DEFENSIVE END ARIK ARMSTEAD
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024
(On how the last few weeks have been) “I’ve been able to accomplish a lot I feel like the
past few months. As soon as I signed, I came out for OTAs, and it’s just been great getting
adjusted here in Jacksonville and meeting my teammates. My family is here now and we’re
getting settled in. From a football perspective, just being in the meetings, being able to be
around the guys, learning the scheme, helping everybody out and still continuing my
process of getting back out on the field, rehabbing and all that. It’s been amazing being
here thus far.”
(On what he’s seen from the defense and team from the sidelines) “We have a talented
group. I wouldn’t have come here, signed here if I didn’t feel like I was coming to a team that
has a real opportunity to win a Super Bowl. I think we have all the pieces to get it done, and
I’m excited to get out there and be a part of that journey and that process of getting there.
But, man, we have an amazing team, and I love what we’re doing defensively. I don’t know
all the offensive schematics, but defensively I love what we’re doing and what we’re trying
to get accomplished out there and the style of play and that standard we’re trying to set.”
(On what he needs to do to be ready for the season) “As long as I’m feeling good, I’m ready
to go. Definitely want to continue my process of getting back, getting back out in practice
and playing some football before we get ready to go Week 1.”
(On if he wants to play in the preseason) “I’m just going with the process that they have for
me. And I’m feeling great. I’m getting better and better each day. I’m going to continue with
the plan and get myself ready in a position to be out there to help my team win. So that’s
what I’m doing currently.”
(On how it feels to reunite with S Tashaun Gipson Sr.) “Yeah, it’s been great being a
teammate with Gip for a couple of years. He’s a great dude. Having another familiar face to
the group. He’s an excellent player, excellent guy. He’s going to help our team a lot.”
(On if Gipson Sr. makes the locker room louder) “I don’t know, Gip has shown out a lot over
the years from what I heard. So, he’s just chilling now, for real.”
(On his favorite advice he’s given in Jacksonville as a veteran) “There’s a lot of things that
I’ve learned throughout my career. I feel like I’ve been in a lot of different situations – good
teams, bad teams, dealt with injuries, dealt with overcoming a lot of different things. Just
whenever I see a guy struggling in a situation just trying to help them out, give them advice
and whatever that may be. But the main thing I just remind everybody is that this is not—
you have a short window in this NFL, our careers aren’t long. So, you want to take full
advantage of everything and give it your all and work on your craft, work on your game,
really take ownership over what you want to get done with your career as an individual and
team-wise, as a team, too, because it’s always changing. This season we have one
opportunity as this group as a whole to make our impact and let people know what we’re
about. And then it’s over with. We’ve got to take advantage of us being together in this
opportunity that we have. It’s just kind of my experience of being around this league and
seeing how it changes from year to year.”
(On what made the Jaguars’ defense most attractive to him and how much of it had to do
with DE Josh Hines-Allen and DE Travon Walker) “Coming here, I was looking at the
opportunity from a whole, looking at not just our defense but the rest of the guys as well,
too, on our whole team. Like I said, we definitely have what it takes to get it done. And I’m
excited to be a part of this next step in this journey and bringing here consistent winning. I
don’t really know what happened last year. Last year is last year. It’s a new year, like I said.
Everything is changing year to year. We have an opportunity now to do something special
with this group that we have. And I’m definitely excited about it. Of course, Josh, Travon –
not even just Josh, Travon, all the other guys, too. Roy [DT Roy Robertson-Harris] is a great
player. Big Ham [DT DaVon Hamilton] is a great player. Speaking up front, Led [DT Jeremiah
Ledbetter], Lacy [DT Tyler Lacy], all the guys that have been here. I’m probably missing
some, but we definitely have a good group that can play elite ball.”
