JAGUARS HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
URBAN MEYER: I just want to win so damn bad for our players and for Jacksonville, the crowd was — I appreciate them coming out, and the noise. We’re going to get this thing going, and I know I said that last week, but damn, they played hard. Our players played their asses off today. Just got to eliminate some mistakes and learn how to win.
Q. You talked this week about needing to get that spark. It felt like —
URBAN MEYER: Sparks everywhere, man. Just didn’t do it.
Q. How deflating can it be for the locker room when you have that sort of energy at halftime and you aren’t able to take advantage of it in the second half?
URBAN MEYER: That’s a great question, and we’re going to find out. That’s my job to get them back and keep that energy going because the energy I’m telling you in the locker room is as good a locker room as I’ve ever had. I told them that. I appreciate that. We’re coming back in a few days here and get ready for a road trip. They played in heat, played a lot of plays against a talented team and cramping and everything that goes with that kind of a ballgame. But I just have too much belief in these players. I have belief that – – you think about who’s in that defensive front, march it down the field, to come off the ball like our offensive line did and the backs running hard, we’ve just got to finish it.
Q. Urban, do you feel like you’re making progress, and do you balance — obviously it’s a wins and losses business, but do you see progress that you want to see here heading in that direction?
URBAN MEYER: Yeah, I see a lot of progress. Obviously like you said, this is a product-based business we’re all in, and you look on the won-lost column, it’s not good. Yeah, I still believe we’ve got a good enough team to make some moves this year and win some games. I do believe we’re making progress.
Q. Is there any concern or are you starting to get concerned about Trevor’s mentality, confidence at all? I think seven, eight turnovers in the first three games.
URBAN MEYER: I worry about everything. But Trevor is a unique individual, and he competes like — competed his tail off. We’ve just got to — when something is not there, throw it away and one of them was not his fault. One of them was a dropped pass. You can’t do that with a young quarterback. Can’t do that. That’s unacceptable. It’s unacceptable with an old quarterback, but you just can’t do that. It just drives me nuts. I know what he’s going to be like tomorrow. Same way he was last week. He’s the most consistent — one of the most consistent players I’ve been around.
Q. You were able to find the soft spots in Arizona’s secondary, and Lawrence looks a little bit more comfortable in the pocket. Do you believe it’s just bad, unfortunate interceptions or exhaustion that led to the third quarter explosion? Was it the lack of depth at corner or heat?
URBAN MEYER: Oh, yeah, we are worried about that, yeah. I thought they hung in there and — I’ve got to go back, I just remember looking up, it looked like he just floated the ball in the air and we didn’t make a play on it. Yeah, I am worried about our depth at corner with CJ and Tre. We get Tre back and I think CJ is back this week, too, so we should be full strength next week.
Q. Offensive line wasn’t very good, and Josh Lambo, you backed him last week. Do you have to do something there this week?
URBAN MEYER: Did you say offensive line?
Q. Offensive line was very mediocre and obviously gave up a couple of key pressures on some of the turnovers.
URBAN MEYER: I don’t know that. I just thought it was one of the best performances against a good defensive front pushing the ball. I didn’t look at the stats. Two sacks? And then one was a pressure on that pick six. We’ll discuss the line. I kind of thought we controlled the line of scrimmage, but I’ll let you know on Monday, I guess, when we talk. On Lambo, I made that comment, man, he’s the hardest working specialist I’ve ever had, but it’s also a reality we’re now missing extra points. I’m not sure what we’re going to do, but I’m like everybody, I want to see him make it because he works so damn hard on it.
Q. Did you sign off on the flea flicker before they went out on it?
URBAN MEYER: I sign off on everything.
Q. Did you like that play call there? You said before that if you’re going to do a trick play it needs to add an element of surprise. A lot easier to do from your own 20 than maybe the opposing 40.
URBAN MEYER: Yeah, I always tell Bev to be aggressive, as I’ve always towards my coordinators all along the year, let me be the overruler, be the aggressive guy, and I heard it come over the headset, and I just – – obviously I didn’t stop it. Then I looked up and I saw DJ behind the defense. We were behind them. It was a big one. And then I look up and the ball was picked. You know, that’s the decision I made a long time ago was be aggressive. You’ve got to be smart but be aggressive.
Q. James Robinson finally breaks out today; what was the conversation between you and the play callers as far as getting him the ball and how can you evaluate his performance today?
URBAN MEYER: I thought he was fantastic. He’s been practicing like that. I thought Carlos ran hard. Just probably need to give him the ball even a little bit more. Yeah, that was impressive, especially who you’re playing. That team is a good team, and just had them on their heels, and I think it was eight straight runs in that third quarter. Yeah, those guys are running hard, and we’re going to continue to get them the ball.
Q. Were you surprised after eight straight runs the flea flicker was called knowing how well the run game was going?
URBAN MEYER: I think I just answered that. You look back now and — it’s going to be a hard one to get out of my mind. But you also want creativity in your offense, which I’m always pushing those guys very hard on that. I’m pushing the aggressiveness. Before every game, I’m, be aggressive, be aggressive, and it’s my job to say, if it’s not there, don’t do that.
Q. What did you see on Agnew’s 109-yard return and what was it like getting that set up when you realized that Kingsbury was going to go for the 68-yarder?
URBAN MEYER: Well, I couldn’t believe they were going to kick it, and Nick Sorensen said, he can hit it. He saw him in pregame hit it 63 without really swinging hard. I’ve never seen that in my life. We had it set up. We practiced that, we worked it, and that kid is a dynamic guy with the ball in his hand, Agnew. Same thing we saw. That’s why we went after him in free agency. That’s a game changer and he’s an even better guy than he is a player. We’ve got to find ways to get him loose on a punt return, we haven’t done that yet.
Q. How about after the flea flicker? Did you say anything to Trevor?
URBAN MEYER: I just grabbed him afterwards. I can’t remember what I said to him, but we’ve got a great relationship, and the coaches and the players love him to death. Yeah, he’s going to continue to get better and we’re going to go win a game with him.
