HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Wednesday, September 22
(On the secondary and the rate of turnovers) “Yeah, it’s a result of effort too and emphasis we have, but obviously not enough. I mean, I see it every day, and shoot, we emphasize that since phase 1, phase 2, phase 3—all of the things in the offseason. We worked hard to try to put together the secondary the way we wanted and I still feel good. It’s happening, I can see the work ethic, I can see the talent. But like you said – Well, it might be a good thing to start with this. The number one thing that I’ve always, always worry about is making sure we have a really good locker room. The amount of time that’s for 30 years, well really, I’ve been a head coach for almost 20 years or something, that’s always been number one at the point of emphasis. First of all, quality of people and good unity and guys sticking together, and they are. I know the first two games haven’t gone [the way we wanted them to]—and some of these guys have been part of this for a couple years now. I love our locker room. I just had a good talk with our team about it and I see it on the sidelines. I see it and I talk to the guys nonstop. Number two is health of players and I can see the sports performance model being a positive so far. I know we get little dings here and there, but for the most part, our guys are utilizing it. And the third thing that brings your question up is the spark. Michael Jordan said it in that documentary is that the Chicago Bulls struggled for years and years and all they needed was a spark. And the spark happening like Michael Jordan, not just him, he had a bunch of guys around him. And that spark, that’s stepping in front of a ball, intercepting it. A spark is what? A spark is a great player making a great play. And how do you do that? It’s called competitive excellence. You do it in practice, you work it and you work to put the players in those positions. You evaluate the game last week, we could’ve been up 21-3. We missed a couple protections, DJ [Chark] was running 10 yards behind a guy, we got pressured and we didn’t get it out. So, just a spark by someone and we all witnessed it. Some sparks are relatively hard to have happen. And those 103-yard kick returns—how many times does that happen a year? I don’t know. I’m trying to think of the last time I had one on a team. 103 yards and that was DT, Daniel Thomas and so did Chapelle [Russell]. Obviously Ags [Jamal Agnew], that’s why we brought him here because he has the talent to do that. But here’s Chapelle running 100 yards down the field, leading them into the end zone. That’s a spark. A sack-fumble, interception, a third-down reception. And so, when that happens, that’s when the rock breaks. I don’t mean to belabor that question, but the question was about interceptions and getting our hands on balls and making a play.”
(On whether the spark is harder to get when the locker room is accustomed to losing) “I’m working, we’re all working through it. Of course it’s different in college, I get that, I’m not trying to equate the two, but you take over a team that was 1-10, you take over a team that was 6-7, you take over a team that was 5-7, or you take over whatever it is. Yeah, it’s hard, it’s really, really hard. And I knew it was going to be hard, but like I said, my focus is on what—I’m not worried about what happened last year or the year before. I’m worried about the locker room, how’s our locker room going? Our locker room is fantastic. How’s the chemistry on the team? Fantastic. How’s our relationship amongst the coaching staff? Fantastic—working your you-know-whats off and that’s all I’m concerned about.”
(On how DE/OLB Josh Allen can help with all three of those factors) “S. S. S. [He’s an] elite locker room guy, elite worker. He did provide a big spark down in the red zone when he had that minus-19-yard sack, you see him try to knock the ball out, too. Our captains are all those guys.”
(On how QB Trevor Lawrence has responded to this early season adversity) “I like the relationship between Schott [Brian Schottenheimer] and him. The one thing, [Darrell] Bevell and [Brian] Schottenheimer have experience with young quarterbacks, but he’s a grinder and I know he’s going to get better. But the one thing about quarterback play—and I’m going to say this also when he starts having the great success he will have—the quarterback is a product of 10 other guys, and we’ve all got to play better and execute better.”
(On whether QB Trevor Lawrence’s development is on track) “I think so. That’s a great question, I think so. We’re going to see, it’s still early. Completions come when there’s no dropped balls, when we’re protecting. I thought our offensive line really hUng in there well last week. The one sack was on a twist. You’re talking about excellent pass rushers and you’re going to see it again this week.”
