JAGUARS HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021
(On how the team feels preparing for Houston) “I feel great. We’re going to be a little bit—bodies are a little short today and just late season maintenance. But we should have [Brandon] Linder back, trying to think of who else. We should be fairly healthy for this one. Obviously, James [Robinson] is getting healthier and healthier. He told me this is the best he’s felt, which is critical. Carlos [Hyde] is day-to day.”
(On what they have to do differently offensively) “Obviously, [I] spend every waking moment [thinking] about that and this was one of the best times I’ve ever seen, especially when there’s one-side struggles. If you’ve been in this game long enough, there’ll be a side struggle. You give up a kick return against the Rams, defense goes up, toughens up, and holds them to a field goal. You see a defense and I give Joe Cullen, Josh Allen, Myles Jack, Damien Wilson, Malcom [Brown], the leaders—it was the best I’ve ever seen in my coaching career as far as—it was like, I don’t know if you saw it, but just the intensity, sudden change, go, and they kept us in that game. And it was four times I don’t believe they scored, you have to look that up. And then I look at the sideline and I see Shaq Griffin making Tyson Campbell sit with him and the whole time, they’re talking football—Malcom Brown and the d-line working together. We just need a complete and complementary game. There’s been other times on offense, when we [went] against the Bengals, they drive against our defense, tie the game. What’s the offense do? They rally up and they go down to score. That’s the essence of this great game is complementary. How do you take care of each other and just stick together at all costs? All of the losses—losing eats away at your soul. However, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it like what I saw on Sunday. That was a credit to the leadership of defense and them picking each other up. It was amazing. You get the couple first downs, as difficult as the offense was, we were still in that darn game.”
(On whether they have those leaders on offense) “I didn’t say we don’t. I think we’re just really struggling, and I know Trevor [Lawrence] is going to be a great leader, he is a leader. I know Cam Robinson, there’s a narrative about Cam. That narrative is completely wrong, he is our leader, he’s tough as nails, he played a great game against the Titans. Marvin Jones Jr. is a leader. We’ve just got to execute.”
(On conversations with Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell about the run game) “Yeah, big time. We’ve had that conversation for us to be successful, for us to win, we have to be a balanced offense. Really, that’s my belief for 20 years of being a head coach. You have to have balance and we’re not having that. Sometimes we abandon it maybe too soon—we’ve had that conversation. But you also have to be efficient at running the ball and we lacked that efficiency on Sunday.”
(On the conversation between Jaguars Owner Shad Khan and the coaching staff) “That’s between Shad [Khan] and the staff, but he’s always been very supportive. And that’s between him and the staff. But since the day I met Shad Khan, he’s been always supportive.”
(On what they can try to spark the offense) “Oh we tried tempo, we tried two-minute. We jumped into two-minute because the players asked for it. I mean, we’re trying. It’s not being effective right now, but when you talk about trying and looking at different things, spending time on Monday and Tuesday night until late hours, just trying to put the puzzle together. Who’s healthy, who’s not healthy? We’re trying.”
(On what they fall back on when nothing seems to be working) “I always tell people to fall back on your fundamentals. Whether it be your position groups not playing well, fall back on your fundamentals as a leader. If your offense isn’t [where you want it], fall back on your fundamentals; ball security, no penalties, take care of the ball, no penalties and be efficient and balanced. In my mind, that’s the fundamentals of offensive football years ago and years after.”
(On what position OL Walker Little is working in practice) “He’s a tackle. He’s a natural left tackle, but we’ve been working him at right as well. He started that one game against Buffalo at left tackle. But he’s going to have to know both. He struggled early on at right tackle, but we’re still—his future is strong.”
(On whether we’ll see more of the younger players over the last four games) “I do, I do, we all do, but I’ll tell you what we need is we need a win. We need a win. This organization needs a win. These players have worked so darn. We need a win, and if those guy, our staff, believes they can get in there, I’m pushing it as well. I’d like to see what Jordan Smith can do. He was way behind; he’s worked his tail off. He was not ready to contribute for a couple months just physically, and you have to give him credit, he’s really done a nice job. Jay Tufele’s got some playing time. He’s going to earn more as we continue. But the one is [Andre] Cisco, he’s the guy that is a talented guy. He has a really good day on special teams. He has gotten reps over the last few weeks, but I usually don’t mandate that type of stuff. We had that conversation, and we have to win a game.”
