JAGUARS HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
(On the learning curve transitioning from college to the NFL) “[It’s] about what I thought. I thought I knew what I was getting into. I knew [it] was putting together a staff, a roster. To say that I envisioned 2- 9, I did not. I envisioned we would be a little cleaner team at this point. But I’ve coached a long time, studied this game a long time, I knew that week in week out, you’re facing the best players on the planet. But I thought we’d be a little cleaner by this point, certainly on offense.”
(On what’s been the biggest challenge) “Injuries are just awful, just awful. Especially when a year ago, we lacked big plays, we were lacking big plays and you’re trying to create big plays. The discipline to march down the field’s very rare. That’s been a [challenge]. DJ [Chark Jr.] went down and then [Travis] Etienne [Jr.] goes down and then [Jamal] Agnew goes down and you’re just trying to find that spark on offense. I actually talked to some of the leaders today about the vision of the offense. I thought last week was kind of what it was. We’re running the ball. I think we’re thirteenth in the league in rush offense and that’s even when we abandon the run at times when we get behind and that’s with a running back, that’s our best running back, who’s been dinged up now for quite a while. That’s a tough injury and if James [Robinson] wasn’t as tough as he was, he wouldn’t be playing. He wouldn’t be playing. Most running backs would not be playing. So, that’s a long answer.”
(On running read zones with QB Trevor Lawrence in last week’s game and showing that on tape to defenses) “I think that it’s a two-edged sword. We were actually really good at it. I think we averaged seven yards per carry on the play. It’s not just when he pulls it, it’s the hand offs too, so I want to say we ran it probably 10, 12 times in the game. Teams are going to take it away so you have to have complimentary football to it, whatever that may be, whether it be naked, whether it be passes, whether it be something out the front end of the offense, so those are all things that come with that. We were also very good under center actually in the run game last week, so our strength of our team is run game. When we get into a first-and-goal on the six, you go down to the 2,3-yard line. Next thing I know, you’re on the first-and-goal on the 16. It’s not the same. You get a twitch, someone twitches and all of a sudden, you’re back [at] first-and-15. That’s not the same as first-and-10, second-and-4, second-and-5. [Former Ohio State football coach] Earle Bruce used to say, the offensive football’s a ten-yard war, win each battle. You don’t win the war,you win those battles along the way. We looked at it as just get the ten yards then line up and go again.”
(On incorporating more up-tempo scheme into the offense last week) “[We were] 80 percent efficient, much more efficient. Our players, really our quarterback’s [Trevor Lawrence] lived in that. I like it. I like to change tempos on people, and I think we did it 18 times in the game. It was very efficient for us. Once again, teams will be more prepared for it. It’s a two-edged sword I just told you about. You run a lot of zone read, you better have the compliments off it. If you run up-tempo, you better be prepared for some kind of pressure now, it’s this, so we have to be ready. But it was very successful for us.”
(On the Los Angeles Rams being more impressive after studying them) “Just capitalize it and underline it and then put that exclamation point. The guy I didn’t mentioned was the other d-end. His name escaped me right now. It’s [Rams OLB] Von Miller and the other guy, [Rams OLB] Leonard Floyd. He’s a great player. I understand he came from Chicago there, but now that I’ve watched him, Floyd is the deal, about as good as the other one. So [with] this all-star team, [we] have to get the ball out, have to have answers for it.”
(On coaching against Rams QB Matthew Stafford when he was at Georgia) “I just love the guy. He’s a competitor. We competed against each other. I never forget this one time. That game [the annual Florida Georgia game], there’s 200,000 people outside, 80,000 inside, and [it’s] just nuts and top five teams going against each other. I remember he ran right in front of me and got hit out of bounds and I was focused on what I was doing. He gets up and runs right by me and kind of gives me that look and that ear-to-ear smile, and I just always remind him about that. He’s a competitor that has fun playing the game.”
(On the comparison between Rams QB Matthew Stafford and Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence) “I think they’re different players, but I see the same ceiling to answer your question, which I don’t think [Rams QB Matthew] Stafford’s reached his ceiling. I think most people agree with that, and Trevor [Lawrence], I’m not sure you can see his ceiling right now.”
