JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Dmiz from Sacksonville
Hey, Zone. Ventrell Miller just went through a full practice. He's always intrigued me having watched him at UF. How did he look at practice and do you think he will contribute this year?
Linebacker Ventrell Miller, a fourth-round selection by the Jaguars in the 2022 NFL Draft from the University of Florida, indeed returned to practice this week after missing a few days with a hand injury. Miller, who dealt with injuries at Florida, missed his rookie season last season with an Achilles injury. I didn't specifically watch Miller in practice this week, so I can't tell you how he looked in those practices. I know he impressed in 2024 Jaguars Training Camp before the hand injury, and I know the Jaguars see him as a player who absolutely can contribute this season. The key for Miller is health. He likely won't be as a starter unless there are injuries to the position, but he remains an intriguing player for the present and future. If he can stay healthy, he could play his way into a role.
Deadhead Brian from Shakedown street Nocatee
Has "Inside Training Camp" been to Jax?
The Jaguars were featured on Inside Training Camp: Jaguars Summer in 2004. It aired at the time on NFL Network, but was essentially the same behind-the-scenes, all-access, episodic concept as now airs HBO.
Willis from Jax
O Burger. You yawned on Jaguars Today a few days ago. What gives?
I was leepy.
John from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
I guess if you have enough money, flying a private jet to avoid a possible delay in receiving your golf clubs is worth the extra pollution that is being emitted as opposed to flying commercial. What climate change?
I assume you're maybe referring to maybe Head Coach Doug Pederson taking a private jet to a recent celebrity golf tournament or maybe you're referring to quarterback Trevor Lawrence not taking the jet. Pederson, it seems, had advised Lawrence to take the jet – and it appears Lawrence lost his golf clubs on the way. Or something like that. Either way, your email suggests that you have some problem with people flying private jets. I guess people have to be angry at something. It may as well be that, I suppose.
Pablo from Seville, Spain
JO: Most football fans would have stopped listening to pro coaches when for example Billy Belli a few years ago told the Jax media " He liked what Gus Bradley was doing with the Jags." This was a few days before the game where his Pats scored on every possession during that game! Most coach speech is BS don't you think?
I sort of recall then-New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick praising a Jaguars team coached by then-Head Coach Gus Bradley. I certainly recall the Jaguars not faring well against the Patriots under Bradley. Such praise from opposing coaches to "lesser" opponents doesn't necessarily bother me all that much. It's certainly possible – and even likely – that Belichick liked some or even a lot of what Bradley was doing with the Jaguars. Perhaps he liked Bradley's approach to working with players. Or his defensive scheme. Or any number of things. The thing with what coaches say during the week leading to a game – or ever, actually – is you sort of have to sift through what they're saying to find themes and truths. Is it often a lot of cliches and "surface" stuff? Sure. Can it get a little tiresome? Sure. But I guess there are worse problems in life than NFL coaches not always being transparent and entertaining when speaking about their teams. I'm so accustomed to it by now I don't think about it that much, honestly. I decipher as best I can and move on to write/talk another day.
Bruce from St. Simons Island
O, Is there anything in particular that the coaches (and fans) should look for in Saturday's preseason game? As regards Lawrence's salary - since his signing he is third or lower in quarterback salaries. I think you could argue that the Jags signed him at the right time. Your thoughts?
Look for the defense to play fast and with confidence in the first preseason game under first-year coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Also: Look to see how the younger Jaguars players play with coaches having focused during camp on acclimating them quicker than was the case last season. As regards Lawrence's salary, I don't know that this offseason was the "right time" to extend his contract as much as it was the only time. If you think a quarterback is your guy, you sign him to a second contract in his third offseason. That's the current trend in the NFL and the Jaguars stayed in step.
Greg from Section 122, The Bank, Jacksonville
What is the difficulty of people not understanding the nice concept? Perhaps you need to devote a column on teaching all your fans, and he knows who he is, how to be NICE. I'll start: John, those glasses really help to enhance the empathy and intelligence seen in your face. Also: Your haircut is snappy and stylish which really conveys your role as the KOAF. Okay your turn, say something nice back.
I am the king of all funk.
Nick from Palm Coast, FL
When will Tony, Pete and J.P. be back? i enjoy their show but it seems like they have been OFF long enough !!!
You're referencing Jaguars Happy Hour with Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli, The Great Pete Prisco of CBS Sports and Our Own J.P. Shadrick. It streams on our Jaguars channels on Mondays at 4 p.m. during the season. The show will make its 2024 debut on Monday.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John: Following up on Nic from Phoenix's "scheduled day off" question, the idea has merit and should be considered by the Jags this season at quarterback. Mac (a/k/a "Matt") Jones is a legitimate NFL quarterback with a career 85.8 passer rating. I believe his troubles in New England were due to being on the wrong team at the wrong time. Given the right environment (such as Jax) he could thrive. I don't see too much of a downside to resting Trevor against the right team to keep him fresh. We all know that injuries and wear and tear took their toll on Trevor last year and ultimately hurt the team down the stretch. Maybe a scheduled day off or two may help?
We've talked a lot in the O-Zone recently about the importance of being nice. With that in mind, I'll make an effort to be as nice and emotionless as possible in this answer. But no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no this idea does not have merit providing Lawrence is not trying to play through a significant injury that is hampering him on the field. If he is reasonably healthy, you don't rest your starting quarterback to "keep him fresh." You also don't under those circ*mstances rest a player here or there to "keep them fresh." And you don't hold young, healthy NFL players out of practices to keep them fresh. If there are injuries? Yes. If a player is aging with a history of injuries that have caused issues as previous seasons have continued? Yes. Not otherwise. And specifically to Lawrence, remember: A big issue last season wasn't just that he was injured for some late-season games, but that he couldn't practice full during the week. Bottom line: If Lawrence is healthy, play him. If he is dealing with injuries that are keeping him from practicing during the week, then you reconsider.
Jesse from Texas
What starting positions do you feel may still be up in the air, and who do you think has the best chance to fill them at this point?
NFL training camp battles, at least for starting jobs, are usually a bit of a myth – primarily because general managers spend the offseason ensuring they have acquired starting-quality players and coaches spend the offseason working players in their projected roles. There are occasional exceptions to this, such as when Jawaan Taylor beat out Walker Little for the starting right tackle position in Jaguars 2022 Training Camp. But that's a relatively rare situation. The battles in Jaguars '24 camp are more about roles – such as who will be the nine-to-10 defensive linemen, who will be the final running back to make the roster and how a battle between players such as De'Antre Prince, Christian Braswell and Montaric Brown will shake out for fourth and fifth cornerback. This somewhat goes against Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's approach that the depth chart is wide open. That's true to an extent, but most defensive starting positions are pretty much decided. The preseason is about finalizing specific roles and depth, which is as it should be.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even in the preseason, you still suck.
Time to get started.
