HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
(On what’s different about this week) “Game week —obviously they [players] were off three days and they came back with great energy and I am really proud of them and then we have another off day tomorrow but really good work today. It helps when you have your linemen back — everybody should be ready to play Sunday so that really lifts up practice right there.”
(On how this opener compares to openers at Ohio State and Florida) “This is right near the top because I don’t remember ever coming out of the chute where the talent is equated across the board and you have a young quarterback so yeah it is a lot going on but I like where we are at.”
(On excitement for the opener) “Yes, really excited.”
(On feeling prepared for the opener after going through the preseason) “Not yet — that is a good question because it is different. Obviously, you look out there and see a much smaller roster. We are still deciding who is going to be inactive the day of the game — those type of things. That is the little bit of anxiety I have. That is all new to me. As far as game management, I feel very good about it. I feel very good about our coaching staff and most importantly I feel good about the locker room which may be the most important thing in any organization.”
(On the interruption COVID caused last season versus the potential this season) “Last year, obviously I wasn’t involved but there were horror stories that people would come in and you three guys, you five guys and whatever. I saw some coach saying the lack of interaction with your players because you are looking at an iPad or a screen. That is no way to coach but unfortunately, we had to do that. This is nothing — we are extremely cautious right now. Matter of fact, I saw where the Cowboys lost a player and we got AJ Cann back today, but we re-did the meeting rooms, we spaced them out even more. We just are really taking that 6 feet as serious as you can — even the vaccinated guys.”
(On COVID concerns with players coming back after three off days) “Oh yeah, very concerned and you have to have a little bit of a level of trust that you trust your players [understand] how serious this is but you also can’t ask them to go close a door in their closet so I understand young people and old people — I went to the [Florida] Gator game but you try to keep your space as best as you can.”
(On experience being back at Florida) “It was great to see Coach [Dan] Mullen and get a big win and great crowd for an opener, so it was fantastic.”
(On game preparation changing from preseason to regular season) “Sure and I learned that from our veteran coaches that we did not do much the first game. We did a little bit more the second game and the third game we let Trevor [Lawrence] go play a little bit so same with Houston. It is going to be Tyrod [Taylor] their quarterback and we went all the way back and studied some of the things he has done in the past as well — very talented quarterback. You have to do more than just the preseason when you are prepping.”
(On not changing the whole roster during the offseason) “That was part of the reason why I took this job — I think there are good players here. They did not necessarily play well all the time, but I studied this thing hard, and I think we have good players here in Jacksonville. Regardless as we move forward, I think there are players that are going to play better and you know we add some key pieces in free agency. Obviously in the NFL Draft we got that quarterback [Trevor Lawrence] and there is going to be some other guys involved in the first game. I believe in some of our core players here.”
(On injury updates on CB Tre Herndon and CB Tyson Campbell) “Getting close — two, three, he [Tre Herndon] will not play this one. [Tyson] Campbell, he will play.”
(On any other injury updates) “No, I think everyone is good.”
(On if he was concerned about the reception he was going to receive going back at Florida) “That is so long ago I have a hard time remembering — I am just kidding. Yeah, I love Gainesville, I love Florida — I wish I had left differently, but that was a deeply personal situation. I will always be respectful to Gators, I will always be a Gator fan. My former coach is a coach there and I support them and shoot I even pumped up a recruit when he walked by me. I think I am allowed to do that — ‘Let’s go man.’ I mean I was jacked, are you kidding me?”
(On Coach Steve Spurrier standing next to you and being a hype man) “Yeah, he was my bodyguard.”
(On Scott Strickland inviting Urban Meyer to games) “Mr. Strickland has been fantastic the last two years, three years, however long he has been there. He has reached out several times and invited Shelly [Meyer] and I to a game in Orlando — he has invited us back. Dan has had me speak to the team so whatever is out there it is not within the organization.”
(On what WR Tyron Johnson and TE Jacob Hollister bring to the offense) “Tyron [Johnson] brings speed — he had a great 2020 if you watch him play. He is fast, fast fast. [Jacob] Hollister, we have been searching and looking and trying to make it fit — [salary] cap wise and all that other stuff but we like him. One of our coaches — I think it is Schotty [Brian Schottenheimer] has experience with him. He had five or six touchdowns for him. Really good guy and he is here practicing and yeah [he will be ready week one].”
