WIDE RECEIVER BRIAN THOMAS JR.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2024
(On how the last week has been for his progression) “I feel like it’s been pretty good. Just
coming out here each and every day trying to do my best, put my best foot forward and
work hard; each and every day get better. But I feel like it’s been going pretty good, pretty
smooth.”
(On readiness to play another team) “Yes, finally ready to get out there and get back on the
field for the first game, first preseason game. Yeah, it’s been a great feeling just to be back
out there.”
(On how his chemistry with QB Trevor Lawrence has grown over the last 12 days of camp) “I
feel like it’s growing each and every day, getting better and better with more reps. I mean,
we’re both new to each other, so it’s going to take reps, take experience getting with each
other. So I feel like it’s been growing each and every day.”
(On how he’s been able to get on the same page with Lawrence) “Yeah, we’ve been getting
it down each and every day, just running the routes, being able to go out there and do it.
Then talking through it, watching the film together, seeing how he sees it, telling him how I
feel like it should be or something like that. So just going out there and doing it and getting
actual practice reps helps a lot.”
(On how it felt to haul in a touchdown catch at practice today) “It felt great, just to be back
in the endzone, get a good catch like that. But, I mean, just going out there each and every
day, playing my hardest.”
(On how influential WR Gabe Davis and WR Christian Kirk) “They’ve been very influential on
me, just coming in and helping me out each and every day, explaining to me how certain
routes, how the quarterback wants certain routes to be ran, how they see coverages, and
how would they run routes through certain coverages. Just me getting to learn all that, I
mean, it’s just been very helpful for me.”
(On a piece of advice Davis and Kirk have given him about going into his rookie year) “Just to
come in each and every day, put the work in and it will all pay off.”
(On if the veteran receivers have helped him come out of his shell) “I’ve been receptive to it.
I’ve been getting a little bit more comfortable each and every day, opening up a little more
each and every day, talking a lot more. Yes, I’ve been getting better each and every day.”
(On if the veterans have him do any rookie duties) “Yeah, they made me go get some snacks
for the wide receiver room. That was really about it. They’ve been pretty chill.”
(On what snacks he got for the veteran wide receivers) “It was a lot of stuff. It was like $400
worth of snacks… just snacks. But it was a lot of stuff—I don’t know, a lot.”
(On how challenging it is to learn the offense) “It’s very real. Just having to be able to play all
three positions. Been able to play inside, outside, and just do it all. They move you around,
try to get the best look for you, get the best matchup for you. So, I would say it’s very
challenging, but just coming out here and doing it each and every day, you’ll get better at it.
You’ll get better and better.”
(On if he finds playing different roles in the offense exciting) “Yeah, it’s very exciting just
being able to play both outside and inside, do a little bit of everything, run a lot of routes,
run a lot of different routes, and be able to showcase my talent and my skills. Just be able
to go out there and do things I know I can do.”
(On how he’s felt going up against CB Tyson Campbell and CB Ronald Darby) “It’s been
great, gaining that experience, going against Tyson and Darby. They’re just good guys, great
teammates. After each and every rep, try to go talk to him, see what they’ve seen, what
would they see during a route, just things like that.”
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR RYAN NIELSEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2024
(On how he plans to incorporate DT Maason Smith and DT Jordan Jefferson into Saturday’s
game) “As much as we can. As much as we can. That’s what we’re talking about this
morning – the play time and all this. Look for those guys to play. That’s where our plan is,
and play all the way through the preseason. We’ll take that mindset until something
happens or until we can’t.”
(On how important preseason reps are for young players) “Huge. Huge. Just playing from
college to the National Football League, I mean, there’s a big jump. Blocking schemes,
things like that – really at all positions – speed of the game. That’s probably the biggest
adjustment is the speed of the game. In practice, you’re going, but when it really gets to be
game time to put the pads on, we treat everything every day like it’s a game day. So, we try
to curve that first experience for them to be like, okay, it’s really not that fast. But then when
you get out there for the first time, for the first time with a player being a rookie or even a
second-year player that hasn’t played very much, and then, ‘Hey, fellas, it’s still football,
and it’s 11-on-11, we’re playing the same blocks and things like that,’ so it kind of slows
down for them. But it’s important.”