(On meetings with players in leadership positions) “We had one today. We had a great one today. Our defense has gone from 25th in the league to 6th. Our offense had a nice trajectory going and then we got in a touchdown void where we weren’t scoring points, so you keep adapting to your personnel. You’ve been [in] a little fluidity at wide receiver with trying guys out. I can’t remember… okay we have a tryout. A tryout for what? You go and they’re great dudes. I mean [Laquon] Treadwell, name a guy playing harder in the NFL than Laquon Treadwell, Tavon Austin. John Brown had some injuries; it didn’t work out. [It’s] just the lack of consistency. I’ve had leadership committees everywhere I’ve been, it depends on the locker room, the guys. All I can tell you is my opinion of our locker room has never changed, fantastic, and my expectations never changed. I expect us to be the best coached team in the NFL. We’re not but I expect us to compete and win every game,we’re not. I’m not going to change, so we just have to keep pushing.”
(On the conversations about Rams CB Jalen Ramsey) “I asked the questions, like I’d like to have him. [Rams CB] Jalen [Ramsey] doesn’t know me, but I’ve known him for a long, long time because of just my Gator connection and I like watching great players. When he left here, I wasn’t following it that close, I was like, ‘What in the world?’ We’re so busy. I just see what I see on video tape and if he’s not 1, he’s 1A.”
(On players playing their former teams like Rams CB Jalen Ramsey will do this week) “I’ve had a couple of guys say that to me over the last several weeks, ‘This is the team that cut me.’ Great, go attack, man.”
(On Jaguars players talking about playing their former teammate in Rams CB Jalen Ramsey) “We’ve actually been off. Monday, we come in and we have a team meeting, and then they go and then they’re out. Yesterday they’re off, so today I’m around them a lot.”
(On what stands out about Rams CB Jalen Ramsey) “Competitive spirit number one. He gets really upset when something doesn’t go right, and some people don’t like that. I love that. We have a guy called Rudy Ford like that. He gets really upset when things don’t [go right.] Now, you have to contain that, I
call focused energy, on the next play. A competitor number one and then skill set, which is normally a great player. Competitor number one, skill set number two.”
(On Rams CB Jalen Ramsey’s role in the Rams defense) “It’s actually a zone defense, but they pattern match you. At times they’ll plan man, but they’re a pattern match team, and that just means you’re man through your zone type thing. They do move him and he’s really effective on where they got him at that nickel spot, but they’ll put him outside too.”
(On using this game to measure the performance of the offensive line) “This is it. I thought the Cardinals were also. We had great respect obviously when [Rams OLB] Von Miller was with the Broncos and the Titans, I can list them all, but this is the best one.”
(On the 49ers setting the blueprint on how to beat the Rams) “Yeah, control the game. That was obviously the 49ers best game and they’re continuing, but yeah that’s a blueprint.”
(On having a strong backfield like the 49ers did to beat the Rams) “We’ve invested in Carlos [Hyde] and he’s kind of an unsung guy that’s actually had a decent year. You have to take care of the ball. That’s the number one thing. Whoever carries that thing has to take care of the ball. Laviska [Shenault Jr.]’s a guy that we continually try to get more involved. Not real successfully right now, but we’re trying to get him more involved.”
(On Rams DL Aaron Donald) “[He’s the] best I’ve seen. It’s the same with [Rams CB] Jalen Ramsey, if you can ask me what makes [Buccaneers QB] Tom Brady, what makes [Bills QB] Josh Allen, number one it’s [them being] competitive maniacs, and he’s a tenacious player. He’s only 285, but he plays 330. He’s a big, powerful, strong guy.”
(On having ‘competitive maniacs’ on the team) “We need more. Certainly, I can start listing them and you can see the guys playing well. I have a guy like Adam Gotsis, absolute maniac competitor. But I think that’s the common denominator of a championship team. Not think, I know it is.”
(On learning from the last road game out west against the Seahawks) “Obviously we didn’t play well, we had penalties, so we’re going to address all that. But I’m not there yet, still trying to get through a good Wednesday.”
(On taking ideas for the franchise from the Los Angeles Rams) “I’m not there yet but that’s duly noted.” (On CB Shaquill Griffin being able to play this week) “It’s day to day. We don’t know yet.”
JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
(On using an up-tempo offense to offset the pressure the Rams defense can bring) “It helps a lot when you can play with tempo. It obviously slows down the pass rush, guys get tired eventually, and it just helps us keep the defense on their heels. It’s harder to dial things up when you’re playing against a tempo team. You don’t get set, you don’t always get your call in, so a lot of times you go back to your base call or whatever that is. That helps and they’re a really good defense, so we have our hands full with that, but we’re excited for the challenge. Obviously, we have good plan that we’re putting together, [had] a great day today. But yeah, tempo was good for us last week, so we’ll keep expanding on that and do what we need to do to put us in the best situation.”
(On how the up-tempo play worked last week against the Falcons) “I felt good. I thought that got us in a rhythm. Obviously, the last few weeks we’ve kind of been a little stagnant offensively. We’ve had a few good possessions here and there but just not as consistent as we want to be. I really felt like last week, that was the first game in a couple weeks where we really got in a flow, and it felt good, and I think tempo helped that. I think we’re all on the same page. I’ve been talking to [Offensive Coordinator Darrell] Bev[ell] and [Passing Game Coordinator Brian] Schotty [Schottenheimer] and all the guys on offense. We feel really good about it, so that’ll be part of the plan. Obviously, you can’t do that the whole game, you have to use the clock, you have to play complimentary football, but still, that’ll be part of the plan.”
(On the offense last week being his vision of the offense for the future) “I mean honestly, this thing has evolved as we’ve gone on and you find out what you’re good at, the guys you have, what puts you in the best situation. I think that is something that helps us, and the guys have done a really good job of it and executing. Especially upfront, those guys have been really clean, and we have a really experienced offensive line which helps. They’ve been great. We’re learning more and more each week. I think that’s something that we do well and we just kind of have to carry that over into other phases of the game like I said because you can’t do that the whole game. There’s some areas we still have to improve obviously and put some more points on the board, but I feel like we’re taking steps in the right direction.”
(On the emphasis of getting off to a fast start on offense) “It always is. Whenever you can start fast, that always helps, but the biggest thing is being consistent. No matter what happens on that first drive, we have to consistently put drives together where we’re getting points, and not only points, finishing in the red zone. We’ve kicked a lot of field goals especially the last half of the games we’ve played, so we have to put the ball in the end zone more. That will help us for sure, so it’s just being better in the red zone.”
(On the improved success on third down) “I think when you look at it, we had a couple third-and-longs in the game, you’re always going to have one or two at least, but compared to the weeks before, the last two games, San Francisco and Atlanta, we’ve had a lot more manageable third downs. It was third-and-7 or less most of the time, so that’s always going to help your percentage on third down because then you
can get some third-and-1, you can run the ball, get a conversion that way. We did that a few times, so that’s always going to help and that’s been the biggest thing.”
(On running a QB sneak last week) “QB sneak, I’m one for one. So, [I] always have that in the back pocket, but just waiting on it.”
(On running more in last week’s game) “It felt good. That’s something that I’ve always done. It’s always been part of my game. As I’ve gotten more and more comfortable with the offense and just as it’s adapted, I feel like that’s something we’ve done well all year really especially after the first few games. That was a big emphasis early on and I feel like we’ve made a lot of forward progress there, so [I] feel good about that. Like I said, obviously there’s other things we have to work on, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
(On what he’s seen from the Rams defense this year) “They have a lot of talent. It’s going to be hard to find another defense that has more talent, but every week teams have great players. There’s just a lot of them on this team, but it doesn’t change the mindset. Obviously, you have to be conscious of where those guys are and you have to put yourself in a good situation to be successful. But at the end of the day, you have to go play football and we have good players too, so [we] have to trust that and be confident and I think the guys are. Like I said, we had a great day today. But obviously, you have to be conscious of a few of those guys. You have [Rams DL] Aaron Donald and [Rams CB] Jalen Ramsey in the backend and [Rams OLB] Von Miller. They have some guys scattered around that are really good players. We’ve seen Von and obviously we know what he can do. We’ll go against him twice which is kind of ironic. We would’ve never thought that at the beginning of the year, but that’s just how the NFL works, I guess. We’re excited for the challenge though, feel good about it.”