(On having 11 coaches or players from Seattle) “Pete Carroll is a guy that I have studied since I was at Utah — that is when he first started that USC [University of Southern California] run. I know him fairly well, not that close, but he is a winner, he runs a great organization. He is a guy that I have studied — I studied the rugby tackling from him. [Darrell] Bevell, [Brian] Schottenheimer and then we had Coach Schneider and now Nick Sorensen — that is not by accident. It is a sign of respect for an organization and a coach.”
(On incorporating runs for QB Trevor Lawrence) “We are being very cautious about that for a lot of reasons. You know there is a tendency that I would like to do some stuff with him, but I just zip it usually. I can’t see a direct run called — you know not many people really do that in the NFL especially with the number one pick overall, but his legs are going to be part of the game and that is naturally on scrambles and read plays.”
(On having QB Trevor Lawrence run during the game if you could get away with it) “Yeah, I mean you would like to, but we had Dwayne Haskins and he really wasn’t a runner. This guy [Trevor Lawrence] could because he is fast and big and a very courageous runner, but we are going to be very cautious.”
(On the message for Trevor Lawrence leading into this week against the Texans) “We have to be smart as coaches — do what he does well and you know there is some naturalness to him. Some of the things we did Sunday against the Cowboys were also aggressive and I like aggressive play calling and we did. We also added Devin Smith, who I know personally and he is a legit deep threat. We added Tyron Johnson] — you know when Phillip [Dorsett II] yanked his hamstring and DJ [Chark Jr.] really did not play at all — we were limited now and there was a time where we just did not throw the ball down the field, and I felt much better when we had Devin [Smith] and DJ [Chark Jr.] looked really good today by the way. This Tyron [Johnson] guy can really run so until we get Phillip [Dorsett II] back — running an offense without exceptional speed outside — I don’t know that offense, I don’t want to know that offense and I don’t want anything to do with that offense, so we have to have speed.”
(On how important it has been to see WR DJ Chark Jr. doing more at practice) “Oh yeah, he is in the right place — actually caught the ball really well today too.”
(On concerns with WR Tyron Johnson’s route running) “We are working hard at it — Sanjay Lal is a very good teacher. That is why we took him though; we believe in him. His film was electric in 2020.”
(On confidence with having three running backs) “Not confident — we are still eyes open, that is tough.
(On if they could sign another running back this week) “No, there is a chance. We are still working through some things.”
(On not getting nervous anymore) “I get horrified — what are you talking about? No, no, just kidding, no, I am not there yet. I will get there — all coaches get there and if they tell you they are not then they are probably not being truthful with you. I am one of those people, if you remember, it’s every T crossed, every I dotted and every tip sheet ‘why didn’t we dot the I on this tip sheet’ so instead of players, I drive coaches crazy. I just want to make sure those players have a shot.”
(On figuring it out by now) “No, but it is heading in that direction.”
(On wishing he challenged a call in the preseason) “Zach [Beistline], I have a guy that is really good, and we practiced it. We physically watched the video tape and talked through it and talked through situations and talked through the challenge flag so we’ll be ready for that.”
(On if S Andre Cisco will start this week) “Starting — it’s an “or” I believe right now. I believe it is [Andrew] Wingard or him [Andre Cisco] at the other safety and then you have Rayshawn [Jenkins] at the one.”
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JAGUARS SIGN RB DUKE JOHNSON TO THE PRACTICE SQUAD
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed RB Duke Johnson to the practice squad, the team announced today. The club also released RB Nathan Cottrell from the practice squad.
Johnson has played six seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the third round (77th overall) by the Browns in 2015. His career totals include 91 games played – 64 with the Browns and 27 with the Texans. Johnson has recorded 1,931 rushing yards on 459 attempts (4.2 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. He has also amassed 307 receptions for 2,829 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.
The Miami native attended the University of Miami (Fla.) where he earned All-ACC First Team as a sophomore in 2013. He finished that season with 920 rushing yards and six TDs in eight games. He also had 396 yards on 14 kick returns. For his career, Johnson ranks seventh in school history with 3,453 all-purpose yards.
