JAGUARS CB SHAQUILL GRIFFIN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2022
(On how tough the preseason games are) “I will say it’s tough. My thing is I’m going to prepare and prep everything the same way [as for a regular season game]. I feel like my thing is to make sure the young guys have everything they need possible. This is a time where either I might get a series or two, to work on steps, hand placements, working on the calls, but it’s also given me a chance to help guys learn how to watch film the correct way, learn tendencies, what you should see, see this formation, what can you get out of it, so I’m prepared for this game like I would any other game. I [want to] give the support that the young guys need when they take the field.”
(On advantages of preseason games for younger guys who are trying to make a team) “So of course, I told them today, this is your opportunity to best showcase who you are, your talent, everything you have to bring to our team. Let them know that this team, this defense will not be the same at the end of all this. But that doesn’t mean your football career is over. You’ve got to put your best foot forward, your best tape, you got to be able to put it out there, so when you get an opportunity for another team, they already know what you are capable of doing. We all understand the business part of it. We try not to keep that a secret. Understand that everybody can’t make this team, we get that. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put your best film out there because that’s what they’re going to look for. And you got to be the best person in locker room. Because coaches and other coaches talk to each other. And you want to be that guy that you can depend on; it doesn’t matter if you’re here or to another team. Like I said, my main thing is it’s a great way for younger guys to showcase something, and it’s a great way for the vets that continue to learn how to watch film to be able to help young guys because it’s you never know what could happen in this league. And whoever’s here got to be ready for everything. So I feel like it all helps.”
(On if there will be more interceptions this year) “I guarantee it’s going to be way better than last year. The goal is to lead the whole NFL. I’m taking it definitely a point to myself, to make sure I have every opportunity. I might not get the most opportunities on the defense, but opportunities I do get, I want to make sure I make the best of them. That’s everything I continue to say. I’m still out here trying to catch footballs every day. But it starts with me. That’s how I feel. Every time I make a play, I feel like it’s someone else getting a pick. I think about the first pick of the camp I get one day, you got Benjie [Franklin] getting one and then I get another pick the day and then you come back Rudy Ford have to pick it. You got to start with somebody. I feel like picks come in bunches, but someone’s got to get the first one. I definitely put that on myself. It will be better this year. I definitely think we will double. But the goal is to be the best in NFL.”
(On differences in CB Tyson Campbell from his rookie year to second year) “Maturity level, confidence, being vocal. It all shows. It’s crazy how much we can learn in one year, and it shows on him. His confidence level is through the roof. He’s able to line people up in positions where the position that he didn’t even play, but he knows the whole defense. Like I said at the maturity level to stay poised in every situation. We know every play is not going to be his best play, but to be able to snap back, get right back into it, and play his best ball, that shows a lot, and that’s someone we can definitely depend on as a young leader in that group and just the maturity level.”
(On CB Benji Franklin) “Man, that guy is really twitchy. And one thing, when he breaks, he’s going to break on that ball and he’s going to get there and close fast. I love the way Benjie has been attacking this field the way he’s been practicing. He’s definitely a sponge. He’s not a person who feels like he knows it all; he’s willing to learn, so I can just say that we got a really great rookie group in our room. Really some really great guys who’s ready to learn anything, just soaks up everything. They know they’re ready for the opportunity so I’m excited to see what those guys do is coming in these preseason games, and I’m rooting for him. I know they’re going to put some good film out there.”
(On how much the players want or need to play to feel ready) “I know when you get that third preseason game where you kind of get a half so I feel like that’s more than enough. You get a chance to first off; you might start off a series maybe this game. I feel like the main thing is focus on seeing formation, being able to talk through each check, being able to get your foot and right, if it’s press or you’re bailing, whatever it is you get a chance to work your technique, then that’s a big, big deal. And then you go out there again for the third game and you play a little bit more. Now you’re going through situation a ball, first down, second down, third down, maybe backed up, maybe red zone two minute before halftime. Little situational things that we get a chance to see later on in the preseason that I feel like it’s really helpful. We had a time where preseason was gone due to COVID. So we’ve seen a difference from not having preseason and having it back. I definitely agree to have preseason. That definitely helps the vets a lot more just to get their feet wet before the regular season starts.”
(On when he would know when the defense is better than last year) “When would I know? Well, I know that now,. We are definitely better than last year, just the way we’ve been attacking the ball, for one. The way we communicate, and our communication is so much better, the trust is so much better. Then you see the D-line running around. There are so many times where when we get to the ball, they’re already sacked before the ball even came out. So that shows a lot. I feel like one thing about it our defensive is moving a lot faster. Our defense is well conditioned. Defense is talking a lot more. Our defense trusts each other a lot more than last year, and that’s why we’re a bit different than last year.”
