JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Big Bill from Jacksonville
Does a successful season for defensive end Travon Walker have to be double-digit sacks or just show overall disruption such as pressures, quarterbacks hits, etc.?
This depends on who is defining success, I suppose. There undoubtedly will be fans and observers who believe Walker must have double-digit sacks for a successful season. Remember, though: Walker last season played through two significant injuries – to his knee and wrist – and was still a major reason the Jaguars' run defense was the best in the NFL. That run defense was a major reason the Jaguars had one of the best seasons in franchise history. I call that a successful season. I'm not trying to avoid the question here. It's just that many observers' ideas of success often doesn't line up with reality. I expect Walker will have double-digit sacks and be a dominant force in multiple areas this season. But he doesn't need specific numbers to help the Jaguars win. And it's whether he helps the Jaguars win that determines his success.
Travis from High Springs
What do you believe the main differences were that caused former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. to be a first-round pick and running back Bhayshul Tuten to "fall" to the fourth round. We know Tuten is superfast, I believe he ran a 4.3 at the combine, which was faster than Etienne. And he seems to be built a little more solid, or compact, than Etienne. So could it just be the schemes they ran in college had Etienne more prepared for the NFL? Or were there other attributes that may have elevated ETN and lowered Tuten in the draft?
Etienne had elite speed with good hands and elite college productivity entering the 2021 NFL Draft, and also had played at a high-profile program at Clemson. Tuten also had elite speed and power, with analysts at times questioning his hands as a receiver – and his "miss-ability." Remember: It's not necessarily a matter of Tuten replacing Etienne as "the lead back" in 2026 as much as it's Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr., LeQuint Allen Jr. – and perhaps others – functioning as a group. Would one of those players be as good as Etienne? Perhaps, perhaps not. Can the collective be as good? The Jaguars believe so.
Brittany from Duuval
Is Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter going to play this season?
Yes.
Cerge from Daphne, AL formerly from Middleburg, FL
O, I'm very intrigued with J'Mari Taylor. How does the ACC's leading rusher go undrafted?! I'm glad we got him and I get it: the ACC wasn't loaded in talent, and with right at 1,000 yards and 14 trips to the end zone at 4.7 per tote, that ain't nothing to sneeze at. How do you see him fitting into the final 53? Does he make the starting role with Tuten, Allen Jr., Rodriguez and Abdullah all fighting for spots, or is it a wait and see how training camp, preseason and potential injuries occur to see where he lands? What was your take on what he excelled at during organized team activities?? DDDUUUUUVVVVAAAALLLL!!!!
Rookie running back J'Mari Taylor, who signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft, is intriguing. He was a very good college running back who probably went undrafted because many perceived '26 to be a weak running back class and the position wasn't in high draft-weekend demand. I expect he might have been drafted in the sixth or seventh round in a different year. I didn't notice all that much about Taylor in OTAs because there's not all that much to notice about running backs in non-padded work – though he did look fast and impressive on a couple of long runs. I expect Taylor will have a good chance to be on the practice squad and work his way into a contributing role as a rookie. Perhaps he will make the active roster. We'll know a lot more once we move into padded work in 2026 Training Camp.
Gibran from Weatherford
Hey, John. Hopefully, the dead zone isn't boring you too much. I know how much you like receiving our emails. I was looking through the Stadium of the Future and thought how impactful it would be for them to make the "protective canopy" from solar glass instead of whatever they plan to use. It would have the same impact heat reduction-wise but would also generate electricity to power a ton of the things in operation during the day. Couple that with a micro-grid and battery storage … just awesome. Beyond that, was looking forward to flying out to take the oldest kid to the Jags/Commanders game (he's a Commanders fan), but once I saw the tickets, price shock. Guess that should have been expected with the reduction in seating coupled with the great play of the Jags last year. Also, thank you for the good responses to read.
I don't get bored in the offseason.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
I'm happy to see so many take a shine to Erling Haaland. I have been a Man City fan since 2011, finally getting into "futbol" on my third or fourth attempt. It is a beautiful game and some of the stuff that is a little vague becomes clearer over time. Haaland in 2022-2023 scored roughly 55 goals and had 10-15 assists in about 55 games, leading his side to the "Treble." This consists of winning the English Premier League, FA Cup – sort of the English national title tournament – and the Champions league, which is the European Championship. "City" was only the second team ever to accomplish this rare feat. All three championships are played simultaneously and Haaland was basically the soccer equivalent to prime Shaquille O Neal. I hope you and many others will continue on with futbol – particularly European futbol – where 90 percent of the world's best players compete. Also do you think Haaland could be a tight end?
I'm not as into soccer – or as Mrs. Ozone now calls it, "futbol" – as many O-Zone readers outside of the World Cup. But Ozone Jr. is a big Manchester City fan. He got me relatively interested in Haaland – the Striking Viking – a few years back. I know enough about soccer to know I know little about soccer, but I know Haaland can put the biscuit in the basket. Could he have been a tight end in different circumstances? Sure.
John from St. Augustine, FL
The KOAF should know that there is only one King of Rock n Roll and only one Elvis! Just saying.
Elvis is King.
Nick from Virginia Beach, VA
Two questions. For that No. 71 fella you cannot remember, do you mind passing along that the prowlers should be the primary uniform? Two, who's the best 72?
I can't remember if I remember what I don't remember, but I seem to remember that the people in charge of the Jaguars know how most of the fan base feels about the Jaguars' Prowler Throwback uniforms. As for Jaguars players to wear No. 72, possibilities for this discussion include right tackle Leon Searcy (1996-1999), offensive lineman Walker Little (2021-present), tackle Mike Pearson (2002-2005) and offensive lineman Josh Wells (2014-2018). Easy choice for Big Leon here.
Dwayne from Jacksonville
You can easily research No. 71. Call the Jaguars' executive vice president of football operations. I bet he can help you quickly remember.
I can't remember.
John from Jacksonville
How many players in Jaguars history have donned the number 71?
I can't remember.
Chris from Mandarin
Do you have a vinyl collection? I'm interested to hear what else the Ozone listens to. What is your favorite album of 1967?
Mrs. O-Zone and I have a vinyl collection, one very much shaped by the fact that we retained our collection from the 1980s – when we and much of the rest of the world switched from albums to compact discs – until COVID-19 when we oh-so cooly purchased a turntable and became oh-so-cool "vinyl people. We lost a bit of our original collection in an Indianapolis garage mini-flood, but enough survived that we have an extensive collection of original Elvis Costello, Ramones, Beatles, Springsteen from my youth and some very subtly good stuff from the Cowboy Junkies, Costello, Van Morrison, R.E.M. and the like from Mrs. O-Zone's late 1980s "Columbia House era." We in recent years have further stocking the collection with John Prine, Jason Isbell and Warren Zevon – among others. From this last group comes much of our Friday and Saturday night listening. As for the year 1967 … it isn't really my sweet spot, but as a teenaged Beatle-phile, it's hard not to acknowledge St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as the defining album of that year and the decade.
George from Mandarin
Pager, "Say what you mean, mean what you say, one thing leads to another." The Jaguars organization seems to employ this.
What are you trying to say?