(On his thoughts on QB Trevor Lawrence’s decisions to go deep and check down) “I think there’s some validity in that. I think he’s pressing a little bit. I chatted with him about it, but it’s also seeing the field. I’ve heard this from my players when they come to this level, is that everything turns up to a 10 in speed. The windows are closed quickly. Every time—in college, every couple games you get that guy that you’re going to have to chip on the way out. Every week, it’s in the NFL. So, he’s getting used to it. That’s the number one thing I’ve always heard from—all the way back to Alex Smith, like, ‘what’s going on, Alex?’ and he said, ‘Holy [crap] these guys are fast.’ A little faster than Mountain West or whatever it was. I said, ‘Yeah.’ And now I’m witnessing it.”
(On his expectations for the offensive line and their performance thus far) “I think we can play better, but I’m pleased with them. A.J. [Cann] fought through an injury and then [Ben] Bartch came in and I think we controlled the line of scrimmage. We played a very good defense and we’ve just got to run the ball more consistently. But pass protection for two weeks has been very solid. That’s the number one goal—from back in January we made a decision to draft the No. 1 quarterback—was to keep him upright and for the most part, we’ve kept him upright.”
(On his wince when QB Trevor Lawrence got hit by Broncos DE Dre’Mont Jones and whether his worst fear came to mind) “It always does and it’s not just because it’s Trevor. Whenever I see a player go down like that, I mean, that’s the worst part of this job. I mean, it wasn’t a dirty hit, it’s just part of the game. But yeah, it looked awkward. I think a lot of people winced.”
(On whether QB Trevor Lawrence is missing open players or whether there’s separation between the wide receivers) “Not enough. Another good question. Not enough. That’s why it’s a –I told people the 50-30-20 rule when a pass is incomplete or whether it’s an interception. 50 percent of the time it’s the quarterback’s fault, 30 percent of the time it’s the wide receivers—that’s usually why we don’t, over history, haven’t thrown many interceptions because the receivers are taught to clear throwing lanes for the quarterback and not—like the last interception was not on him because we didn’t keep the red line, down the left sideline. It goes under Trevor’s stat, but that was not on Trevor, that was the receiver, that was the 30. And then 20 percent it’s a protection, a tipped ball, something happens that—you know, the one before that was a little late in the throw, the guy stepped in front of him and made a good play. That’s what I was talking about, windows close quickly.”
(On what he says to QB Trevor Lawrence when he thinks he’s pressing) “Just that. You’ve got to know your quarterback, you put your arm around him and— we’re all still getting to learn each other because this is our first year together. But I’ve had quarterbacks where you’ve had to pick them up now, so far, that’s not happened.”
(On CB C.J. Henderson, CB Tyson Campbell and the plan for defensive backs) “Yeah, we just signed a guy, Nevin [Lawson] from Utah State. I just met him, great dude. He lives right next to Marvin Jones in Miami. So, we’ve got pretty good intel on him. But we like him and C.J. is still questionable, there’s a chance he’ll go this week. Tre Herndon is questionable. I saw Tyson, we are very pleased he’s part of the Jaguars.”
(On whether he saw more success from CB Tyson Campbell on the outside than in the slot) “I’d have to defer that to Joe [Cullen] and them.”
(On how to simulate a guy like Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray) “That’s a—I’ve done it before when we played Marcus Mariota when I was at Ohio State. You put a jack rabbit back there and run around and all that. We’re playing again in four days after this one, so I’m just thinking big picture, we all are.
We’ve got two humid days, so how many reps can you actually get out of that? We’re going to do it, but it wouldn’t be the way I’m used to doing it.”
(On whether he knows who they’re putting back there against the Cardinals) “We’re just going to ask our quarterback because we can’t do that, we just can’t blow our guys out like that right now. Does that make sense?”
(On the challenges that Cardinals QB Kyler Murray presents) “Yeah, he’s—I watch it, turn it off, walk away, come back, watch it. And he’s got a good—they’ve built a good team. I understand the GM has been there for a little bit. That’s a good football team, from A to Z. You’re talking about some players on defense now, they have two pass rushers. Obviously, JJ Watt on the outside, you’ve got 55 and that safety is a really good player.”