Q. Did you feel like that was one where he probably should have just thrown it away?
URBAN MEYER: I haven’t seen the film of it yet. That’s what it looked like to me when I looked up at the board.
Q. Through the first three games with Trevor, just what you can say about assessing his play up to this point, his leadership up to this this point as you look at the big picture stepping into a short week?
URBAN MEYER: Big picture, other than score, leadership, intangibles, the work ethic, the character, the desire to be great, his support from his teammates, his support of other teammates. He’s a very unique guy, one that really I’ve been very fortunate to coach some elite, elite players, and he’s one of the most elite, just the way he handles himself. Like I said, he’s the second or third most votes on the team (for team captains) as a rookie quarterback. The players love him. The players see what I see. They see what the world is going to see, and that’s a hell of a player that cares deeply for Jacksonville, cares deeply for his teammates. Really, it’s a refreshing guy to be around every day, and he will get better. I guarantee you that.
Q. What are you focusing on for the team to improve on heading into Thursday’s game?
URBAN MEYER: First I’ve got to get them healthy. That was a tough go today. So I’m going to go from here and start getting ready for that game, and then my big thing is about just the health, how we’re going to get these guys hydrated up and ready for a good team in Cincinnati. The focus is just — the focus going into this one, we need some big plays, and we’ve made them, and obviously not enough. So that’s going to be the focus. I think twice now — I think we were winning at halftime and last week we should have been winning at halftime, and it’s just second half I guess would be the focus.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q. Not an ideal game, four turnovers for you. Where do you go from here?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, I mean, nothing changes. Gosh, I’m sick. I feel like we should have won that game. But yeah, nothing changes. I thought we got a lot better today, and you could tell there were some sparks. We made some plays. Collectively, the defense, gosh, they played great, especially against the weapons over there that the Cardinals have. You can’t ask for any more out of that. Same thing, just got to be more consistent. That pick six killed us, obviously. That’s all on me. Got to just be smart and eat it, throw the ball away right there. Trying to think what else. It’s all there, though. Like you see, we’re getting better, but it’s frustrating because we’ve got to finish these games. We need to win these. Last two weeks I really felt like we could have won these past two games, and those were two really good teams we played. We got everything we need, which is great, but it makes it more frustrating because we’ve just got to finish the game. Hats off to the Cardinals. They did a really good job. Second half on defense, mixing things up, got some pressure, did a really good job. There were things to build on, and we fought — same thing, we fought to the very end, and it sucks losing, especially that way. But we’re going to get better.
Q. Third loss in a row and you’re on a short week getting ready for Cincinnati. In this case does it actually help that you have a game so quick for the turnaround that you can’t dwell on a loss like this one?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: It is what it is. We’re not going to dwell. This team has been great about just going back to work. It doesn’t really matter — if you think about it, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose the game, you’ve still got another game next week. If you win, you’ve got to go back to work and get ready to play again. If you lose, same thing. The team has been great about that. I’m not worried about that at all. The biggest thing is getting our guys healthy. I don’t know what that looks like right now. Everyone seems to be feeling okay, but just getting healthy because we only have three full days before we play. That’ll be big, just resting up, getting healthy and going and trying to get a win next week. We feel good about where we’re at. We’re making a ton of progress, and a lot of people don’t want to hear that, and I don’t want to hear that, either. I wish we would have won today, and we should have, I think. But it’s all about what you do and how you execute, and we didn’t finish the game. We’re close. We’re getting there. But we’re ready to go back to work and get ready for Cincinnati.
Q. On the pick six, did you realize as soon as you threw it that it was one of those, “oh, no?”
TREVOR LAWRENCE: So that was a — we had a trick play there, and I kind of had a guy in my face, so I threw it off my back foot, and I really didn’t see the corner fall off on it there, but I kind of saw him as the ball was coming down. Just not a good decision. But yeah, I didn’t really see the guy there. I thought we had our tight end, Jake, open, but like I said, it was off my back foot, didn’t help, and then got to just throw it away if a guy is close and protect that. Defense has been playing great, and just give them seven points there, which makes it tough.
Q. As a follow-up, what did Urban say to you after the game just now?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Man, we just talked, and we said to each other, we’ve got each other’s back. We’re in it together. Like I said, we’re getting better. I don’t have any doubt about this team. Nothing has changed for me. It’s not going back to the drawing board, it’s not any of that. It’s just about going back to work, and we’re going to win some of these games, so nothing has changed.
Q. From an offensive standpoint you were able to run the ball more today, better today, as well. How much of a factor was that in you as an offense getting into a little bit more of a rhythm there in the third quarter, and then after that the trouble came back up, so was it simply a matter of just not running the ball enough as the game went on?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: No, I thought Coach Bev called a great game. Like I said, there was a few plays, like the one — the interception early, I mean, just a fluke, tip, goes to him, like a crazy play. That’s just unlucky. That’s going to happen sometimes. We were in the red zone, should have had some points there. Then later we were in the red zone again, Jay Rob was coming across to try to pick up a guy on a blitz and hit my elbow, like fumble, stuff like that that usually doesn’t happen and won’t happen a lot, just happened today. That was unfortunate. You’ve got to come back from those, though .And then I thought the play calling was great. Coach Bev did a great job mixing everything up, the tempo, run game, pass game. But like I said, I thought we played really complementary football in the first half. The defense played great all day, and then in the second half, like I said, the pick six hurt us, and then you get down a little bit and then we had — I can’t remember if we had a three-and-out or ended up punting or what the next drive, but then we ended up getting down 12 with six minutes left, got the ball back, we were driving and then had that fumble on probably like the 20-yard line, going in to score. That would have made it a five-point game if we would have scored. Then we give our defense a chance, they get a stop and we get the ball back with a minute 30, two minutes left and we’ve got a chance. That’s just how it goes sometimes, though. Defense made a great play. That happens. We’ve just got to keep playing complementary. I thought we did a way better job today than we did the past two weeks, though. We’re making strides.
