JAGUARS INTERIM HEAD COACH DARRELL BEVELL
Jaguars vs. Texans
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021
Q. Darrell, if you could just kind of walk us through how difficult it was to prepare for a game with everything that happened this week, from a timing standpoint and focus standpoint and so forth? What was this week like?
DARRELL BEVELL: It really ends up being a normal week. We’re used to all kinds of things that change, so we have to be ready to make adjustments and be able to adapt to the situation. I thought our guys, whether it was the players or the coaches, did a good job putting a plan together. The guys were ready. They were into it. We just didn’t play a clean football game today.
Q. Did you get an adequate explanation from the referee on the penalty on Dawuane Smoot on that punt return because it looked like he just bumped into the referee by accident? DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah, what the official told me was on the return before the play was finishing, Smoot ran on the field and he said he ran right into him, said he ran into him hard. I didn’t see it. He said it wasn’t just a graze, knocked in to him pretty hard, so he felt like he had to call that. That was the explanation.
Q. It looked to be totally inadvertent.
DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah. You know, that’s just one of the things you talk to the guys about. We can’t play bad football. The guy on the sideline running on to the field is not good football.
Q. Could you talk a little bit about obviously there was an intention to use James Robinson a little bit more here today. Could you just talk a little bit about when you had 3rd and 10 on their 11 why you had an inside handoff to him if it wasn’t going to be four-down territory? That’s just an unusual play call in that situation.
DARRELL BEVELL: Well, at the time we felt like it was a four-down territory. That’s how I was playing it. We had a pretty solid run. Then at the end — we started to go for it, ended up taking a time-out, just thought better of it. Wanted to get points in that situation to have something positive happen at the end of that drive.
Q. The offense struggled to find the end zone today. Is this something that’s fixable in the last stretch of the season? This is something we talked about the offense feeling like it was in a bit of a lull. How do you snap that and get out of that kind of scoring drought?
DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah, I thought there was things that we did better today. There was a little bit of explosion. You were able to find guys — we were able to create some space for some people. But again, there was opportunities to make plays. We didn’t make some of them, and we’ve got to catch the ball, we’ve got to throw the ball. We’ve got to protect better, and we’ll be able to find the end zone.
It’s just on us to continue to improve.
Q. This was your first game on the sideline with this team. How did it feel to be on the sideline calling plays with this group?
DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah, I thought it was really good. I thought the communication was clean with all the coaches, being able to go back and forth on the defensive line. Our analytics guy upstairs, I was able to talk to him pretty cleanly, so I thought it went well for the first time out.
Q. Five drops today by your receivers and running backs. Now as the interim head coach, how does your conversation maybe change in terms of the urgency for the continued drops by the receivers for this team?
DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah, I mean, I just told them in there, we have to play clean football, and we haven’t been able to do that, whether it’s the drops — the one thing that I really preached with the guys was I want them to play 60 minutes and not measure the game because you have to be able to learn how to win, and these games in the NFL are razor thin. Whether it’s the dropped passes, whether it’s an opportunity right there on, I don’t know what it was, 3rd and 9 to get a stop, if we got a stop, the offense got a chance to go win the game, we give up a touchdown. Those are chances for us to make plays, whether it’s making a tackle, whether it’s giving them good calls, whether it’s catching the ball, whether it’s throwing the ball, whether it’s protect — we’ve got to clean that up, and we’ve got to learn how to win, and we’ve got to learn how to win those close games, and then this thing will start to turn.
Q. You did feel like there was almost a drop in focus in the fourth quarter?
DARRELL BEVELL: I wouldn’t say it’s a drop in focus, but whatever it is, when you get your opportunity to make a play, you’ve got to make your play. These guys are professionals, we talked about it before, and we have to catch the ball. That’s your job. A receiver, his description is to receive, so he needs to catch the ball.
Q. Houston threw for two 3rd down touchdown passes, the first one the opening drive and another on the last drive. How do you get off the field in those situations, and how critical is it to get off the field in those 3rd down situations?
DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah, I just hit that on the last one. The last one is a huge play in the game, and after the whole game, after everything that happened, there’s a chance for a one-play opportunity. If the defense makes the play, then the offense gets a chance to go win the game, an opportunity to make it. I believe in the first drive we’re off the field. We get a penalty that doesn’t need to happen, and we have to clean those things up. We’ve got to make sure the guys understand that because again, we’re killing ourselves, and it’s going to continue to happen unless we clean that up.
