JAGUARS HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021
(On if there is a way to improve at the wide receiver position) “Yeah, of course there is. [WR Laquon] Treadwell got an opportunity, played really well. So, we’re just kind of trying to find the right mix out there. I think DJ Chark [Jr.] obviously was something we counted on with his speed and size, and we continue to search. Marvin Jones [Jr.] has been pretty consistent. Laviska [Shenault Jr.] we’ve been moving inside and outside, and I think we’re going to settle him down at one position. [WR Jamal] Agnew was a guy that we really didn’t count on, and he turned out to provide a spark for us. He’s fast, he’s tough, takes care of the ball. But that’s one of the areas that we’re trying to figure out.”
(On WR John Brown being game ready) “I’ll let you know. Good question. We’ll know in the next day or two.”
(On what he’s seen from Jon Brown in practice) “The thing about the NFL I’m finding out, you just get so few reps. So, what have I seen? I don’t know, so we’re going to actually work him today a little bit because he’s a good player.”
(On the impact of losing WR DJ Chark Jr. this season) “We need more production out of our receiver crew. DJ Chark [Jr.] was a guy that’s tall and can run fast and was a great guy that worked his tail off in the offseason. All of a sudden, boom, you look out there and he’s down. I’ve had times where [I’ve thought], ‘Okay, number two’s as good as number one. Get in there. We’re fine.’ We struggle a little bit there with the size and speed. We certainly have some production with guys doing okay, but that was a hit.”
(On teams being dependent on tight ends in the NFL) “I think we are. I think if you look at our career, when we had great tight ends, we used them pretty well, pretty efficiently. Early in my career, we didn’t even play with tight ends, we just played with fast guys. That’s all I wanted was fast guys, but we also learned our lesson when we got in the SEC. You better get a tight end, you better get a fullback, one of those movement guys to help the edges. I like our room at tight end. [TE Dan] Arnold’s been very productive. [TE Chris] Manhertz is a good blocker. I know we have to eliminate the penalties we had last week. I mean I like the future of that room.”
(On getting TE James O’Shaughnessy back) “[It’s] really important. [He’s] a talented guy. We’re still not sure. I’m going to see what he looks like today in practice, him and [OL Brandon] Linder. This is a big week to see what they can do.”
(On having 18 drops by the offense this season) “That’s an issue. That’s something that we’ve addressed. Do we put them in those situations where they’re able to compete and make catches? I didn’t realize it was 18. That’s a tough number especially with a young quarterback. We’re trying not to
get him touched and we’re trying to make plays. That’s how you have success, so that’s why we’re kind of rotating guys around and trying to get that right mix together.”
(On drops affecting the development of QB Trevor Lawrence) “I think you’re seeing it. That’s something that slows down the development of a quarterback and that’s not right.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence’s growth at the line of scrimmage) “It’s been pretty good. I think that the biggest issue we have right now is the throw and catch. I knew we had drops, I just hadn’t had time to count them all. But we’re just trying to move on and trying to get the right rhythm with the quarterback and wideouts and backs.”
(On RB James Robinson’s status) “Good. We’re going to slow him down again today. He’s still coming through it but obviously [there’s] no one tougher than that guy. [He] went out and played hard.”
(On watching the 49ers play Monday Night Football ahead of their Week 11 matchup) “I watched that 18-play drive to start the game and [49ers TE George] Kittle and 19 [49ers WR Deebo Samuel]. That was a heck of a display.”
(On 49ers TE George Kittle’s success) “I don’t know if you ever envision a guy [having that kind of success]. He’s the best. I don’t want to disrespect the other guys, but I’ve been locked in on him watching him. That’s as good as there is. He’s one of the few guys that not only is [an] exceptional pass catcher, but [he’s] an exceptional blocker. Once again, I’ve not studied all the other guys in the NFL, but he’s as good as there is.”
