DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ANTHONY CAMPANILE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
AUGUST 12, 2026
(On if there is a position battle he is eager to see in New Orleans) “All of them. No, we’re
excited to see the guys all go out there and compete. There’s some really pretty contested
battles, so we’ll find out a lot more after this week.”
(On if there is a more competitive position group) “Yeah, I feel like we have good depth
really at every position. The linebacker room, there’s been some moving parts. We had
some guys out with injuries, so new guys coming in. I think Tem’s [Linebackers Coach Tem
Lukabu] done a very good job getting those guys ready. That’s obviously a room where guys
are going to be competing. The DBs, I think some of the young guys are really starting to
come on and learn it a little bit better, so we’re seeing a little bit more production out of
those young guys as well.”
(On balancing rest vs. reps this time of year) “Yeah, part of this time of year is you have to
develop a callous and guys are going to get banged up. It’s what happens. Obviously,
nobody wants that to be the case, but when you go out there, you really need to see some
good-on-good action, and playing the Saints, I think, will be a great opportunity for us to do
that. We expect the guys to be going full throttle when we go and practice, and they’ll give
us their best effort when they get out there in the game.”
(On DT Matt Dickerson picking up where he left off last season) “He has. Matt has done a
really good job. I think even in the offseason, in his downtime, he was out working with
some guys, getting better. He’s come in really just physically strong at the point of attack so
that shown up, and he’s a tough guy. He’s really, what you love about our defense in terms
of he’s always doing his job. It’s important to him. He’s a great teammate, so I love coaching
the guy.”
(On the difference of hitting in joint and team practices) “I think you’re always coaching for
it to be the same thing. How you enter. If you’re entering near foot, if you’re entering great
with gray pad level, some of those things that sound like they’re cliche, things we’ve heard
since we were little kids playing peewee football, like low man wins. That’s all real. So, in
the individual, that’s what you got to be training. And I think that when you get out there
against somebody else, anytime you’re competing with even our offense and you get an
opportunity to go compete in a joint practice right now, you’re testing that. So hopefully it’s
all the same thing. We’re running violently through contact. The fight starts on contact, so
hopefully we have great leg drive, throughout this next week.”
(On if he gets value out of joint practice) “Yeah. I think the guys get excited about it, anytime
you’re playing against somebody else, so that’s what’s exciting about it. And then, to see
how everybody fares when the lights go on. That’s what’s fun about it for me.”
(On if joint practice is a more controlled environment than a game) “In a game, yeah,
maybe a preseason game. But in practice, I think we’re always trying to do that even against
ourselves. You’re scripting who’s in when, what you want to see and you’re usually in
communication with these joint practices with the opposing team. What the situations are
going to be so you can be prepared for that and see how those guys show up in those
situations.”
(On his evaluation of WR/CB Travis Hunter this camp) “Done a really good job. I think he’s
taken a big jump. I think he’s spent a lot of good time with Mat [Defensive Pass Game
Coordinator Mathieu Araujo] even off the field, learning the system. Just a little bit more
fluid for him, easier for him to communicate. I think he knows it a little bit better. Obviously,
we talked about his body physically. He’s a different guy right now physically, which is great
but I think he’s done a great job balancing both. Which in camp, it’s a lot, they are long
days, and you’re on both sides. And he’s done a really good job compartmentalizing when
he’s with us. The communication’s been good, and I’m sure the same thing, E.B. [Wide
Receivers Coach Edgar Bennett] would tell you the same thing on offense.”
(On Hunter’s ball skills) “He has elite ball skills. The thing about Travis, obviously, you can
see even in some of these practices, he can go up and tear the ball out of the air. So that’s
advantageous for us, obviously defensively, and he’s aggressive. He goes after the ball like
a receiver, so that’s what’s exciting about him. And you saw a little bit of that in practice the
other day. I thought he made a heck of a play, honestly, coming out of nowhere and tearing
the ball out of this guy.”
(On if he has seen Hunter be overly aggressive on defense) “I really haven’t. I think Mat
Araujo’s done a great job with him. Really with all those guys but one of the things they’re
doing very well collectively as a unit is they’re playing with really good technique. Their eye
discipline’s been really good and that’s an everyday thing. You’ve got to work on it every day
and Travis has been pretty vigilant with that as well, and I think he’s done a good job and it’s
helped him.”
(On his expectations of managing Hunter in joint practice) “I think that a couple things can
come into play there just in terms of how many reps we’re getting but he’ll be out there, just
like he will in the games, and we’ll get him a bunch of work. And I think it’s a great
opportunity for him to get better, so excited to see him out there.”
(On if the team discusses the Saints’ playmakers ahead of joint practice) “I think right now
what you’re really doing is you’re just studying the opponent, what they do situationally,
trying to get the guys prepared so they can put their best foot forward and play with good
situational awareness, whether that be, hey, what does this team do in short yardage?