Q. Now that you’ve got a full week to prepare, are you going to change the way you’ve been preparing so far this season? I know you mentioned you were keeping the status quo back on Thursday I think it was when you spoke. Are there going to be changes moving forward from that standpoint? DARRELL BEVELL: Yeah, I think that’s something here in the next 24 hours or 48 hours that we’ll be able to sit down and really think about it. Like I said after the game, I want to be able to take a breath, see how things went and then evaluate it from there.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
Jaguars vs. Texans
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021
Q. Trevor, before we talk about the game, can you talk about where you are? I understand that you’ve had a conversation with Shad Khan about having input going forward. Where do you feel you are in terms of how things move forward now within the organization?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I mean, that’s really not my focus right now. Right now, all I know is that Coach Bev is our head coach and everything else is still intact and that’s what we’re focused on moving forward, and just trying to get better. I thought we moved the ball a lot better on offense today, took a step in the right direction. But we’ve just got to make plays down the stretch when we need them, third, fourth quarter.
I’ve got to make the throws, guys got to make the catches. It’s all of us. We’ve got to make more plays. I missed a big throw on third down like 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter. But it was nice to see us moving the ball again like we were earlier in the year. That was a step in the right direction, but we’ve got to finish.
Q. To that point, what is it you want to see moving forward that’s important for you personally the last games of the season?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Just to keep getting better. Offensively just to get more and more consistent. Like today I thought the first half was really good. We didn’t come away with as many points as we would have liked. I thought we should have finished some of those drives, but we were moving the ball really consistently, and then the second half started out bad, then got a couple drives and then just didn’t finish well. We had two opportunities at the end and didn’t take advantage of them. Then really put our defense in a bad spot. I’d just like to see us be more consistent. Like I said, that’s me included. We’ve all got our part, and we’ve just got to take ownership of it and go be better. That’s what I’d like to see the next few weeks, and it starts with all of us.
Q. How frustrating overall was the day for you?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, it’s definitely frustrating. All the guys are frustrated. We want to be more consistent. We want to win. It’s definitely frustrating. Like I said, we’re the ones that control that. We’ve got to go make the play. I’ve got to make those throws. The other plays, guys got to make catches. We all have our part. There’s no way around that. Like we all have to play better. That’s the thing, you’ve just got to look yourself in the mirror and figure out how to get better, and I think we’ll do that, but got to really do that this week.
Q. How frustrating is it to struggle to find the endzone for you, and how can the offense get out of that drought?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Like I said, just making plays, consistently putting ourselves in that situation to score, especially with manageable down and distance. The first drive, drove it down, ended up — I missed a throw a little bit wide to Marvin that we could have scored on early, and then I think we ran the ball and got a big gain, got it down to 4th and short, kicked the field goal. Then defense gets a big turnover and we get the ball on probably the 30 or so, plus 30, maybe even plus 25, and didn’t do much. Didn’t move it much
there. Then we got stuck on a 3rd and 10 or 3rd and 13, and they drop out and have to check it down. That gets tough when you’re trying to — they’re playing the sticks, as well, so then you get — you want a touchdown there and you have to come away with a field goal. We’ve got to do better on 1st and 2nd down. That’s all of us, like I said, just making the plays, getting ourselves in 3rd and short. I think that will definitely help us score more, and then making the plays in the red zone, trying to take advantage of those, and we didn’t do that today.
Q. How if at all did it feel different with Coach Bev serving as head coach, both in the preparation leading into this game and during the game itself?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: You know, obviously it’s different. Coach Bev and Coach Meyer are different personalities, so it’s very different. But I thought the guys just handled it well, were excited, ready to play. Had a lot of energy. Obviously didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, but we had our chance. In that game, it’s a one-possession game and didn’t finish. But I thought all the guys were ready. We had some really good energy on the sidelines, very positive. It was nice having Bev on the sidelines so I could go talk to him between series, and I really liked that and I thought that helped for sure. Just got to keep building on it. Like I said, we’ve got three games left, let’s just keep building on it, keep getting better.
Q. What was it like having him on the sidelines? Did that kind of change your in-game conversation, decisions at all?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, and especially when you get a TV time out or 2-minute warning or whatever it is, I can go and we can just talk about what he’s thinking instead of being up in the box and doing it through the headset or through Schotty or whatever it is. It just makes that a little easier and I can — like one play I went up there and asked him about something, and he’s just standing there, and I had a little bit of time left and I can go ask him. That makes it easier.