(On the 49ers use of WR Deebo Samuel) “Yeah, it looks familiar. I didn’t realize he’s a South Carolina guy. [He has] a very strong lower body, [is a] play maker, attacks the ball. Last week, they really used him back there. The other games they do a lot with him, but last week, I was like, ‘What the heck are they doing?’ I mean he was the primary ball carrier.”
(On wanting to use RB Travis Etienne Jr. the way the 49ers used WR Deebo Samuel last week) “That’s why we took [him]. [That’s] part of it, yeah. You look at our history of those guys to me are hard to find. I think Laviska [Shenault Jr.] and I think that’s why we hand it off to [Jamal] Agnew. Fast guys in space are how you score touch downs, and that’s where they do a nice job with him. We’re still figuring things out, but I think Laviska and Agnew should be able to do that. I know [Travis] Etienne [Jr.] [can]. I mean, my gosh, that’s why those guys are [valuable], [Saints RB Alvin] Kamara, Curtis Samuel, [Former Florida WR] Percy Harvin, [Colts WR and former Ohio State WR] Paris Campbell. Those are all fast guys in space that are dual threats.”
(On WR Laviska Shenault Jr.’s performance this season) “He has to get going. He’s really talented, working his tail off, but that’s us and him. We have to get him really involved.”
(On the optimal spot for WR Laviska Shenault Jr.) “We are having that conversation. Receiver’s been a little bit of a rotating [spot] trying to find that right mix.”
(On the 49ers physical style of play on defense) “I know one of them real well, [49ers DL] Nick Bosa, and I actually know the other guy [49ers DL Arik Armstead], played against us at Oregon when we played them. [They are] just really talented when you put them both together. I think you get the ball out fast. Obviously when you have a defensive end, there’s chipping and doing all the different things people do.
It’s the inside guys that are a little more complicated. When a guy’s outside, you can chip them on the way out, and get the ball out fast.”
(On CB Tyson Campbell’s progress) “Great. His practice ever since he came out with an injury, you can see he’s playing the ball much better than he did early in his tenure here. I just like the way he’s walking around here. He’s got a little bit of that [swagger], corners are different ducks now. I don’t like the shy corner.”
(On CB Tyson Campbell fitting into the culture) “It’s good. [He’s an] A+ guy. To me when you talk about culture, enhance your strengths, fix your weaknesses. That might be the perfect example.”
(On TE James O’Shaughnessy and OL Brandon Linder being able to play this weekend) “I think so. I’ll be able to answer that after [practice]. I have not seen them. We didn’t do anything on Monday.”
(On when he knew 49ers DL Nick Bosa was talented) “Sophomore year of high school. I had the other brother, so we heard about him, and I met him and knew him. I stood on [the sideline at] St. Thomas [Aquinas]. They used to have a cot for me in that office, [Former St. Thomas Aquinas Head Coach] George Smith’s office, because I always got the pick of the litter, I used to tell them. I stood there watching him and said, ‘This one’s over, done.’ He was that good his sophomore year.”
(On seeing a player that is elite and knowing their potential) “I love tracking that by the way. I’m doing it now and we actually came early this morning, watching a couple wide receivers with [Jaguars General Manager] Trent [Baalke]. They are the five play guys. Five plays, next. He’s a bonified top five pick or top ten pick. In college, he’s [a] bonified NFL draft pick.”
(On seeing his former Ohio State players in the NFL) “Yeah, I mean for nine out ten and then you see a disappointment where someone just doesn’t do right. But for the majority of the guys, I still have great relationships. I love talking to them, seeing them after the game. I’d rather win, but yeah, it’s great to see them, especially guys that earned it and deserved it. I don’t like the guys that wake up on third base. You’ve heard that before. The guys that grind and work, we’ve had a bunch of them.”
(On 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense) “I knew his father [Former NFL coach Mike Shanahan] very well and then he used to come visit us and then spend some time with him. I love studying offensive football, so it’s a mini-me. I think those guys are great offensive minds and that was something on Monday.”
