JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022
(On the reason for night practice at the stadium) “You hit that one on the head (if it was to break things up). It does break it up, plus we haven’t had fans at practice, and it gives our organization and their families a chance to come and watch the guys practice tonight and just a way to get back together with them.”
(On RB James Robinson) “You’ll see him in some team drills. We’re going to keep him out of contact drills, though, this week and keep progressing him along. He’s doing well, and that’s the goal, keep progressing him for the next few days.”
(On LB Devin Lloyd) “Same thing. You’ll see him in some individual work. Still want to keep him away from any kind of contact right now where he’s got a strain. Hopefully in the next couple days we’ll see more of him.”
(On if his training camp plan has adjusted any since it was set) “Everything has been as anticipated except for how we flipped the script today practicing tonight. Everything we’ve done we’ve kept right to the schedule. All the practices and the length of time. The only thing I’ve done, probably subtle to you all (media) is increase the number of reps that the ones are getting in practice. I’ve increased that a little bit. Started that last week, and we’ll do that again this week. Other than that we’ve stayed truthful.”
(On if things are where he had anticipated them to be at this point) “Yeah, there’s a gauge with the games, too, as a benchmark of where you are. The ones came out and did a nice job the other night in that football game, and they’ll get another opportunity, hopefully a little bit longer, in this next one.”
(On if WR Jeff Cotton fought for a missed ball enough on Friday) “He did. It’s a little bit of everything— understanding the situation of the game, where we were, around a minute to go. We weren’t in a two minute scenario because we were in the plus side of the field with a chance to get three points right there. We had a couple options to go other places with the football that CJ had, but at the same time, he chose to go that way, and that’s fine. We’ve just got to make the play or at least knock it down. Tough play just because of the twisting and turning, but I’d say that’s a great play by the DB, too, to get it out of his hands.”
(On if WR Jeff Cotton is still in consideration for the final team) “Yeah, he’s still competing, still doing a nice job, not only as a receiver but on special teams, just keep his head up and keep moving.”
(On if some of the players who sat out for injury last game will again this week) “James for sure. We’re still not there yet with him. Devin is closer, but we’ve got to see today then Wednesday and Thursday where he’s at to make a determination if he can play in the game.”
(On what he thinks the potential of the defense is, knowing that a lot of the team is still getting to know each other) “They’ve got to learn a new scheme as well, run fits, and different gaps that you have to protect and defend, it’s just different styles. At the same time you see improvement. We saw improvement this past week against Cleveland’s rush. We’ve got to take it up another notch Saturday against Pittsburgh who prides themselves on running the football. It’s a matter of continuing to work together, getting more reps on the field with the starters, and I think we’ll begin seeing improvement in that area.”
(On if he thinks this defense can ascend to where some of his previous teams have been) “I really do. I think it’s a good group of seven or eight guys that comprise the front, then you start adding the safeties in there. I do believe that we can ascend there. It’ll take a lot of work, though. Considering some of the running backs in our division. We’re going to have to bring, like they say, your lunch pail to work every day.”
(On the decision for the players that were waived today) “First of all, I really appreciate all that these guys did for us in the offseason and training camp. They gave everything they had to us, and we appreciate that. I’ve been in their shoes too many times to understand exactly and know exactly what they’re going through. It’s just part of the business. By rules we have to reduce our roster by five guys, and we’ve got to do five after next week and get it down to 53 after that. It’s part of the business. It also gives them an opportunity to seek employment somewhere else and try to stay in this league as much as they can.”
(On what he saw from other quarterbacks to waive Jake Luton) “I’m not going to get into a bunch of the whys, but you’ve got to make tough decisions in this league. You get down to the point, too, where having the extra quarterback, you’re not getting enough snaps now because you’re getting your starters ready to go, and we haven’t seen EJ much yet and it’s time to see what he can do.”
(On if Ryan Santoso has the kicking job down now) “Still working there, too. Until we make the 53, I think everybody is still fighting for spots. We know a few guys like Josh Allen are going to make the team, but there are guys competing for roster spots, and until we make that 53, I think these guys understand that.”
(On if he has seen enough of K Ryan Santoso to be comfortable) “Still working there. We need to see more honestly. He understands that. It’s unfortunate that Elliot (Fry) got hurt in the game the other day because there was some nice competition going on there in practice. I thought those two would battle it out until the end, and we’ll see what happens here at the end.”
(On K Elliott Fry’s injury and if there may be need to waive another player to bring in another kicker) “It was a groin with him on his kicking leg, and you can waive him injured and protect yourself that way as part of the five.”
(On if WR Christian Kirk is full go for practice tonight) “Yes.”
(On what he saw after watching film of the first group) “I saw movement on Cleveland’s side of the ball whether it be the double teams or even some of the single blocks. I’ll tell you this, something that Cleveland really does a nice job of, they run their linebackers through gaps really well and downhill. That was good for us to see because we’ve missed a couple, but at the same time, we were able to create a new line of scrimmage and do some good there with our offensive line, but again we’ve still got to be
aware of those second level defenders and pick those guys off. We had some chances to create some bigger holes, that we missed, but that’s why we go back to practice.”
(On if these extra reps are helping OL Luke Fortner) “Oh yeah. He’s getting more and more comfortable. Of course it helps playing next to Brandon (Scherff) and Shatley (Tyler Shatley).”
(On OL Ben Bartch) “He’s progressing well. He’s played well. Him and Tyler (Shatley) working at left guard. There’s some competition there. Both guys are doing extremely well, and it’s good to have depth there at that position because Shatley can play center, too, which is good for us, and we just continue to monitor their progress, but Ben has been doing really well.”
(On if the number one spot for left guard is up for grabs) “I think so. Both guys are doing well. You could start Ben one week and Tyler the next. It’s that close right now.”
(On what he want to see out of tonight’s practice) “The same thing, physicality. Protect each other. One of the periods tonight will be the run game, so defensively being able to fit those gaps and still work on the run defense that way. I’m kind of caught in the middle. I want to succeed offensively, but at the same time I want the defense to stop them. Those are the things you’ve got to see out of practices like this. It’ll be a little cooler tonight for the guys so they ought to be able to fly around and enjoy the night.”
(On if this preseason game, as the third, will be treated like a normal third preseason game, even though they had the Hall of Fame game) “Yeah, for me I do want to see our starters play a little longer, go a little deeper in the second quarter. Our defensive starters haven’t played a ton in the first two games. They’ve done well, they just haven’t played a whole lot. I want to see them play a little bit more in this game and same with the offense. Again just start seeing the consistency with those two units. Overall, just treating this like a normal in-season game plan type game then get ready for Atlanta next week.”
(On what he saw in the run game in watching tape from the game) “A little of both (run game and inconsistency) we talked about the run-through linebackers that Cleveland does a great job anticipating, us not coming off some of our A blocks, B blocks, and combo blocks, then the running backs just being patient with the holes, too. Quick, decisive moves that they could’ve been a little more patient, so that’s all the timing things we continue to work on in practice and get better at, but I thought overall, decent. Heading in the right direction. This week another opportunity to get better.”
(On how pleased he has been with WR Zay Jones) “It’s been a bright spot offensively. Zay is a tremendous worker in practice. He practices fast all the time. He’s picked up our system well. He and Trevor seem to have a good rapport. They work a lot together, and it’s good to see from him and Christian and Marv (Christian Kirk and Marvin Jones), too. Zay’s been a veteran player, good in the room, and he’s made some good plays, and it’s good to see.”