Q. How do you assess yourself through these first three games kind of looking back at it? We just heard Coach say that you love Jacksonville, you want to see this city win. Just what you can say about the city itself, maybe some words to the fans and how you assess yourself.
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, I mean, this thing is going in the right direction for sure. I feel like if — definitely if you’re involved with this team, you know it. We all know it. We all believe it. We’ve got a bunch of great guys in that locker room, great coaches, and this city has been amazing. Just hang in there. It’s going to come. We all believe in it. We’re putting the work in, and it’s going to come, sooner rather than later. A lot of bright days are ahead, so I would just say — but thank the fans — I thank you guys for — the stadium was packed. When Agnew ran that kickback, the field goal back, it erupted. It was awesome. We’re going to get there. We’ll get there.
Q. I think the stat is in your first three games as a rookie it’s like you, Peyton, Troy Aikman, Blake Bortles with two or more turnovers in each of those games. I know your sophomore year at Clemson you kind of had a similar stretch there. Do you drawback on that experience right now or are you just flushing all of this and saying it’s just circumstance, like you said, that the ball just bounced that way, in regards to having so many picks?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yes and no. There was the one bad decision. Can’t happen. I had one today that turned into a pick six. Just can’t do that. The other ones, ball security in the pocket on the last play of the game that they ended up stripping, that’s one I can learn from. You learn from all of them, but you can’t let it change the way you play. As far as making better decisions, that does need to change for sure, but I’ve got to be the same guy. I still have to go play. I can’t play timid, and not take any shots or chances. I feel like I’m learning a lot. I thought honestly besides the one pick on the flea flicker play, I thought my decisions were great. I thought we moved the ball, we executed well. I thought I was a lot more accurate today than I was the past two games, and I thought the receivers did a great job making plays.
Q. How would you evaluate your confidence where it stands right now?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I’m the same person. Like I said, that’s not going to change. I think that’s part of the reason why I’m here. I’m going to be the same person every day. That’s not going to change, and it’s not changing in the locker room, either. We’re going to be all right.
Q. Are you getting questions from friends, family about your confidence, about your mindset at all, and how do you answer those, if they’re asking you?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, people check in, like family and friends, make sure I’m doing good. Obviously it’s like — this has been different than the rest of my career has gone, but I just tell them, we’re good. It’s like, people on the outside typically don’t really understand what’s in the locker room. The guys we have. I feel good about who we’ve got, and I know this is the third loss in a row, but I know we’re heading in the right direction. I’m not worried. The best thing is that the team just keeps going back to work, which is cool. No one is coming in on Monday like, damn, we lost again. Like let’s go, let’s go win the next one. It’s cool to be a part of. Nothing is going to change for me. Like I said, I’ll always be the same guy, and we’ll get this thing turned around.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports.
JAGUARS WR JAMAL AGNEW
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q: What are you thinking on that field goal when you see it’s coming short and it comes right to you?
JAMAL AGNEW: I mean, that’s probably one of my favorite ones. I mean, I’ve never done it before, but I mean, it’s all offensive linemen and probably a couple tight ends and then the kicker. My thing was obviously I know [Matt] Prater from playing in Detroit. I know he’s capable of that, but he was going into the wind, it was a 68-yarder. I was like, ‘If he doesn’t get this, I’m probably going to score.’ And everybody—they made the wall for me on the left side of the field and it was just that spark we needed before halftime. We just couldn’t get the job done.
Q: Once you guys did go into the locker room, what was that conversation like after you guys were able to nab that touchdown?
JAMAL AGNEW: I mean, we were juiced. We always talk about somebody making that big play, somebody creating that spark. The locker room was hyped up man, and we came out, second half. Dewey [Andrew Wingard] got the pick, first drive. The morale was way up. I just think we’ve got to be more consistent throughout the game. We talk a lot about riding the roller coaster of emotions throughout the games. NFL games are so up and down. You can’t let the good things take you too up and you can’t let the bad things take you all the way down, so, we’ve just got to be consistent and, you know, it’s a long season. It’s just Week 3.
Q: Did you say this was the first time, you’ve ever had a chance to return a missed field goal?
JAMAL AGNEW: Yeah, that was my first time. Ever.
Q: Was it a surprise?
JAMAL AGNEW: I mean, no. Like I said, it’s all big dudes out there. So, I just can’t get tackled by the kicker, honestly, that’s my thought process. I knew I just had to stand up vertical just to get their feet stopped and just use my speed to get to the sideline. Somebody almost got me down by my shirt, thankfully it didn’t.
Q: At what point did you realize, ‘Yeah I’m going to score on this one?’
JAMAL AGNEW: As soon as the ball was short, I knew that they’re probably not going to catch me because I’m just going to use my speed. Everybody set that wall up for me on the left and we created that spark right before the halftime.
Q. Does it make it any easier to know that special teams is on the right progression and how long until everybody gels and gets on the same page?
JAMAL AGNEW: We’re getting there. I mean, you can see from Week 1, to Week 2, to Week 3. Offensively, we’re getting a little bit better. Defensively, we’re getting a little bit better. On special teams there [are] definitely some things we can clean up. Whether it’s me, if I’m making the right cuts, [or] us blocking our right assignments. But we’re not perfect out there and you can see from week to week, we’re getting better on offense, defense and special teams. So, I think we’re trending upwards. Obviously, like I said, we’ve got to be a lot more consistent throughout the game. But, like I said, it’s a long season.
Q. Are you expecting a phone call from Ed Reed?
JAMAL AGNEW: You said Ed Reed? I mean, that would be great! Obviously, I used to watch guys like Devin Hester, Dante Hall, all those guys. And Devin Hester shouted me out once, my rookie year, and that was one of the best days of my life.