(On what makes the 49ers offense unique) “Run the ball and they don’t hold the ball on offense. They run the ball and have very good play action, a lot of eye candy where they’re moving things around and checking you, make sure you’re secure. The other thing, they pick two plays, like you saw that toss play, but they ran it 15 times, maybe 20 times in that game. So, they find something, and obviously I met with our defense, that’s what they do. They find something and keep going and going.”
(On the small margin for error on offense) “I think the NFL has a small margin for error, but to answer your question, absolutely. We go down, it’s 20-17 with five minutes left in the game and we have the ball in our hands and that’s when we become that team that you don’t win those games. I think obviously it’s close.”
(On correcting mistakes on offense) “Experience, practice them in those situations, and make sure we have the right combination on the field, which we’ve had that, and just experience success. That’s the biggest thing, I think. I’ve been on those teams where there’s no doubt you’re going to win the game. We’re not there yet. We have to get there. How do you get there? There’s only one thing worse than
lack of confidence and that’s fake confidence. Think about that for a minute. Lack of confidence, it’s really hard to play any level, but certainly this level. But then false confidence, that’s destructive. Does that make sense to you? That leads to frustration, anger, disappointment because it’s high expectations. So, that’s where we’re at.”
(On the lack of confidence to start the season after going 1-15 last year) “Yeah, a lot.”
(On increasing the level of confidence) “Not enough. What I do like about them is there’s a lot of heart, a lot of character. You’re down 17-0 in a loud environment against [Indianapolis]. To me, the Colts are a really good team, both sides, special teams, everything. Then you have street fighters in there that came back swinging, the defense. I mean you talking about we held them to eight yards rushing after the middle of the second quarter, that back, one of the best backs in the NFL. We’ve adapted on defense to our personnel. I think [Defensive Coordinator] Joe [Cullen] and the staff, commend them, but I really commend the players. They kept swinging and swinging and swinging and then all of a sudden, we’re hanging with one of the best teams in the NFL right now. We’ll get challenged big time this week.”
(On adjusting the defensive scheme) “I think first of all it’s [from the] player, but then never devalue the player-coach relationship and seeing what they’re doing. Have we changed a ton? No, I think we simplified. Let dogs be dogs as opposed to teaching dogs to do a bunch of crazy stuff. Let them go play. Roy Roberts[on-Harris], Taven [Bryan], Malcom [Brown], D-Ham [DaVon Hamilton], and [Adam] Gotsis and the last one is Jihad [Ward] when we put him in there, they’ve been very productive.”
(On looking to add wide receivers to the roster) “I think that position, we’re always looking. First of all, you’re susceptible to stuff because those guys are like racehorses out there. But we’re not where we need to be at that position.”
(On thinking about the future) “No, that’s [Jaguars General Manager] Trent [Baalke]’s job. In the mornings I come in and we’ll either watch an opponent or start just watching, I’m interested in top five. I have an idea of who they are at that position. Obviously, we’re not worried about quarterback, but there are areas where we maybe want to go get one.”
(On watching college and NFL tape to recruit) “What’s interesting is when you say the top three, we recruited them. We sat in their homes. That’s pretty interesting. I don’t want to get [into it] too much.”
JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021
(On what he can improve on this week) “There’s always a lot of things. After a game, practice, whatever it is, if you feel like you had a good day or bad day, it’s usually not as good or as bad as you thought. Going back and looking at it, obviously there was a lot of things that I could’ve done better. I thought I could’ve been more accurate down the stretch. Obviously when the ball’s in my hand at the end of the game, I have to take care of it [when we] have a chance to go win. I feel like we had a bunch of momentum, have to finish there. So, those are the two obviously things, and then I just think communication amongst the offense between me and the wideouts, running backs, and o-line, everybody, tight ends, it just has to be better throughout the week. I think you saw some of those miscues on Sunday, so that stuff. We had a great day today. I thought we were letting it loose, and guys looked good running around and I thought we were really clean. It’s a good day, but I think those are things we just have to touch up and make sure all of our details are really clean. Today was a good step in the right direction for that. But yeah, [there’s] a few throws I have to make and just all the way around we have to make more plays.”
