JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14, 2022
(On how he feels after Sunday’s win and going into a new week) “Feeling fine, feeling good. It’s a big,
exciting week with the type of team that’s coming in here. Obviously both teams are coming off a win,
couple days still ‘til the game but a lot of preparation goes into it.”
(On what he sees from the offensive line after they have had to shuffle some players due to injuries)
“Just that. Obviously, we saw he’s (LT Tyron Smith) been elevated and put back in the mix, so we’ll see
how that plays out. He’s obviously a good player, and OL Jason Peters has been there and been a
veteran and knows the ropes a little bit, knows what to do, so they’ve got answers for that. You can’t
worry too much about that as worry about us getting prepared and take it one day at a time.”
(On the rhythm between coach and quarterback for him and QB Trevor Lawrence) “It’s getting better
from the standpoint that we have a lot of communication throughout the week. I’m getting a better
feel, obviously, for what he likes and what he’s comfortable with, so we put game plans together that
way, too, so he has a lot of confidence in the plays and what we’re calling. It just comes with time and
understanding who he is and understanding, I guess, my mindset too, sometimes. It’s always a work in
progress each week, but I do feel like he is really, I guess, understanding kind of what we’re trying to get
done as an offense, so if you think the same, that definitely helps. Really, you call a play, and it may not
be the best play at the time, but you ask your quarterback to kind of bail you out, and he’s been able to
do that, and it’s just the complimentary aspect of it.”
(On OLB Travon Walker’s injury) “It’s an ankle, high ankle. He’ll be day to day.”
(On how he assesses the team on a development and progress standpoint since the team came together
in July) “I do like where we’re at. As you said, wins and losses are different, but where the team is
mentally at this time of the year, where the team is physically this time of the year, where the team is I
think from a health standpoint this time of the year, all those things are plusses for us. One of the things
I think for me is that this group, the way they practice during the week, how they prepare and get
themselves ready to play. That’s what you want to see as a head coach. Guys aren’t shutting down. The
guys are, even the games that we’ve lost, we’re in to the fourth quarter and playing hard to the end.
Guys are disappointed when that happens. For me, I like where the mental side of things are at with this
football team right now.”
(On how difficult it was for him to stay patient during the hiring processes, as it was one of the longest in
NFL history) “Teams should do their due diligence, obviously, and it should take a little time, but at the
same time, I can’t worry too much about that. I was still kind of preparing for hopefully an opportunity
during that time. Still stayed in touch with Trent (GM Trent Baalke) over the weeks, and the
communication was always open and just fortunate that it all worked out.”
(On if this was the kind of opportunity he had his heart set on) “Yeah, it was. When you look at the
team, and obviously the quarterback position is key, the young roster and the talent, it was definitely
intriguing.”
(On if he will try to implement some of the things the Texans defense did last week to give the Cowboys
a hard time last week) “You’ve got to play to our strengths, obviously, but you can probably take some
things away from that game, but I think the things that you look at too, what our defense did this past
week is just, you’ve got to be able to create that pressure and create the takeaways. That just goes
without saying. Again, we’re facing another good run offense, a team that can run the football, and it’s
another good offensive line, so it’s going to take, like last week, it’s going to take all 11 to try to slow
down the run game. It’s a challenge. We look at games each week, same way we do, when, say we look
at Dallas’s defense; what did an offense do that we’re studying, and what were the good things? At the
end of the day, you have to focus on our players, our scheme, and making sure that we’ve got our guys
in the right spots.”
(On how big of a problem the Cowboys’ defense can be and what he thinks of LB Micah Parsons) “The
defense is very disruptive, tops the league in sacks and takeaways. They want to get you in third down
and let him and DeMarcus Lawrence (DE) just rush. These are two good edge rushers. They’ve always
had good edge rushers. Micah Parsons is one of the best we’ve seen all season long. He’s quick, he’s
explosive, his motor never stops, he’s relentless to the quarterback. Those are all the things you see on
tape. When you watch these guys play, DeMarcus Lawrence is the same way. He’s that type of player.