(On how much his approach to camp and the preseason has changed) “No, not really. I just
want to put my best foot forward. Get myself ready to have a dominant season is always my
goal. Throughout the years there’s different situations that arise, like the one I’m in now. But
this isn’t uncommon for me, having to get myself ready with a little bit of limited time. But
my goal is to feel good and get off to a good start in the season and prepare to have a
dominant season, but also at the same time realizing that it’s a 17-game season. And my
goal is always to be my best when my best is needed, and I think I have a great track record
of that. Looking at the season as a whole, I want to get off to a good start, obviously. But
also I want to be there for my team when they need me the most in December and January
and February. So that’s always been my goal.”
(On his thoughts on joint practices and what they show that a preseason game doesn’t) “I
think joint practices are good. Just to break up the monotony of camp and go against some
different guys. Being a part of this for a lot of years, guys get tired of going against each
other. So, bringing in a new team, being able to hit somebody else than your teammate.
And also, too, I think it’s good from a schematic standpoint, going against different offenses
and different defenses and we approach things a little differently. So, it’s a good
opportunity for us to get better and work on what we’re trying to accomplish as well.”
(On when his goal to be fully ready is) “I mean, my goal is always to be there to help my
team win games. So definitely Week 1 is the goal for me. But I’m going to continue to take it
day-by-day and continue with the plan that they have for me. I’m feeling good, everything is
trending very positively. So that’s amazing. Like I said, I want to help my team win games. I
definitely want to be out there as much as possible, but I’m going to continue to stick with
the plan that they have for me.”
(On how important it is that he’s seen as a leader off the bat despite not practicing) “It’s a
new experience for me. I was in one place for nine years and so this is a new experience for
me. So, navigating that of being new but also having the respect and trying to be a leader
and help people with the knowledge that I have has been a great experience. For me,
getting me out of my comfort zone, it’s been amazing. We have a lot of great teammates. I
was excited to help them in as many ways as I can. Now I’m excited to get back on the field
and help them on the field and lead more by example, as well.”
(On what stands out to him about Hines-Allen) “I’ve known about Josh since he entered the
league. I think we considered drafting him when he was on the Niners. I did my research
and man, he’s been an amazing player since he stepped into this league, and he adds so
much to a team, not only what he’s able to do on the field, but the type of guy that he is. You
could tell he was raised the right way. All those different things that, all his different life
experiences, help him be a great person to our organization and also on the field. He’s an
amazing football player. I can’t wait to take the field with him and the rest of the guys.”
DEFENSIVE END JOSH HINES-ALLEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024
(On if DE Arik Armstead can open up opportunities for himself and DE Travon Walker) “Basically
what you just said, open things up for us. He’s a guy that can win a one-on-one. He’s a guy that you
have to focus on. So, if you’re rushing with him or rushing against him, he’s going to do what he
does. And he wins at a very high level as well. And I can’t wait to get out there with him.”
(On having Arik Armstead on the defensive line) “I love it. I’m excited. I dreamed of having a guy like
that. Not saying that we didn’t have one, but having a guy that did it at a high level and played in big
time games and having a guy with that experience rush with me. I’ve been praying and God’s
listening. And I think we’re going to keep going up.”
(On if having DE Arik Armstead on the defensive line changes his strategy) “Yeah, slide to him”
(On what it will be like to play with DE Arik Armstead and work pass rush moves) “First and
foremost, we have to win our one-on-ones. If we can win our one-on-ones, I’d rather do that, rush
straight instead of rushing games. But even the games are a switch up for the rushes we’re winning
on. If I’m beating this guy outside and I know Arik is beating his guy inside, so now let’s work on the
games and work on the chemistry. My thing is when we get to that point — he’s played a lot of
football; I’ve played a lot of football — get the communication. We’ve already talked, week of, we’re
going to run this game, when we’re communicating. If you’re the 3, we’re going to run this game. If
you’re the 2, give me a tap. It’s all trust. I know he’s going to sell him inside or take it up high. And he
knows I’m going to do my part. And we just finish on top of the quarterback. That’s about it.