(On the conversations between him and the wide receivers during a game) “I think obviously in the heat of the moment, the best thing to do is just to admit whatever your fault is in it and then Monday is when you go watch film and you make corrections and you can have long conversations. But I think during the game, it’s all about encouraging, keep guys’ confidence up, me included in that. I think our team’s done
a good job of that, but we have some great conversations on Monday when we came in about [the fact that] we have to play better, all of us. I have to play better for those guys up front. For the receivers, I have to throw the ball better. They have to make some more plays. Just all the way around, we all have to be better. It’s not one side, so that’s a conversation you do have to have, and we’ve been having that. I think we’re in a good spot. I know it’s all going to come together but we’re hoping this is the week. That’s what we’re working for.”
(On the team’s confidence not wavering) “I think we have a great group of guys. Everybody’s in it together and there’s never any pointing fingers. They do a good job of picking each other up. Even after the game, obviously I was super disappointed in how it ended. [I] had the ball in my hands and the game ended that way instead of us scoring and going up there, but the defense really rallied behind me. The locker room picked me up and just said, ‘stuff like that’s going to happen and we all have to play better.’ [I] just appreciate those guys and I think it’s cool the group we have. I know there’s a lot of times that fingers can start getting pointed at each and you start bickering and kind of start turning on each other and we haven’t done that at all. I think you’ve seen how we’ve gotten better every week and even last week. You have to finish those games and that would’ve been huge for us, but moving forward, it’s like how much we’ve grown since Week 1. We get down 17-0 with two minutes left in the first quarter earlier in the season, I’m not sure how we would’ve responded. Just seeing how we fought back, stayed in the game, didn’t panic, and had a chance to win it, you see how much better we’ve gotten. We’re going to get there. We’re going to finish those games. I have no doubt. I have confidence in myself that
I’m not going to put ourselves in that situation again and then I know all the guys around me feel the same way.”
(On not getting to the point of blaming each other) “It’s hard. Obviously, I haven’t been a part of [that]. It’s my first year, so I don’t [know]. It changes, especially in the NFL compared to college and high school. It’s different; money’s involved, there’s a bunch of personalities. Luckily on our team we don’t have a bunch of huge egos, but you see other places when guys start pointing fingers and it’s really hard to recover from that. Egos start getting too big and you can’t keep everybody happy and that’s just the one thing we can’t do. We have to stick together and that’s one thing I think [Head Coach] Coach [Urban] Meyer does a great job of. No matter win or lose, that’s his main message, just stick together. No matter what happens, it’s a long season. Every week just stick together, keep fighting. We’ve done that and I like where we’re at.”
(On watching his mistakes on tape) “I beat myself up for a day or so and then after that, you have to move on. When it’s a fumble like that, there’s not really much to watch. It’s just where was the weak spot at, and there always is usually when you fumble. That one I kind of got wide here and it was a guy. It’s always the guy you can’t see that knocks it out. So, [it’s] just keeping two hands on it and even just my pocket presence on that play. I had some pressure on the edges but [I should have been] stepping up and settling in the pocket and making a throw because I had Marvin [Jones Jr.] coming in on in-route. Instead, I kind of tried to flush and just split the pocket and everybody collapsed on me. There’s two things. There’s obviously holding on to the ball with two hands going down, but then controlling my movement in the pocket to where I can still keep the play alive and make a throw. You see that pretty quick though and then you move on. Obviously, it stings because you had that opportunity and you missed it, but I know I’m confident in my career I’m going to have more opportunities like that. I’m going to make the most of it.”
(On not repeating the same mistakes) “Obviously, I had some bad turnovers earlier in the year. It took me a couple weeks, got those out of my system. But that’s one thing I try to pride myself on is being coachable and getting better. Obviously, there’s going to be new things every week. Some areas you might take a step back and be like, ‘Okay, I need to really hone in on that again and go back to the drawing board, work on that in practice.’ But then there’s some things that you consistently work on every week, and you just want to see that improvement. I think in general just taking care of the ball, not putting it in harm’s way since the first couple games, that’s been the biggest improvement I’ve made. [I’m] continuing to do that, but now it’s all the little things, whether that’s pocket movement, accuracy, really just trusting my arm and trusting my guys on routes. That’s where our chemistry has to get a little bit better where we feel like we’re always on the same page and I think today was really a great day.”
