JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Benjamin from Jacksonville, FL BWO Upstate SC

I trust my eyes above all else when forming opinions about the Jaguars. When I watch Trevor Lawrence, I see a quarterback who doesn't make decisions based on what his eyes are telling him. He very often throws before he has time to process what is happening in front of him, whether it is deciding pre-snap to target a specific receiver or making a panicked throw to a double- or triple-covered receiver based on where he knows in his mind that receiver should be without even taking the time to look. I also see multiple new general managers, head coaches, receivers and offensive line with the exact same performance at quarterback and the exact same result. The conclusion is quite obvious to me, but what do your eyes tell you?

When I look at Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, I see a quarterback who at times makes big-time throws and who has had stretches in four-plus NFL seasons in which he has been really good. I see a quarterback who's not as "instinctive" and "natural" as some other NFL quarterbacks and who sometimes makes curious decision. I also see a quarterback who has won a lot of games in a couple of different stretches in four-plus seasons and who has played in multiple offensive systems in a short time. I haven't seen the "exact same result" every season and in every situation from Lawrence because I think he has been good at times and not as good at other times. The conclusion is you can win with Lawrence and you can win more the more he improves.

Mike from Pearl City, HI

How do you see the defensive end position playing out in future years? I like Walker. He is strong at holding the edge and playing the run, while also having some pass-rush ability. I don't see him as top tier but a very solid No. 2. JHA has been mostly disappointing from a contract standpoint and consistency. I'd like to see a better pure pass rusher on the other side of Walker. Do you think moving JHA (trade or release) is a consideration?

I expect Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen to be the Jaguars' defensive ends for the foreseeable future. I don't know what No. 1 or No. 2 means when it comes to defensive ends, but Walker is a high-end player – the best player on the Jaguars' defense, in this writer's opinion – and it's not a coincidence that the defense was playing at a high level this season when he was healthy and not as high a level since his wrist injury. Hines-Allen was playing at a very high level early in the season – and not coincidentally, he has not been at as a high a level since Walker's injury.

Jim from Jagsonville

Congratulations to running back Fred Taylor, wide receiver Jimmy Smith and Head Coach Tom Coughlin all being Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees this year. All more than deserving of the honor. Go Jaguars!

Yes.

Steven from Charlotte, NC

Any reader knows you have been inundated with emails about "same ole Jags" for the last couple weeks. You have been pretty consistent in your response how this team is different. And they may just be. However, for all of us fans that have been here since the beginning, what we mean by "same old Jags" is how our "special" teams is now pretty much anything but special, how we cannot get ANY pressure on a quarterback despite two bookend high first-round draft picks at defensive end, it is the throw into the dirt on a simple wide receiver screen, it is the amazing wide receiver from last year that we all talked so much about now not being able to catch anything, it is questionable calls that frequently seems to go against us, it is the Pick 6 that Tyson Campbell made with his new team, and it is certainly the lack of a first-round draft pick that will be clearly needed next year. We all have PTSD, O-Zone, and a game like last Sunday makes it much worse. I don't think any Jags fan who is so accustomed to this "same old Jags" will expect anything more the rest of the year. Do you still think it plays out differently?

I think the Jaguars have a very good chance to contend for the postseason and I continue to believe they will win eight or nine games - ish.

The Distant Jag from Ohio

John … If the Jags had returned from London 5-2, I think I would have been cool with them perhaps trading for some pass-rush help. I realize that at 4-3 they are still in the playoff window. But, with that record I personally would prefer they just stay put and keep what they got to finish out the season. Just let it play out with the personnel that they have. What say you?

I say if the Jaguars were going to trade draft equity for veteran short-term production at 5-2 there's no reason not to do it at 4-3. They're still contending for the postseason. It's still a stretch to call them Super Bowl contenders. One loss in London shouldn't change the personnel approach.

Steve from Hilton Head, SC

John. Does the loss of Strange, Lloyd and Walker have anything to do with the recent losses? They are three of the best players on the team. Not having Strange is obviously a negative.

Tight end Brenton Strange and Walker from this view are the Jaguars' best offensive and defensive players, respectively. Linebacker Devin Lloyd through five games was as productive as any NFL defensive player this season. Strange and Lloyd being out with injuries, and Walker being limited, absolutely hurts this team. Would the Jaguars have won the last two games if all three were healthy? I can't say that. But they would have had a much better chance.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL

John. The ecosystem is functioning at subprime optimization due to Trophic Cascade, the "domino effect" that happens when the removal of a key species significantly alters the population dynamics of other species at different levels of the system. In other words, the loss of Lloyd and Strange has hurt the Jags on each side of the ball. When can we expect to see Nos. 0 and 85 back on the field? Go Jags!

I'm not smart enough to know what you're talking about. I'm juuuust smart enough to know you're not the same team without your best players as you are with them. I expect Lloyd and Strange to return soon, though "soon" could be sometime in the next few weeks.

Steve from Nashville, TN

Aaron Rodgers is also a developing quarterback in his first season in a new offensive system?

Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.

Don from Marshall, NC

I think the Jaguars right before the game need to pull Trevor Lawrence aside and slap him up good just like John Henderson used to do! Maybe that will help him get off to a quicker start! Go Jaguars!

Don, who apparently now's got jokes, remains "all in." Sort of.

Ryan from Orlando

I thought I remembered hearing after the spring owner's meeting that the decision on where the Jags will play their 2027 home games was being deferred to the October meeting. I didn't hear any news related to it coming out of the meetings last week. Was it deferred again? Is there an update on this?

It's deferred again.

ROG STA

Regarding Brian Thomas catches/drops, he was more successful last season with Matt Jones versus Trevor. Does Jones throw a more catchable ball than Trevor? And if so is there a takeaway for Trevor?

Mac Jones doesn't throw as hard as Trevor Lawrence. I didn't hear as many people referencing this as a positive last season as I do this season. Whatever ails Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., it's a difficult reach from this view to say it's because Lawrence throws the ball too hard.

Marty from Jacksonville

John, a lot of people talk about the need to eliminate penalties, but I would point out a lot of penalties come from a player being beaten on the play. Particularly offensive and defensive holding and pass interference … all come from a player being beaten by the opposing player. That makes penalties hard to eliminate without also playing better and not losing one-on-one matchups.

Fair.

Mark from Richmond, VA

No question, O. Just a reminder that we are 2-2 against Super Bowl level teams. Our future star won us a game, but the call was blown resulting in our other loss. I remain all in on this team. Our QB will account for more wins, as he did against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Jaguars are very much in postseason contention and they have victories over two big-time teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Chiefs. Hope for this season is not lost. Nor should it be.