He’s physical. He can get off the ball, disruptive, and these two guys are a challenge, a load to contend
with.”
(On how much of a loss it will be for the team is OLB Travon Walker can’t play this week especially after
having a good game against the Titans) “Anytime you lose a starter, potentially, that’s going to take a
little bit away from your offense or defense, and he’s really starting to play better as the season’s
progressed, doing different things. This past week, playing with his hand in the ground coming off the
ball a little bit more, just feeling comfortable with the scheme. It’s always going to be, if that happens, if
that’s the case, it’s the next man up mentality. If that’s Arden Key (DL), K’Lavon Chaisson (OLB),
whoever’s going to fill that role, you’ve just got to be ready to go, ready to play.”
(On why OLB Travon Walker is playing with his hand on the ground) “That (how he did it in college), and
I think his explosion coming off the ball, the way he can have that one step quickness and power in his
length, I think is beneficial to be in a three-point stance sometimes. It’s just something that we’ve got to
continue to help develop as we go.”
(On message to the offensive line going against Cowboys OLB Micah Parsons) “You just got to
understand where he is. They do move him around a little bit, and just understand where he is. It’s no
different than trying to stop a good running attack, right? It’s all-hands-on deck. The same way with
good pass rushers; you got to have tight ends help out. You got to have guards and tackles help out.
Backs have got to help out. It’s kind of all-hands-on-deck offensively, too, because of guys like that.”
(On development of the offensive line throughout the season) “It says a lot. These guys work hard
together, they practice well. It starts with Luke (C Luke Fortner) inside with communication then spreads
from there. Really, all five guys have played really well, played solid and consistent. That’s what you can
ask of your offensive line to do, and they pride themselves in trying to keep the quarterback clean if
possible.”
(On TE Evan Engram being a better blocker than anticipated) “I think the more I’ve had him here, yeah,
he’s definitely a really good blocker. He’s not a big guy, but at the same time, he prides himself and he
wants to be physical. He does whatever it takes to win. If it means one week he has to block, he’s going
to do that. I appreciate that, because then he’ll have a game like Sunday when we get to throw him the
football and that’s kind of the reward. He’s turned himself into a really good blocker, and it’s just
because of his own effort and determination.”
(On TE Evan Engram’s understanding of when he gets the ball) “No, just kind of knew a little bit about
him when we were going after him in free agency and understanding the type of person he is and type
of character he is. He’s such an unselfish guy. What he gives of himself to the team and his teammates,
and again, like I said, he does whatever it takes to win a game. He doesn’t get bent out of shape if he
gets one target or eleven targets. He’s the same guy every week.”
(On injury update of LB Chad Muma, performance by LB Devin Lloyd) “Yeah, Chad should be out there
today and get him moving so that’ll be good to get him back out there. I thought Devin played probably
one of his better games this past weekend, things felt a little bit slower for him, being able to process
and really do a nice job. I think he had, what, seven or eight tackles combined, and he just did a nice job.
He can build off of that.”
(On expectations from LB Chad Muma if deemed healthy for this weekend) “I think it’ll be similar to
what we had the last couple weeks. I think if Chad is healthy, he can get the nod to start, and then Devin
(LB Devin Lloyd) would be the backup or the role player, and just try to get them both in the football
game when you can.”
(On talent of Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs) “This guy is long and athletic, can run, great ball skills. Former
receiver, playing DB, so he thinks like a receiver sometimes and anticipates well. You see why teams
don’t throw his way, and when they do, you see why he’s got so many interceptions and PBU’s and
things like that. He’s just a smart player, and again, he’s matched guys like Justin Jefferson [Vikings WR
Justin Jefferson] and he’s done well against players like that. He rises to the challenge; you see the
confidence in him. He’s a good, young player.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence evolving throughout the season against tough defenses) “Yeah, but we’re not
going to force the issue. We’re not going to say, ‘Hey, let’s just go try to throw over there and see if we
can make it happen.’ You just kind of let things unfold. When you play good defenses, they’re going to
have good players, and this is a really good challenge for our offense this week. It’s going to be an
electric atmosphere with the crowd that’s expected here, and I know the Cowboys travel well. I’ve been
part of these games for a while, and they travel well, their fans do. It should be fun.”
