DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR RYAN NIELSEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2024
(On what he needs to see from DE Travon Walker and what he likes about his game) “A
player who can do it all. I mean, he’s a good run player, Travon’s a good pass rusher, can
rush with speed, finesse. He’s a good power rusher. In the run game, he can play head-up a
guy or he can play on the edge. So, there are a lot of things that he does really well. So just
the continuation of just taking this game to the next step, playing a little faster, playing a bit
more violent. As we go with this system, his place and how he just sees where he fits in in
terms of, ‘This is how I set the edge, or I rush,’ or those types of things. Just faster, more
violent, things like that. But it’s coming. He had a really good practice yesterday. So just
look for that to continue on Friday.”
(On how close the defense is to where he needs it to be) “It’s always a work in progress. You
always want to get one play better, one game better. We’re working on the things that we
see that we’ve got to fix, tweak a little bit—maybe not necessarily fix—but tweak and
continue to push the guys’ fundamentals. The knowledge of the scheme, feel like they’re
doing a great job, the players, our coaching staff, that combination of those guys working in
the meetings and things like that, picking things up. Walk-through was awesome today.
Those guys were on top of it, really locked in, fired up about the direction that it’s going in
terms of the whole combination of everything. We’re going to keep pushing every day.”
(On when the defense will start looking at the Week 1 matchup versus Miami) “Well…
maybe we have, maybe we haven’t. But yeah, we’ll take care of them when the time comes.
We’re focused on Atlanta and winning this game.”
(On if he thinks DE Josh Hines-Allen’s aspirations of being the best defensive player and to
be Super Bowl MVP are achievable) “You’ve got to work like that, right? You’ve got to work
like that in practice, your teammates, you’ve got to be a good teammate. It’s all about
practice, work, preparation, how he is in the meetings. Then go out there and win every
block. That’s really what it’s about: do your job on every block. Not necessarily make every
play, but just win every block. He’s fully capable of doing that, but that takes focus, takes
determination, a little bit of toughness rolled in there—and he has it. We’ve just got to
continue to do it one day at a time.”
(On the interior depth of the defensive line and the difficulty of finalizing roster decisions for
that group) “I’m glad we have another game. So that’s going to be a big part of the
evaluation this week. Today’s practice and then what happens this game—today,
tomorrow, how those guys work, improve—because you want to see three games. For the
majority of them, they’re going to play three games. When you put not just one game, but
the body of work and in camp, that means a lot. It’s not all just going to be on one game, but
the whole body of work. But yeah, guys have been doing a really good job. [Defensive Line
Coach] Jeremy Garrett has done an excellent job with those guys, fundamentals,
technique-wise, getting them to play really hard. It’s going to be a tough decision. Excited
about all of the guys at that position, really. We’ve rolled three, four guys at the nose and
tackle position in all these games. It’s been pretty good. So, we’ll see. We’ll see when it
comes down to that time. Really, right now, I have no idea.”
(On his thoughts on DE Arik Armstead) “He’s a pro. He’s a true professional. Very detailed,
excellent in the meeting with the players, the younger guys. He’s on top of it. Then
yesterday, he’s out there a little bit, individual, and you can see the suddenness and the
length and the power that he has. You get excited about when eventually he’s putting his
hand down and playing. But yeah, he’s been awesome. Just true professional, same guy
every single day in the building. It’s been really cool to be around him.”
(On what he’s seen and what he still would like to see from S Darnell Savage) “Really good
cover player. He can make up ground, the distance if he gets a step behind. Really, he feels
the game, the route, how it’s bending. Just his feel of the game has been really good. Then
yesterday, he’s out there, no red jersey. You see him use his hands already which is pretty
cool, taking on a block and things like that. But the experience that he has, excited playing
him at a couple different positions. We’ll see how that pans out when we get past this game
going forward.”
(On his evaluation of DT Jordan Jefferson as he gets more reps in a game setting) “It’s really
good, right? I mean, seeing him the first time in a National Football League game. That’s
really important for a rookie. He did some good things. He’s a really strong player, really
good with his hands. We’ve got to work still on some things—it’s game one. Same thing with
Maason [DT Maason Smith], Jarrian [CB Jarrian Jones], Tre [CB De’Antre Prince], it’s exactly
the same. Look for the big jump from the first game to the second game. It’s like they
always say, ‘Hey, the first game to the second game, and the team.’ You make a huge jump
from Week 1 to Week 2. It’s the same for a rookie in his first game to the second game. So,
look for those things, and I expect nothing but him to go out there and continue to get
better.”
(On if he will feel anything returning to play the Falcons, where he coached previously)
“Yeah, of course. The relationships with the players, the coaches. Was around some of
those guys for a long time, not just Atlanta, but years past. Care about a lot of those people
up there. But our focus is here, our guys here. It’ll be good to see them, but we’re going up
there to win the game. That’s the most important thing.”
(On how LB Chad Muma has adjusted to playing SAM) “They’ve done a good job. First,
understanding what we’re doing. Where they’re supposed to be. I’ll tell you, when you look
at a combination of [Inside Linebackers Coach] Matt House and those two guys together,
and when you watch them on the field, and the coaching and how they’re taking to that,
then taking that coaching and going out and playing. Even last game, Chad, he’s playing off
the ball, he’s playing on the ball. Yasir [LB Yasir Abdullah], he’s on the ball, then he’s in the
rush package and things like that. There’s a lot of different jobs that these guys do. In this
league, the more jobs you can do, the better chance you have to make it. So those guys
have done a really good job of understanding what to do, and then really buying in on how
to do it. They’ve done a good job.”
(On the extent of game planning for this game) “You don’t want to lose the focus that it’s
about us. It’s about Jacksonville. What you do want to focus on is kind of what it looks like.
This is what a reach block looks like, this is what a fade route looks like or a particular route
or a particular run play. When you look at the league, a lot of the offenses are very similar.
So, what you want to do, is you want to show our players, here’s what it’s going to look like,
but let’s really focus on our alignments, our assignments and our fundamentals, and how
we have success versus these plays. We’re game planning a little bit in terms of who they
are, what they do, but we always—and this will go throughout—it’s always a focus about us
and what we do, how we think, how we act, how we play.”
(On how Smith has been mentally and how his preparation off the field has translated) “A
little bit of that is how to be a pro. Being a rookie and then now, he’s been here for going on
this particular period of time from when we drafted him, going all the way through OTAs,
and then a couple, three weeks in camp, four weeks in camp. Sometimes you just have to
kind of feel your schedule out, and where I can get some things done like that and how to
be a pro. He’s learning that. It’s not a finished product by any means, but he’s trending in
that direction, which is really cool to see. He’s asking the right questions, he sees the tape,
‘Hey, Coach, did you see this play,’ and this and that. He’s really engaged. The guy wants it.
He really wants to be good, and so learning how to be and continuing to be the pro, and
getting your schedule throughout the season all the way to the end and continuing to do
that, that’s the challenge. The routine’s got to be the same, so he’s done a good job. You’ve
seen this week and last week, saw the step-up in his play. I think a lot of that is the time
he’s been putting into his craft.”
(On what he’s seeing out of DT Roy Robertson-Harris) “Big, strong, physical, because he’s a
really good pass rusher. A guy that big, he’s extremely athletic. There was a play in practice
the other day on a toss, I mean, he was running—that’s pretty good. It was awesome. But
you see that combination, the size, the speed. