Gus’ Midnight Mailbag: Jaguars vs Browns Week 2 recap

Welcome to the Week 2 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 2 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

From Vail — Is this the end of the Doug era? In the last 300 days the only team we have beat is the panthers

From Eugene Bell — Doug sounded like a lost man with no clue or answers at the presser. Is it time to declare him on the hot seat?

Michael Drury — If accountability needs to be addressed and we aren’t owning are own stuff isn’t it time for Shad to step in and do what he needs to do. Trevor had a voice for a reason today. Concern is there

In last week’s mailbag, I said Pederson’s seat won’t truly be heating up unless the team returns from London with a losing record and poor offensive production. I’m sticking to that timeline but it could get ugly if the Bills dominate the Jaguars on Monday Night Football this week. On one hand, Jacksonville has lost close games to two playoff-caliber teams; on the other, the strength of the opposition is no excuse for how poorly the team — mostly the offense — has functioned on the field.

From Paul Johnson — Do the Jaguars have the mental fortitude to win in the NFL?

I keep thinking back to when Brian Thomas Jr. made a big catch in the preseason against Kansas City, and Jacksonville’s sideline absolutely erupted. Where did that energy go? The body language from every player and coach on the team, not just the starting quarterback and head coach, is telling.

From B — What are the positive takeaways from this game and what’s the odds of us making the playoffs.

The defense is playing as well as you could hope for considering the lopsided Time Of Possession numbers in Weeks 1 and 2, and first-round rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. looks like the real deal. Hopefully he’ll get more opportunities going forward after seeing just four targets in each game to start the season.

According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Jaguars have a 23.1% chance to make the postseason, which ranks 23rd in the league. That percentage will nosedive if Jacksonville loses at Buffalo and at Houston in the next two weeks. I’d say the Jaguars having a 1 in 5 chance sounds about right.

From Tim Carter — I have a question. With the oline being the excuse for the offenses struggles, I want to know your thoughts on having 5 line men and 2 tight ends as up backs in the running back position to block so essentially 7 blockers and 3 WRs? Or why can we just go in I formation and use a defensive tackle as a full back to get the run game going.

From Nathan Fields — Why not put Farrell or Strange as extra blockers to give Trevor more time. Feel like our WRs have speed to get open

Jacksonville has tried this a few times, but the deep routes have been covered well, especially last week against Cleveland. The Jaguars need a more well-rounded passing attack in the event that deep shot plays using max protection aren’t working.

From Sean Richardson — Why don’t the jaguars go back to quick throws short passes, and qb roll outs, and throws

I made a similar point on yesterday’s Duval Rundown show: the Jaguars should utilize more quick game because Lawrence is good at it and it’s a way for the offense to find some rhythm. Quick game aside, Jacksonville should be passing/putting the ball in the hands of their franchise player more often. Lawrence has 51 pass attempts through two weeks, which ranks 21st in the league entering Monday Night Football.

David Johnson — Did the NFL figure out our offense last season?

This is a fair concern. Pederson’s offense was among the best in the league in Philadelphia, and it looked quite good in his first year in Jacksonville. But since the beginning of last season, it hasn’t felt like the offensive coaching staff has implemented enough new ideas to keep pace with new NFL trends. The running game shows signs of ingenuity yet “stale” is an accurate way to describe the passing offense.

From Mark Register — 1010xl interviewed Chad Muma, I believe, before the game. He said the team liked the game plan this week. Does that mean there are times when the team doesn’t like the game plan? What is the coaching staff doing that will improve execution on the field?

I assume when Muma said he liked the game plan, he was expressing confidence in the matchup. I wouldn’t take it as a sign that there are times when the team doesn’t like the game plan, though that isn’t to say that never happens. The coaching staff can improve execution by scheming up “easy” looks on both sides of the ball, like reverses or screens to get the quickly ball in the hands of playmakers plus stunts or games to free up lanes to rush the opposing quarterback.

From Clay Dotson — Whose decision was it to give Trevor a quarter of a billion dollars to go 14 of 30 every weekend?

I would *guess* that about 98% of football minds inside the Jaguars’ building were comfortable signing Lawrence to a top-of-the-market contract. He has not played his best ball in the past two weeks, but it certainly hasn’t been so bad that his new deal should be doubted.

From Brandon Candow — Did Press call plays in the first half and Doug in the second? I believe Doug did not have a call sheet at times in the first but had one the whole time in the second. #midnightmailbag

I wouldn’t assume who’s calling plays based on who’s holding a call sheet, but I don’t have much more to offer than that. There’s no way of knowing for sure with Pederson still refusing to reveal the answer.

From TJ Overman — What do these players mean when they say “we have to continue to get better”? Don’t you have to start before you can continue? They “continue” to get worse. Don’t they realize they are regressing?

The process certainly is puzzling.

From Rob Nottingham — When will we cease to be the same old Jags? When will our talent actually mean something. When will our offensive line actually be worth their paychecks. When will we have a coach, GM and owner who all jive. When will offense coordinator stop stealing the playbook of the Florida gators and doing the exact same thing

I think we’re only a couple weeks away from fans clamoring for Bill Belichick. He wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but there may not be a better person to get the most out of Jacksonville’s roster right now. If/when Pederson is replaced, “maximizing talent” will be the biggest box to chick — sorry, check — for the next head coach.

From Joel Lacey — Woof?

Grrrr.

Sam Folds III — When can we start talking about who the jags need to draft for the o line in ‘25 ? It’s gonna take at least 4 picks

I usually try to avoid focusing on the draft until the NFL season is complete. I don’t blame anyone who wants to start looking ahead now, though. Offensive line is absolutely the biggest roster weakness as of today.

Steve VanOrder — Why are they going backwards?

Every part of me says, “Go ahead”

I got my hopes up again, oh no, not again

Feels like we only go backwards, darling

From Sam Folds III — Did anyone happen to catch who’s man sacked Trevor for the Saftey ? #65 . I thought he was all we needed to fix the o line ? What say you Trent Baalke ?

Shrug emoji.