What do they do in a backed-up situation? What are they in second-and-long? So that’s
really what we’re spending the lion’s share of the time on with our guys, just getting them
ready for the joint and for the game.”
(On if he has heard DEs B.J. Green II and DE Danny Striggow call themselves ‘the other
guys.’) “I haven’t. That’s the first time I’ve heard that. But no, those guys have really stepped
up and they have a huge role in our defense. They’re two guys that love to coach, and they
play the right way. They’re really steady guys and guys that you can count on to do their job,
so they’ve developed a lot of trust and love and appreciation on our side of the ball for the
way that they play.”
(On if he sees the undrafted chip on their shoulders) “Yeah, I think those two guys have
always had that. I think we’ve had a couple of guys who are like that, we’re UDFAs that we
kept and played a bunch last year. Branson [LB Branson Combs] is one of those guys too.
We have guys who’ve stepped up in that role. I think that’s a good thing and one of the
things that’s great about playing for Liam [Head Coach Liam Coen] for these guys is he
doesn’t care where you’re drafted. He doesn’t care when you got picked up, where you got
picked up. The guys that are playing the best, the guys that do their job, the guys that play
the toughest, they’re going to play and whoever can help us win is going to get the op
[opportunity]. And those guys have proven that. I think even for some of the young guys that
have come in this year.”
(On CB Jabbar Muhammad) “Same thing. I think he’s got a good chip on his shoulder too.
He’s really taken in all the teaching that Mat is bringing to him. There are some things that,
fundamentally, I think he’s really gotten better at. And that doesn’t happen unless you’re
totally bought in and you’re doing it every day. It’s a muscle memory game. And Jabbar,
probably as much as anybody on our defense has developed, from where he was at this
time last year in camp to where he is now. He’s just done a lot of really good things. He’s
been a good football player for us, so to your point, another guy who’s in UDFA, who’s
shown up for us. I think Cam [S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig], one of our safeties, same deal.
He’s a guy that’s been really detailed in everything he’s done, and he’s been out there and
played in games for us as well. So that’s been rewarded here, and I think that’s a great
thing. It speaks to the head coach.”
(On Muhammad not being afraid to compete) “Yeah, that’s the competitiveness of the guy.
You hope those situations show up in practice. You hope they show up in a game for guys.
We say this all the time. There’s going to be five, six 50-50 balls in a game, and one guy wins.
You got to beat the other guy. You go 5-0, 6-0 on those on defense; you’re going to limit big
plays and you have a great shot to win the game but that’s what has to happen. You can’t let
the receiver make a play on the ball in the air. We’re not trying to give up any YAC, so if they
get it, it’s got to be expensive. They catch the ball and obviously, the ball can’t go over our
heads. So, those are really tenets and commandments for those guys in the pass game and
he’s taking it to heart. He’s a competitor when the ball’s at the point of attack.”
(On what traits he looks for when making cuts) “We love guys that are competitive, first and
foremost. They’re out there, they’re competing. Job one is whoop the man and that’s their
job. The guys that do that every play, guys that you can trust, guys that love to play football,
so we’re team-first guys. That’s really how you develop a culture on defense, and I think we
have a lot of guys that fit that mold here. At the end of preseason, we’re going to have a
tough deal because we’re going to have to cut some guys we really like and some really
good football players and that’s a good thing. That’s a sign of having the right people in the
building, but it doesn’t make it any easier. That’s why these preseason games guys are
going to be going all out and in some of these joint practices. They’re important for these
guys and we’re trying to treat it that way.”
(On if there are benefits to having a joint practice on the road) “I think maybe just
operationally. Maybe guys get a little downtime to hang out together. There’s not much, but
even operationally, going on the road as coaches, getting all that stuff situated and kind of
getting through that. It’s a good trial run for when you have these road games and you just
got to be prepared for that and it gives you the op to do that.”
TIGHT END BRENTON STRANGE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
AUGUST 12, 2026
(On the start of training camp) “It’s been really good, man. It’s just awesome to come out
here and be able to compete against our teammates and a defense like we have. We have a
really good defense, so it feels like you’re getting better every single day at something, and
it’s good to come out here and continue to build the chemistry with the guys as well. So,
super exciting stuff and excited to be out here.”
(On whether he feels like a veteran) “Yeah, I mean, a little bit, for sure. I feel like I’m just now
getting into my prime, for sure. But yeah, I definitely feel older. Different things pop up, or
maybe the rookies will say something that I would’ve said last year, or being a rookie. So,
there are times and moments that they make you feel old, but no, I feel like I’m just going
into my prime. I feel like I’m just getting started.”
(On how the additions of TE Nate Boerkircher and TE Tanner Koziol will help him) “They’re
going to do great things, and they both have very unique skill sets, and I feel like they’re
both very talented players. Nate, he does a little bit of everything, and then you see Tanner
out here making plays every single day in the passing game, and he’s special that way,
being able to just go up top and get the ball. So, both of those guys are super talented and
special.”