(On his reaction to the name of Cardinals WR Rondale Moore) “I’ve just got great respect for him. He knows that. I mean, I saw first-hand and that’s the way I’ve always been. I mean, yeah, he destroyed us in one year, but he’s their primary returner—I think he’s leading the team in receptions, too. One was a scramble where he was wide open. But he’s a—you’ve got to contain him.”
(On injuries this week—WR Laviska Shenault Jr.) “[Laviska] Shenault is good. He will be. I mean, he’s got to get healed up this week, but he’ll play.”
(On expectations for OL A.J. Cann to play) “A.J. Cann looks good for game time.”
(On what it would’ve been like to coach college football with the new Name, Image and Likeness rules) “I’m very close still to Florida with Danny, I talk to him quite often. And then also Ryan [Day] and my son-in-law, wild stuff, man. A guy that has never played a snap, $1.5 million. I imagine getting them to go to Sociology 101 is not easy. Once again, that’s not my issue.”
JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
September 22, 2021
(On playing former Clemson teammate, Cardinals ILB Isaiah Simmons, this weekend) “He’s a great player, obviously went I think eighth overall and has played well, done a lot of good things in his first two seasons. The one thing about him is just he’s really dynamic because he’s big, really long, and he’s fast and powerful, so he can kind of do everything. He can play in the box, he can get on the perimeter, chase guys down, pass rush a little bit, like he can kind of do it all so that’s one thing. [I] just have an eye out for him. They have a lot of great players, so there are going to be a lot of guys you have to keep an eye on. That’s every week I guess in the NFL, but especially this team. They have a really good defense, but yeah, he’s awesome, great player.”
(On Cardinals ILB Isaiah Simmons saying he was never allowed to touch him in practice at Clemson) “No, not in practice. I know he’s wanted to a few times, but he’ll have his chance this weekend. I’m sure I’ll be hearing from him all game.”
(On pressing in situations instead of taking the safe option) “Maybe on a couple plays, but I felt last game, it wasn’t as much pressing just had a few too many throw-aways where I could’ve made some plays on my legs, missed a few throws. There in that two-minute stretch I had like six straight incompletions. The ball got wet, and I just got a little inaccurate, so I have to clean that up. I think some of the shots, like the first pick, the safety did a nice job, and I was a little late on the throw, but really, I had the guy open if I would’ve thrown it a little bit earlier. I think that one, I was just a little bit late. The next one, we took a shot, the corner made a great play. That’s going to happen sometimes. But if you don’t have the first turnover, that doesn’t make the second one as bad. You can kind of manage that, so just managing those plays and then for me is just taking more completions. I’ve said it a bunch of times to you guys, we always talk about our room, [Passing Game Coordinator] Coach Schottenheimer says ‘the power of completions.’ You get a guy the ball, have a couple completions in row, they’re going to make plays. Even if you only throw it three yards, he might get 20. I had one to James [Robinson] in the game where we just checked it down instead of trying to hunt downfield, and I think he got 12, 13 yards on it. I think I threw it one yard, so it’s just stuff like that. Let those guys make plays. I could definitely do a better job of that, but I feel like I’m learning a lot each week. I feel like I’m getting better. I know this past game, you look at the stats or whatever, it doesn’t look great, but I feel like there was a lot of things where I grew. I think I got better.”
(On using checkdowns or safer options more in future games) “Yeah, a little bit. I think just in general progressing through my reads a little bit faster and through all of them, not just to two or three, but to four and the check down or whatever it is. I can do a little bit better job of that. I mean I threw a few checkdowns in the game that we actually lost yards on. Those where it’s like if they’re only rushing four and they’re covering everyone underneath and they have two guys deep, there’s probably a good run lane for me. Those are just things that I’m learning. As the game went on, you saw me using my legs a
few times and [I’m] getting better at that. But [I] just have to keep getting better until it stops coming up.”