(On DE/OLB Jordan Smith getting playing time) “It’s just that darn elevation thing, active [roster]. Jihad Ward would have to come off or so and so would have to come off and then Jihad Ward just played his best game. This is what’s really cool, Jihad Ward, Damien Wilson, Roy [Robertson-Harris], [Dawuane] Smoot, guys are probably playing the best football of their careers right now.”
(On what he’s likes from DE/OLB Jordan Smith at practice) “Just his physicality, he’s getting so much bigger and stronger. He came in way below the body weight we wanted him at and it’s a credit to him. I think he’s lifting still four days a week. You can see him working his trade, staying after practice with [Defensive Line Coach] Tosh [Lupoi] and [Assistant Defensive Line Coach] Sterling [Lucas].”
(On sacrificing wins so that young players can get playing time) “No. I would never do that.”
(On playing Texans QB Davis Mills instead of QB Tyrod Taylor who they faced in Week 1) “[Texans QB] Tyrod [Taylor], we saw in the first game, some of those plays, he’s rolling out, and obviously he’s a very good athletic quarterback, very good quarterback. But this guy [Texans QB Davis Mills] threw for 300 yards in the last game. A lot of it was the underneath stuff but he’s very accurate. They use him very well and they have, obviously, a fantastic receiver in number 13 [Texans WR Brandin Cooks]. [He’s an] accurate passer and [has] a lot of poise for a young player.”
(On thinking ahead to after the season) “Yeah. We meet constantly, [General Manager] Trent [Baalke] and I, about, not too much time, but what’s the needs, what’s the draft look like, what’s free agency look like. Those are still [to be determined], but that’s a weekly meeting.”
(On looking ahead when he’s an ‘in the moment’ type of guy) “It doesn’t come easily, but that’s my job.”
(On gaining perspective about the offseason throughout his first season) “Well, we study every team we play and they are usually four or five years into it, like the Buffalo Bills, the teams that you see doing well. Every team we play [General Manager] Trent [Baalke] and I put up there, how did they get this roster? Especially, I’m watching the Cardinals. Cardinals, wow. They’re playing a high, high level and then you go research how they built a roster. I remember I talked to the coach of the Bills before the game just to get some insight on [that] because I think that roster’s fantastic, but you don’t have the big name where all the salary cap is being used in one direction. I think that was one of the best that we’ve studied so far, so I talked to him about it. It’s something I might research in the offseason. I obviously don’t have the time now.”
(On taking notes from themselves on how they built the defense and applying it to the offense for next season) “Yes, exactly right. You see the free agents we took on defense, Roy [Robertson-Harris], you took Shaq[uill Griffin], you took Ray J [Rayshawn Jenkins], you took Damien Wilson. So far, and I know I’m missing one or too, but those guys are playing pretty good and they are good teammates. That’s the point I was trying to get [across was] about how do you measure [success]? Obviously, wins and losses. Like I said, losing eats away at your soul, everything. However, it also exposes people and I just saw that defense, that was one of the best performances. I know we lost, but it was one of the best performances I’ve ever witnessed in my coaching career. That’s the energy, the leadership, the toughness, the togetherness, not blaming, not ‘what the hell is going on?’. We’ve heard stories about that kind of stuff, but nothing, and that was Malcolm Brown. Malcolm Brown’s one of the best leaders I’ve been around.”
(On balancing QB Trevor Lawrence making mistakes while still taking chances) “The only one that was a bad one was he forced the last one. The other one was a tip ball. The other one, in my mind, down the field, the receiver has to go get that ball, compete for the ball. I said that I think on the radio show, just the 50-30-20 rule is something that we live by. That’s 50 percent of the time [the] quarterback makes a mistake. 30 percent of the time, that’s on the receiver for whatever reasons, wrong run, depth, tipped ball. Then 20 percent is like a protection issue, or they blitzed and the guy dropped out and caught Trevor [Lawrence]. Everybody wants to blame the quarterback. We don’t do that because first of all, that’s not true. On occasions it’s true, but most of the time it’s spread the responsibility.”
JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021
(On growing as a leader this season) “I feel like I’ve had too a little bit. Obviously as the quarterback, people look to you, especially offensively and just in the team. We have a lot of leaders, but still, being the quarterback, it’s important to be outspoken and say what you believe, say what you think, what’s on your mind. I’ve learned how to do that more and also just how to navigate different obstacles. So, it’s been a year where I’ve grown a lot for sure.”
(On who he relies on when dealing with adversity) “My teammates honestly. There’s a lot of people in this building and outside, like the fans, and staff, all those people, but why you really play is for the guy next to you. That’s why you play, that’s why you want to come to work, and that’s why I love coming to work every day. You get to be with those guys and try to build something special. That doesn’t change if it’s not going well. That’s still the most important thing and I had a lot of talks today [about] that’s one thing I’m proud of is, like I said, how we’ve handled it. Just to have those conversations with the guys, we’re on the same page like let’s just go play, let’s play for the guy beside you. It’s more important now than ever and the guys have done a great job, but that’s definitely a big motivation for me. There’s a lot of guys that have been through a struggle here the last few years and to see how this year’s gone, it motivates me a lot just to finish strong and to try to get this thing going in the right direction before we head out of here for the offseason. So, I have a lot of motivation, I know a lot of guys in the locker room do too.”
(On who he vents to when need be) “It can be all those different things. Obviously, my wife [Marissa Lawrence], is someone I talk to every day, talk about everything. Teammates, that’s obviously a different dynamic because it’s people that are in the building, you experience the same thing every day. Just being able to talk, we have really good dialogue and communication within our locker room. Guys like Marvin [Jones Jr.] who was just in here, he’s a guy that we sit by each other on all of the plane rides to away games and we have a bunch of conversations. He has an interesting perspective. This is his tenth year and just kind of hearing everything he’s been through, just all the ups and downs. He’s had a long career and it’s just helped keep him steady. I’ve learned a lot from him and just a bunch of guys like that that have a good outlook, guys that have been here for a while that have kind of been through the ups and downs here too. You see a guy like Brandon Linder or Tyler Shatley, those guys, just how they approach every day always the same because they know you can’t get too high, you can’t get too low. You never know what the next day brings, and they just always have the same attitude. I’ve learned a lot from those guys and obviously that’s how I try to live as well, so it’s been cool for us all to get together.”
(On being outspoken with teammates and coaches versus the media) “You guys are great but I’m not very old, but I’ve learned a few things and dealing with the media over my time. I think you have to be wise, and you can’t ever take things back that you say, especially publicly. I’ve kind of learned that, luckily not the hard way, just from watching other people throughout my career. That’s just something I’ve always been cautious of. But yeah, exactly like you said, within the team, coaches, locker room, players, you have to speak your mind.”
(On making public comments about RB James Robinson last week) “Obviously there’s been a lot of drama like whatever has caused everything, who even knows at this point. There’s been a lot of drama and for me, I think it’s important to be truthful, but with that, like I said, you can’t say everything that’s on your mind. You have to have a filter and you have to be careful. I have a lot of appreciation for all those guys in there that’s been working to try to get this thing right. It hasn’t been easy, so I have a lot of appreciation for the players, for the coaches, for everybody. [Vice President of Football Communications] Amy [Palcic] has been great. She’s had a tough job, so she’s awesome. I understand that, but I also think with you guys, you guys do a tough job too and to just be honest is important. Obviously, you can’t, like I said, always say exactly what’s on your mind. But the truth is in there somewhere always with me, so that’s what I try to do.”
(On this year having more drama than he’s ever experienced) “For sure. I mean I haven’t had a long career, so you can maybe ask Marvin [Jones Jr.] or Brandon [Linder] or some of those other guys. You’d probably get a better answer. Obviously, things went pretty smooth for me at Clemson, so definitely the most drama. But hey, I’ve gotten better in a lot of ways from this as a leader, as a person. I’ve grown a lot, so you don’t ever have any regrets, or you don’t look back and wish anything different.”