(On what’s needed to stop the Cowboys offense) “You need more; you need more. You need more out
of the run game. You probably need 120-130 yards. You need to somehow slow the pass rush down.
You’ve got to be able to do that, and sometimes the mindset of playing ball control and keeping the ball
out of their hands as an explosive offense. Not only running the football, but Dak (Cowboys QB Dak
Prescott) can be dynamic throwing the football. We just need more out of our guys. They understand
that. We have played and you’re always going to be playing teams that are always good run defensive
stopping units that we’ve had the last couple of weeks. This is another one that’s doing a pretty good
job in the run game, but we just got to call a few more and execute a little bit better.”
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022
(On being named AFC offensive player of the week) “I think it just shows that for me to do that it takes a
lot of other people, too. The guys up front, I didn’t get sacked at all. Receivers, tight ends making plays.
It was a great day for all of us. I think it kind of reflects that more than anything, but it’s exciting. We’re
on to next week now. It won’t carry over, sadly, those stats won’t carry over this week.”
(On how much he practiced today compared to last week) “About the same. I was out there during the
team stuff and just kind of get some mental reps, throwing a little bit, but try to work it up as we go
throughout the week.”
(On what happened with the shoving at the end of the Titans game) “It’s just football. I’m sure in their
situation, not too happy with the way the game’s gone, and the last play they kind of jacked up Luke (C
Luke Fortner). Everybody knows we’re taking a knee, just like let’s take a knee, go in the locker room,
and he did that, so I was just trying to have his back, too, the same way he would do if someone did that
to me. Same way he would do for me. It’s just football. It happens. I think probably every week a team
does that at the end on a victory kneel at the end.”
(On waving to fans at a road game) “I don’t know. It might be my first. We were excited for sure.”
(On if it is development in his leadership role doing things like sticking up for C Luke Fortner and waving
to the Titans fans) “I think that’s something throughout my career, there’s times when that happens,
that competitive spirit. It’s definitely come out more this season than last year. I’d say comfort level, just
the guys I’m playing with, I just have a blast out there. I love playing with those guys, especially the
group up front, just have a great relationship, take care of each other. That’s where some of that comes
in. I think there’s been times when we’ve needed a spark and things like that, and myself, along with the
other guys, have been able to give us that, whether it’s on defense, on offense, whatever, I think we
have a lot of guys that are able to find that, and I think guys kind of get behind that as well.”
(On if he is able to show that competitiveness more when he is playing at a high level) “It’s not really
about that for me, I think just, yeah, you don’t want to look like an idiot when you’re not playing well.
There’s some things you’ve got to be smart about how you act. I wouldn’t say it’s just because I’m
playing well, but I think just this point where we’re at in the season, these games are huge for us, and
just having that edge, that intensity, being passionate about what we’re doing. I think we’re all getting
more and more of that as the season goes. So it’s not necessarily about me just playing well, and that’s
why it’s happening, I think it’s just where we’re at, kind of what we need. We need a lot of juice. I know
everybody’s excited. We’re in a spot in our season where I think we’re getting better every week.”
(On how much the video Head Coach Doug Pederson put together for the Titans game motivated the
team) “I think it’s good for a team that’s—there are a lot of guys that have been here for a while, but we
also have a lot of guys that are new this year, even including myself, it’s only my second year, so just to
kind of see that and throughout the years even just what fans feel. That’s where a lot of it starts is the
fans’ kind of hatred towards each other, Tennessee and Jacksonville. Just to see that and kind of what’s
happened through the years paints a brighter picture for the guys who haven’t been here or maybe only
a year or so. You haven’t been around that rivalry for years. I think it just kind of helped paint that
picture of what it is and kind of the mentality of both teams. It was good.”
