JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Damon from The Stine
Hi, John. I think I understand why the Jaguars went out and got Hunter when they did and I don't fault them for it. Like it has been said many times, he is only just beginning his career. My concern is that he is becoming somewhat of a distraction. It feels like there is a lot of pressure on the staff to utilize him and to utilize him in the "correct" way. It seems like this would take away from other things they could be thinking about if they just had a steady corner or receiver. What would you say to that theory?
I would say a lot of talk in the NFL about "distractions" is way overblown. Remember: NFL teams operate in a strikingly insular world. This is particularly true of NFL coaches, who often are aware of happenings outside their facilities, vehicles and homes only vaguely from the beginning of training camp until the end of their season. They are a bit more aware of what is being said about their teams in this social media age compared to bygone eras, but their awareness in this area is still pretty minimal. And while fans might endlessly watch coaches' media availabilities and believe these take up a large swath of their weekly time and mental energy, coaches in fact are mentally engaged with this process for only about 45 minutes a week – meaning they often are only focused on outside issues and questions for a small fraction of their time. What might be "distractions" to fans and media often therefore qualify only as an aside or an afterthought to players and coaches. I have often asked a coach or player about a public "hot topic" about the team and have the player or coach answer, "Really? People are talking about that? Why?" They are simply not as engaged with such topics as many believe. Bottom line: While the Jaguars indeed want to continue finding the best way to involve wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter more offensively and defensively, conversations within the organization about this center more on how he can help the team win than what must be done to satisfy the wants and demands of outside observers.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
Watching the All-22 coaches film, coupled with my deep, analytical mind (Sorry, thinking of someone else), coupled with a suspect mind several years into cognitive decline, I noticed that running back Bhayshul Tuten perhaps could have bounced it outside on two of his nice runs off tackle and with his speed might have had long gains or even scored. Did I miss this being addressed?
Running backs often have a run or two they would like to have to do over. This is particularly true of young running backs learning the speed of the NFL. I expect Tuten would like to have a play or two do over from last Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos. I also expect there to be fewer of those going forward.
Chris from Mandarin
It is easy to put no thought into a response and proclaim trade machine in all caps. However, I am predicting that the Jaguars will trade wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. some time before their week 8 matchup against the Colts. The clock is ticking.
TRADE MACHINE!!! (Wow, this is easy).
Jesse from Texas
Under Head Coach Liam Coen and company, we can see how much good coaching can do for a football team. This is the kind of coaching Jags fans have been wanting for so long. But under previous Jags coaching regimes, many times when someone would argue that the coaching wasn't good or even average, you would hand wave them off saying, "It's always coaching in the NFL." Do you agree now that those fans had valid concerns, and that the coaching in the past was a major part of the problem?
This is among the more misunderstood concepts here in the O-Zone. This is understandable because, after all, forums such as this aren't friendly to subtlety. I never had written or said that coaching isn't important in the NFL. I often have written and said the fans are far too quick when watching games to blame coaching for all that ails a team. That often has prompted me to write "It's always coaching in the NFL" in response to emails criticizing a particular play call or blaming a specific loss on a specific coaching decision. Coaching absolutely matters, particularly a head coach's ability to reach players and have a group of players believing in the direction of a franchise. And Coen has proven to be high-end in this area. Either way, it is still a player's league and there is always a limit to what influence a person standing on the sideline can have on what goes on on the field. But it's always coaching in the NFL. Always.
The New Nostradamus from Versailles
Travis Hunter will be on a different NFL team in Week 1 of 2027. He will become intolerant of his playing time this season, and the relationship will deteriorate quickly. This prediction, for posterity's sake, was made on 9/23/2026 at 10:32 AM.
OK.
Dallas from Sioux Falls, SD
I know I am getting ahead of myself, but one match up that intrigues me will be when Travis Hunter gets to be wide receiver against Jalen Ramsey. They are both elite cornerbacks, but seeing Hunter up against a former Jaguar that probably talks as much smack as the other looks to be something to look forward to – even if it is only for one or two snaps. Or at least see Hunter be a better cornerback than Ramsey.
That will be some good theatre, I suppose, because anything involving former Jaguars cornerback and current Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey is at least decent theatre. We don't yet have a great idea about Hunter's long-term role offensively this season. Before we know that, it's hard to speculate whether Ramsey and Hunter even will be matched up when the teams play in later this season. But if they do matchup … yeah, I'll put the binoculars on that pair. If I can find my binoculars. If I have binoculars. I may need to buy some binoculars.
Dwayne from Jacksonville
No question, just referencing the conversation between you and Josh from Jacksonville Saturday. I used to think, outside of sports, I was smarter than you. I wish J.P. Shadrick was still here to explain that exchange of ideas.
What a curious thing to think.
Chris from Mandarin
Since when do you think Mayor of Jacksonville Pete Prisco is devilishly handsome, sneakily charming and outrageously witty? I'm pretty sure I know where O-Zone got this philosophy as a ponytailed underling at the Florida Times Union.
You're referencing me saying quite often that the NFL is a "week-to-week" league. This isn't a philosophy. It's an undeniable fact that is obvious to anyone who follows the NFL closely and pays attention to what they see.
Richard from Jacksonville
Hi, Johnny. Do you realize I have known you for 31 years? (1995) How time flies.
How fortunate for you.
Fred from Naples, FL
It would help our end pass rush tremendously if we could get some push up the middle. I don't understand what has happened to Arik Armstead as he simply has not done much after two games. He looked all-worldly during training camp but that is where it ended. He also looked all-worldly against our own offensive line, which sadly is also concerning. See o-line struggles against the Broncos.
Armstead looked good in training camp, which included joint practices against the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jaguars could use much better internal pressure Sunday than they produced against the Broncos.
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL
The Jaguars lost a competitive game on the road to another playoff team and Super Bowl contender. It happens. They didn't play well and lost by a touchdown. They are 9-1 in the past 10 regular-season games. This is a VERY good team. Not sure what all the hand-wringing is about?
Fans. Fan. It's. What. They. Do.
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
Free Travis Hunter. There is no doubt Hunter is special, as evidenced by his being the No. 1 NFL prospect at cornerback and wide receiver in the 2025 draft. I mean there are tales of players suffering non-contact season ending injuries in practice. (So) Why not let him do what he did at Colorado? Is there anyone who shares this opinion among the coaching staff or the decision makers?
The only thing people who make football decisions around the Jaguars care about is winning. No one around the Jaguars has anything to gain by limiting Hunter.
Aaron from White Hall, AR
This week's game against the New England Patriots is the most important game in franchise history.
Damned straight.