(On his cleats for ‘My Cause, My Cleats’) “[They’re] super cool, so that’s Long Branch Elementary. They designed the cleats and an artist from Jacksonville actually painted them. So, the kids designed them, I guess it was last week, went over there and I think there was seven or eight kids. It has their initials on one of the toes there. They all designed them and then got them professionally painted and [it’s] just
cool. Those are some of the first people to greet me when I got to Jacksonville. They were waiting out front of the stadium with signs and just to see their positive attitude and the smile on their face. All of those kids have been through a lot and life hasn’t necessarily been easy for them. But just to see their outlook, it’s really cool, so I was happy to have them be a part of that.”
(On whether or not he will wear the cleats in the game) “Oh I will, for sure. That was the one I decided to do. I guess we decided that a while ago, so the kids have been working on them and I’m excited. Those are sweet.”
(On getting information about Rams CB Jalen Ramsey from former teammate WR DJ Chark Jr.) “I haven’t talked to DJ [Chark Jr.] yet. I saw him for a second earlier. That’s a good idea. I probably will actually. No, I haven’t yet, but a lot of the guys that played with him that were here, they talk about what a great player he was and just his ball skills, his size, speed. I mean he just has everything. He’s really physical, great tackler for a corner, and he moves around. He plays corner, nickel, he blitzes, does everything. He’s really physical and that’s rare in defensive backs, especially a guy that plays on the perimeter. You know, [he’s] just a great player, all over the field. He follows guys, best receivers every week and consistently plays well. [He’s] just a guy you have to be aware of him, but you still have to play.”
(On the ‘My Cause, My Cleats’ initiative) “I think it’s really cool. I haven’t even seen a lot these actually, so I’m excited to look at them. But I think it’s super cool to give guys a platform to show what they’re passionate about, and then get other people involved, the artists, the nonprofits, whatever it is. I think it’s a really cool thing the NFL does. It’s also cool getting to see all the designs and everybody wearing them on the field. It’s going to be awesome.”
(On his perception of former Georgia QB and currents Rams QB Matthew Stafford having grown up in Georgia) “I was young when he played for Georgia. What year is this for [Rams QB Matthew] Stafford? So when he finished, I was 9 I guess, something like that. Where I grew up everyone was Georgia fans,
so they always talked about him and then I grew up watching him. He played for the Lions, but still was a quarterback when I was a kid. He’s had a ton of success in his career. If you look at him, he’s definitely one of the best quarterbacks in the league and he’s impressive to watch. I’ve never met him so I’m excited to meet him, to compete against him. It’s going to be fun.”
JAGUARS SAFETY RAYSHAWN JENKINS
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
(On the challenge for this Sunday’s game against the Rams) “I mean I just say we just stick to what we have been doing for the past few weeks. I feel like our defense has been on a steady incline for the past few weeks. There’s obviously still things we need to do to keep improving on a week to week basis, but I like where we are heading as a defense. Hopefully, we can just continue to improve and just play our – just be true to our identity, you know who we are on defense and really just focus in on that.”
(On witnessing CB Tyson Campbell’s progressions) “It’s been great. Anytime you can see a younger guy, especially in this league, improve every week. That just says something about that guy. Not only physically but mentally. It’s hard to play in this league and you’re playing against great players every Sunday. He struggled a bit in the beginning but like you just said, he is starting to pick it up and he is really starting to come on right now.”
(On his cleats for My Cause My Cleats) “I am representing the HEADstrong foundation which is a foundation for all sorts of cancers for children. I thought that was important to bring something that is much bigger than me to my platform that can reach a lot of different types of streams. [National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition] Native American also, that is part of my heritage, that is part of who I am and I just wanted to shed some light on that group of people as well.”
(On what side of Rayshawn Jenkin’s family is Native American) “My mother, she is Chippewa Indian and my dad is African American. Yeah, so two different sides of the spectrum there but similarities though. Similarities in both cultures – great cultures, and I am happy to be a part of it and bring awareness to it.”
(On what part of S Rayshawn Jenkin’s life did he start digging into Native American Heritage) “So, actually more so now. I grew up, I consider myself African American, but I do acknowledge my Native American heritage in me. I just started to kind of dig deep and dive into it as I am growing and understanding myself as I get older.”
(On wanting to learn more about native American heritage) “Absolutely, that should be anybody’s [goal] or at least one of their goals. That is who I am, I want to know everything about me. I call it kind of self mastery.”