Q. How do you assess what you’re proud of individually as compared to what you want to work on going off of some of the stuff you said?
JAMAL AGNEW: I mean, I don’t really even think about it like that just because I’ve been in the league for five years [and] I haven’t been in the playoffs. I want to win. I think I’m at that point where I’m making big plays, but I’m at that point where I want to win, I want a Super Bowl, I want to play in the playoffs, I want to play in meaningful games in December and January. And like I said, we’re trending upwards. We’re a really young team and week-by-week we’re getting a little bit better, a little bit better at a time. We’ve got a short week coming up and we’ve just got to focus on Cincinnati, clean up what we’ve got to clean up and get right to Cincinnati.
JAGUARS DE/OLB JOSH ALLEN
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q. Did this game feel like progress at all? How would you assess it?
JOSH ALLEN: I mean, the score is going to dictate wins and losses and whatever, but man, I felt like as a group, as a team, I feel like we took that next step. We’ve just got to finish. We’re a young team, but I’m tired of hearing we’re a young team. We’ve just got to learn how to finish. But it’s coming soon. That’s what I’ve been telling everybody. We play Thursday. That probably could have been the best thing to happen to us as a team, as players individually, as a coaching staff and as an organization that we play Thursday because we know we should have won this game, and it’s over and now we can move on quicker, faster, and just worry about the next one.
Q. What is your focus and priority in terms of Thursday’s game, in terms of what you want to improve upon?
JOSH ALLEN: To win. It’s as simple as that, man. I mean, our focus coming into Thursday, man, is to win. We’ve got the tools, we’ve got the players, we’ve got the pieces, we’ve got everything that we need inside this building every day. We’ve just got to win. That’s our focus, and that’s what we’re going to focus on this week.
Q. How do you balance the need for patience with a young team, a rookie quarterback, new head coach but also knowing you’ve been here with how badly this city wants to win? How hard is it to balance that?
JOSH ALLEN: Man, we all want to win. We want to win for ourselves. A lot of these players, I was telling (Jaguars Vice President of Football Communications) Amy (Palcic) before here, man, we’ve got a lot of new faces that haven’t been part of losing. We’re bringing all this talent and we’re bringing all these players in and bringing all these coaching staffs in and they’re used to winning. That drought and all that, I don’t care about that. They don’t care about that. We worry about ourselves now playing by game by game by game by game. It’s not the outcome that we need, but we’re moving on to the next one. We play Thursday. We’re going to execute. I know we’ve got a young team. You see the plays people were making? Jamal (Agnew) taking it 109 yards… All-Pro. All-Pro. He’s an All-Pro. I just want to get that out there. We’ve got playmakers. Like Coach Urban talks about, that spark. We’ve got spark. We got the turnovers. Our defense is flying around making plays. We’re getting better each week. We’ve just got to learn how to finish and win, and that’s what we need to do, and that’s what we’re going to get better on.
Q. I’m not trying to give you a consolation trophy or anything like that, but still, you guys were down two cornerbacks against a team that’s got as many weapons as anybody in the league, against a quarterback that’s hard to catch, and for the most part, the secondary covered well and you guys got some hits on him and you got to Kyler (Murray) a few times. It’s not the result you wanted, but given the circumstances and the team you were playing, was it still a pretty good game overall for the defense?
JOSH ALLEN: Yeah, I feel like as a defense we — we’re really hard on ourselves, so our job is for us to improve week in and week out to get better, to play together more, to celebrate when one of your teammates makes a play, to do that more, and that’s what we’re seeing week in and week out. That’s another great thing about what we’re doing this week. We play Thursday, man. We played our butts off today, but today is today. We lost. Now we play Thursday. We can focus on that. We can fly around, get our body back right and go make some plays even more.
Yeah, we’ve just got to win. We’ve got to win.
Q. You guys talked a lot this week about the spark. Can you take me through that wave of emotions when Jamal Agnew returns that kick 109 yards? You guys come out after the half, Dewey (Andrew Wingard) gets the pick, and then to getting here now?
JOSH ALLEN: You know, that was a spark. That’s one of the prime examples of what we needed at that time. It’s a momentum changer into the half. When I was out there, I was like, he’s (Cardinals kicker Matt Prater) about to make it (the field goal). I’m looking back where he kicked it from like he’s about to make it, and then all of a sudden you see Jamal (Agnew) just take it out. I turned around, and it was get your block. Do your part. Do your job. Competitive excellence. If we don’t all do our jobs, (if) Jamal doesn’t do his job, you know what I’m saying? That’s just an example of us playing as a team, playing as one and playing for each other. People could have been selfish, getting blocks in the back, whatever, crack backs or whatever, but no, everybody did their job, we wanted him to see, and he did what he was supposed to do to make a play for us, and that’s what we needed. We came out second half, still wanted to try to go tempo, whatever, but we’re still strong on D and we’re just getting the stops we need. So we’ve just got to keep the momentum going. But it felt great, and like that’s what I loved about today because we had a taste of what it’s supposed to feel like and what it’s going to feel like around here. That’s what I love to see. It felt great. It felt great just taking that storm — yeah, offense did whatever, but we know we’re going to hold ourselves. That’s what I love about this team and that’s why I feel like we’re going to get better and we’re just gelling together and just staying one.
Q. What you can say about Urban Meyer through these first few games, what he’s meant to this team going into the season and despite starting 0-3, just what you can see from him leadership wise?
JOSH ALLEN: Man, he trusts us. When the ball is snapped, it’s in our hands, and we go out there and we want to play. We play to win. We play for him. He installs culture, he installs competitive excellence, effort. It’s a relentless effort, plus two to the ball every play, and we know that. So that culture and that coaching that he gives us, we play it with every play. It just dictates us to make the play as a defense or as an offense, as a special teams, to do our job. It’s on us. But as a leader, man, he puts us in the right positions. He says the right things. He gets me turnt; he gets the whole team turnt; you know what I mean? We’ve just got to get better as a team and just focus on Thursday and get this win.