(On if DE Arik Armstead reminds him of former Jaguars DL Calais Campbell) “Yes, a little bit. He’s a
big human being who needs space, who can win also in little spaces as well. And with Calais, I think
what me and Calais had, we had great communication. When you look back a lot of my games, me
and Calais run a lot of stunts, if that’s what you’re saying. We ran a lot of games. We’re not telling
him what’s going on, but we know instantly. I’m calling it. He’s calling it. And we’re getting off the
field with a sack. First, we gotta win our one-on-ones. I know Arik can win a one-on-one here. Now
we’re really going to start giving it to them. Then we start blitzing, doing all these things. But before
we even get to that, it starts in the back end. I love those guys. Those guys are really, you know, they
help us out. We need the quarterback to hold the ball first and foremost. Games are not going to
work if coverage isn’t doing their job. We have to get home. That’s how we work hand in hand. I love
those guys. I respect those guys. I love the way they work and excited for them this year.”
(On how DT Maason Smith has progressed in training camp) “I love it. He has that it factor, clean up
little pieces here and there. But he’s a dog. He’s a legit one of those ones. And once he puts it
together, he has all the wiggle in the world, but he also has the power to pull somebody back. And
he’s smart. He can play. He can run. He’s physical. He has all the tools to be someone that I love to
rush with.”
(On what his main focuses are in training camp and during the season) “To be the best person I can
be not only for myself, but for my teammates as well, being someone that they can depend on.
That’s why I talk about the secondary so much; that they see me work. They see me play at a high
level. That only motivates them, man, if we can cover for one more millisecond, I know Josh, Travon,
Arik, Roy, D Ham, one of us is going to get a sack. So if we can just do this — for me, it’s just showing
them that I can win, and I can win quick. So, give me just that slight little bit, just working on that
trust, if we can build that, we can rush anybody.”
(On how the defensive line room have grown together as a group) “Right now, it’s just working with
the scheme. Now we’re all in one group. So, we hear the same thing. Coach Ryan [Defensive
Coordinator Ryan Nielsen] is really harping on, we rush as one, we play as one, we stop the run as
one so we can enjoy the pass rush. So, just being in the room with those guys, laughing with those
guys, getting serious with those guys. Knowing those guys outside the building for years that’s
already built that relationship, but now learning together, asking questions together, seeing the way
you rush together. Just doing all these things together just really makes that cohesive group that we
need to play one for one, that we need to hold each other accountable, and that we love each other,
and we want everybody to be great because we want to be the best defense in the National Football
League.”
(On his excitement level for the season) “Yeah, right now I feel the best I’ve ever felt, being six years
into the league. And we just got better all around me as well. But now it’s more a team, more a
championship feel, more bring everybody in. And once everybody is in, hold this standard to a high
standard. If I can be willing to do that, bring everybody along, man, we’re going to be hunting for
days, weeks, months.”
(On going against Buccaneers T Tristan Wirfs) “Tristan, he’s a heck of a tackle. I’ve been looking for
this match-up for a minute now, getting back to last year when he played us, I think he had the best
of me. That’s still okay. I still had my rushes in there. But the totality of the game, I feel I could have
done more. And he did a good job on working his craft. So this time it was just to see how far I came
in my preparation and my readiness, sticking to my plan and also being physical and fast, but also
trusting that the DBs are going to do their job in the back end and the linebackers are
communicating with us that we can play fast, get the alignment. But it’s not about him; it’s about
my preparation and my ready up here (Pointing to head). I can’t wait to watch the tape and learn and
get better. But it’s a great start to something that’s going to continue to get better.”
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR RYAN NIELSEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024
(On the advantage of having joint practices) “Advantage is just hitting somebody else. Just
something new. New scheme, new challenge of a different player, things like that. We didn’t
do a lot of—when you play a game, there’s a lot of self-scout and things like that. This is
about us doing our job, going out and playing our fundamentals, technique, our scheme,
those type of things, and we’re not scouting these guys or game-planning them, so to
speak. We’re just playing our game today and just seeing what our guys can do. So, it is a
good evaluation.”
(On if he was happy with the defensive pressure against Kansas City) “Yeah, the guys did a
good job pass-rushing, they did. I thought our coverage was really good too. The
combination of the coverage and the rush together, the guys played together, they played
hard. Obviously, there’s a lot of things we need to clean up, but overall, it was a good first
start.”
