JACKSONVILLE -- Let's get to it . . . Daniel from Johnston, IA:
Typically when someone says, "He has good arm strength," I interpret it to mean: "He throws the ball really hard and far but not very accurately." Is that true in Scott's case?
John: That's not what I mean when I say it. I've described Matt Scott, the rookie free agent quarterback from Arizona, as having good arm strength, because in rookie minicamp and organized team activities the velocity on his passes has been notable. Some guys look like they can throw the passes necessary in the NFL and some guys don't. Scott looks like he can do that. I haven't commented much on the other areas of Scott's game because he has played in about four unpadded practices, and it's tough to judge him yet. I understand people desperately want judgment, but for a lot of the undrafted rookies – most, actually – it's just too early.
Scott from Ormond Beach, FL:
Aren't you glad you don't write this same column for the JETS!
John: I sure am. If I was writing for the Jets, most of these Jaguars-related answers would just seem silly.
John from Tampa, FL:
Any chance we could see MJD in at running back with Robinson in at fullback at any time? Can you imagine the two-headed beast that would be our backfield if they were in on the same snaps?
John: You wouldn't see Robinson in at fullback, at least not as a lead blocker. Is it possible that you could see Jones-Drew and Robinson in at the same time in the backfield? Let's preface this answer with the caveat that we're not going to know a lot of exacts with this offense until training camp. That's by design. There's no incentive to reveal a lot of the offense publicly until necessary. Yet, considering that offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch is a guy who wants to get the best, most-dangerous players on the field in multiple situations, then yes, it's safe to say there's a possibility of Jones-Drew and Robinson on the field at the same time.
Steven from Fernandina Beach, FL:
For those who question MJD, the hold out, and his commitment, you need to watch the MJD Foundation video, and their donation made to Wolfson's. We may gripe and grouse about the business side of football, but the personal side, the compassionate & philanthropic side does not get exposure that it is due. Respect to Maurice, on & off the field.
John: Yep.
Johnny from Section 141 and East Palatka:
Solidarity, O-Zone! I don't like Boselli, either.
John: Yeah, why would you?
Tom from Section 239 and Jacksonville:
Reading of all the new radio and television shows coming in 2013 sounds great, but we are not losing "Jaguars This Week," are we? It's one of my favorite things in the middle of the week.
John: As of next season, JTW is no more.
Tom from Orlando, FL:
With its success in Seattle and the way the Jaguars defense is being designed, it looks like Gus Bradley's style of a mixed 4-3 and 3-4 defense has the potential to be the next "style" of defense. I wonder: much like Bill Walsh's West Coast offense changing the game, could "The Leo" be a new defensive scheme that gets added to the NFL lexicon? When referring to a team's defense, could we be a few years from calling it 4-3, 3-4, or Leo?
John: You started to see a bit of that last year, with the football community gaining a better understanding of the defense. As you said, a lot of it will depend on the success of the schemes. If Seattle makes the Super Bowl and the Jaguars have a solid year defensively, then you'll see stories about the new defensive scheme and you'll see a lot of copycats.
Tony from Jacksonville:
Not a question. Not even a dig at your manhood or your ego, just one of those pesky facts.... BUT..... I believe that Boselli crosses Oehser whenever Boselli feels like it.
John: He knows where to find me.
Steve from Jacksonville:
Should it concern us that the Jags are claiming these defensive guys after they are cut from another team? They are deemed not good enough to make the roster of these other teams, yet we want them?
John: I understand that it's impossible to please everyone, but if the Jaguars hadn't claimed Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick from New England, I might have gotten a slew of emails wondering why. And I certainly have received more than one email wishing the Jaguars might claim a certain player who has had varying degrees of success the past two seasons. This is what Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley clearly laid out as his vision for the first season. The Jaguars will sign a lot of players. They will release a lot of players. They will kick a lot of tires. They will book a lot of guys in and out of hotel rooms. Some of those players will play next season and some may start. A few may even play for the Jaguars as the core of this is built. All of it will happen to find players who fit what Bradley and David Caldwell want for this team, and toward that end, there won't be a hesitancy to acquire players who have played for other teams.
Tim from Crescent City, FL:
I believe Gabbert can be a solid quarterback in the NFL, if the front office can shore up the offensive line like they're doing now. The wide receivers also dropped a lot of good passes last year. Quarterbacks are only as good as their offensive line and wide receivers. Your thoughts...
John: I think the Jaguars are doing everything possible in a short amount of time to improve the offense around whoever plays quarterback next season, and I think whoever plays quarterback will have a better chance of succeeding than last season.
Erik from Sweden:
I hear people talk about a defense getting fatigued because of offenses leaving the field on a three and out. What kind of fatigue are they talking about? Is 10 minutes not sufficient time for the players to get their stamina back? Ten minutes is what I calculate for the whole process to be done and the defense to be on the field again. Is that not enough rest for stamina or is it another type of fatigue setting in?
John: No, it's that fatigue. Football is a physical game, and it's generally held that the defense tires more easily than the offense because the defense is chasing whereas the offense knows what it's doing. The process of rushing the passer is made up of short, all-out bursts, and it can take a toll without time to rest. Also, we're talking "comparatively speaking" here. The fatigue that sets in means players are tired and less effective than they would have been at the start of the game. They're still functioning at a high level compared to normal human beings.
Blake from Jacksonville:
What do you think the Jags have planned out for Kyle Love? Starter?
John: Competition, baby. Getting better every day.
Brian from Kingsland, GA:
With Alualu moving to end, do you think Abry Jones or TJ Barnes have impressed enough (as much as possible at OTAs) to consider them for roster spots at DT? Pendleton is old and Smith is always hurt.
John: That probably hasn't happened in a week. It appears Sen'Derrick Marks, Roy Miller and Kyle Love have a chance to get the majority of reps inside, and after that, Pendleton, Smith and the rookie tackles appear to be in the mix. This is a topic that will get kicked around until training camp, at which point the discussion will take on its first real meaning.
Charles from Bangalore, India:
Whoa there Big John, my running back comments were offered as a Memoriam of what is probably the end of the huge running back era in Jacksonville. Sad for the end, not for the change. No value judgment intended. It is what it is, but still curious if this is evolution or orchestrated by the league and owners? Actually, haven't rules been put in place to help the passing game? And I do promise to no longer use the unmentionable BOG words.
John: I hesitate to say "orchestrated," because that conjures images of mad scientists sitting in a room mean-spiritedly trying to make something happen that's unnatural. Yes, the league has instituted rules to enhance the passing game, and over the course of time those rules have made improved the passing game. More than anything, what has caused the evolution is the presence of more good quarterbacks. The saying, "There's no defense for the perfect pass" is more than a saying. It's the truth, and the more players who can throw more good passes the more the passing game has evolved.
John from Section 105:
I heard there won't be flyovers next season. That sucks! I guess we'll all have time to squeeze in one more beer tailgating.
John: Yeah, well, poor you.