(On the increased speed of the game in the NFL) “Everyone’s just better, especially like technique and fundamentally. Like corners are so much better, [there’s] not as much separation. You see even the touchdown to Marv[in Jones Jr.], like there wasn’t a ton of separation. When I threw it, there was no separation and then Marvin did a good job of making a play at the end and separating a little bit. But that’s just the way it is and for me, I still just have to keep getting used to that and being more accurate. I think that’s the main thing is giving my guys a chance, being more accurate consistently. But I kind of knew everyone was going to be better when I got here, so it’s nothing new really as far as that goes. I’ve always had that mindset, but everyone’s just better so there’s not as much room for error. If there’s a play where you’re a little bit off, it’s an incompletion, it’s not a catch. All those little things add up.”
(On preparing for the Cardinals defense) “Honestly, nothing really changed in our preparation. Obviously, you have a different plan for a different defense, but some of the same things Denver did well, these guys do well. They do a good job disguising, mixing it up. Arizona mixes it up even more than Denver and then they have a really good pass rush, same thing as the Broncos. Those guys are obviously a threat: [Cardinals DE] J.J. Watt, [Cardinals OLB] Chandler Jones, and there’s other guys up front too that do a good job. Being aware of that as a quarterback, time, clock goes down a little bit, but you can’t let it change too much. I have to do my job and I trust my guys up front, my tackles and all of the guys on the inside to do their job too. They’ve done a great job of it, so I just have to worry about being my best and playing well. That’s what we need.”
(On using his run game) “Obviously that’s something I really feel I can impact the game and help us, and I’ve said that multiple times. It’s just conditioning myself more because in the offseason, like in practice, you kind of get used to sitting in the pocket, going through all your progressions, you can’t get hit, so that time clock isn’t as real. Then here, it’s like when you get in the game, it becomes real, and those guys are closing in on you fast. I think a few too many times I just reacted to throw it away instead of making a play, but there’s definitely a fine line. You can’t try to make every play a game-winning play. You have to know when to say when, so [I’m] finding that balance, but I think I’m getting there. Like you’ve seen, I didn’t really run at all the first game, I didn’t run at all the first game. This game I had a couple runs for first downs and impacted the game a little bit and just doing that more and more when necessary, not trying to look for it too much. Besides [Buccaneers QB] Tom Brady, most of the best quarterbacks in the league use their legs when they need to.”
(On getting used to the speed of the game in Week 2) “I felt like I was seeing it really well actually. Obviously, we weren’t very efficient on offense and didn’t execute great, but I didn’t feel like Denver really confused us. I thought our communication was really good. I thought we had some plays that we missed, either missed throws, drop, whatever it was. We all just had our errors at bad times, but I really felt like I was seeing it well and kind of knew what was going on all around me. Still have to play better, still have to execute, but I felt good.”
(On attempting deep ball throws versus dialing it back) “I don’t want to say that because you have to stay aggressive. A huge part of this game is explosive plays, but that’s not everything. You have to stay on schedule and part of that is if they want to play really soft or they want to cloud it and have two deep safeties, then sometimes you just have to take what they give you and you can’t force it downfield. I think I’ve gotten better at that, but still there’s a couple times in the game where we might have had one-on-one, but the corner’s really soft and he’s just bailing, like it’s not a great opportunity to throw a
deep ball there. It’s also about getting used to playing with these guys, the receivers. Yeah, we’ve worked in camp and practice, but it’s different when you get in a game and you see these live looks and then you talk on the sideline and figure out what you like, what you don’t like, how they’re going to react when it happens in a game because there’s stuff that you just can’t cover. You have to have that connection and I think we’re getting it. Obviously, we’re not where we want to be, but we’re working towards it, and I think we’re getting better.”
(On his progression going into Week 3) “That’s kind of hard, like you don’t really map out where do I see this connection and chemistry with everyone by whatever game. I feel like we have a great team and I love the locker room. I think everyone gels, gets along great. Everybody works their butt off. But I will say, obviously, you don’t want to be 0-2 this time. You rather at least won at least one game, hopefully two, but I know we’re getting better. I know that’s frustrating for people out there and it’s frustrating for us too like we want to win. We’re here every day working our tail off to get better. We want to win, but I can feel it’s getting better and the morale’s still really good. We have a great culture and a good environment here. It’s going to take a little time, but we’re getting there.”
