Gus’ Midnight Mailbag: Jaguars vs Dolphins Week 1 recap

Welcome to the Week 1 edition of the Midnight Mailbag! I’ll be asking for your lingering questions after each Jaguars game on 1010XL’s Facebook and X/Twitter pages, with the submission deadline set for 11:59 p.m. the same day.

Here were your questions following Jacksonville’s Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

From @rich_ito — Shad Khan called this the best Jaguars team ever. If the Jags lose to Cleveland next week, how hot is Doug’s seat?

From @jake_432 — If the O-line plays like this and the jags have a mediocre season, is Doug on the hot seat at the end of the year?

From @schwartz_booker — How long does Doug have a job? It’s quite obvious that he ain’t it

From Eugene J. Bell — Jags lost 5 of the last 6 games last year. This games makes 6 out last 7 reg season. Is Doug failing to motivate his team?

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson will be at risk of losing his job if the team fails to make the playoffs. It’s fair to criticize Pederson and his staff for the way the past several games have gone, but I say we give him at least another month or two to turn around the ship. I personally think Pederson is a better motivator and “CEO type coach” than he gets credit for, though that stance admittedly isn’t looking good right now. Pederson’s seat will truly be heating up if the Jaguars return from its London trip with a losing record and poor offensive production relative to the rest of the league.

From @duvall2188 — Any idea if Doug was calling plays in first half and not in the second half? It was like watching 2 different offenses today..

From @DUVALLL24 — Who’s calling the plays, Press or Doug? Not who’s responsible. Who is physically calling the plays that Trevor received in the 2nd half. #midnightmailbag

From Brandon Candow — Did Doug and Press split play calling like they did in 2022? Doug calling the first half and Press in the second. It really feels like Press took over in the second.

From Eddie Paz — Who’s calling the offensive plays?

Pederson has not publicly disclosed who is calling offensive plays for the Jaguars in 2024. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor called plays last year, and in the second half of games in 2022. Based on how Week 1 went, perhaps Taylor is back to calling second half plays again. But even after Pederson’s Monday press conference, we do not know for sure.

From @Gpo1722 — Why does the team turn turtle mode and become conservative in the second half with a lead. And are Pederson and press Taylor handcuff to each other no matter what. Feel like this a repeat and rinse of the Philly situation.

From @TRIPLEO37762690 — Someone needs to answer for why they stopped attacking downfield?

From David Hendricks — Why does this offense just get so conservative in the second half. Why don’t we push the ball down the field more.

From David Saunders — How is the ball moved so well for 30 then completely stagnant?

From Thomas Vanderpol — Why can’t the Jaguars put together a complete game? Why are they always playing scared when they are controlling games for the first half? We should’ve beat a formidable opponent on the road for the season opener and choked it down the stretch

The Jaguars found a bottle of Michael’s Secret Stuff before the game, then the Dolphins got their hands on it at halftime. I’m not sure how else to explain the swap in physicality on the field. Jacksonville seemed deflated by the fourth quarter and it’s hard to exactly pinpoint why that was (though Tommy McManus and I did discuss the realness of momentum on the Duval Rundown postgame show).

“It was just kind of a tale of two halves,” Pederson said after the game. “We made plays in the first half, they made plays in the second half. So credit to them.”

From @ReformedGamer3 — Why pay Trevor like he’s the guy, but not play him like he is? Completely took the game out of his hands in the 2nd half.

I don’t know. Lawrence had one pass attempt in the fourth quarter (Christian Kirk’s third down drop). That’s inexcusable.

From Nelson Sanabria — Why was Evan Engram completely excluded from the game plan?

Engram caught 1 of 4 targets for 5 yards on Sunday. I wouldn’t say he was completely excluded from the game plan, but it did seem like the team wanted to get its newcomers — Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. — going early. Since Jacksonville doesn’t have an objective no. 1 pass-catcher, targets will be spread among five-plus players in every game this year. Engram will have his fair share of big performances and quiet days alike.

From Sam Folds III — With the game on the line , the Oline was ….not good enough …..that’s as polite as I can be with that . When will they address the issues with the Oline ? After Trevor is retired ?

The Jaguars feel that they have addressed the offensive line. Mitch Morse, Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff were all brought in from different NFL teams to improve the team’s interior blocking, and offensive tackle is perhaps the deepest position on the roster. At this point, I wonder if the Jaguars need a new run game coordinator. Something will definitely need to change this upcoming offseason, not just to maximize Lawrence’s potential, but to lengthen his career.

From Tim Jones — Christian Kirk’s ability to get back on the dime. Multiple dropped passed from one of our most clutch relievers. How much did that surgery effect his ability to practice and perform.

Expectations in the building and from local reporters were that Kirk would be his same old self in 2024, despite his 2023 core injury and offseason calf injury. I don’t think Kirk’s health effected his ability to practice and perform, as we saw him create space and get open several times against Miami, but clearly he had to shake off some rust. I expect Kirk to regain focus and rebound against the Browns.

From William Hott — Why are we like this?

I’d say it’s karma for living in a beautiful state, but there are plenty of other championship cities in Florida. Maybe there’s a different kind of curse at play. I’ll let you know if I find anything.

From Brandon Potter — Should Tank be RB1?

No. I understand that Tank Bigsby had a much better Week 1 performance (12 attempts, 73 yards) than Travis Etienne (12 attempts, 44 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 fumble) but the latter remains a much better football player. Etienne is the ACC’s all-time leader in rushing yards and I fully expect a bounce-back performance from him in Week 2. I also thought the offensive line created much bigger holes for Bigsby than Etienne, which is partly why Bigsby had a better game. For anyone still upset about Etienne’s red zone turnover, don’t you remember how often Bigsby turned the ball over last season? The Jaguars won’t start Bigsby just because of one mistake by its clearcut lead back.

From @Boris4714116053 — Why in the world did we pay Tyson Campbell?

“Tyson is a young, talented player who is an integral part of our defense and core member of our locker room,” Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said after Campbell’s recent contract extension was announced. “He is a consummate professional on and off the field and we are confident that his best lies ahead. We have consistently messaged the importance of extending our core players and this is another step forward in honoring that commitment.”

Campbell’s production has been frustrating in the past calendar year, mostly due to a lingering hamstring injury. But I agree with Baalke and Jaguars decision-makers that what he’s shown on film — especially in 2022 — is worth a further investment. Campbell is one of the most skilled players on the roster. Here’s to hoping his health (or lack thereof) doesn’t continue to overshadow his talent.

From Mary Dick — Years ago I heard when a pitcher’s legs are tired or weak, he throws the ball high. Does this apply to quarterbacks as well? Can’t figure out why Trevor throws high so often.

That’s an interesting theory, though I’ve always chalked it up to his arm talent. Other young quarterbacks with a rocket launcher strapped to their right shoulder (e.g., Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Anthony Richardson, Drake Maye) have the same issue of missing high sometimes. Obviously, it’d be nice to see Lawrence stay calm and deliver a catchable ball on every dropback, but I think the occasional miss is worth the trade off, which is his ability to fit balls into tight windows at any level of the field.

From @micah7844611188 — Just one question: how dare you

Fair.