JAGUARS HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021
(Opening Statement) “Before we get started, just a comment about the situation that I’m personally dealing with and I had at least three or four conversations with Shad [Khan], the message is loud and clear and I agree with [it]. Also, I met with the team on Monday, individually, and then today. I had a very pointed conversation with them, owning the stupid mistake that I made and that the job of a coach is to number one, health and safety of the player, number two is to motivate them and bring out the greatness in them, and number three is to give them everything possible to be successful and give them a great locker room and then get the heck out of the way. I apologized for a distraction with this huge week coming up, especially after they played and made so much improvement from Week 1 to Week 4. So, that was the conversation.”
(On why he met with the players individually on Monday and waited to do a bigger team meeting today) “I wanted to get in their space. I have a good relationship with this whole team and I’m not a big team meeting guy. I do a lot of it that way, where I go to like the running backs where there’s a group of four and I’ll … Team meetings are very—well, it’s just a big environment. In my opinion, you don’t get much done in a team meeting. You get a lot done when you’re in personal space with people. I’ve always done that.”
(On whether he has heard from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or the league office) “No.” (On whether he was fined by Mr. Khan) “No.”
(On whether he asked for permission to not fly back to Jacksonville with the team) “Yeah, I discussed it with Trent [Baalke] way in advance.”
(On if he regrets not flying back with the team) “I thought at the time that this is a chance for everybody to clear their head, including myself—with my family located where we were, to go spend a day or two with them and then get back. Because I knew I wanted them to get out of dodge, too, and clear their heads.”
(On further explaining his statement of the players having ownership of the team) “Well, players always own the team. In college, I consider that the same way. There’s nothing more important in the locker room—the context of that is it’s my responsibility to earn their trust back as their leader, as the guys that I’m very close with, a bunch of them, and it’s always been that way with our teams and organizations. This is a player’s team, it’s a player’s organization. Our job is to direct them, but they’re the decision makers in the organization and I have always felt that way.”
(On how that impacts this week when they have a crisis situation or distraction and what he expects from the team) “Well, I asked them. I mean, that’s the part of getting personal. I’d say, of our leadership committee, I had at least 8-10 phone calls where they called me and they were over-the-top supportive and said, ‘We got you man. We will move forward.’ The common thing was, ‘Coach, we have all done stupid things.’ And I’m really impressed with our guys.”
(On whether he has felt distraught enough to consider resigning) “No.”
(On whether this distraction could take away from the team’s preparation for this week’s game) “I’m in a fight to make sure that doesn’t happen. As of now, no, I don’t see that one bit.”
(On how a win this week would help the team’s morale) “A win will—I’m dealing with this personally, but a win, as far as the organization and the team, will do wonders.”
(On his relationship with Titans Coach Mike Vrabel) “Oh, it’s a great relationship. I hired him back in 2012. I actually first met Mike [Vrabel] when he was with the Patriots and I was invited up there a couple years in a row to watch him at minicamp. He’s from the same area, he’s from Northeast Ohio. And Luke Fickell—when I hired Coach Fickell, as our co-defensive coordinator, he recommended Mike. Mike had only been coaching one year. [He] never coached the d-line and he did great for us. Obviously, a great football mind, great worker, great family. I’m just really close with Mike.”
(On whether other coaches and people from other teams have reached out to offer him support) “Hundreds. Yeah, they have been great.”
(On whether his wife Shelley is understanding and willing to move on from his mistake) “I believe so, but obviously, that’s something that is very personal and I don’t want to get in our personal life. But 37 years that we have been together and it’s been awesome and this speed bump is not going to get in the way of that.”
(On his evaluations of Titans RB Derrick Henry) “I actually coached against him in one of those bowl games. He is a monster, he’s one of the best combinations of size and speed. He starts, everybody says it—I remember I was with Trevor [Lawrence] watching video and we can’t let him get started. That’s much easier to say and I think I’m sure Derrick would say that. I haven’t really read any interviews, but their offensive line is really good and their scheme is really good. So, this is a really good offensive team led by one of the best players in the NFL.”