(On dealing with the drama this season) “You just do what you can do and that’s just keep going every day, you try to get better. Like I said before, you play for those guys in there. Everybody’s working as hard as they can to do everything they can to right the ship and you just keep plugging away. You keep being the same person. I think that’s, in the long run, that’ll ultimately win, just being the same and just consistency. I’ve always believed in that.”
(On the amount of drama having to decrease for the team to be successful in the future) “You’re always going to have some form of drama. I’ve learned that even just the NFL is more drama in general than college no matter where you’re at. But you’re right, there’s been a lot and to your point, I do think that has to change. That’s something that we need to work on for sure. You can’t always be in the headlines; you just have to go play football. That’s where we’re trying to get, and I have no doubt we’ll get there.”
(On risking interceptions to take more chances) “I think you saw towards the end of the game a little frustration, which like I said I was frustrated with that I responded that way towards the end of the game putting the ball in harm’s way. I didn’t’ like that, so [I’m] looking back at the tape, just learning from it. But going forward, you can’t be hesitant. That’s something that you do have to continue to bring yourself back. You throw four picks, it’s easy to kind of get a little trigger shy and not want to let it go. But at the end of day in practice, keep telling myself, ‘Just keep letting it rip. Go play. Play my game.’ Obviously, you have to be smart and I know how to do that. I’ve shown throughout that middle stretch of the season that I can take care of the ball, but obviously you just have to keep being consistent with that. Have to get back to that, but also, we have to make some plays and I’m excited. I think we made some big steps in the right direction last week, some plays downfield. That was cool to see Marvin [Jones Jr.] and [Laquon] Tread[well] and some of those other guys make plays on the ball.”
JAGUARS WR MARVIN JONES JR.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021
(On reports of a conversation between him and Head Coach Urban Meyer) “I’ll just say this: there was something that was brought to my attention that I didn’t like too well. I approached him [Head Coach Urban Meyer] about it and we talked, and we handled it like grown men. That’s all I have to say about that. That was now two and a half weeks ago.”
(On defending his position within the organization) “That’s the thing about me and the position that I’m in right now being the old head. We have a lot of conversations, me and him [Head Coach Urban Meyer], talking about the team. He confides in me, he talks to me, asking me questions about what should go on here, what should go on there. [I’m] kind of the voice of the locker room, me as well as a few other old heads and stuff like that. We have those conversations, and we handle them and go on from there. That’s all I have to say about that.”
(On reports that he threatened to leave practice) “Did I threaten to leave practice? I did not. I practiced. You guys see me out there.”
(On the reason behind the media reports) “I mean shoot, when you lose, you’re always going to be the center of attention in a negative way. That just is what it is. That’s all I have to say. I’ve seen the elephant, he just left so I guess I’m going to leave too.”
JAGUARS DE/OLB JOSH ALLEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021
(On how he keeps from getting frustrated with the offensive side of the ball) “Frustrated, not frustrated. We want to play. We want to put the game in our hands. We feel like we possibly could’ve won that game. So, it’s all about how can we improve? How can we get better as a defense? How can we get better individually? And continue to play at a high level, every play. As a defense, that’s what we collectively feel. Offense, special teams, they all have to do their part. We all have to do our role and once they all go, we all mesh. But as a defense, we wanted to be out there, we wanted to make plays and we just couldn’t create those turnovers. So, we felt like we probably could’ve played better in a way. And that’s our mindset. This week is, how can we improve from last week to this [week]?”