Q. You kind of started talking about a minute ago, you were on that special teams play for the kick six; what’s your plan in that situation? You made the final block that set him free, so what are you thinking as you’re running down the field ahead of him right there?
JOSH ALLEN: Man, it’s just kind of crazy. I was literally thinking about this. When he (Jamal Agnew) scored the kickoff return last week, one of our players, Chapelle (Russell), or Deuce (also Chapelle Russell), made a great block to sell him home. So when I’m seeing him (Agnew) — because like I said, I’m like, he’s (Cardinals kicker Matt Prater) about to make this, and he (Agnew) takes it out, and I’m like, okay, what do I do? So in my mind I’m like, what would Deuce do? Get a block, do your job. Make a play for your player, for your teammates, and just go win. Don’t do nothing stupid, get a good block, (and) let it go free. I did my part, and everybody did their parts, and Jamal did his part. He’s a dynamic player, man. He’s great to have. They aren’t about to kick to him anymore, I’ll tell you that for sure. What he does, he makes every one of them count as the last one. We needed that at that time, and it was a great, great feeling to go into the locker room with that lead, and just to go with that momentum. Defense was out, we were already turnt the whole game, and just to go out there and play and have fun, we could fly around and do what we needed to do. So kudos to him (Agnew) and everybody that made their block. Like I said, man, we’ve got to make a play.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
JAGUARS WR MARVIN JONES JR.
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q: How do you get the offense jump-started to where you can have that consistency all game?
MARVIN JONES JR.: I think, yeah, you’re right. Early, I think it was like that. Maybe struggled with a few3- and-outs and stuff. But I mean, I felt like we were in rhythm. At one point, it was a great rhythm. Constantly going down the field, driving down the field. We had some great moments as an offense, so that’s all I can say.
Q: What was the conversation at half time knowing that this was the first lead that this franchise had had since Week 13 of last year?
MARVIN JONES JR.: I think it was like, ‘Hey, we don’t need to say anything.’ We know what we’re doing right now as a team, especially you see the defense, obviously with a big play from [Jamal Agnew], we were up and it was like no conversation, ‘Let’s just go out there and play.’ And I think that worked. When the defense went out there, they were playing with some intensity and they always started doing some good things quickly on the ground. So, that was what was said.
Q: So, then as things kind of spiraled at the third quarter, how was the conversation on the sideline changed?
MARVIN JONES JR.: It’s the same, you know, you just have to be better. You have to get up and be like, ‘Hey, we’ll get it. Let’s go out there and do our thing.’ So, that’s pretty much it.
Q: What that a promising sign that the running game fell on track?
MARVIN JONES JR.: That was a big spark. Carlos [Hyde] before that play, he was like, ‘Hey, let’s push him off the ball.’ And I mean, he made a great play and it was a good team effort and individual effort by him. So, we need those plays to provide that spark and he did. All week, I think that was the word, the spark. So, I think there [were] a lot of sparks out there. It just didn’t go our way.
Q: What can you say about Trevor Lawrence? Just what you’ve taken from him and your relationship as you grow through these first three games?
MARVIN JONES JR.: I think it’s a great relationship with me and all the receivers. Our five groups on offense, obviously he’s our quarterback, we rally behind him. Very promising just the type of throws that he makes, you know he’s going to be a great quarterback. As an offense as a whole, we need to find a way to just all make plays, make the big plays constantly, as y’all mentioned, and we’ll be right on track.
Q. Where were you on Jamal’s kick return for the touchdown? Did you get a good view of it, and when did you think, yeah, he was gone?
MARVIN JONES JR.: Well, right when he touched it. That’s my guy, and I know when he gets the ball and all those linemen were on the field, I was like, ‘It’s over.’ You know that guy, when the ball is in his hands, and I’ve said this, I said this when I first got here, he deserves all the hype that he gets because he’s one of the – he’s the best in the league, I think. I think everybody was – I wasn’t too shocked, but it was a great moment for the team. We just need to continue to feed off stuff like that, and we’ll be solid.
Q. What do you say to Trevor after a game like this? He’s probably going to take all the blame on himself with the three turnovers. He’s a rookie. What do you say to him to make sure that he doesn’t let it bleed into Thursday?
MARVIN JONES JR.: Just keep going. Just keep going. And I know the type of personality he is. He’ll keep going. That’s pretty much all you say. That’s all you need to say. He’s very mature, especially for his age and being a rookie. I know nobody is going to work harder than him to go on Thursday and put up a good performance. But me as a vet, I say, ‘Now go home and drink some wine.’ That’s what I’m going to do.
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CARDINALS HEAD COACH KLIFF KINGSBURY
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q. Just opening thoughts?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Glad to get out of here with a win. I thought their team really played hard, played spirited. It was a heck of a ballgame.
Q. What was the thought process, obviously that long field goal attempt, assuming it was the same deal as last week?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, he has plenty of leg, and unfortunately didn’t work out this time, but we trust Matt [Prater] and we’re going to give him more opportunities.
Q. Can you talk about what leaders told them at halftime after the kick six?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Everybody, yeah. We’ve got a great group of vets and there was no panic. That’s about as big a moment of adversity as you can face in an NFL football game, to have something like that happen right before the half, and guys didn’t blink. Even when we went down two scores, guys didn’t blink. I was really proud of that effort.
Q. You’ve been sort of in Urban’s [Meyer]position, first-time NFL coach, No. 1 pick. In your experience what’s the timetable for a rebuild and what advice would you give him?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: I would never try to give Urban Meyer advice, first off. He’s one of the great college coaches of all time, and you can tell they’re on the right track. They’re playing at a high level. Their quarterback is incredibly talented, very special, unique ability. I see them progressing really quickly throughout the season.
