World Cup immersion, which is strikingly deep as she recovers from recent knee replacement surgery. She has watched upwards of 12-to-16 games in recent days, which is upwards of 12-to-16 games more than the number of "futbol" games she had watched before the World Cup. "Pitch," "boot" and "offsides" are now a part of her vocabulary. She also has decided "that Messi guy" is pretty good. It's quite the scene these days at Casa O-Zone.