(On how difficult it is planning for this week knowing the Titans may not have WR Julio Jones or WR A.J. Brown) “Well, I was talking to Shaq Griffin today about that and you’ve got to plan as if they are playing. It’s like going up to bat expecting a curve ball and they throw you a fast ball. So, you expect a fast ball and react to the curve ball.”
(On what he’s most proud of with this team’s improvements) “It’s one of the best locker rooms, if not the best locker room I have ever had. I mean, the halftime, the energy, the pulling for each other, the fact that there’s been some guys lose a bunch of games and I mean, the fight. You talk about going in that environment last week, our quarterback, just the poise and the growth he’s had. Coach [Brian]
Schottenheimer and Bev [Darrell Bevell], I think they’ve done a great job. The game is starting to slow down for them a little bit. We’re combining the spread with more traditional NFL, which is a lot of where his comfort is which is exactly what I envisioned back months ago. So, there’s a lot of—the team is very close. The reality is we had two really bad injuries, too. Our guys—A.J. Cann was playing very well and DJ [Chark Jr.] was just coming on and so someone’s got to pick up the flag and go. I told the team today, I love the team, this is a good group of dudes that work hard and I believe in them. Our staff believes in them. The work ethic and energy from Week 1 to Week 5 with new systems, a bunch of new players that haven’t played together and a young quarterback. Now, you look at Week 4, that first half. I do that plan to win, which I haven’t done much with you guys, I used to do it in college all the time. But that plan to win was a perfect plan to win. Hold a team to 18 yards rushing 100 yards passing and 30 on the first play. Our quarterback was sensational, guys are making plays all over the field. The tight end comes in three days earlier and makes an impact on the game immediately. Our offensive line, I want to say all five [delivered] a winning effort, which was exceptional. The second half was—that’s back-to-back now twice where a second half we’ve come out and we’re outscored and give up a drive. We’ve got some critical errors that we’ve got to get fixed. Nothing to do with effort, nothing to do with a chemistry issue. We’ve got to fix a couple error we made against Joe Burrow. Joe Burrow got hot. So, a lot of positives but we’ve just got to win a damn game and finish and I believe in these guys.”
(On defense stopping the run against Titan RB Derrick Henry and this game being the ultimate test) “Yeah, it’s strength on strength. We’re pretty good against the run and I don’t know where they’re ranked in the league, but I would imagine they’re top in the league in the run game with that big dog back there. So, yeah, this is—and the area we have to get better at is the boots off of the run. We had a couple mental errors in the game against Cincinnati, you can’t have that this week. The quarterback does a nice job of—first of all, he can run it and second of all, he finds the open players. The combination of the run game with the play action, they’re really good.”
(On whether a young team has to learn how to win) “Absolutely. I try to find the bright spots to talk to our team about. The reality is that the [Arizona] Cardinals are one of the best teams in the NFL, they are undefeated. They’re playing at a high level. There’s one point where we had them, we should’ve ended up 21 to 10. Playing hard for our home crowd and then the second half. I’m looking at conditioning, but I don’t believe it is. I’m looking at the mental errors, that’s where I’m seeing.”
(On whether players just want to win so bad they’re just trying to make that big spark play) “I’ve had that comment [made] to me because some of our better players are making a few mental errors and it’s certainly not that they’re not capable. I think they’re trying to put it on their shoulders to go get to make the play.”
(On where K Josh Lambo is mentally) “Pretty good. He’s—him and Matt [Matthew Wright] are going to—there’s going to be a little competition to see who kicks. But Josh [is in] a much better place right now.”
(On whether K Josh Lambo will be gone if he doesn’t win that competition) “I hope not. I like Josh Lambo, I like his commitment to being a great player. He’s in a slump right now, but there’s also the reality. The reality is you’ve got to put it through the uprights. We are all pulling for him—I can tell you this, the whole team is pulling for him. He’s a great guy that works his you-know-what off.”