Q. How long from your experience does it take to sort of switch your mindset from college to the NFL, the intricacies?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, I think you’ve just got to grind at it every day. I’m still learning. We still had a bunch of bad play calls out there, mistakes logistically that I made, and you just try to learn each day.
Q. How important is it to have guys like J.J. [Watt] or AJ [Green] that can calm everybody down?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: That’s big. I mean, those guys, Chandler [Jones], J.J., Rodney Hudson, all those guys have played so much football that they don’t blink in adverse situations, and we have some young really ascending players that I think they’ve been a great influence on them.
Q. How would you describe your offensive performance today?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, disjointed. I mean our 3rd down plan wasn’t very good. I think we started 0-6, had a couple 3rd-and-1s there early that I’d like to have back and then get the one where you thought we had a big play, and it gets called back and now you’re in 3rd-and-20 on the offensive PI (pass interference). I thought it was disjointed. We’ve got to be better on 3rd down.
Q. You were right there on almost all of those; was it, okay, this is eventually going to break through?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: I just know the type of weapons we have, so I knew we would be fine if we could just settle in and do what we do.
Q. Byron [Murphy, Jr.] was banged up during the week and now he comes in and has — how big of a play was that interception just in terms of mentally getting you guys over the hump?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: That was huge. You could feel the momentum change on that play. We had our hands on balls earlier and were not able to put them away, and that really changed everything. I think everybody felt like we had it in control after that moment.
Q. It looks like you lost Justin Pugh. [Justin] Murray was out, too. You guys kept Brian Winters. Explain why that decision was made and how do you think you are at guard right now?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, the Brian Winters situation was just one of those deals that didn’t work out, and I thought Sean Harlow and Max Garcia stepped in and played at a really high level in the second half. We got it rolling offensively and they were a big part of it.
Q. Was it a tough decision to kick the 68-yarder? I know you said last week that you made the 62-yarder and it could have been good from 70.
KLIFF KINGSBURY: No. Like I said, we’re going to be aggressive, and he felt good about it in pregame, and it’s just unfortunate that it worked out the way it did, but you’ve got to give them credit, that was a tremendous run and tremendous play, and we had our shot to get them down and we didn’t do it.
Q. Does your mind go back to Aubrun/Alabama or anything like that?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: No, that was a different situation, end of the game, huge, huge game, all those postseason implications, so this was just end the half, we faced some adversity and made it work.
Q. Did he think that was his range today just being outdoors?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, the ball carries in that stadium, talking to him and Coach [Jeff] Rodgers, so he felt confident if we get to the 50 we can give it a shot.
Q. Your run game, obviously, did well the second half. How good is that going to be going forward?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: We’ve got to continue to be consistent. Our run game is really good when we run it 25 plus times and are effective, so we’ve just got to try to get to that number and keep spreading the touches around.
Q. Just adding different offensive pieces, how much does that help, like the first touchdown where Kyler [Murray] is on a naked boot, knowing there’s that many other options if he misses the field goal?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: It’s huge, and Steve Keim has done a tremendous job of building this around him, progress in each year, so far, and when you add guys like A.J. Green and DeAndre Hopkins and Rodney Hudson, that definitely makes my job easier calling plays.
Q. I think you guys know you can take it to another level with how you played last week and how you played the first three quarters. What’s it going to take you to get there?
KLIFF KINGSBURY: Yeah, we’ve got to improve quickly because next week we start division play, play the LA Rams who are as good as anybody in the league, and they’ve got it rolling. We know we’ve got to take a big step. We can’t have the same type of costly mistakes we had today, and hopefully we have a good week of practice and see how it goes.
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CARDINALS QB KYLER MURRAY
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q. What were you thinking when they returned that missed field goal for 109 yards? KYLER MURRAY: Why did we kick it? No, I’m sure everybody was a little flustered, but it’s part of the game. I’m glad we fought through adversity today. I’m frustrated, but as a team I’ve been here three years now and [the] last two years, we would have lost that game for sure, and to see us fight through that and come on the road. Obviously, any given Sunday, not looking at anybody’s record, you can be beaten any given Sunday by anybody. It’s good to get a win any way you can, and that’s what we came out here and did. That was the goal, coming on the road, getting a win, and that’s what we’re leaving with.
Q. With that in mind, you’ve been in Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence’s position before. What advice would you give him? What does that timetable look like?
KYLER MURRAY: It’s just tough. It’s tough. Every Sunday you’re just showing up, finding a way, trying to find your way and the offense’s way. You’re working each and every week trying to figure it out. I know where he’s at right now. It’s tough. You’re throwing interceptions that you probably shouldn’t throw or wouldn’t throw when you’re comfortable and you’re seeing what you’re seeing, but he hasn’t got a lot of reps yet. He’ll be fine. Just like any of the other young guys, everybody wants to talk about him and gas him up, but it’s tough. It takes a while, some longer than others, but he’ll be fine.
Q. It seemed like a lot of the day everything clicked and then there were other times where it went away, did you feel that same way?
KYLER MURRAY: To be honest, early in the first half, we were just hurting ourselves, penalties, not converting on third downs, but other than that, [I] felt like we were efficient on where we were going with the ball, the plays that we were making. We were just kind of shooting ourselves in the foot and not finishing. That first drive felt really easy, felt fluid, and after that it was just like we couldn’t get over the hump, and then to top it off at the end of the half we give up 13 or whatever it was. We came out halftime, I threw the interception, and then we come back and we find a way. Defense stepped up and offense stepped up when we needed to.
Q. What’s the difference? You said last two years you guys would have lost this game. KYLER MURRAY: Yeah, for sure. Man, I think the mental capacity of this team, the maturity of this team, we’ve been there. A lot of our young guys a stepped up. A lot of our young guys have played a lot of reps. And me, as well, not getting flustered, [Head Coach] Coach Kingsbury not getting flustered, us just sticking to it and seeing it through to the end. I think we knew we would catch a break here soon, and it hit, and we kept rolling.