(On if Boerkircher has traits that remind him of himself) “Yeah, for sure. Just that he wants
to do everything, and he wants to be involved in everything, and I think that’s the most
important thing being a football player, and then blocking especially is just being willing,
and being willing to put your head in there, and he definitely has that. He doesn’t have any
fear, and that’s very impressive, because it’s a lot going on as a rookie, and these guys
coming out here playing Josh Allen [DE Josh Hines-Allen], Travon [DE Travon Walker] might
startle some people, but you can really tell who somebody is when he comes out here and
does what he does.”
(On if he feels the offense will be even more explosive this year) “Should be. I mean, that’s,
that’s the goal, you know? So, that’s why we’re out here every single day, and that’s why
we’re coming out here and putting the work in. Just trying to fix things from last year and
better improve on those things and to continue what we’re doing. So it should be, for sure.”
(On playing against S Antonio Johnson) “Yeah, that’s one of the things that I look forward
the most to in practice every single day is one-on-ones with him because not many guys
play like him, not many guys have the length that he does at his position. I know every
single time I’m going out there, I’m getting better. I saw they posted the little clip and
everything. I enjoy coming out here and competing against Antonio because I know I’m
playing against one of the best.”
(On WR Parker Washington being in the spotlight) “I mean, I would say here, for sure,
spotlight and stage, but Parker’s never changed. He’s always been the same guy. The stuff I
saw just social media-wise, him coming in, working, that’s always been him. He is the star
player that he is because of the work that he puts in. No surprise by me. I’ve been seeing it
for the past however many years, but yeah, it’s just on this stage now, so nothing different.”
(On the rookie tight ends potentially opening up a larger receiving role for him) “Yeah,
definitely. I mean, there are some plays, I was just telling him over there, there were some
plays last year that I wouldn’t even have to pay attention to. You hear your certain part of
the play and it’s like, all right, I know what to do, but now I have to pay attention to
everything going on in the play call and even in meetings, just learning. Mostly a tight end is
going to run some tight end concepts, and there’s going to be some receiver concepts, and
just learning all the concepts and making sure I’m dialed in on those, because if it’s 13 or
maybe if it’s even 11 and I’m in a different spot, you got to know what it is. So, yeah,
definitely having to pay a little bit more detail and attention to things.”
(On his chemistry with QB Trevor Lawrence) “Yeah, most definitely. I mean, I feel like I can
go up to Trevor with anything and ask him the question or just that I have his trust. That’s
the most important thing is coming out here and earning your quarterback’s trust every
single day. So, I feel like we have that, and I just love to continue to build upon that and to
continue to get better because we’ve done some great things, but you just only want to
keep getting better every single year.”
(On RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.) “I love C-Rod. He’s going to get downhill and he’s going to run
somebody over. In those short yardage situations sometimes last year, not saying anything
about anybody, but that’s just the type of back we need. You need a back like that and you
need somebody that’s going to get downhill and get those dirty yards. It’s all about the
hidden yards. Can you get plus-two on contact? And C-Rod does that. So, he’s a special
guy and I can’t wait to see what he does this year for us.”
(On Head Coach Liam Coen preaching getting extra yards) “Yeah, situational masters, you
know? Team meeting, whatever it is. We always harp on those things. The details, that’s
what wins football games. So, hidden yardage, whether that’s in special teams or whether
that’s in offense, defense, whatever it is, you’re always trying to fight for that because you
never know when it can come up and that be the difference.”
(On running new routes this training camp) “I love it, man. I always tell you all, I pride myself
on being able to do anything. I played a lot of different positions growing up. I’ve done a lot
of different things on the football field. I’m just a football player, at the end of the day. Put
me anywhere on the football field, I’m going to try to make it happen to the best of my
ability. But, just probably more of 13 this year, different routes in 11 personnel and things
like that. You’ll see during the season. It’ll be nice.”
(On the emphasis on 13 personnel around the league inspired by the Rams) “I think they
did great things. Obviously, we were in London and we played them in London, and sad to
say for us, but they had a really good game and they had some really good schemes and
concepts. It’s just the ability to be big and if they bring out base personnel being big or
maybe you want to get wide on them when you’ve got three athletic guys that can stretch
the field. So, it just gives you the availability to do something extra for the teams to game
plan for.”
(On how the Rams game affected the trajectory of the Jaguars’ 2025 season) “That was our
last game in London, right? I think it left a bad taste in our mouth coming back home. You
want to come back, and you want to give the city something to be proud of at the end of the
day. You want to put your best product out there every single day. That’s what we work for,
and I think it just left a bad taste in our mouth and a good start coming home.
(On his mindset going into joint practice) “Just be me, you know? I want to play my best. I
want to dominate but just be me. There isn’t anything else to it ever. Just play football. I’ve
been playing football my whole entire life. Have fun with it and just be myself.”