(On what he needs to see from WR Laviska Shenault Jr. now with WR DJ Chark Jr. out) “Laviska [Shenault Jr.] has been our most productive guy. He’s turned it like he was a gadget player a year ago. He came out of college and was kind of that gadget player. [Coach] Sanjay [Lal] has done a really nice job. He’s a legitimate route-running wide receiver right now. I think he had six for 90-something yards last week. Ideally, I met with our staff too, to me he’s a 10-possession—ten times I’d like to see that ball in his hands and there’s creative ways to do that. He’s playing at a very high level and he’s been healthy. That whole sports performance model, guys like him have thrived with it.”
(On his conversations with QB Trevor Lawrence) “Oh yeah, he’s been great. First of all, about the football component. His comfort level, he’s really—his relationship with [Brian] Schottenheimer and the fact that Schotty and Bev [Darrell Bevell] have had experience developing a young player in the NFL. And then the personal situation, Trevor and I have a great relationship and he was great. We talked it through.”
(On whether he’s still concerned on what could affect QB Trevor Lawrence eventually) “Yeah, I mean, he’s a very unique—you guys probably know him a little bit, I know him very well. He’s one of the most unique people I’ve ever met. I heard that about him from his coach when we were discussing it, I studied him before we drafted him, and he is a—it’s so refreshing being around a guy like that. His focus and his resolve is tremendous.”
(Closing statement) “Last thing I’d just like to say, to the 904 and Duval and our owner: Why did I decide to come out of what I was doing and do this? Our owner, I just admire the guy so much, he’s become a friend. He’s a guy that I— like I said, I just admire. Jacksonville, I know very well, I know our fans have been hanging in there with us and I apologize to them. And I want to make that perfectly clear. Thank you.”
JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021
(On Head Coach Urban Meyer mentioning his bachelor party in his apology) “I didn’t really have a reaction. I mean, it is what it is. I think his intentions were to say he always encourages his players to be smart and handle things a certain way, which I did on that trip. Everything was smooth. I don’t have any reason to feel any type of way on my side, so it’s all good. I think that’s what he was getting at. But obviously, it’s a tough situation right now, so I think he was just talking through some of the stuff. It came up, but I’m not worried about it.”
(On the team’s reaction after the meeting this morning) “I think that was great. I know a lot of the guys respected it, how he addressed us this morning. Most of us have had separate conversations, individual one-on-one conversations with him and I think he’s handled it well to this point. Obviously, it’s not an easy situation and you don’t want to be in the situation, but I think he’s done right by us. It was a good meeting this morning. [He] was just upfront with us, apologized. We are a team and we are sticking together. Just because something happens that puts a little stress on it, that doesn’t mean you just give up and you go your separate ways. You figure it out and you work through it, so that’s what we’re doing. I feel good about our team. Nothing’s changed. We’re still really tight, so we’re just looking forward to playing the Titans this weekend and getting back on track.”
(On the incident impacting Head Coach Urban Meyer’s ability to lead the team) “Not really. I mean I feel like the team has been the exact same. We had like a half-day Monday, we were off yesterday, and then obviously today we were kind of back full speed, so I think everything’s been right on schedule like normal. I think we’ve operated well. At the end of the day, I can speak for myself for sure, and I know most of the team feels this way, he’s still my head coach. I still respect him regardless of what happens. Like I said, we’re a team and we’re figuring it out, so we’re all good. We had a great day of practice today and we’re all still working.”
(On the team’s level of focus on the Titans) “We are focused. That hasn’t changed. When we get out there, it’s time to work. Our meetings have been great, communication’s been really good. Obviously, we’re coming off a tough one in Cincinnati, a game that we felt like we should’ve won, that we had, that we were in it the whole game. [We] just have to get better at finishing and that’s where we’re looking to make an improvement this week. I feel like every week we’ve gotten better, so I’m just excited to put another full game together and go finish it.”
