Big Cat Country Q&A: If the Jaguars don’t make the playoffs, what happens?

Let’s answer some Jacksonville Jaguars questions during the bye week!

Brian from Tampa, FL

Q: If we miss the playoffs and/or go worse than .500, who loses their job and what happens to Gardner Minshew in 2020?

A: I thought Alfie Crow had a great article examining this very question earlier in the week. In short, he thinks it’s playoffs or bust with the move to Nick Foles. Why? Because then the move away from developing a promising rookie is asinine. As far as who loses their job in the event that happens, I think it’s a clean sweep. I’d miss Doug Marrone because I think he’s a good enough head coach, but the net positive of getting rid of Tom Coughlin and Dave Caldwell would be more than enough to compensate for that. Don’t be surprised if we go 8-8 and something in the middle happens — like Coughlin leaving and a certain defensive coordinator being fired, but Caldwell and Marrone keeping their jobs.

Peter from Jacksonville, FL

Q: I’m curious if Ryan Day thinks Gardner Minshew should still be the starter? I feel he really hasn’t given us enough articles with his opinion on that issue.

A: I apologize I haven’t given you enough articles on the subject. You can read this one where I say it’s a mistake to bench him or this one where I predict that the net gain of putting Nick Foles in is, at most, one win and therefore not worth benching Minshew and growing the likelihood we just run it back in 2020 with Foles, delaying Minshew’s development until 2021.

DOS from Jacksonville, FL

Q: If Nick Foles ends up doing no better than Gardner Minshew, do they work a trade and start Minshew next year?

A: I hope so.

Brandon from Rochester, NY

Q: Any chance Jacksonville trades away Gardner Minshew after a promising Nick Foles run?

A: I don’t either of the things you asked about are very likely. But even if Foles plays supernaturally good and gets six wins out of the final seven games to make the playoffs, you keep Minshew. At the very worst, he’s a capable backup for cheaper than you’d be able to find on the waiver wire.

Darius from Jacksonville, FL

Q: Why not trade Nick Foles for a linebacker or cornerback? Gardner Minshew is young and proven he can win even with the minimal tools he has.

A: I think any trade involving Foles is going to include the Jaguars giving up a pick or a player, not the other way around. That contract is going to be a lot to take on.

Matt from Jacksonville, FL

Q: How many wins do you think Nick Foles gets us the rest of the season?

A: I think three wins — we get swept by the Indianapolis Colts, lose to the Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers, and beat the Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Atlanta Falcons. If we get a fourth win, it will be at home against the Chargers.