(On DE Arik Armstead returning from PUP and his relationship with Armstead) “Yeah, he’s
been here since—he came here in the offseason, so we spent a lot of time together, just
kind of have breakfast or lunch, see him around the building. Awesome guy. Football guy.
He’s a really good person, really into it. Helps the players a lot. 10-year career, a lot of
success, a couple of Super Bowls that he’s gone to. You get that whole experience. It’s
invaluable. Looking forward to getting him back, getting him through some walkthroughs
and things like that, but he’s been all locked in. Couldn’t say enough good things about him,
really.”
(On if he knew Armstead previously) “No, no. When did we sign him? February, March-ish,
something like that. But he’s been around. Give the guy a lot of credit, he’s been around a
lot of time just doing everything he can to get back. He has been helping our young players
a lot, so it’s been good to see.”
(On S Tashaun Gipson Sr.) “Yeah, obviously, new player, just got him a couple of days ago.
Some experience, very athletic, smart player, sees the game really well in the back end.
Can play down-safety, can play in the middle of the field. There’s a lot of things, but we’re
still getting to know each other a little bit and with the scheme and everything. Just a
couple of days. So far, so good.”
(On how LB Chad Muma has been during training camp) “Yeah, good. Good. I think he’s had
a good camp, improved from the beginning of camp, made some plays the other night,
which was really good to see in the run game and also covering some guys and out in
space. So that was really good. One of the things, we didn’t rush Chad very much, but he
provides some pass rush for us too, up the middle and also off the edge. Smart player, does
a lot of jobs. Special teams, can play on the ball, stack back. We’re just continuing to get
better with him, but he’s doing a pretty good job.”
(On his impressions of DE Travon Walker and what player Walker reminds him of) “Sure.
Don’t like to do a lot of comparisons. Guys are different, things like that. But we’ll tell you
this: he has everything that you need in terms of a skill set to be a very successful player in
this league. Tall, he’s got great speed, he’s twitchy. Strong player. He gets out of trouble
really well. He understands the game. We’re playing him a little bit more hand-in-the-grass,
up the field type thing. I think that’s going to help him in terms of setting the edge of the
defense in the run game, things like that. But I tell you this, credit to him, he works
extremely hard. I mean, he’s out there early. Every little thing, he’s trying to do it exactly
right. He’s a perfectionist, which you really like. Then he goes out there and he does
everything you ask him to do. You turn on the tape, he’s like, ‘Wow!’ You didn’t see that in
practice, and you see it in the tape, and you’re like, ‘Man, he made that play?’ And so,
there’s that element to the player too. So, yeah, just being excited about him, just being
around him every day.”
(On if he thinks the players have demonstrated understanding of the scheme in a game
scenario and what the key to doing so is) “Focus on us. It’s about us. It’s about the Jags. It’s
about the individual player at the position. It doesn’t matter whatever position. This is from
Coach Pederson [Head Coach Doug Pederson]. It’s always been about us. It’ll always be
about us. Every single day, we don’t focus on the opponent, we focus on our fundamentals,
our technique, our scheme, execution, things like that. We haven’t changed a lot in what we
do in terms of the installation and kept everything pretty much the same for the guys. That’s
what we evaluate, what we do every day, how we act, think, energy, effort, all those type of
things. But it will always be about us. If we keep it like that, then the guys can continue to
get better and instead of focusing on too many other things.”
(On how Armstead can complement DE Trevis Gipson in the pass rush) ‘Well, I think Arik
can help a lot. I mean, he’s a really good pass rusher, so that will add to that group. But I
don’t think you ever can get just, ‘Hey, we’ve got enough,’ because you always want more,
right? There’s other players at other positions that we may be pressuring or blitzing to help,
and not just have four guys rushing all the time. But that being said, I do think that we do
have some good rushers. Some guys that can win some individual, one-on-one matchups,
and a lot of the time we try to create a one-on-one for one guy here, one guy there, the
matchup that we like. But we do have a bunch of guys that can do that. You add Arik to that
mix and it’s just another rusher that can—where do you put them? At end, inside, and so
now they have to guess where he’s going to be every time.”