(On what defenses will use against him going forward) “I mean you never know. Sometimes obviously teams carry thing over from one week to the next just if they see someone had success with it, but most coordinators have their philosophy and they kind of stick with it. I do think a lot of the things, some of the things carry over from the Broncos to the Cardinals: the base structure, 3-4 with those standup edge guys, similar defense. But they do a lot of different stuff in the backend, I’d say they mix it up more. Most defensive coordinators kind of have their thumbprint if you will and that’s what they do. They’ve done it for a long time. So, who knows? They might, but I’m assuming they’re going to kind of stick to what they’ve done in years past.”
(On being awestruck by other players in the league) “I don’t know if awestruck is the word. It’s definitely cool seeing all these guys that I’ve watched on TV that have been playing for 10, 12, however many years and being out there on the same field with them. The thing I have to keep reminding myself is it’s still just a game and the same game I’ve been playing since I was a kid and a game I happen to be good at. I just have to keep reminding myself I belong here. I know I’m young but still, I can play. I can play with all these guys. I think [I’m] just building that confidence for me, for the whole team and I feel ourselves heading towards that. You saw the way we started the game. Obviously, you have to finish, but we feel good. It’s disappointing, but we’re getting there.”
(On being a rookie in Head Coach Urban Meyer’s first year as an NFL coach) “There’s definitely been times like he’s pulled me off to the side and he’s like, ‘Can you believe this? This is so weird. This is so weird this is how do it here’, stuff like that. I’m like, ‘yeah, I don’t know. It’s my first time too.’ That’s always funny but I think we’re all just growing, we’re learning. [Head] Coach [Urban] Meyer’s done a
great job. Obviously, there’s a sense of urgency here to get better, to get better fast, and to go win games and we’re all ready for that. But he’s done a great job of just keeping the team together and that’s the main thing. This is a long season and I’ve been impressed with just the way he’s led and managed the team. It’s been cool to have a front row seat to that and that permeates obviously through all the leaders on the team and it’s kind of a direct reflection of that. There are a lot of good things to come and we’re excited.”
(On Cardinals QB Kyler Murray) “He’s awesome. He’s fun to watch. Guys like him and [Ravens QB] Lamar [Jackson] and even guys that are similar but different like [Bills QB] Josh Allen, just playmakers that go out and make all these crazy plays and use their legs, it’s fun to watch really. I’ve been impressed with
how he’s come in and everyone always says, same thing with Lamar, ‘You can’t do that in the NFL. You’re not going to have any success.’ To see those guys do it well and really, he’s hurt some defenses with it, it’s been fun to watch. It’s cool just having guys like them and then guys like [Buccaneers QB] Tom Brady that are just polar opposites but still have so much success. I think that’s what it’s all about. It keeps the game fun for sure.”
JAGUARS S RAYSHAWN JENKINS
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
September 22, 2021
(On interceptions being ‘contagious’) “That’s normally the saying, so we’re just trying to get that first one and then I feel like the rest will follow. Just like you were just saying, we had some opportunities in the first two games. I know I had two myself. In my head, if I want to be the player I want to be, I have to bring at least one of those in. I just feel like, just like you said, once we get one, they just start flowing in.”
(On the conversation going into Week 3) “[It’s] just the same thing, just trying to make the most out of those opportunities when they do present themselves. I feel like we’re making good plays on the ball, but to really be the gamechangers we want to be, we need to bring the ball back to the sideline. We just need to and that’s just playing complimentary football. Offense is going to do what the offense does. Special teams is going to do what the special teams does. We have a standard that we like to hold ourselves to and we are trying to meet that standard.”
(On the Cardinals offense) “[They have] a bunch of weapons, just a bunch of weapons, a bunch of guys who can win their one-on-ones, a bunch of guys who can make plays in space. I feel like a big key for us this game is just really tackling in space and not letting a 6,7,8-yard gain turn into a 60-yard gain.”