(On Head Coach Urban Meyer addressing the entire team in a meeting this morning) “I thought that was great. I thought he did a really good job, handled it well, just was upfront with us and I think that was the best way to handle it, which he did. I think that’s where you can go, ‘Alright, next. Let’s move on.’ We have to keep working and get better and that’s what we’re doing, so I think we’re in a good spot as a team.”
(On if he knew Head Coach Urban Meyer was not going to fly home with the team from Cincinnati) “I didn’t know. I had no idea. I mean you don’t really think about those things. The plane is huge that we’re on, so you don’t really think about or even care about that stuff right after the game. You’re getting on, doing your own thing, talking to teammates about the game, watching tape, all that, so you don’t really think about that. I feel like at this point we’ve all addressed everything. Everyone knows the situation and the details. It is what it is. Like I said, I’m still going to respect him. He’s our coach. [I] still believe in him, this team does and we’re moving on to playing the Titans. Everyone kind of knows everything already so there’s really no more questions I don’t think to be answered about it.”
(On his role as a captain to keep the team focused) “It definitely is a responsibility of being one of the leaders, but we have a ton of leaders on the team, so it’s on a lot of us. [With] the group we have, it doesn’t make it hard. I think everyone comes in here excited to go to work. Everyone is just itching to get that first win and I feel like we’re in a really good spot and we’re getting better, like I said. We know it’s coming, so we have a lot of motivation. As a young guy, it’s great to have a team like that where there’s a bunch of leaders and everyone’s picking each other up. You don’t have to worry about everybody else, you just have to worry about doing your job and the guys have done a great job of that.”
(On if he had an issue with Head Coach Urban Meyer not flying home with the team) “I mean his family is in Ohio, not really. That’s not my call to make. I still don’t know how this whole thing works in the NFL. Obviously, things are a lot different than in college, so I don’t know. I don’t have an issue. Obviously, the situation happened and became an issue, but I didn’t have an issue with him not going back. I get it. He has family in Ohio.”
(On celebrating his birthday today and during past seasons in college and high school) “[Clemson Head Coach] Coach Swinney always did a good job. He’d always shout out everyone’s birthday. Everybody got that in college which was cool. [Head Coach] Coach Meyer called it out in front of everybody, it was cool. It was cool to have everybody close. That’s a part of just being like a family. It’s cool when your team is really close and you celebrate those things.”
(On someone could buy him for his birthday) “My wife [Marissa Lawrence] got me a foot warmer. That’s one thing she got me. My feet get super cold, I don’t know if you guys want to know that. But she got me a foot warmer so that was a good gift, a bracelet that I really wanted, and then this cool drink maker thing. It’s like a Keurig but makes mixed drinks. It’s cool, so that was cool, just cool stuff like that. One of my friends got me this piece of art that I saw when I was living in Laguna Beach, this painting of some old presidents playing poker in some casino. It’s just a cool, cool picture. I’m not going to go into all of it. My guy Josh [Allen] is waiting. He wanted to go before me, so I’m going to hurry up.”
(On exploiting the Titans defense with big plays like the Jets did last week) “It was a really good game when you go back and watch it. [It was] back and forth. Really, those were scrambles when they made the big plays at the end of the game. That’s any game, scrambles are just tough for a defense to defend. It’s hard to cover guys for that long if you can get out of the pocket and extends plays, and that’s what I think [Jets QB] Zach [Wilson] did a really good job of in the game. You look at that and then you take that into account. That’s always kind of part of … It is not the plan necessarily, but you know that as a quarterback, you have to be able to extend plays and be able to make plays outside the pocket. They did a good job of that. Tennessee does a good job on defense. I feel like I say it every week, but they do a good job mixing up their coverages. They have guys coming from all over the place. They do a good job changing their front up, have guys walking around. [We] definitely have a challenge in front of us, but I feel like our prep is off to a great start and we feel good about it.”
