OFFENSIVE LINEMAN MITCH MORSE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2024
(On why he chose to sign with Jacksonville) “I think it was kind of a slew of deals, so not only my
familiarity with Doug [Head Coach Doug Pederson] in the past, I’ve always had a sense of trying to get
back to him ever since he became a head coach. I thought it would kind of be a fun deal. The culture, we
[the Bills] got absolutely smacked last year in London and I’ve been a big fan of that defense for a very
long time as well as the offense of course. I think this league is a quarterback-driven league and to win in
this league you have to have a quarterback with the tangibles and the intangibles. I think Trevor
[Quarterback Trevor Lawrence] kind of embodies both of those things. So, that and the sunshine doesn’t
hurt, right? Being able to get the joints lubed up a little and feeling my fingers in November and
December, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy my time in Buffalo. It was home for so many years. The
only thing I have to say is that it is a little warmer here so we’re looking forward to that.”
(On what he learned from working with QB Patrick Mahomes and QB Josh Allen) “Yeah, I’m not going to
sit here and say I coached these dudes up. They were on a trajectory to be fantastic without me. The one
thing I pride myself on is facilitating football for them in any way that I can and that’s for the team in
general. Offensive line room, whatever’s required of me I’ll do that. What I did learn in those rooms is,
you have to have the locker room behind you. For all intents and purposes what I’m hearing is that
Trevor’s [Quarterback Trevor Lawrence] got his finger on the pulse in the locker room, the guy is jam on
it and being the quarterback. I know it’s a long-winded answer but it’s a tough one because I actually
didn’t play much of a role in any of those guys’ development. I was just here to help facilitate what was
already going to happen.”
(On if he was blindsided that the Bills decided to release him) “I understood where they were in the cap
and I had a very candid conversation with Brandon Beane [Bills General Manager] GM at the end of the
season, so you’re always hopeful that you’re still a part of where you’ve been for so many years. You feel
like you’ve got something going on. So, whenever you get personal and business mixed up, you get in
trouble. The best teams I truly believe are the ones focusing on football and building a family
environment, you have to. But also understand that inherently this is a business. So, the personal side of
it definitely hurt, the business side of it makes sense. It will be home for me and my family, we spent five
great years there but time marches on and it happened quickly, as you see. We’re so excited to be not
only a part of this organization but to immerse ourselves in the Jacksonville area.”
(On if it was nice to have two teams lined up immediately after being released) “Yeah I mean it’s
definitely better than the alternative which is you wait around and figure out no one wants you. Yes, to
answer your question it happened quickly. It was a hailstorm, to say the least, but it was a blessing and a
privilege, and my wife and I feel the same way. So, it’s a great question and absolutely we are glad we
wrapped this up within a week.”
(On why he thinks he fits so well in Head Coach Doug Pederson’s offensive structure) “Just Doug being
my offensive coordinator my rookie year, more than anything it was just I knew that style of football, it’s
familiar with me. It definitely played a role in coming, here but I don’t know how much it’s evolved, it’s
been nine years. So, we’ll see, and I know this is a cliche answer and you’re trying to get a real scoop and
I understand that, but the truth of the matter is I don’t totally know. I’m really looking forward to figuring
that out, not on the fly but as we go. Hopefully, I’ll have an answer for you by the end of OTAs.”
(On how he thinks he can fit into the Jaguars offensive line room) “You try to immerse yourself fully
within the group. The last thing you want on any team or in any facet of life you’ve been around is
someone coming in and talking like they’ve been there for years or having some “rah-rah” deal.
Immediately it’s for the birds, you’re not into it. For me, I’m just trying to have a relationship with all of
these guys. Inherently there are 14-15 dudes in there right now in OTAs and such. You can just try to
have a certain relationship that aligns with their personality and sometimes it just takes time. I’m looking
forward to taking that time, getting to know these guys and hopefully all of them anyway I can.”
(On if he has any relationship with OL Brandon Scherff) “Yes, we do have a relationship, super excited. He
was the pinnacle of the class in the offensive line, in 2015. I don’t know if you’ve seen his college
highlights but they’re about as gnarly as I’ve ever seen. From what I’ve seen he’s just a country dude who
likes to play football, hang out, spend time with his family and friends and hunt. I get behind that. So, I’ve
been a fan of his for a very long time, he’s been playing at a very high level. I’m excited to be in the same
offensive line room as him, chew the fat, hopefully, be friends, and see where that takes us football-
wise.”
(On what his impression is of the Miller Electric Center) “It’s sweet. I wish I had some elaborate thing but
it’s awesome. It’s everything you want as a player to facilitate your best football. They are designed to
help you be the best version of yourself.”
(On what impressed him the most about Head Coach Doug Pederson during his rookie year) “As a rookie,
you’re just trying to keep your head above water. So, part of that is you’re trying to survive, you learn to
play football through trial by fire. They’re throwing you into their ring with the big guys for the first time
and you’re trying to develop. The one thing I do remember about Doug was actually less about his
coaching and more about his personality. Not only is he not afraid of candid conversations but he’s easy
to talk to. He’s the same person on and off the field. He’s just a good man and I think what that usually
does is good dudes or good people usually lead to good football players. Not exclusively good football
players and good coaches, it’s what you want in a coach. You have good X’s and O’s but what’s it going to
be like on game day? I’ve been very fortunate these last few teams I’ve been on that have good coaches
that are steady presences, don’t really ride the waves, the ebbs and flows of the NFL, which is hard to do
in such an emotionally charged business. So, I just remember him more as a person than an X’s and O’s
kind of deal. I’m really looking forward to getting back and working with him.”
(On the balance of potentially replacing a starter) “Yeah, I’m just trying to be a good teammate in this
offensive line room. Luke [OL Luke Fortner] and I have chatted, and I’m just looking forward to competing
and growing with him. I think that’s what football is all about. It’s about no matter where you are in your
career, growing, being a better professional, and learning how to take your game to the next level. So, no
matter what happens, how that works out for me I’m trying to be a resource for him, he’s going to be a
resource for me, and we’ll see how it plays out. Hopefully first and foremost make a good relationship in
the offensive line room. The last thing you want to do is polarize anything.”
(On what your conversations with Head Coach Doug Pederson have been like regarding the offense next
year) “To be honest, so much has happened in 96 hours. A lot has been not discussed yet so I just know
the bones that this team has, the players it has, and the offensive line room. To kind of allude to earlier,
Brandon [OL Brandon Scherff] and I do have a great relationship. It’s been more in passing over the years
but we share a lot of mutual very good friends so we’ve been in cahoots. That’s a great question and I
feel like I’d be more apt to answer it much like any other one, later in OTAs. To answer the first part of
that question, I’ve talked to a few guys on the team, Luke [OL Luke Fortner] being one of them. It was all
positive, it was all great. Luke was the first one to reach out to me and I thought that was really cool. It’s
something that I don’t take lightly because I’m sure it’s been hard. Like I said before, we are just trying to
be the best versions of ourselves and trying to put the best product out there on Sunday no matter
who’s out there. So, the great thing is we don’t play next week. I look forward to building relationships,
being good guys, and pushing ourselves. I know it’s all cliche coach talk but it’s true, just try to be the
best version of ourselves and put something out there.”