(On if that was part of what incentivized him to wave to the Titans fans) “Maybe a little bit, I don’t know.
It just kind of happened, heat of the moment. Just kind of the perfect opportunity, we were playing just
all fired up. You think about how long it’s been since Jacksonville has won there, so I know our fans and
the people who have been Jags fans for a long time, it was a big day. Like I said, though, you can’t take it
into this week. It was a great day.”
(On what characteristics make Doug Pederson a quality head coach) “I think just not even talking about
football, he’s a really, really smart offensive mind, and he played the position, great play caller, all those
things, but just the way he carries himself. I’ve said that ever since he’s been here, that’s something that
I’ve noticed, and it’s just proven itself more and more, especially the way our season’s gone, it’s been up
and down. We’ve had great moments, we’ve had really bad moments, and I think that’s the one thing
that we really needed was someone that’s stable, comes in every day, he’s always the same no matter
what. We could’ve just won by 28 or just lost by whatever we lost to the Lions. It’s the same Monday
morning, obviously people are pissed off and we’re not as happy around here after we get beat like that,
but he doesn’t change. The plan doesn’t change. He never panics, and I think that just shows the
confidence he has in us, and that’s reciprocated in the way we practice, the way that we prepare, all
that. Just the way he carries himself, I really have enjoyed just being around him every day, and
obviously I’m around him a lot more because we have a lot of meetings, but he’s been great.”
(On how that is what people say about him as well) “That’s how I try to be. I think you have to be,
especially in this position and his position being the head coach and the quarterback, I think that’s a
really important characteristic. You’ve got to know who you’re going to get every day. It can’t be a
different person when things are going good or bad.”
(On if he and Head Coach Doug Pederson are in a rhythm now where he can anticipate what he is going
to call) “Situationally, we talk a lot about obviously third down and red zone, different stuff like that
then you have a plan to start each game and kind of which direction you’re going to head the first few
plays. Obviously, you know that, but then third down and red zone you’re on the same page. We have
our ideas of what we like, and we talk about what kind of order we want. Obviously, that can change
based on the situation, so I can anticipate those, but as the game goes, I think moreso, we have a huge
menu of plays to run, so it’s not like I always know what he’s calling, but we’re always on the same page
in the situation. Just the way we communicate, whatever the situation is, ‘Hey, this is an opportunity to
take a shot,’ or ‘Let’s be smart, let’s take a completion, keep the chains moving.’ Whatever it is, he does
a good job of kind of reminding me of some of those things, and now as it’s gone more and more he
doesn’t have to as much because we’re on the same page. I kind of know, like I’ve talked about with
y’all, just field position, where we’re at. There was a couple times in the Tennessee game we ended up
settling for field goals, but I think we were really smart about what we called and then just my mindset
of, ‘Okay, can I extend the play? Do I need to get it out of my hands? Take a completion? Throw it away?
We got the field goal already.’ All those things, I think the more you’ve played together or played for
someone that kind of flows more naturally, and you know what to expect call-wise, and you know what
they’re expecting me to do, and there’s just that trust of—because there’s situations around the league
and especially college or wherever where different situations are called differently based on who the
quarterback is and the trust that they have in that guy. ‘Do we trust him to make the right decision, or is
he going to hold on to it and take a sack in this critical moment where we don’t have any timeouts or
we’re in field goal range and we could get knocked out of field goal range.’ So I think they’re showing a
lot of trust in me, and that’s where I’ve grown a lot as a player, just understanding those situations, so I
think that’s been a cool thing for us to go through.”