Q. How good was it to see James Robinson getting involved to the degree that he did? TREVOR LAWRENCE: I thought it was great. Obviously we’ve already talked about how good a player James is and just continuing to build on that. We need all of our players to play well, and that just goes back to what I said earlier. We’ve all got our part in it, and we’ve got to play better. But yeah, it was great to see James, obviously, very involved. Yeah, I thought we started off strong and we just, like I said, got to finish.
Q. Could you go over with us the quarterback sneak on 4th and 1? Did they just do a good job of beating your alignment on that play, or did it not go in the direction you wanted it? What happened there? TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, I mean, it was tough there. We ran it on the 5-yard line earlier in the game on 3rd and short, and it was the same formation, similar look, so I think they knew it was coming. They gapped us out, made it pretty tough. And then the linebackers did a good job, also, flying up on the snap. So wasn’t a ton of space. Obviously for me I’d love to get 1 yard out of that to keep the chains moving, but yeah, I’ll have to look at it. I don’t really know honestly until I see the film how they were gapped out, but they covered both A-gaps. That always makes it tough on a quarterback sneak.
Q. You mentioned drama. There’s been drama all year. Will it be nice next week to possibly just have a regular week for the first time in maybe a while?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, it’ll be nice. We’ve got to flip the page. We’ve got to move on. Going into New York this coming week, we’ve got to put together a great game plan and go get a win. Like you said, it’ll be nice just to move on and to go into this week somewhat normal. I think that’ll be good for us, but we’ve just got to keep that focus. I know we will, but we’ve really got to attack this week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
JAGUARS CB TYSON CAMPBELL
Jaguars vs. Texans
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021
Q. Just talk about your second career interception. How did it feel and what was going through your mind when you got it?
TYSON CAMPBELL: When I got it, I was trying to score, but the tight end tripped me up. Yeah, I was just blessed and grateful for it, but I really wanted to get in the end zone on that one.
Q. How much has that sort of helped your confidence throughout the season? Obviously, it started out a little bit rougher and the injuries, and now a couple interceptions over the past few weeks. How does that help your confidence?
TYSON CAMPBELL: Well, it definitely helps it, just believing in myself, trusting in God and just trying to get better each and every week.
Q. How has it sort of been different over the past couple days with Interim Head Coach Darrell Bevell now in charge and former head coach Urban Meyer out?
TYSON CAMPBELL: I think it’s like the energy, like we’re still close. We’re getting closer than ever before. We know we’ve got to try to finish this thing out strong, and we’re going to need all of us to accomplish that. So, that’s what we’re trying to do.
Q. How hard is it for you guys and the defense as a whole when you get right back on the bench, you barely have time to take a sip of Gatorade and you’re right back on the field? How hard is it to keep the energy up throughout the whole game?
TYSON CAMPBELL: It’s tough, but we’re a team and we know the team is counting on us to get the ball back and put them in good field position. So, we just take it upon ourselves and take that pride as a defense to go out and prevent the opponent from scoring or get the offense the ball back. It’s tough, but we’re made for it.
Q. When you got the interception, at the moment it was supposed to be a pretty big momentum shifter, the game was still close at the time. To see that after the interception, them settle for only three points must have been super frustrating.
TYSON CAMPBELL: I mean, that’s the game. It’s really –it could be one drive, one play that could define a moment in the game. So, it was unfortunate, but I feel like we had other opportunities to also get back in the game, as well. It happens.
Q. It sure seemed like it wasn’t like they let you guys up for multiple 30-plus yard plays, so what’s the conversation in the secondary, because it’s got to be frustrating where I think Texans QB Davis Mills threw for like 189 yards or something like that and there was only 75 yards on the ground. What are you talking about on the sideline as this game is unfolding the way it did?
TYSON CAMPBELL: The main thing we try to focus on is just having good eyes. I think that’s one of the most important tools you need as a DB [defensive back], to have good eyes, make sure your eyes are on the receiver just in case he does a double move or acts like he’s about to take off. That’s the main thing we preach is having good eyes and don’t let the ball get over our heads.
Q. I don’t think you were on Texans WR Brandin Cooks most of the game, but that guy seems forever the reason every time he plays the Jags, he seems to go off. What was it about him that allows him to do it again today?
TYSON CAMPBELL: He’s a vet. He’s been doing this for a while now, so he’s one of those guys that has always been a playmaker in the league. He’s one of the guys we looked at in the game plan that in order for us to win this game we’re going to have to stop him. He’s a good player.
Q. Can you sort of talk about the aura surrounding the team in the locker room at that first practice in this first game following the firing of former head coach Urban Meyer and with bringing in Interim Head Coach Darrell Bevell?
