JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Roscoe from Southside
Zone: As a Jaguars fan since the beginning, I've been hopeful and disappointed over the last three decades so many times (and especially the last 15 years). That futility triggered some research on draft classes of various teams. In the previous five years, the Jaguars had 11 Top 50 picks, with only two Pro Bowl selections. The Detroit Lions had 12 Top 50 picks, with 13 Pro Bowl selections. The New York Jets had 11 top 50 picks, with three Pro Bowl selections. No other team had as many picks and drafted worse with those top 50 picks than the Jaguars. Here's the hopeful part: The Los Angeles Rams had only three picks in the top 50 over the last five years, yet they had three Pro Bowl selections! Our new general manager, James Gladstone, was a key part of the Rams front office that selected those players. I watched the hiring of Gladstone unfold, and I believe he can be the leader who gets the Jaguars out of this talent deficit. What would your guess be if you predicted the number of Jaguars picks selected for the Pro Bowl over the next five years? And one for James Gladstone and his success as the Jaguars general manager!!
A lot of time in the dead zone equals a lot of research effort on a holiday weekend, I suppose. Though the number of Pro Bowlers selected over a specific span isn't as important as just drafting effectively overall, you're absolutely correct that drafting well over a sustained period remains the best way to develop a consistent contender – and the Jaguars' struggles in this area absolutely have been a reason they have made just two postseason appearances since 2007. I confess I don't know how to venture a guess about how many players drafted by the Jaguars will make Pro Bowl appearances in the next five seasons. But I expect they will improve in this area in the coming seasons because I believe Gladstone will be a quality drafter and team builder. I would be very surprised if he's not a success. And for that reason, I believe the Jaguars are going to improve overall in the coming seasons. One fer Gladstone? Absolutely. He feels like the right general manager at the right time for this organization. Stay tuned.
Russell from Jacksonville
We're getting closer, aren't we? We have to be getting closer. Pleeeeeeese tell me we're getting closer.
My Scooby Sense – and not my Scobee Sense – tells me you're asking if we're getting closer to football season and therefore getting closer to real football. Yes, 2025 Jaguars Training Camp opens in a little more than two weeks, with veterans reporting July 22. The Jaguars open the 2025 regular season against the Carolina Panthers in Jacksonville on September 7. They open the preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers August 9. It's all coming up fast. We'll be talking "real football" soon enough. Here we go.
Joel from Mandarin
O, KOAF. I was looking at my old League Before Time Pogs set from 1994. The set showcases a time when the Jaguars and Carolina Panthers were brand new. There were no Tennessee Titans or Houston Texans to worry about (only Houston Oilers) and the OG Cleveland Browns were still the Browns (no Baltimore Ravens). Some good memories. O, would you like to meet up for a drink and a quick game of Pogs?
I must admit I had to google "Pogs." I learned by doing this game about which I knew nothing was something of a phenomenon in the 1990s. That's pretty much my Pogs knowledge. You can't know everything about everything, I suppose.
Johnny from Jagsville
Zone, I am rushing to ask you a question. I am confused by the word rush. If someone runs with the ball, they have rushed. If someone travels rapidly after the quarterback, they are rushing them? There is a rushing leader, and rushing-style quarterbacks, but it's valuable to have a rush end. But ends also catch passes, then they are not rushing? Sometimes someone with a tight end could carry the ball and he would be the rusher while the rush end is trying to tackle him. In addition, there is a very good band name Rush, and I don't think they ran or tackled? It's all such a rush, man??? Could you answer in a hurry? My wife's in a rush for me to take out the garbage.
It seems you might be overthinking this one, even if you are doing so with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Players in football are "rushing" on offense whenever they carry the ball except when they have just caught a pass. A rushing yard therefore can be gained by any player in that capacity. Any player pursuing a quarterback defensively is deemed to be "rushing" the passer. The band "Rush" indeed is very good and featured one of the world's best drummers, the late Neil Peart. That hand also featured multiple 1980s rock standards, including personal favorite "Limelight." I confess in closing that I received the email a while back. I considered each sentence of the answer carefully. With questions of this level of import, it's critical not to rush.
John from Jacksonville
My favorite book by Steinbeck was, "The Pearl." It has a great message and it's five times shorter than "Great Expectations." So, how is the defensive line?
The Pearl indeed is up there with Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden and of Mice and Men as John Steinbeck's great works – and in the case of the Pearl, there's something to be said for brevity. Even in great literature. The Jaguars like their defensive line and believe it has a chance to be a strength.
Howard from HOMESTEAD
What is your favorite movement of Mozart's clarinet concerto? I get emotional every time I hear the second. Plus, it's the only one I can play.
I like Mozart and really enjoy "classical" music at times. I want to enjoy it more, but confess I lack the patience and therefore can't cite favorites beyond multiple Beethoven Symphonies and Mozart Symphony No. 40. I generally like Bach, too. That's unfortunately about the depth of my knowledge in this area.
Jason from Port Orange
Zone, I appreciate the music references during the Dead Zone. My musical interests go a bit heavier than those often expressed here in the O-Zone. So, to commemorate the 2025 Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham, England I wanted to give a nod to Sabbath and Ozzy on their final (final) show and thank them for the world of Heavy Metal they helped create. I'm sure I can't be the only metalhead here in the O-Zone …
I received this email a bit before Saturday's Back to the Beginning Concert. While I'm not a "metalhead," you couldn't be a teenager trying desperately to be cool in the early 1980s and not have been at least a little into metal. And you darned sure couldn't turn on Rock 105 in Jacksonville during that era without hearing Ozzy, Randy Rhodes and "Crazy Train" seemingly every hour on the hour. Osbourne's health issues mean that the Back to Beginning Concert is expected to be he and Sabbath's last concert. What a career. What a cultural icon. That's true whatever your interest in and opinion of metal.
Gator from Gainesville, FL
JK from NY got tape on the Bahamas practice? I saw sum videos but I never so no tape. Can you share with me so I can look at it to. I'm shur I can give sum pointers to these guys and cleaen up all the mistakes they made
No can do. I contacted JK about this. I informed him of the request. And of the identity of the requester. It turns out he's not a fan. Imagine.
John from Jax
Hi KOAGF - Have you ever read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"? If not, it's a must for your bucket list.
I have read it. Good stuff.
Cappy from Jacksonville and section 221 since Day One
John, I'm eagerly awaiting the end of the dead zone and the start of training camp. With the new leadership changing the approach toward the fans (opening up mini camp for fans), do you expect or have to heard of how many camp practices will be open for fans this season? I love taking my grandson to the Miller Electric Center as it enjoyable and cool under those big fans!
I expect the Jaguars' 2025 Training Camp schedule to be released soon. I expect most '25 training camp practices to be open for fans to attend.
Dwayne from Jacksonville
I am glad you tackled the issue of football terminology. You seemed a bit guarded in your answer yet still centered my understanding. I hope this ends the subject and on one, hikes, the puns to an offensive level. Sorry, guys. Just two more weeks of the Dead Zone.
Well done.