(On if he thinks London red zone turnover earlier in the season was wake up moment for him) “I think
there’s been a few of those moments really in my career so far, but I think at that point, I’ll never forget
how I felt in that locker room after the game. Obviously, it wasn’t a good day for me, and I really just felt
like, really it felt like that a couple times, but none more than after that game. I felt like I let the team
down. Should’ve won that game. I think we had lost four, that was our fifth one in a row, so I was just—I
never forgot how I felt in that locker room because I never don’t want to feel like this anymore. I’m
going to start taking care of the ball, but two, I just want to be the player that I know I can be, and I think
that kind of flipped a switch in me. Honestly, too, I have a little bit more of a chip on my shoulder now
just because the last year and a half, I don’t really forget what’s been said and what people have
written, and now you see people change their mind after a couple weeks, but I remember everything,
and I don’t use that necessarily as my only fuel, but I definitely use that. I think that’s something this
team’s done. We kind of remember what people were saying when we lost five in a row, and we’ve won
some big games now, and people kind of change their minds quick, so we just have that same mentality
that we want to prove how good we can be every week, and I think that’s been the cool thing about this
team.”
(On how big TE Evan Engram has been for the team the past couple weeks) “He’s been awesome. The
whole season, honestly. We’ve talked a lot about it, he’s one of my favorite teammates, just the way he
prepares, the way he works. I don’t think there’s a guy who practices harder than Evan. He’ll take all the
reps in practice then he’ll run 10, 12 routes after practice almost every day and does some blocking
drills, too. He works super hard, and to see that pay off finally in the stats. Obviously, there’s a lot that
he does that kind of goes unnoticed. I think he’s had a great year. He’s filled a role that we’ve really
needed and just the matchups that he’s been able to create, then even in the run game, he’s a great
blocker. That hasn’t necessarily shown up in the stat sheet ever week, but for it to pay off, I know that
feels good for him because he’s a team guy. I know that’s not really what he cares about, but I know
that feels good to have a game like that, and he’s one of the only tight ends to have, I don’t know what
the stats were, but something crazy. It was one of the best games by a tight end in a long time. I’m
happy for him, and he deserves it. It was really cool.”
(On this being referred to as “a meaningful game in December”) “Yeah, like I said, where we’re at in our
season, I think we all understand how important this game is. Every game is important, but especially
with where we’re at. Like we talked about a few weeks ago, the situation we put ourselves in with some
of those losses early, it’s just where we’re at. Backs up against the wall, and we’ve got to fight our way
out, and I think we’ve got the perfect group to do it. We understand how big this game is and every
game moving forward this stretch is huge, so we’ve got a great opportunity.”
(On what it meant to him to be a part of Shop with a Jaguar last night) “It was really cool. As me and
Marissa (his wife) have gotten more settled in, we’ve tried to do more in the community. Basically, a
bunch of guys on the team donate money, and you go shopping with kids for Christmas. They have a
bunch of busses, drop the kids off, you hang out with them for an hour or two and shop with them. It
was great just to see some of those kids, how appreciative they were of that, even kids getting stuff for
their family members and stuff like that is really cool, and that’s kind of what it’s all about, so it was cool
to be able to not just to donate for kids to buy presents but just to hang out with them, be around them,
and do something that we don’t really get to do a lot of, so it was cool.”
(On the sweater that he had on at the shopping event) “I was given that one, special edition. Our crew
did a good job. They gave out a bunch of sweaters for that event, the guys that were going to go
Christmas shopping with the kids, they put a bunch in our lockers, and that was a special Jags one.”
(On needing to know where Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons is) “Where, the top of the list? He’s up
there. He’s a great player. You see his athleticism. I think he’s one of the best pass rushers in the league,
just week in and week out the plays he makes, his pursuit, chasing down from the back side, all those
things. He’s a guy you always got to know where he’s at, you’ve got to have a plan for him because he’s
a guy that definitely can wreck your game if you don’t plan for him. Even if you do, he’s going to make
plays. That’s the nature of it. He’s a great player. You do everything you can to stop him, but he’s going
to make a few plays. We’ve played good pass rushers this year, but he’s up there with the best of who
we’ve played. I know him going back to high school, so I’m excited to see him out there.”