Q. It was said that it wasn’t just the older guys who helped calm everybody down in the locker room, it was guys like S Budda Baker who aren’t older but just kind of get it. Is that you and him and the guys who come together kind of developing into that?
KYLER MURRAY: Honestly, I think it’s to the point where nothing really has to be said because that’s how confident this group is. That’s how mature [this team is]. The growth is there. Everybody understands it. But I’m just proud of the guys, the way we fought today. It was ugly, but we got it.
Q. On that same note, how excited are you to know that you guys are maturing and have so much more potential to reach?
KYLER MURRAY: It’s good to see. It’s really good to see because this league is not easy to win each and every week. We’re 3-0. The goal is to go 1-0 each week, so coming on the road, getting a win after some plays that you haven’t seen in a long time happen to you, everybody is on the sideline shocked. We get the ball back at half and I throw a pick and it looked ugly for a second, but like I said, we fought through it, and we got the win.
Q. How did the running game look to you and specifically RB James Connor?
KYLER MURRAY: I liked the running game. I loved what we did on the ground. Like I said, I just felt there was little things here and there that we could have done better throughout the whole game, starting with the penalties, and finishing on third downs, converting on third downs. But that’s the league, though. It’s going to happen sometimes.
Q. How does a win like this and the adversity you guys faced today push you forward and maintain your focus?
KYLER MURRAY: I mean, it’s over now and we’ve got to play a good Rams team next week. We look forward to that.
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CARDINALS WR A.J. GREEN
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q. (On their slow start to the game)
AJ GREEN: Yeah, we didn’t start how we wanted to. These Sundays, man, [are] like a roller coaster ride. Everything is not going to be perfect on a two-day trip. We didn’t start the way we needed to. It shows what we’re made of on this team. Nobody quit, kept fighting [and] finally got a breakthrough. The defense played great. [We] had a pick six. We just then fed off of their energy.
Q. (On the defense improving this week)
AJ GREEN: Yeah, just like I said, it’s a learning curve for me. I just got to keep learning every week. We got great guys in our room, C Kirk [WR Christian Kirk], Rondale Moore. For me, man, [I have to] just keep working, make the plays when my number’s called, keep this thing rolling.
Q. (On having confidence in K Matt Prater’s 68-yard field goal attempt)
AJ GREEN: Yeah, I thought so. I think we all thought. That’s why we put him out there. Things like that happen. Like I said, [it’s like] a roller coaster ride.
Q. (On the team losing confidence when they were trailing in today’s game)
AJ GREEN: No. We know what we’re capable of. Nobody [was] pointing any fingers at halftime. We just had to go out there and play our game. I think that shows you the leadership we have on this team. No guys ever flinched. We just made the plays whenever our numbers were called.
Q. (On the Jaguars young defensive players)
AJ GREEN: I think they got a great young core. No. 2 [Jaguars S Rayshawn Jenkins] [is] a great player. Another corner was out, [Jaguars CB CJ] Henderson was out. I think 2 is the leader of that defense, the secondary. I think he’s a great player. He’s going to elevate the game. Once they get some more experience up there, they have a great young core.
Q. (On the making adjustments during the game)
AJ GREEN: It felt good. It’s all about winning games, keeping a balance. That’s what we did. We made adjustments.
Q. (On playing up to their potential)
AJ GREEN: We’re 3-0. That’s all that matters, man. We can clean up those stuff. Whatever we [are] doing, as long as we keep winning, keep putting this thing together, man, the sky’s the limit for us.
Q. (On correcting mistakes)
AJ GREEN: Yeah, but we hold ourselves to a high standard. That’s how we practice every week. When the game’s not going our way, we’re just missing on little things. It’s also great just to clean it up when you’re winning, makes everything easier.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
CARDINALS CB BYRON MURPHY JR.
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q. (On his interception)
BYRON MURPHY: I had to make up for those two plays I could have had the first week. That’s my biggest thing going into each game, make up for those plays. [Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph] Coach gave us a call [and I] played my role in the call. [It was a] blessing I was able to make that play for the team.
Q. (On what he was thinking during the interception)
BYRON MURPHY: It was another flea flicker. I can’t give up another one. When I saw the running back had the ball, I was coming up. Once he [Jaguars RB Carlos Hyde] threw it back to the quarterback [Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence], I just said, ‘turn around and sprint.’ I saw a guy kind of wheel it to the sideline. I went straight to him. Like you said, the ball was in the air for a little bit. [That] gave me the time to get there and I made the play.
Q. (On big plays swinging the momentum between the two teams)
BYRON MURPHY: I would say they kind of balance out, but that’s like a big momentum, big energy for them. That’s the type of things we can’t let happen as a team. That’s like us coming out at halftime, they make a play or something like that, that counts to the whole team. We have to make sure we all stay focused when plays like that happen, get back in the game and make something happen.
Q. (On staying composed after Jaguars WR Jamal Agnew’s 109-yard return for a touchdown) BYRON MURPHY: The biggest thing as players, our leaders on the defensive and offensive side came, talked to us, huddled up as a D. As an offense, they huddled up, talk about the game plan, what we’re getting out there. The hype has to come. Someone has to speak up. We know what we can do, we got to go out there and show everyone.
Q. (On staying focused when the team is trailing)
BYRON MURPHY: That’s always my goal, to make a play for the defense. I’m trying to go out there and dance and have fun. Once I was able to go out there and make a play, kind of felt the guys, the energy, keep coming. Like I said, [I’m] thankful I was able to do that.
Q. (On having yoga influenced celebrations like QB Kyler Murray)
BYRON MURPHY: Oh, yeah, it’s coming. I got some stuff coming (laughter).
Q. (On making adjustments at halftime for Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence)
BYRON MURPHY: I would say first for us as a defense, the run game. That’s the thing we always say. We got to stop first. Once Trevor [Lawrence] is getting out of the pocket, scrambling, getting better looks I would say that’s when we had to tighten up and make sure everybody was doing their assignment. That way we can play together as a team.