(On using your platform to bring more awareness to this topic) “Yeah absolutely, I just think it’s important, it’s important. They face a lot of issues that my other side faces as well, my African American side as well. It is just important to uplift everybody and it be diverse. Everybody should be in the spotlight.”
(On wearing the cleats in the game) “I wear them in the game, so I wear them completely throughout the game. Once cleats get on my feet they stay because my feet bother me if I am switching in and out of different cleats. Once I put those things on, they will stay because I do not like to be in and out of different cleats.”
(On the cleats being Miami Hurricanes colors) “Yeah, that is kind of another nice thing because they are Hurricane colors so I might find some Hurricane gloves or something to go with it. We will see.”
(On the native American Healing School Coalition) “Yeah, I mean it would be a long story if I sat up here and talked about it, but basically kids get sent away and kind of stripped of their culture and sent back to their villages or sites. It’s a long story, you definitely will have to take a look at that, that is actually very interesting. You should take a look at it.”
JAGUARS OL BRANDON LINDER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
(On his cleats for ‘My Cause, My Cleats’) “My cleats [are] for my best friend, Steve Tellefsen, [an] incredible human being. He’s been through a lot battling first testicular cancer and then from there it’s kind of spread. He was at the Titans game. He has a pair of those coming too. I think this is the fourth or fifth year now and he gets a pair as well.”
(On showing his support to his friend through his cleats) “That’s my guy. I’ve been playing for him since he got diagnosed. We’ve been growing up together, playing football since we were Pee Wees, so yeah, that’s my guy.”
(On what the ‘My Cause, My Cleats’ initiative means to the players) “It’s awesome. You should support something outside of football, a good cause. There’s a lot of different cleats here with a bunch of different great organizations. I think it’s great as an individual being able to support something.”
(On learning about his teammate through the cause they support with their cleats) “I haven’t seen any of them yet. Once I do, I’m sure I’ll learn something.”
(On the progress the offense is making to click as a unit) “That’s always something we’re working on, trying to click, trying to create the continuity. So, that’s always something we’re working on, communication, just creating that identity on offense and every week we’re working on that.”
(On possibility having to block former teammate Rams CB Jalen Ramsey this weekend) “I’ll say, ‘What’s up, Jalen? How are you doing?’”
(On playing against former teammates) “I love seeing everyone have success and it’s good seeing them after the games. It’s crazy how life goes and where it takes us, but I understand this is a business and it is what it is.”
(On being back from injury on Sunday) “It was great. I loved it, so happy to be back out there with my guys, fighting, battling, so it felt good.”
(On differences in the offense before his injury to now) “I mean that’s really far back. But I just know today, though we do some good things on Sunday, we have to clean up a lot of stuff, creating that identity. So again, we’re just going to be working on that in practice this week and go from there.”
(On what is missing from the offense) “I don’t know that answer. All I know is we have to hone into the details and just execute the play that’s called and just come to work every day.”
(On seeing his cleats for this weekend) “This is the first time I’m seeing them. This is my best friend, Steve Tellefsen. He was at the Titans game. He was diagnosed about four or five years ago with testicular cancer. He’s been battling ever since then. We played football together since we were Pee Wees. That’s my guy, so every year I get a pair of speed cleats done for him too. I think this is the fourth or fifth year we’ve done this.”
(On the design of his cleats) “Yeah, you have say in the design as the individual, yes. I mean I didn’t paint it or anything, but I said I wanted blue, black, put ‘Telley Strong’ on the side, maybe a number. But I’m not that artistic.”
(On asking his friend Steve what he wanted to see on the cleats) “Yeah, I asked his brother, so he told me.”
(On the player leadership committee meetings) “I think those meetings are great. I’m all about open communication. I mean that’s the world’s biggest problem, communication. Nobody knows how to do it. So, I think it’s great that we can as players and coaches, we communicate, open forum, just kind of talk about what’s going on, and try to solve the world’s problems.”
(On a previous question to him regarding Rams CB Jalen Ramsey) “I don’t know where he was going with that question. I’m still trying to figure that out.”
(On Head Coach Urban Meyer’s comments on Rams CB Jalen Ramsey) “[Rams CB] Jalen [Ramsey]’s a great guy and the ultimate competitor, got nothing but love for him. I don’t know about that quote. All I know is Jalen’s a great competitor, love the kid to death. I’m so happy for him with everything he’s done.”