(On if Trevis Gipson being united with Outside Linebackers Coach Bill Shuey will elevate his
game) “Well, it helps. Past relationships, your knowledge of what the player can do, and
you kind of figure out where the strength is, and what he can do to really help within the
scheme and things like that. Coach Shuey’s been really good about, ‘Hey, this was my
experience with him, and here’s kind of how we played him,’ and so we’ve tried to take that
and continue on with that role.”
(On if guys putting on weight invokes its own learning curve) “It’s always, we try to put on
good weight, muscle, and not bad weight. So, when you’re looking at them, if you look at
Travon, Devin [LB Devin Lloyd], they don’t look out of shape. They’re just bigger—the
muscle that they’ve put on. They’ve done a really good job in the weight room. Bigger is not
necessarily bad weight. It’s good. We want the muscle. A lot of times the guys would get
faster because it’s really good weight. They’re getting stronger, they’re able to use their
hands better. Sometimes the game is easier because when you hit people and you added
10 pounds, it’s like, ‘Wow, I’m a little bit stronger here.’ It gives you a little bit of confidence.
We just talked about the guys and a lot of times as you get mature and your body matures,
you’re going to gain some of that weight. It’s a combination of everything.”
(On CB Christian Braswell’s nearly recovering a fumble for a touchdown against Kansas
City and if the effort is what he wants to see from the entire defense) “Absolutely. That was
a heck of a play, wasn’t it? I mean, he just—the whole play, everything that you guys saw,
the way he finished it and the emphasis to take the football away. I mean, it was a pretty
big-time football play. We showed our guys, hey, never give up on the play. There are so
many coaching things that you can say about that particular football play. But it was really
good play by him. Great emphasis of just taking the football and then turning into offense.
You saw the defense turn and run, and now we’re the offense and going down and scoring
and everything. So it was pretty cool to see.”
(On if he agrees that Braswell and LB Ventrell Miller have had good camps) “Yeah, I think so.
The body of work’s been pretty good. There hasn’t been a bad day. It’s always been, the
guys keep getting better and better and better. It’s a credit to the players. They’ve really,
those two guys, they’ve really focused in on doing their job, and fundamentals and
technique at their position within the scheme. Those two guys are a great example of where
we started, OTAs, and then in the last couple of weeks, you’ve seen them take the next step
and the next step and the next step. Then on Saturday night, they made some really good
football plays and things that they’ve done in practice. As we’re watching it, it’s like, ‘Hey,
they did that in practice,’ and then there it shows up in the game. It’s really cool to see.”
(On DE Myles Cole’s game performance) “He did, he played hard. So, you just look at him,
he did, he played hard, came off the ball, played with good fundamentals, pad-level. He
was violent, he played violent at the point of attack. His effort was really good. There were a
couple of effort plays that showed up in there and made a couple of attacks, just effort
plays. It’s really good to see a young player really buying into the effort part, the physical
part, the violent part of the game. We’ve just got to continue to go.”
(On how he has incorporated additions S Adrian Amos and S Tashaun Gipson Sr. late in the
installations) “[Defensive Backs Coach] Kris Richard, [Defensive Assistant/Cornerbacks
Coach] Cory Robinson and [Assistant Secondary Coach/Defensive Analyst] Mike Gray are
all in that room. So, what they’ll do is they’ll take them at certain times of the day and have
extra meetings with them within the schedule. There are times in the day that they can fit in
an extra meeting or just—when it’s one-on-one, it goes a lot faster than when you’re with
the whole group. So those guys have done a really good job. Then when you watch them,
they’ll be standing by the coaches on the field at practice and they’re kind of coaching them
through, ‘Hey, this is what’s happening on that rep,’ so we’re speeding up the learning curve.
But Amos the other day, he was out there flying around. It feels like he’s been here for a
while now. Gipson [Sr.] will be the same thing. Smart players, they’ll be able to fit right in
and contribute where they can in that. So, yeah, it is a little bit tougher, but then the other
thing is they’re vets. They’ve done this before and they’ve played a lot of NFL football. So
that also has something to go into.”