(On what the 49er’s defense did well on Monday night against the Rams) “I’m not sure on the year, I can’t remember the exact number, but they forced a few turnovers the other night. I think two picks, one for a touchdown, the other one was on the opening drive. When you can get two turnovers, you
have a pretty good chance of winning. Other than that, I think they just play mostly zone. They do a great job of keeping the ball in front of them. They have some really good pass rushers obviously. [49ers LB] Fred Warner kind of leads them, the linebacker group and really the back end too. They just do a good job. They keep the ball in front of them, do a good job reading the QB and really supporting the run with extra guys outside of the box, something that we just have to be ready to handle when game time comes on Sunday. I really like our plan so far, but yeah, they’ve done a great job. Obviously when you’re playing, they have a few of them, but a guy like [49ers DL] Nick Bosa upfront, that always adds a
challenge just because you know the pass rush is going to be quick. [He’s] just a great player. It’s hard to block a guy like that. We have a great group upfront, so I’m not worried, but that’s just always something that you’re ready for when you’re playing a guy like that.”
(On his assessment of his pocket presence) “I think I’ve always had a pretty good feel for the pocket and moving. I think the difference in college and now the NFL is when you feel color or feel someone getting off a block or whatever and you move, I’ve always been good at that, it’s just not moving too much though. In the NFL, you can only move a yard or so and then you’re going to move into more trouble if you move further than that. That’s one thing, just smaller movements. You watch someone like [Buccaneers QB] Tom Brady [who] just can sit in the pocket and move six inches each direction and buy himself a couple of extra seconds. That’s something that him and [Packers QB] Aaron Rodgers and all these guys that have been playing for a long time do a really good job of. That’s just through experience and playing and getting a feel for it and really trusting it. I feel like I’ve gotten better, but there’s always more work to do there.”
(On feeling versus seeing pressure) “I think it’s more of a feel thing. That’s the one thing you’re always taught when you’re younger is feel the pressure, don’t see it. You don’t want to be looking for it and then you don’t have your eyes down field. Sometimes you can feel guys if they get a really good get-off and our tackles are a little late. Sometimes you feel that right away and you know I’m going to have to step up and move a little bit. Sometimes, if it’s interior, you can see it easier. The hardest are when they get behind you and loop around, you can’t really see them. But it’s all just a feel thing and that’s something you can definitely work on. I think, for me, like I said, it’s just those controlled movements that are important.”
JAGUARS WR JAMAL AGNEW
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021
(On his touchdown at Indianapolis being “easy”) “I mean to be honest the other guys, the other 10 guys made it easy for me. Starting with Tread [WR Laquon Treadwell], he set the edge. We gave him a big task and it was block 53 [Colts LB Darius Leonard] their best player on defense and he manhandled him. You could see after the play 53 got mad and shoved him a little bit. You know from Cam [Robinson] and [Tyler] Shatley pulling. I really just took the ball and just saw it open up and I really just took the ball and ran and I just do what I do just run. To be honest, they made it easy for me, it was just a really well executed play.”
(On how to fix the ongoing problem with drops) “We coach a lot, eyes to the tuck. You know there is a lot of guys including myself, not finishing the whole play. We work on that everyday in practice. It just comes down to concentration and focus. You know it is something that can be easily fixed by locking in more through the catch. That is not something we are super concerned about because it is an easy fix.