(On losing WR DJ Chark Jr. to injury) “That sucks. That’s my guy. It’s just next man up. Obviously, that hurts. He’s a great player and it’s hard to replace a guy like that, but it’s a good thing we have a lot of receivers here that can play. I think now, looking back, [we’re] kind of glad we’ve hung on to so many guys because you have a lot of guys that can play. Everyone’s been rotating a lot as is, so I think a lot of guys are ready and it seems like everyone gets a lot of reps in practice. I think we’ll transition pretty smoothly. Obviously, there’s going to be a little bit of a transition when you lose a guy that’s as good as DJ [Chark Jr.], a play maker, but we’re going to be fine. We have to figure it out. This happens every year to every team. You have guys go down and that’s just part of it, so we’ll figure it out.”
(On having a relationship with Jets QB Zach Wilson) “Yeah, a little bit. I met him training in California and kind of kept in touch. I texted him after the second or third game, I think it was the second game, and just kind of caught up, told him just to hang in there, it’s all going to work out, and we kind of talked for a second back and forth, but that’s kind of the extent of it. I was happy to see him get his first win. That was cool on Sunday.”
(On other rookie quarterbacks getting wins motivating him to get his first win in the NFL) “No, we’ve been trying to win every game, so that’s not how I look at it. Obviously, you never want to be 0-4, so we need to get a win. That’s just how I look at it and just operating business as usual, keep getting better.”
JAGUARS DE/OLB JOSH ALLEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021
(On how a win this weekend will help the team) “We go out there and try to win a game every week, but this one, definitely start [with] one. We ended the first quarter 0-4. It’s a new start, a new quarter, and we just have to come out swinging, man. This one’s going to be huge. We’ve been executing in practice. We have a good game plan going on this week dealing with [Titans RB] Derrick Henry and that Tennessee offense. We’re just looking forward for this week and just go out there just to have fun and just enjoy it.”
(On getting a win versus the Titans and their talented offense) “I know for us as a defense, one of our main goals and priorities for the seasonal goals is to stop the run. When you have a guy that’s considered the best running back in the National Football League, who has the numbers, who has the talent, who’s a heck of a back. Especially coming from 0-4, we’re looking to get our first win and we trust and believe this one’s going to be the first one. It’s going to be a challenge, but our job is to stop the run and we’ve been doing a heck of a job. Our guys [have] been busting their tails, running to the ball as much as we can. This is another opportunity for us to show them how good our defense is and we’re ready for the challenge. We’re looking forward to it.”
(On focusing on preparation for the game with this week’s off-field distractions) “We’re locked in. As soon as we step in the building man, it’s football. All the distractions that everybody’s dealing with at home, whatever, as soon as you step into the facility, it’s all about football. It’s all about the team, and it’s all about winning, preparation. As soon as you step into this building, as soon as we all step in the building, our main focus is the Titans. We’ve kept that and that’s where our minds are at and that’s where we’re going to be this Sunday.”
(On if Head Coach Urban Meyer is losing the locker room and his apology to the team this morning) “No. Like I said, man, as soon as you step into the building, it’s about football. He apologized today again. We all really appreciate it, but we all know we have a job to do. He has owned it just like we all do. He’s a great coach, he’s a great man, and he’s going to bounce back. We’re all going to bounce back. We’re going to play even harder for him. We’re ready to play. He has our back, we’re going to have his back, so that’s how we’re going.”
(On when he noticed the Jaguars rivalry with the Titans) “I don’t know. I’m still kind of like feeling it [out]. I know [Titans RB] Derrick Henry and all that history, 100 yards, whatever. I don’t know. I’m ready to play.”
(On if this game feels like a rivalry game to him) “No, it doesn’t. Granted, I think it’s more rivalry I think the coaches are bringing out because we have a lot of coaches from the Baltimore staff. I know they had a lot of beef, so I think that beef is escalating to our beef, so it’s kind of firing us up a little bit. We’re looking forward for this weekend and we know it’s going to be a physical game. It’s going to be who punches first and who punches last and who punches consistently. We’re ready. We’re ready to fly around. We’re ready to get this ball, ready to get this win, and it starts with us.”
