JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022
(On facing WR Davante Adams, TE Darren Waller, and RB Josh Jacobs) “All three of them are great
players. A lot of production in the league, then throw in Derek Carr (QB). It can stress a defense because
you’ve got to think about resources on defense, where are you going to put them? Who are you going to
try to take away? It’s a challenge defensively. It’s something I know our guys are ready for.”
(On how good of a tight end Darren Waller is) “He does a lot of things well. He’s big, number one. He’s
physical. He runs well. The 50-50 balls are all his type thing. Just a good overall tight end, can block, and
he’s a load. He’s a handful. He’s just a bigger, more physical guy at times. That’s a challenge for safeties
and linebackers.”
(On what he can learn about CB Tyson Campbell in his second year seeing him go against Davante
Adams Sunday) “I think if that’s the case (if he shadows him), you learn a lot. It’s a great opportunity for
Tyson if that’s the case. I just think that’s a great opportunity for any player to be in that position to go
against one of the best receivers in our league. If that’s the case, again, I know Tyson will be ready and
be prepared for that opportunity.”
(On if he likes it when guys ask for tough one-on-one matchups) “I do. I think it’s great for the player to
have confidence in his ability, then it shows confidence from us, too, to put a player like Tyson (CB Tyson
Campbell) in that position, whether it’s this week, next week, or moving forward. I think it just proves
the confidence in the player but more so probably confidence in us as a staff to know that he is a good
player, and he’s ready for those opportunities.”
(On how he decides coverage on great opposing players) “I think it’s by game plan. I think you can do
both (cover the number one with one or cover the two with one and double the number one), honestly,
and it’s by call. Certainly (both in the same game). I go back to, this coordinator comes from the New
England style of defense, and I go back to my days, ’17, Super Bowl, playing the Patriots, and you see
normal coverage out in the field, you see bracket coverage in the red zone. That’s what you see on tape,
and you would expect that maybe someone like Evan (TE Evan Engram) or Christian (WR Christian Kirk)
could potentially be bracketed as we get closer to the goal line, but those are all things that–I would say
on the reverse side, with guys like Waller (TE Darren Waller) and Davante Adams (WR) could be the
same situation.”
(On the type of player needed on the opposite side when one defensive player is shadowing a wide
receiver) “That’s just it. You get your second or third corner that move around, too. It’s nothing against
them. They’ve got a job to do as well. They’ve got to be up for that task, and they’ve got to learn their
game plan and study where they need to be and understand their technique and all that, so it’s no
different. It’s just being prepared and understanding who you might be going up against.”
(On the challenge of playing the right side versus the left side) “It can be for guys. I think it’s just the
eyes, technique. Anymore though, guys are playing both sides of the field. I think it’s harder sometimes
for DBs, corners particularly, to go from outside to inside or maybe inside to outside, but for us, a guy
like Darious (CB Darious Williams) who can play both. He can play outside, then he can go inside. I think
it proves just his versatility doing that. A lot of times you see a corner that may travel with a receiver but
don’t go inside if that receiver is inside. They’ll still play on the outside. You’ll see some different
coverages that way. There are some subtle differences playing left and right.”
(On how valuable DL Arden Key has been) “He’s been great. It was really good to see him last week be
productive and get after the quarterback. He’s an excitable guy, and he’s got a lot of energy. He’s really
good to have in that locker room.”
(On if there is room for RB Travis Etienne Jr. to grow in a passing game role on top of his explosive run
game) “Sure. Yes. I like him out of the backfield, choice routes, option routes, trying to create some
matchups maybe on some backers, screen game, which is something that we’ve had a little bit of
success in. Those are way to get him the ball other than just handing it to him. “
(On making sure the team does try to do too much as they are trying to get a win) “That’s a challenge.
You don’t want guys to press. You still want guys for the game to come to them and make plays that
come their way. It’s part of my job to keep communicating that. Creating opportunities that show up in
the game and just being able to handle those, making those plays that come their way. Don’t go
searching for stuff. There’s a lot of plays in a football game and just understanding that when they come
to you, it’s your job to make them.”
(On if he worries that after the WR Calvin Ridley trade some guys will start looking ahead to next year)
“No, I really don’t. There’s nine games left. There’s a lot of football. Anything is possible here in the
second half of the season. We’re just about halfway. We’re obviously not where we thought we would
be and probably could be a little bit different here and there, but these guys are still practicing hard,
they’re playing hard. We just need an opportunity for the ball to bounce our way and get that first one.
A lot of opportunities we’re still focused on this week and this season, trying to get things turned
around.”
(On not wanting the bye this week) “No, I did not want the bye this week. Even coming back (from
London) with the travel and the time change and everything this weekend, so we’re getting plenty of
rest.”
(On how WR Jamal Agnew’s injury recovery has progressed) “Ags is doing well. He’s day to day. We’ll see
again today out there on the field where he’s at, but he’s doing well and optimistic that he plays this
weekend.”
