JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
David from Ponca City, OK
Which do you think matters most as far as "perception" is concerned: A record of 4-3 or seeing the team get better? Like penalties lessen, few drops, no interceptions, both lines hold up, defensive backfield doesn't look lost and out of place and you can even throw in the kicking game. But only have a record of 2-5? I personally want to see the improvement. I don't want to see wins because everything fell just right. I want to see a good team for a change.
Winning and losing steers perception in any sport, particularly in professional sports where winning is what matters. The perception among many observers is the Jaguars are not good because they have lost two consecutive games, including a one-sided loss to the Los Angeles Rams just before this past Sunday's bye. The reality is the Jaguars are a good team. This doesn't mean they're a perfect team. But if the Jaguars were a bad team they wouldn't be 4-3 entering Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders and they wouldn't have beaten three teams with records of .500 or better – the Carolina Panthers, the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The areas you mention – penalties, big plays allowed, drops, line play, etc. – have been issues at times this season. The Jaguars also have been good enough, cohesive enough and resilient enough to play through some issues – and in professional football, that sort of resilience and cohesion matters. Here's the bottom line as we move forward into the second half of the season: This Jaguars team is above .500 and has a formula with which it can play and be successful. It's not yet an elite team. Elite is probably at least another offseason away. But it certainly can be competitive this season and built toward being a lot better. That's what you want to see in Year 1 of a regime.
Anita from Springfield
If we end up buyers at the trade deadline, what positions and types do you see us targeting? I keep thinking we need a more physical receiver, and further pass rush help, but does the team see it this way? (If we sell, who do you think is on the trade block?)
I expect the Jaguars could be "buyers" as next week's trade deadline approaches. I expect this could be along the defensive line, perhaps more likely at defensive tackle than defensive end. I also could see a move for a tight end. I don't sense a move at receiver, but my senses aren't always correct. Stay tuned.
Sal from Austin, TX
Really, John? My BTJ "intangibly rich" question was submitted over a week ago and, by now, is completely out of context. Jimmy Wales' book. "The Seven Rules of Trust" comes out today. Maybe get a copy.
I get somewhere between two or three and two or three million emails to the O-Zone per day. Sometimes I answer questions the day I received it. Sometimes, it takes some time before I deem an email worthy of being answered. It's a tough world out there. Sometimes you're going to take a punch.
Rob from Mandarin
John, it's hilarious how you mock readers who suggest making trades by saying "Traaade Machine" as if they're ignorant or clueless. As if Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone didn't trade away running back Tank Bigsby, or trade away wide receiver Christian Kirk, or trade cornerback Tyson Campell for Greg Newsome, or trade draft picks for wide receiver Tim Patrick, or trade away offensive lineman Fred Johnson for draft picks, or trade center Luke Fortner for defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, or trade two first-round, one second-round and one fourth-round draft pick for a non-existent unicorn. That last one is the behavior of a child who grew up playing Madden. Why do you insult readers when Gladstone is the very definition of "Traaaaade Machiiiiiine?"
Because it makes me smile.
Roy from Ridgewood. FL
John, I was talking to some of my coworkers about the Niners game and one of them stated that if 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle had been playing in that game then we would have lost that game. I feel like we would have won that game regardless because we had the momentum in that game. Do you feel like this is true?
I think the Jaguars were playing well entering their Week 4 game victory over the San Francisco 49ers and would have played well regardless of whether Bosa and/or Kittle played. The Jaguars lost to the Seattle Seahawks by eight points in Week 6 while playing the entire game without tight end Brenton Strange. Defensive end Travon Walker played with one hand against the Seahawks, and linebacker Devin Lloyd was dealing with a calf injury. Would the Jaguars have won that game had the trio been healthy? Their chances would have been better.
David from St. Augustine, FL
Sometimes, when reading your column, I am struck at how legendary your patience must be. Also, I loved Hoosiers. Thanks for what you do.
I am the king of all funk.
James from Titusville, NJ
As a data nerd myself, judging players on Pro Football Focus scores alone or any scoring system alone is a good way to fail at what one is trying to achieve. I don't know the PFF grades and I'm not going to look, but in my experience with data, the scores between the No. 1-ranked center versus the 35th-ranked center can be fractional or simply inconsequential towards earning victories. I don't know why it needs to be over complicated (well, I do know, but don't want to express it). From a player acquisition perspective, get a good quarterback, then build around him offensively. On defense, get a good pass rusher, then build around him, defensively. The numbers in all other areas will take care of themselves, generally speaking. As a fan, I'm just going to have fun watching them play. I feel like that's my job in the equation.
PFF grades are a tool. Like most tools, they are not equipped to do an entire job. Your approach to roster-building is the right approach, as is your approach to being a fan. My experience is knowing the right approach doesn't always mean it's easy to take that approach or succeed in taking that approach.
Chris from Mandarin
I think the Jaguars are not good right now. The main reason is that much of their success this season has been predicated on creating turnovers. In their first one-turnover game, they won by a field goal and in the two games since they've had no turnovers and lost. Add this to the fact that they are sloppy with pre-snap penalties, do not defend the pass well, cannot rush the passer and have receivers that can't catch the ball to go along with a quarterback that makes a myriad of head scratching plays. All of this adds up to a team that is not playing well, and is probably not as good as fans or media members thought when they got out to a 4-1 start.
OK.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Do the Jaguars get a 'W' Sunday?
The Jaguars from this view should beat the Raiders Sunday. From this view it will be a tough game decided late and the Jaguars need to play well to win. The Raiders haven't played all that well to date, but they're in their first season under Head Coach Pete Carroll. They will be motivated. They will not have quit on the season. It won't be easy.
Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA
Time to get back to basics next week – e.g., run the ball and stop the run?
The Jaguars when they have been good this season have run well. They for the most part have stopped the run well all season. The better they run and stop the run, the better their chances of winning.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
The Jags' last five games featured opponents with the No. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 defenses in the league. The back half of the schedule features defenses that can be exploited. I'm not particularly worried about wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter has a really good chance of going crazy on both sides the final 10 games. Lawrence should be better. Correct me if I'm wrong, but all the injured are expected back sooner rather than later or not this year. I'm optimistic. It seems like Parker Washington is certainly a more valuable player than Dyami Brown. What is the contract situation and long-term future with the Jags for both wide receivers?
Brown signed a one-year contract with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason. Washington's rookie contract with the Jaguars expires after the 2026 season. It's too early to know for certain the long-term future of either player.
Chris from Mandarin, FL
It's starting to look like 10 wins might not be enough to make the playoffs this year.
Stay tuned.