Q. (On the leadership of the team)
BYRON MURPHY: [The] biggest thing was just keep going. That’s our standard. Obviously, we think we’re the best. That’s the standard we got to hold each other to. Having those leaders, they’re going to come and make sure the energy is right, making sure everyone is on their game.
Q. (On who showed leadership in today’s game)
BYRON MURPHY: Budda [Baker] came straight up to me. That’s my big brother. Every time he comes up, I know it’s something good, hopefully.
Q. (On his mentors on the team)
BYRON MURPHY: Since college my first day I would say just like in high school, C Kirk [WR Christian Kirk] was my wing. Budda [Baker] was my wing because he was the leader of the defense at U-Dub [University of Washington]. [I] came in, redshirted, trying to learn from him as well, all the guys that went to U-Dub.
Q. (On being college teammates at the University of Washington with his current teammates) BYRON MURPHY: Coming in, I was a rookie, but I didn’t feel like I didn’t know anyone. I had guys that were already there that I had experience with, played with. It kind of felt more comfortable for me coming into the locker room having guys I already knew.
Q. (On when his last game with two interceptions was)
BYRON MURPHY: I would say the last was my PAC-12 Championship game versus Utah. [I] had a pick six and a pick just like today.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
CARDINALS OL D.J. HUMPHRIES
Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021
Q. CJ, you guys were in an interesting spot at halftime. What’s the thought process after a play like that happened at the end and how you guys kind of rallied?
D.J. HUMPHRIES: I think everybody — the first thing we thought about was we’ll get the ball back as soon as we come after the half, only being down a touchdown and they missed the field goal, we know that we had an opportunity to be right back in the lead. So I don’t think anybody really — when we got in the locker room, everybody’s mindset was the same thing. How are we going to respond to adversity. We’ve got to go out here and swing first. We didn’t really respond how we wanted to, but we didn’t quit. Nobody had any quit in their eyes and it was apparent.
Q. It wasn’t a great start, even after the second half?
D.J. HUMPHRIES: No. That’s what I’m saying. Nobody folded. Nobody folded. Everybody was still locked in on the goal. This is the NFL. We know one thing for sure. Them guys are good players also, you know what I mean. They’re the best in the world too. Sometimes the ball don’t go your way, but everybody on our team had that look in their eye. Nobody quit. So we were able to pull it out at the end.
Q. You kind of feel like the momentum totally shifted to you after Byron’s play, that touchdown? D.J. HUMPHRIES: Definitely, definitely. Byron set us up for huge success, you know what I mean. Putting that pressure off the offense and getting that score and putting us in a position where we were thinking about finishing the game instead of getting back, that was a huge momentum swing for us. Even in that though before that, everybody was still –
Q. You guys looked good after some possessions, other possessions —
D.J. HUMPHRIES: Yeah. I think it’s just developing consistency, you know what I mean. That’s what happens when you got new groups. Everybody’s kind of trying to figure it out. But it’s just developing consistency. And you know that’s something that’s just going to happen in football. It’s not going to be perfect when you come to game day. But like I said before, when you got guys that’s sole focus is winning the game, a lot of times those mistakes — we got a chance to double back on them and capitalize on them later in the game.
Q. Would you say the veterans that you have on the team, the new pieces, because of them being veterans that helps you guys overcome areas where you may not be as consistent? D.J. HUMPHRIES: Definitely. Definitely. I think when the natural reaction to a lot of events in the game happen, you always got a vet somewhere there to pull them in. We got young vets on our team. You think about Budda, he’s not — what is this? Year five for Budda? Or four? Four or five. He’s not a super old vet. But these guys, they get it. And when you got guys like that on every group of our team, it’s easy to be able to bring it in when the game gets a bit overwhelming and everybody’s tempers are flaring. It’s easy to pull it back in when you got guys like that on the sideline.
Q. Sean Kugler made a bunch of moves. Right guard, tackle, then you lose two guards. How did everybody cohesively get together?
D.J. HUMPHRIES: Didn’t blink one time. Sean Harlow and Max Garcia came in and rode. Big hats off to them guys. That’s a tough situation to be put in, come in in the middle of a game and have to go. And them guys came in and responded like you would hope they do. They didn’t bat an eyelash. I know we had a lot of guys out during camp. We had gotten reps with Max in there, and I got almost two weeks of reps with Sean in camp. So it was not hard for to us communicate. It was pretty much something that was almost second nature when we went back in there.
Q. Can you speak to Taven Bryan’s growth?
D.J. HUMPHRIES: It’s funny because when Taven got to Florida, we used to call him the Montana wildman because he would just get on the field and just run straight. Like, he didn’t know anything about moves and all that stuff. He was just blowing people up playing so hard. And still seeing him now learning savvy to the game and still at the core of being who he is and just being an electric player and putting pressure on guys. That was fun to see my young guy.
Even seeing Lerentee. That was my OG when I got to Florida. That was who I used to go against on scout team. He’s outside linebacker. I used to go against him every day on scout team as a freshman. And just seeing him on the field on the other side of the field, that was awesome for me. We talked about it after the game. That was like the first time we got to go against each other, like ten years almost.
Q. That leadership you referred to and ability to handle adversity, is that an improvement? A change from years past?
D.J. HUMPHRIES: Definitely. Definitely. I think it’s a sense of accountability. The leaders know who they are and they know what they mean to the team and what they’ve got to do. And everybody’s accepted that role and knowing who they have to be and how they have to be. I think it’s a change just because there’s guys who are leaders that have grown every year. Kyler has grown as a leader every year. He was a leader last year. He’s a leader this year. Every year it’s progression. Budda was a leader last year. He’s a leader this year. Every year it’s progression. I think that’s something that we’re just trying to continue to do. Even with the older guys, like me — like the older guys, we’re still trying to get better every year in the same way. So it’s awesome.
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