(On if he has a hand in the unofficial depth chart) “No comment. Well, we talk with Coach
[Head Coach Doug Pederson], but he’s obviously got the final say. He does an awesome job
of asking the staff, ‘What do you think on the players and everything?’ But he’s the one
that’s signing off on everything.”
(On if the depth chart coming out causes problems for him) “The depth chart is etched in
sand. So, it can change. Really, it could be game-to-game, playing time. I mean, we take
this thing – we’ve talked about this – it’s one day at a time, every single day counts, every
rep counts. It doesn’t matter who that rep is against. We’re evaluating that player for what
he’s done on that particular rep on tape. That matters in every aspect of the program. So
yeah, the first one comes out. Yeah, it’s the first one. You have to put the name somewhere,
right? It’s something you have to do. Probably look for a different depth chart the next time.
Because this game will be—move some guys around.”
(On how much of an advantage he has being a new coach with other teams not knowing his
defensive personnel and schemes) “I don’t really look at it in terms of that. What we’re
doing is we’re trying to get our best 11. Here’s really how we look at it: you make the roster,
you’re a starter. When you have a helmet and shoulder pads and pads on for the game,
you’re going to go in and you have to view yourself as a starter. That’s how we look at our
guys. That’s the process that we’re going through in camp, preseason games. Our best
roster, our best defensive roster, and those guys are all going to get in there and play.
They’re all going to have an opportunity, and so we have to view everybody as a starter
when ultimately the 53 comes out. That’s how we’re looking at it. We’ve talked about the
injuries and things that happen. And who knows, if you’re on the roster, hey, you better be
ready to play. That’s the mindset that we’re creating, developing, day-to-day.”
(On how hard it is to get the new defensive players up to speed) “Our coaching staff does a
really good job of spending extra time with the guys. Grabbing them five minutes here, 10
minutes there, really at all the positions. You saw a couple of defensive ends come in;
[Outside Linebackers Coach] Bill Shuey and [Assistant Outside Linebackers Coach] Mario
Jeberaeel did a great job getting those guys ready. Extra meetings, sometimes they’re
special teams. You can time in the day where you can pull a guy over and say, ‘Hey, let’s go
through this again.’Certain positions, there’s a little bit more to it, but our staff feel that
they’ve done a phenomenal job getting those guys ready. And then the guys that we’ve
brought in are good football players. We’ve upgraded some of the positions. So, credit to
those guys as well.”
(On if he liked the physicality from his group during Monday’s practice) “We’ve got to
protect each other. That’s camp. Tempers flare at times. But ultimately, it’s about the
Jacksonville Jaguars and protecting our team. So, we’ve got to do a good job at that. Fights
happen. They’re happening everywhere, and you try to eliminate it. But sometimes it’s
inevitable, so we’ll learn from it and get better.”
(On if Monday was one of the best practices for the defensive backs) “That’s the
expectation. It’s every day. They’ve showed it, that they can do it. Now we’ve got to do it
again today.”
(On how the young corners are coming along) “Sure. That’s a product of, they’re making the
most out of their opportunities. We have some good depth at that position – really, all
positions on defense. They’ve played all over. One of the cool things is it’s against all three
quarterbacks, different wideouts. We just continue to keep pushing them and their
confidence is growing. One of the things, our installation has slowed down a little bit. So
mentally, it’s the same, same as, same as, same as, over and over and over again. We’re
getting to the part of camp where they’re doing the same thing multiple times. It’s a little bit
what you’re seeing.”