(On what you say to Quarterback Trevor Lawrence after a drop) “We tell him that we got you. He has a lot on his plate. Play calls, looking at the defense, pressures and all of that stuff. We have to make it easier on him and you know dropping balls and not being in the right spot at the right time makes it a lot harder on him. He already has a lot on his plate, but you know we give him that confidence everyday in practice we get extra work with him every day. Just to give him that confidence in all of us that we are going to make plays for him.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence continuing to go back to receivers after a drop) “It means a lot, you know obviously we want to make those plays and we are all capable of making those plays but unfortunately, we are not making them sometimes. He never loses confidence in us and that is what we love about him. He is a true leader and he is a natural leader and he is always going to keep coming back to us.”
(On the definition of a drop) “I mean we say anytime the ball touches our hands and we don’t finish a play then it’s a drop. That should be everybody’s mentality whether you are playing DB, receiver, tight end or running back. If your hands touch that ball you need to make that play. Obviously if it’s really tough catch like you are stretching out for something, you can make some cases for tough catch and stuff like that. Our mentality is if that ball touches your hands and you don’t finish the play then it’s a drop.”
(On what has gone wrong with the offense the last couple weeks) “Just execution, nothing out of the ordinary. We just have to execute better and that comes in practice. You know executing in practice and then taking the practice to the field. That’s all it is really.”
(On the margin of error on offense being small with a young team) “I mean that is just the league. Honestly, the league is so tough. You know they say any given Sunday and if you are not the best team on Sunday then you are not going to win. That comes down to focusing on the little details, executing and literally anybody can lose on a Sunday.
(On the confidence changing with this offensive unit) “No, not at all.”
JAGUARS DEFENSIVE TACKLE MALCOM BROWN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021
(On why the defense has transformed itself the last few weeks) “I mean we just continue to grow each week and continue to get better with each other. Continue to grow trust in each other and work well as a defense, communication and all of that stuff is going to start to pick up. Like I said we all come in every day and try to get better for each other and try to get better for yourself, whatever it may be.”
(On what changed in the second half at Indianapolis that allowed them to stop RB Jonathan Taylor) “I think a lot of guys already hit on it. We just needed to get in the game and settle down. Once we got settled down and got back to our game, it was what we do [and] what we have been doing lately. We just need to come out and start games faster, get to that settle down moment quicker, whatever it is
and maybe games could be in our favor towards the end. You know what I mean, blowing them out at the end of the game.”
(On the confidence level of the defense being high) “We have [had confidence] all year because we know all the talent that is in the room and we know what we can do man. It is just about, like you said, mistakes here and there, we are hurting ourselves and us doing this and that. Lately, we have been hitting on all those keys, not making mistakes, been having communication and all of the good things a defense needs to have and we have been playing like it. We just need to continue to improve on those things and get better at the things that we are not good at it.”
(On simplifying the defense being a key) “Definitely, I mean you definitely do not want guys out there thinking too much on the field. Whatever is comfortable for guys to run and whatever they feel comfortable in, you know we can try to keep the communication open between the coaches. We are out there playing so they want to keep us comfortable and keep our minds clear, so we can play fast and play physical, or whatever it is.
(On the interior defensive linemen fueling the defense) “I would not say it like that, we just try to go out there and do our jobs the best that we can. We go out there and they [the coaches] tell us what they want us to do and we just go out there and attack the job at the end of the day as hard as we can. Josh [Allen], Roy [Robertson-Harris], D Ham [DaVon Hamilton, everybody, I mean Adam [Gotsis]. Everyone comes in during the week you know what I mean. Go put your head down and go to work throughout the day-to-day process and then on Sunday’s we go out there and try to ball out.”
(On the challenge San Francisco presents) “As you saw Monday, they run the ball a lot and they are coming in on a victory. They are high and have things going [for them]. They are trying to keep that going for them so we come in and try to stop that so.”
(On the 49ers playing physical against the Rams and if he likes that) “I mean I am a run person, I like the run game. I invite the run game, bring it in. It was like that with the Colts. We know what you are going to do, we just have to go out there and play the best we can. Like I said, I am a physical player and I like to play the run.”
(On the 49ers being a more perimeter run team) “They do both, they mix it in there real well so you can not get a key to the offense or whatever. They switch it up and have different things going here and there and everything like that. You can’t really [guess].”