(On Cardinals QB Kyler Murray) “He’s definitely different, more so of what the QBs are going to nowadays in the NFL, more those scramble guys that can make plays outside of the pocket as well and downfield. It’s going to be a great challenge because you have a guy like that back there, so you have to account for him, and then you have to account for the receiving core across the board which is just filled with talent, in my opinion, and speed. It’ll be a great challenge, but I mean we’re professionals so I’m excited for this challenge. I’m always excited for a big challenge like this, a new challenge like this. This is my first time playing [Cardinals QB] Kyler Murray and [Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins] D-Hop on the same team, so it’ll be interesting. It’ll be interesting.”
(On playing against Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins previously) “Two years ago we faced him over in LA and it was a close game. I actually ended up having a pick that game and it got called back from something upfront. It’s not my first time seeing him, but like I said, he’s an All-Pro guy. He’s a guy who’s very capable any Sunday.”
(On the defense handling all of the weapons on the Cardinals offense) “Everybody has to just trust each other. Trust that he’s going to handle him out here, trust that these guys are going to handle up here, and just trust the other side. Not trying to jump out of gap or trying to help someone when we don’t need it there. Just knowing what we’re supposed to do at that moment in that moment. If you’re responsible for this guy, be responsible for that guy, not ten others.”
(On other teams having success spying on Cardinals QB Kyler Murray) “From what we’ve seen, not really, but it does slow him down a bit. But like I said, it’s just a challenge we’re looking forward to and we’ll see if we can kind of do some stuff like that. We’re still digging into our game plan trying to see how we’re going to handle a guy like that.”
(On the rotating safeties in the spot opposite him) “I see competitiveness. That’s why they’re rotating like that in my opinion. They are very competitive, both of those guys in that spot, Dewey [Andrew Wingard] and Andre Cisco. Both of them have just been making great quality plays. They’re going to keep rotating until one of them can really solidify the spot and pull off from one.”
(On the defense making a step in the right direction last week) “Absolutely. In my opinion, we picked it up tremendously from game one to game two. I had three [points of] emphasis that I told the defense just from me, just from looking out upon the defense. One thing is our energy. We have to keep our energy throughout the entire game. The second was keeping seven points off the board. Well, at least keeping four points off the board if they did get in our red zone, just playing really good, stout red zone defense. Then the last one was turnovers. We’re still carrying that last one, really all three of them. From week to week, we’re really carrying those things over.”
(On creating a spark) “That goes back to what I said earlier. Everybody just has to trust one another, do their job, and the plays will come. It’s just how this game has always been, how this game is. The plays are going to come. We can’t just have guys over-eager trying to do something they’re not supposed to
do and then really costing us a big play or the game. [It’s] just really trusting each other. It just goes back down to trust and just doing your job at the end of the day.”
(On the similarities between the Cardinals and Jaguars franchises) “I’m not really too familiar with Arizona honestly. One thing I can see from film, just like you said, was they’re really college based just in terms of calling plays, you see motions all over the place, weird formations everywhere literally, weird stuff. It’s literally just trying to get someone to think about this when they’re really trying to go here. It just goes back to what I said earlier again, just do your job, trust that he’s going to handle that. It may look funky or whatever, but it will play out.”
(On trying not to get frustrated having to stay with his coverage for longer than usual) “Absolutely it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen. If I sat here and told you it’s not going to happen, I’d be a liar. It’s going to happen. There are All-Pros on that side of the ball, there are Pro Bowlers on that side of the ball, there’s professionals on that side of the ball that get paid just like we do. We just have to make our plays when they do come to us. We understand that we may be in coverage for six seconds one time, two or three times, but the other 65 times we aren’t, we have to really be on our stuff.”
(On what sets Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins apart from other receivers) “He’s just reliable. You can just tell he goes about his business the right way. He’s a true professional. He catches the ball. I will say if the ball is anywhere near him, he does a very good job bringing it in. But we have some guys that can compete with him and make it hard for him. Like I said, we’re looking forward to that Sunday.”