(On the challenge of covering WR Christian Kirk) “He’s another quick twitch guy, a guy who can get the ball really quick. It’s kind of hard to get hands on him, which is really well. So that’s someone who I like going against getting the chance to go against him twice a year back in Seattle, to see him here and being that guy, someone we definitely needed. Because it doesn’t matter who we’re going to get, he’s going to great, he is going to give me some good work, and that’s the part that I need. Like I said, a twitch guy, me being a longer lengthy guy, I have to of move just as fast as him. So that’s someone who I definitely love going against and he’s going to do some huge things for us. I’m excited for him.”
(On what he has seen from QB Trevor Lawrence) “He’s been doing awesome just taking control of this whole team, offense and defense. He’s the reason why we want to go so hard, because I feel like the plays and stuff that we give him are going to make him so much better. The poise that he has to be able to take this team under his wing, being so young is starting to show, and I love that part. Every day he stays the same–no highs, no lows, and being a quarterback, you got to kind of be that way and he’s showing that and that he is so young. It’s perfect to see his maturity levels definitely on a whole another level. I love to see that. He’s making some plays that are going to be really huge for us in this upcoming season, so I’m definitely excited for him. I feel like he’s everything that we could possibly need on our offense, as well. I’m excited for him.”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR PRESS TAYLOR
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, AUGUST 1
(On his approach to playing younger players in preseason games) “We’re still getting into the conversation, who’s going to play and how much everybody’s going to play and what we want to do from that standpoint. And then, kind of like we talked about the other day, we kind of have our list of questions. We want to see how these guys do in certain situations. So you’re kind of walking the fine line of, we want to give our guys enough chances to make plays and do things well, but maybe there’s some things you want to see this guy in this situation. Can you do it? Again, somebody doesn’t know things like that. So you’re kind of massaging every little situation you can to get as many answers as you can on all these guys, as well as give the best chance to play well.
(On the third running back spot behind James Robinson and Travis Etienne Jr.) “Yeah, those guys have done a great job. That’s such a good thing that James is not here doing it. But it gives those guys another chance to get more live reps essentially, without being live in the game. They’ll get a great opportunity to get carries, protect, catch the ball, all the situations you want to see. So those guys have done a great job. They’re all competing. They all have a little different skill set that we’re trying to figure out what fits best. And assuming James and Travis are full speed ready to roll? How does that work in what’s the big picture that room look like with those guys contributing to special teams, you know, having a role as a certain type of back forces, we go to what you’ve been able to do so far, the una blitz protection, they’ve done a great job blitz protection, they’re identifying things really well. And then, that’s the aspect where you’re not full speed, you’re not live, so there’s a lot of times where necessarily you don’t get to finish a pass rush or a pass block because everything’s not live. Now we just put on pads. So that amps things up a little bit. But that’s something you want to see in a game.
(On his comfort level of offering his opinion to Coach Pederson) “I feel very comfortable giving my opinion on that stuff. But I will forever and always defer to Doug and Doug’s opinion on it. But as far as I was having those conversations and stuff, I think that’s been fluid. That goes back to having a great relationship with each other prior to coming down here. So yeah, I feel completely confident and giving my opinion on how we should do things.”
(On if he plans to be on the field or in the coaching box during the game) “Yeah, I’m actually, through this preseason, I’d like to try a couple different things. So on Thursday night, I’ll be done on sideline. But then there’s a good chance the next week, I’ll go up. We’ll try to mix and match and figure out who’s responsible for what down on the field, up in the box, how we communicate well together. That’s kind of the benefit of having this extra preseason game compared to everybody else. So one more opportunity to figure out what works best for us come.”
(On his impression of the young receivers) “Those guys have done a good job. It takes some time, you strap the pads on and everything changes a little bit more when you go into a game situation. And it gets a little tougher there as well. The biggest thing for them too has been a lot of these kind of, quote unquote, call it periods for us where it’s unscripted. So they’re not able to sit there on the sideline with their coach to go through it. And coach tells them how you stand here, you do this, they do this, you do that. So now it’s getting a huddle, which is coming up on the game Thursday. As you get in the huddle, you break the huddle, you got 20 seconds to figure out what you got and the adjustments that come with that. So that’s been good for them. But those guys have done a great job attacking it, working hard, top to bottom, really were pleased with all those young guys and excited to see their development.
(On the experience of playing in the Hall of Fame Game) “Yeah, there’s things like that that are great experiences, you see great players and how they handle things, which is a huge benefit. But I think one of the biggest things is I think it goes without saying that Larry Fitzgerald is one of the most unquestioned professionals in our business. Now everybody’s a pro, but not everybody acts professionally. And he does so to see somebody that does it like that. And I can’t speak to the other guys. I haven’t heard much about all that. But the way he goes about his business and works, that’s always kind of the best thing for young guys. You want them to find veterans to look up to. You want them to ideally find the best professional veterans to look up to, going back to our time in Philadelphia or guys I’ve been around and stuff like that. If you had a running back come in and just watch down scrolls or tight end come in and just watch print sell it that was invaluable for guys is anything it’s the same thing as you know Luke Fortner and Nick Ford, these young, offensive linemen getting a chance to watch Brandon Scherff. And, you know, just see what it’s supposed to look like guys that handle their business the right way.