(On dropping back into coverage more in this year’s new defensive scheme) “We emphasize P.O.U., it’s the power of the unit. I’m doing my part, I’m doing my job, and that’s my job. If it needs to be that play, I’m going to do as best as I can. Can’t forget, when I was in college, I dropped more times than I rushed. I’m just doing my part. If I have to do the best drop in the world every play to make us win, I’m going to do it. I know this coaching staff is also going to put me in spots and positions to where I can make a play. I just know it’s a give and take, but I’ll do whatever it takes to get this win.”
(On the team learning how to finish games) “It hurts. I’ll tell you that, man, but we’re looking at it [like] it’s adversity. It’s how you’re going to punch out. We’ve been playing hard, we’ve been playing really great ball, we’ve been looking like one of the top defenses in the National Football League for halves and quarters, whatever, but you have to play consistent. It takes all 11 out there to play consistent every play from the first quarter to the fourth quarter. We try to emphasize that in practice, in practice, in practice. I don’t care what snap, if it’s walkthroughs, whatever, every rep is a game rep. We just have to play four quarters. I know we have the guys to do it. We have the guys to take over a game every play and we just have to put the pieces together and just keep riding out. I think it’s going to come soon.”
(On being in striking distance of the top of the AFC South) “We all know it. We literally all know it. We watch the games. We know the records to everybody else. We just have to win game one and luckily our first win I believe, I think, I know is going to be this week against a divisional team. It’s going to put us right back in the race. It’s going to put us right back in the standings to where we need to be and now, we can focus on the next one and the next one and the next one and the next one. That’s when we’re going to get the train going. We’re looking forward for this matchup not only because it’s Tennessee, divisional game, but it’s going to be the first one. It’s going to be so fun. It’s going to be live, man. We get to play it at home and play for Duval and just have fun for them. I know they want it, but we want it also. It’s going to be a good experience and we’re ready to go.”
(On what he did after Kentucky’s win over Florida last weekend) “I’m looking through my contact list and I’m blowing everybody up but nobody’s picking up my phone call though. Man, that was great football, great football on both sides of the ball. It’s great to see us battle, battle the games that we’re supposed to lose and that just shows you the growth of the organization. It’s great to see. They have another big one this week and I think this one’s even bigger than last week. They have a chance to go 6-0. They’re going to play Georgia for the SEC East I believe. It’s fun to watch, man. They’ve doing their thing, [Kentucky Defensive Coordinator/ Outside Linebackers Coach] Coach White’s been putting those boys in great positions, [Kentucky Head Coach] Coach Stoops [has] been letting those boys play, and it’s just great football. [Kentucky DE] Josh Paschal is a dog. [Kentucky OLB] J.J. Weaver is a dog. All the boys are balling, flying around having fun, and that’s just what we need to do here. We just need to fly around and have fun. When that time comes, we’re going to be doing all the laughing.”
(On Kentucky’s blocking a field goal in the Florida game) “Crazy story. [Jaguars DE/OLB] Lerentee [McCray] texted me probably a minute before the end and then I didn’t see it, so I called him back. As soon as I called him back, the phone’s ringing and I’m watching. They’re about to kick the field goal and then he picks up, we block the kick, and I’m just screaming. He’s trying to talk, and I was just screaming in his ear and then eventually he hung up on me. I was still screaming. That was actually pretty cool, and they were making a lot of plays. It was just great to see a great defensive game. I had to call all my dogs and just congratulate them for making history again. Hopefully they keep the train going and go 6-0.”
(On his neighbor’s responding to his post-game celebration) “No, they haven’t pulled up on me yet, but I’m waiting. There’s a couple of people that said, ‘Go Cats!’ They know. I actually had a neighbor stop me and say, ‘I hate Florida, so thank you.’’
(On the Kentucky crowd getting fined for storming the field after the game) “Did I what? Did I help them pay the fine? No, what am I going to pay that fine for? If I was there, I would’ve been turnt [up].”
