JAGUARS HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
October 8, 2021
(On being ready to face a divisional opponent in the Tennessee Titans this weekend) “This whole AFC South has been obviously a focus of our organization since obviously well before I got here. But all through the off-season [we were] studying the different teams and obviously a very talented team with the Titans. [It’s] somewhat of a rivalry. I know our players are [ready] and I know I am.”
(On the kicker on Sunday) “It’s close. I’d rather give it one more day, but it’s very close.”
(On K Josh Lambo) “[He looks] much better, much better confidence-wise. Like I said, we’re all pulling for [Josh] Lambo. [K Matthew Wright] Matt’s done a very good job too, so it’s close. I’ll let [Special Teams Coordinator] Nick [Sorensen] [watch them] and then we’ll have a final meeting this afternoon to decide.”
(On keeping both kickers, Josh Lambo and Matthew Wright, on the active roster) “No. If we have Matt[hew Wright], we would elevate him and then deactivate [K Josh Lambo].”
(On the plan to win against the Titans, specifically with Titans RB Derrick Henry) “The plan to win is this; this is time-tested, it’s infallible, and when talent’s equated, it works and that is the first half of the Cincinnati game was it followed to a tee, and it’s play great defense. When you say play great defense, it’s not turning the ball over, it’s not putting defense in harm’s way, but it’s obviously play great defense. We held an excellent running back [Bengals RB Joe Mixon] to 18 yards rushing, we controlled the line of scrimmage, we did not turn the ball over, and our special teams had a plus 10 or plus 12 field position advantage. That’s winning or playing great defense. Number two is turnover margin. That’s something we were horrific in the first three games, and we got one turnover [in Week 4]. The turnover ratio, that’s time-tested. 30 years ago to now, it’s amazing how the style of football has changed, but you get one turnover, you’re plus one, you have a 67 percent chance of winning that game. That was 30 years ago, and it was three yards cloud of dust, it was spread styles and open formations, and interestingly enough, it’s the same in college, so [it’s] the game of football. The third one is red zone production and we’ve been decent there. We don’t get paid to kick field goals, we get paid to score touchdowns and our defense has to stop them. We need to continue to improve there. The last one is kicking game. That’s the most consistent part of our team right now. I think [Special Teams Coordinator] Nick [Sorensen] and the crew have done a heck of a job. Obviously, you have two explosive touchdowns and our coverage units have been really good. Punt return, we haven’t got loose yet. We’ve had a 20-yard punt return, but it was on a 65-yard punt, so [it was] a 40-yard net. That’s the plan to win. You win all four, you win the game, and the second half was not that. We were out of field position. We couldn’t get off the field and we didn’t have the field position, advantage of possession time advantage that we had in the first. So, that’s the plan to win that I used to talk about and play it too soon I hope.”
(On his assessment of the pass rush and the Titans being vulnerable to the pass rush in their game last week against the Jets) “We need to be better there. We need to be better in impacting the quarterback. It’s not just a sack, it’s disrupting the quarterback. [We] had a hard time last week because Joe got rid of the ball so fast, [Bengals QB] Joe Burrow. But this week, we have to. That’s a mandate and when the Titans have struggled a little bit it’s because the Arizona Cardinals had [Cardinals OLB] Chandler Jones that had five sacks I believe. Last week, I think they had seven, but I know they’re going to be working their tails off on that as well.”
(On using his experience adjusting to the SEC to adjust to the NFL) “As a matter of fact, it has [helped]. It’s just the speed of the game is so significant from the Mountain West. If you remember, we changed a lot of things. That’s why I hired two guys to run the offense that have experience because the style that I was used to, I think you can put bits and pieces, which you see it in our offense, and for Trevor [Lawrence] and the longevity of his career, he needs to learn to be a pro quarterback. That’s the decision we made, so yeah, I have. I see the improvement on offense. I see the improvement by Trevor, and I think [Passing Game Coordinator Brian] Schottenheimer’s done a heck of a job with him. You look at Game 1, Game 2, and now, even in practice, his knowledge, his understanding of the offense, his understanding of how fast defenses are, and those windows aren’t the windows that we’re used to in college.”
(On TE Dan Arnold) “I love that guy. First of all, I see a grinder, a worker, a talented guy, a guy that can open it up. I told you our feelings about him during free agency and he’s been outstanding.”
(On TE Dan Arnold being able to be utilized in the whole playbook) “[Tight Ends Coach] Tyler Bowen’s done a really good job with him. That’s amazing to me that all of a sudden, he’s here Tuesday and let’s go play and he did really well in the game in a limited role. But yeah, it’s pretty much go now.”
(On replacing WR DJ Chark Jr.’s role) “It’s obviously Marvin [Jones Jr.] and Laviska [Shenault Jr.] and then you have [Jamal] Agnew’s earned more time. He was a guy that was a corner from a small school and [Offensive Coordinator Darrell] Bev[ell] talked us into [getting him by] saying, ‘Hey, this guy’s got some stuff.’ I’m glad we got him, so he’ll get more reps, he’s not a bigger guy. Then you have [Laquon] Treadwell that could be possibly elevated and then you have Tyron [Johnson]. Tyron is a guy that’s very talented, he just has to [get the] detail of something. Once the detail gets underlined, I believe in Tyron. I believe in his skill set, it’s ridiculous.”
(On WR Tyron Johnson struggling with his route running) “We saw that. It’s detail. It’s detail is exactly what it is. To give Tyron [Johnson] credit, the last ten days, and [Wide Receivers Coach] Sanjay [Lal], his detail has improved drastically. Is it to the point where he’s a starter in the NFL? No, not yet.”