(On expectations for CB Jarrian Jones for Saturday’s game and where he plans to play him)
“Yeah, really don’t put expectations on the players. ‘Hey, here’s your playtime. Here’s what
you’re going to do, here’s where you go into the game.’ Fundamentals, technique. You want
to see him play fundamentals, technique, and then be where he’s supposed to be within
the scheme. That’s what we’re looking for. Him, all the players. Then we’ll evaluate and go
from there.”
(On what he’s seen from LB Chad Muma) “Yeah, he’s a multi-position player. One of the
things in OTAs – he did a really good job – he played all three spots. He can rush the passer;
he drops into coverage. So just what his skill set allows you to do, a little bit more with him
within the scheme that we do. He’s done a great job in terms of understanding the scheme.
And he has gotten better fundamentals and technique-wise. Matt [Inside Linebackers
Coach Matt House] has done a great job getting him prepared because when you play three
different positions – rush the passer, drop into coverage – there’s a lot of job requirements
that you have to do. The time that he focuses on individual and practice, you’re definitely
seeing an improvement.”
(On if he’s seen any young players struggle to understand his scheme as much as
experienced players) “Sometimes the learning curve is a little different for a little different
because of the background. What program did they come from, the level of coaching
they’ve had before. So, you see some guys pick it up a little bit quicker, maybe because
they did some similar things when we drafted them. Some guys may not have. Different
positions, things like that. A position change, maybe, takes a player a little bit longer. We do
take that into account, but really, I mean, how long have we been going at this, two weeks?
Really in the grand scheme of things, we still have a month before we play. The next two
weeks will be big for the young players. Can they consistently do it, and if they’re a little bit
behind fundamentals, technique, scheme-wise, now since the scheme has slowed down
and the installation, can they pick it up? Then in two weeks, before the third preseason
game, the bye-week, are they ready to go?”
(On if he can note any veteran players that have been especially helpful to young players)
“You see Foye [LB Foyesade Oluokun], smart player, been around, makes a lot of plays.
You’re seeing Cisco [S Andre Cisco], he’s stepping up and he’s talking to guys. Darby [CB
Ronald Darby] is a fantastic teammate. Give those a ton of credit. Look, it’s not just those
three guys. What’s happening is they’re talking to each other, our communication has been
really well, but when you see them on the sideline, you’ll see them talk, ‘Hey, this block or
this route, or this…’ They’re talking to each other, and as coaches, you love seeing that.
Their communication is so important because what happens on Sunday, when they get to
the sideline on Sunday, it’s very similar, ‘Do you see that route,’ communication-wise. But
those three guys in particular, definitely seen them mentor some of the younger players
and done a really good job.
(On if what he sees on the practice field translates to the game) “100 percent. 100 percent.
Practice like you play. We treat every single day like it’s a game day. One of the things is:
same gear, same uniform, everything be exactly the same. Treat it all the same, leave it all
on the line in practice. Yes, it’s practice, but if you treat it the same, then Sunday, there’s not
a different routine. It’s not different. We treat it exactly the same. The same routes, the slant
route is the slant route on the practice field as it is in the stadium. A reach block is a reach
block on the practice field as it is in the stadium. So, we try to treat everything the same to
prepare the player for Sunday that, ‘Hey, it’s not different. Hey, just trust your fundamentals
and technique, understand the scheme, and then play hard.’”
(On what’s stood out about DT Maason Smith) “Yeah, his improvement. That’s been the
biggest thing. From OTAs, to the first day, to two days ago. The improvement of the player
and him understanding. Playing defensive tackle, it’s a lot of ‘same as.’ Same as blocks,
angles of departure, things like that with the guard, pass sets. Really good pass rusher. I
mean, he’s done a good job in the pass rush game. But just understanding how we play just
a little bit different than—you look at his college, like we talked about, he didn’t have a lot of
playing time in college. So, this is a guy that’s had a couple of injuries that now has been
out there consistently. So, you’re seeing the consistent—him being out there and then
pushing to get better every day.”