(On whether there’s any animosity between the defense and the offense when the offense struggles) “I mean, no. Those are our brothers. Yeah, we’ve all got to make plays, we’re on the same team. But if we can control our jobs, if we can play better, then that can almost affect the offense or special teams. All we need is one play. So, if we can generate that one play to encourage our teammates to go out there and play harder the next play, then that’s what we’re doing on both sides. But I feel like as a defense, we played good, but we didn’t play great. Having no turnovers, that’s a way we can get better and that’s a way we can contribute more and help out the offense. So, no, no animosity. I feel like we all support each other, we love each other, we know it’s a lot. For me, I don’t know want to deal with that. I want to focus on my job, I want to focus on my group, I want to focus on my defense and effectively focus on the team. That’s what I’m here to do, that’s what all our jobs are here to do and we’ll continue to do that.”
(On everything that has happened since his rookie year and whether he’d like to have a quiet, normal season) “Man, who wouldn’t? But I’m thankful to be a Jacksonville Jaguar. They took a chance, they drafted me coming out and I’m forever grateful for this organization and this fanbase. First thing, I’m going to go out there and play my heart out for this team and I’m going to continue to do that. So, whatever years come, for me, I want to get better, I want to improve every year. But I know all I can do is control myself, my room and my group. I’ll continue to do that.”
(On whether it’s easy to not pay attention to the drama surrounding the organization) “I mean, it’s work. When you’re dealing with something at work, it affects you, but you’ve still got to do your job. If I take my mind off doing my job to focus on putting my energy in this, then I’m not going to do my job well when I look back. I focus on doing my job and my job well. I know if I let anything outside of work, in work, seep into what I’m ultimately trying to do, I’m taking food off my family’s plates, I’m taking food off my coaches’ plate, [support staff], you know. So, I can focus on myself and continue to get better every week.”
(On DE/OLB Jordan Smith’s development) “I think Jordan [Smith] can be really talented in the NFL and I feel like he is [talented]. To be honest, I don’t know, I can’t make that call on the reason why he isn’t [on the field]. But me, [Dawuane] Smoot, you’ve got guys—I don’t have an answer for you.” (On what he’d like to accomplish to create any kind of positive momentum) “To finish strong. To finish the season that I feel like I wanted to start the season with, is to finish with that same mentality.: to never quit. And I really do want to finish statistically good, mentally good and physically good. All at the end of the day and if I’m not statistically there, then I hope that my brother [Dawuane] Smoot or Malcom Brown—I expect one of them to pick up that slack so that when I get mine back, I’m not going to let them slack off. Now we can all eat together and that’s vice versa for any situation. So, my goal is to finish still here, All-Pro. My mentality is still All-Pro, Pro Bowl player. That’s my mentality, that’s the way I’m going to finish and hopefully it continues like that for the rest of the group.”
(On how he feels about his development this season) “Man, I think I’m taking steps to where I need to be, but it’s also, I know there’s growth that I can also improve upon into next year and to finish this year. But I think I did take a next step in being in the NFL and adapting to this culture and being better on the field and off the field. I feel like I’m taking notes, stuff like that. Coming next year, I’ve talked to a lot of older guys, now I have experience, what can I do offseason a little bit? I’ve never had a regular offseason, but hopefully we have a regular offseason and I can take my time to get my body right and know what I need to do in offseason to get my body to where I can play at a high level every game, every week. I’m just learning with being in the NFL, I love it and I’m thankful and I’ll continue to grow.”
(On how his shoulder is feeling) “Great, it’s good. You know, still a lot of wear obviously, but I’ll be ready Sunday. I’ll be ready to go.”
(On whether he’s anxious to get his next sack) “You do not want to be too anxious, you won’t get anything. You’re going to be reaching and you’re going to be reaching for nothing. That’s my mentality. One play, taking one play at a time and when those opportunities come, I’ve got to make the best of it and I know that. My job is to play 100 percent every play and when I’m not playing 100 percent, that could’ve been that play to get that sack. That’s my mentality but I do want … It has been a couple weeks and I know what I need to do better to get there quicker, to get there more often. So, I’m ready to work.”
(On whether oppositions are blocking him differently) “I don’t know what they’re doing, I know what I’m doing. I feel like I can play better and I feel like I can do things better. I know it. I know I’m not perfect, I know I can always improve my game and always— how can I improve my game? I’m always assessing that, I’m always going back to the film and I think I got a pretty big [goal] this week and it’s to find a way for me to get better.”