(On the veteran presence on the team) “It’s definitely comforting. And then being able to have conversations we’ve had with those guys how smart they are, kind of the mental flexibility, the things they can handle. There’s a lot of things that come up on the practice field that we’ll get around the sideline and talk about, they’ve already been talking about it. As we say, I liked what you did here. They can handle that, they can adjust like that. They’re great communicators with Trevor. So I think it just helps you try to get on the same page a little bit quicker with guys like that.”
(On what he’s seen from Walker Little and the timetable for Jawaan Taylor’s return) “I couldn’t give you a timetable on Jawaan. You know, we’re just gonna let (Vice President of Player Health and Performance Jeff Ferguson) Fergie and the training staff tell us when they’re ready to go. And whenever somebody’s ready to go, we’ll throw them out there with whatever parameters they give us. But Walker has done a great job. He stepped up as things got even more physical the other day, he’s done a great job in the battles he’s had, but also playing next to the guys he’s been able to play with. And again, that’s the benefit of being able to shuffle our offensive lines. You see how guys work next to one another, especially if you’re an edge player, you’re working next to one guy, as opposed to your interior. You’ve got guys on either side of you.
(On Zay Jones and if he’s quarterback friendly) “Yeah, I’ve really enjoyed working with Zay, getting to watch his skill set and stuff. I remember Zay coming out in the scouting process, knew some people that coached him in college and had always kind of followed him. His work ethic and stuff like that was always (what we) talked about with him. And then, you know, just being able to have conversations with him, he sees the game. And that’s probably what makes him quarterback friendly. I think he kind of anticipates what the quarterbacks are seeing. I think at least he’s able to communicate like that. So yeah. And then he’s got length, he’s got speed. He’s got a skill set. He has good hands and has ability to work. Quarterbacks trust him. So I guess that’s quarterback friendly. Yes.
(On if Evan Engram’s drops are concerning at this point in training camp) “No, I wouldn’t say that right now. It’s better that a guy has a drop now than in season. But we just continue to work and put them in different situations and see what he does best with. But he’s been able to handle a lot of things we put on him right now.
(On his message to the offense after a disappointing day) “Anytime we get a chance to compete with a defense, we want to go out and compete and play well. But at the same time, that was our first red zone day (on Thursday). It’s just like the defense is doing, we put in the same plan we put in the spring, they put in the same coverage as they put in the spring. So we’ve seen each other a million times running the same stuff. And they had our number that day. We expect to execute no matter the situation. And we’re just continuing to work on that and get better at that. But I think everybody had a pretty good perspective of this is early in camp. There’s kind of the ebbs and flows of camp of the offense has a day, the defense has a day. Big picture, you like seeing that and the competition and the up and down. That means both sides are having having some success. Now, as the offensive coordinator, we want to win every single day, every play, every period, all that. So it gets you a little bit, but you have the right perspective of, alright, we’re putting in our first red zone install. They’ve seen this five or six different times since the spring.
(On the communication between the wide receivers and quarterback) “Yeah, that’s great. He (Lawrence) has a relationship with Marvin (Jones J.r) going into last season. Laviska (Shenault Jr), Treads (Laquon Treadwell), some of those guys, but Christian and Zay, I think part of that is the way they see the game. The way they’re able to kind of keep their wits about them and communicate what they saw out there. That helps. Trevor can go — maybe he was working the other side of the concept, but what do you have back here? They can explain it pretty much verbatim. And then we’ll go out, especially out here, we’re able to grab the video right after a period and can all sit there together. Okay, yeah, it looked exactly like you said. So for Trevor, you’re able to trust what they say, in a game, the way they communicate and things like that. So that’s just the way they all see the game together and helps communication.”
(On if immediately reviewing practice film after periods is something they did in Philadelphia) “That’s something we did in Philly as well. I don’t know if they’ve done it here or not, but that’s something that you’d kind of just get that immediate feedback as you go, rather than having to wait until you get back over there. And it’s not something you do all the time or spend a ton of time on. Especially out here, you’re able to get extra reps or the defenses go on. But, maybe we can get some answers right away.”
(On balancing the intensity of a padded practice and playing smart) “Coach talks about it to the team. As a lot of you know, we’re still playing against the Jags. So we always want to protect each other. There are times where a guy probably has an opportunity to be more physical than we really want them to be with their own teammates, whether that’s offense or defense. And I think so far in camp, everybody’s done a pretty good job of that. Now, it doesn’t always lead to a wildly-successful play. And there were times where guys would say, ‘well, I would have done this, but that’s my guy. I can’t do that.’ But guys have done a good job of protecting one another from that standpoint. So guys are excited to go out and try to have the opportunity to make plays, but at the same time, we’re trying to get a lot done here. We’re trying to get a lot of productive work done in this camp.”