TYSON CAMPBELL: Yeah, like I said before, it was positive. I think it’s just bringing us closer together as a team, and yeah, I think we’re just more tight knit. We’ve got a goal in mind, and that’s to finish the season strong. That’s what we keep planning on doing, trying to get us a W.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
JAGUARS DT MALCOM BROWN
Jaguars vs. Texans
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021
Q. Malcom, you kind of cleared the way for that James Robinson touchdown. Do you enjoy getting in there on offense at fullback and getting a chance to block?
MALCOM BROWN: Yeah, if I can bring a little energy, anything it takes to get us a score. So if I’m out there, I can help with whatever the team needs.
Q. Have you started telling Coach Bev (Jaguars interim head coach Darrell Bevell) that he needs to give you a handoff yet?
MALCOM BROWN: Man, I don’t tell him nothing. If they call a play, I just run it. Like I said, if they want to throw it to me, just be reliable when it happens.
Q. How do you feel about this game you had, the very first drive you had a pass blocked and then you got a nice sack and then the block for James Robinson to go in there. How do you feel like today’s game was for you on a personal individual level?
MALCOM BROWN: It was good. I mean, we didn’t get the win, so that kind of clouds everything at the end of the day. No matter their performance or anything, it’s still a team game, so my individual accomplishments don’t matter. The team lost, so I’m feeling that right now. We’ll go back in here and watch the film and assess it and try to get better.
Q. Obviously, you guys are a long way from where you want to be as a team. I guess the mindset going forward the last three games, where are you at?
MALCOM BROWN: Man, just get a dub, stay together. There’s been a lot of stuff going on around the building, around the league, whatever, with COVID and everything. Just to stay focused, get wins, come in, just stay together. Like I said, and really the main goal is just to get wins.
Q. A lot has been made about the offensive guys for everything that’s happened, knowing that Bev was elevated to interim head coach. What has it been like for you defensive guys the last five, six days?
MALCOM BROWN: Work. I mean, we just come in and do the same thing. We’ve been very fortunate there ain’t much going on on the defensive side of the ball. We come in and kind of just continue what we’re doing. I know it’s a team thing that’s going on, but we can also, once that 8:00 hits, whatever time it starts in the day, we go into our meeting groups, everything is kind of honed in on football. We all get in on football. Defense-wise, we come in and continue to do the same thing, try to get better every week.
Q. What was it like having Bev in his first game serving as head coach?
MALCOM BROWN: It was good.
Q. I don’t know if he gave a big pregame speech? Is he that kind of hoo-rah guy? What was it like for you guys?
MALCOM BROWN: (He) Brought some energy. Guys were happy. Like I said, the result at the end of the day is still not what we want, so it clouds everything at the end of the day. He came in with a lot of energy, gave some good speeches. Everybody is — we’re all feeling it. Like I said, we’ve got to just get back in and watch the film, assess the mistakes and everything and get back to work at it.
Q. Malcom, how hard is it for yourself and the defense as a whole when you’re off the field, you take a sip of Gatorade and go back out there? How hard is it to keep the motivation up with all that? MALCOM BROWN: It’s not hard, you know, for a guy like me, and I’ll continue to tell the defense that. Every time we get a chance to touch on the field, it’s a chance to make some plays. It’s an opportunity to go stop the offense. Doesn’t matter what happens on offense, we come out there with the same energy as this is our stuff, we’re going to stop y’all, whatever it is. We don’t let the game persuade us much. Whatever happens on special teams, offense, we want it to be complementary, but if there’s anything that goes wrong, we don’t let it affect us on defense. If there’s something good, yeah, we’re there for the offense, but as far as something bad happening, we kind of just roll with the punches, go out there and try to keep the game right.
Q. Now that you’ve had a couple of days and then you get a game under your belt after the coaching change and everything, what do you expect next, like as a normal week? Would it be nice to have a normal week? Do you miss having a normal week? Just uneventful?
MALCOM BROWN: I ain’t even thought about it in that sense. I’m thinking about tomorrow. I’m the kind of person, I look today, I might peek at tomorrow a little bit, but as far as Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, I can’t tell you much. We’ve still got to go tomorrow, watch this film, get better at it. There’s a lot of stuff we’ve got to analyze. Tuesday brings another day of whatever, rejuvenate, get the body back right. It’s the week. I don’t know what that looks like right now. I’ve still got to let my body react from the game, the adrenaline and stuff. There’s a little falloff time after the game. (I’ll) pick it back up. As for your question, too far ahead because I really don’t know what that looks like.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
