JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from Jax
Hi, KOAGF. The long stretch of Sundays without Jags football ends. Only two Sundays without Jags football for the remainder of 2025. This is the time when all teams think Super Bowl, but only two teams make it. If the Jags can come out of more close finishes with a win (erase memories from last season), can create at least one turnover per game, and keep our quarterback healthy, I say we win the division in a close race. Most games are decided within the final few minutes.
If the Jaguars win a lot of close games and force 17 more turnovers than they did last season – i.e., if they're a tough team that is around the best five teams in the NFL in forcing turnovers – and have the good fortune of having a healthy quarterback for 17 games … yep, that's absolutely a formula for competing for a division title. And you couldn't be more correct about needing to be better in close games. It's hard to be good in the NFL if you can't win those.
Fred from Naples, FL
If any Jaguar fan questions how our offensive line can be so different this upcoming year, they only need to look at Florida State's offensive line against Alabama this past Saturday. It's a new-look offensive line for the Seminoles and they dominated Alabama's "vaunted" defensive front. The Jags can and will do the same next Sunday.
Loyal O-Zone readers – and he knows who he is – know well I lean faaaaaar from comparing college football happenings with NFL happenings. The games are far different – and it seems we're learning that the transfer portal can make rapid overhauls and improvements more possible in the college game than the NFL. This is not to discourage your enthusiasm, as much as to self-indulgently continue making the point that the NFL and college football are hard to compare. That said, the Jaguars did work to reshape the offensive line this past offseason. The expectation is that that reshaping will produce results and that this season will mark the beginning of the development of the line as a team strength. Stay tuned.
Brad from The Avenues
G'morning, John. I was just watching some highlights of wide receiver Tim Patrick, who the Jaguars acquired in a trade this week from the Detroit Lions. I like that he's a good run blocker, but I love how he goes after the defender after the catch. The stiff arm and the way he lowers his shoulder to make the hit rather than take it. I just hope he's still got all that left in the tank.
One fer Patrick and another fer hoping.
Greg from Section 122, SOTF, Jacksonville
First, condolences on the loss of your friend and mentor. It is rare to find someone that inspires and guides you in a positive way like he did. Glad he made an impact on your life. The reason for this question is simply put, fear. Quoting the movie The Replacements, quicksand is the scariest thing out there. One thing goes wrong, then another, then before you know it anything you do turns into disaster. I am really concerned about this game on Sunday. Yes, we SHOULD beat the Carolina Panthers, but – like last season – it seems when something can go wrong, it does for our team. I think if for no other reason, this game is HUGELY important for momentum and getting our team in the mindset we can win. Losing is a mentality and we have been losing far too long. Oh and Gary, KOAF is awesome. No sucking here. Thinking about it, I think Gary has been designated by NASA as a black hole with how much he sucks.
The Jaguars open the 2025 regular season against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium Sunday. It's a really big game because it's the first game of the season and because there are only 17 regular-season games in the NFL. It will feel really big if they win it or if they lose it. Remember: It's that sort of game for the Panthers, too. The Jaguars' schedule on paper does seem to get tougher after Week 1, which also makes that Week 1 game feel important. Either way, remember, too: The Jaguars have a game a week after Week 1. After Week 1 is over, that Week 2 game will feel really big. And so on. And so on.
Gator from Gainesville, FL
Yur relasionship with Gary reminds me of me and my pop-pop.
Who's "Gary?"
Ryan from Apopka, FL
In one weekend, Ozone, did you really have someone ask about the fifth wide receiver spot and why a player was let go from the practice squad, complain about our offensive line when we signed/drafted five new players to the 53, essentially changing half the offensive line chart from the previous year and then to cap it off, asked about a minor preseason injury to rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter where Head Coach Liam Coen said he probably would have played in a game but it's the preseason so why risk it! Man, Week 1 can't get here soon enough!!
It's here.
Ryan from Apopka, FL
Tennis question as we hit the midway point of the US Open, and sorry to the readers who are bothered by tennis questions. As you know, that can be bothersome!! Janik Sinner looks to be on an absolute roll right now. Everyone thought we had the golden era of tennis with the Big 3 with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – and maybe four when Andy Murray was healthy. But can Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz keep this era going and form the next big two for the next decade and dominate the sport? And while the men's game has a few guys dominate, why since Serena has the woman's game been so wide open?
I absolutely believe Alcaraz and Sinner can dominate the sport for a decade. I don't know that they can match the popularity of Nadal and Federer, but that's because it's really hard to match the popularity of Nadal/Federer, particularly Federer. My theory on why the women's game has been wide open since Serena Williams' retirement is it's simply the nature of the current era that it is very balanced. But current women's players such as Iga Swiatek of Poland, Coco Gauff of the United States and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus all have multiple major championships, with plenty of time for more. They're dominant players – if not quite as dominant at Sinner and Alcaraz.
Jesse from CA
I took the summer off from the Ozone (side note: best decision ever is what Gary would say). Anyways, what have I missed? What should I know as we embark on another season where my beloved Jags bring me some joy and mostly grief?
You're good.
Bradley from Kansas City, MO
Do you think one running back will emerge as the clearcut RB1 or will this be a RB by committee all season?
I expect at least three – and perhaps four – running backs out of Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby, Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. to have key roles in the Jaguars' offense much of the season. I don't know that there is any magic anymore to having an RB1.
Brian In the desert in California
My Sunday Ticket is ready on the left coast! I miss attending in person, but life got in the way. Go Jags! The first week is always the most interesting, in my opinion. I believe that the coaches really needed the preseason to get their sea legs. We have a lot of first timers in key positions.
The Jaguars open the 2025 regular season at EverBank Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.
Bradley from Kansas City, MO
Question: In a world where you have to pay your elites and your maybe someday elites big money at virtually every position, it's no secret that coaches and general managers tend to exploit rookie-contract running backs by running them in the ground. Running backs, more than any other position, are one play away from a career-ending injury. Only the very best get a big second contract and often as not they are a shell of their younger selves those years. I know the NFL has a fund for lowly-paid players who outperform their contracts. Should the league also have a special fund for running backs that provides a little security for these fierce warriors that often burn out too fast?
Special funds and special rules for different positions get discussed from time to time when discussing the NFL salary cap. It's just hard to see there being a real taste for this at the collective-bargaining table.
Hodap Wattsburg(h), PA
When discussing the new rivalries jerseys at work Sunday, I slipped and called them costumes, then outfits, then uniforms! Does this make me a semi-casual fan?
Don't call what you're wearing an outfit.
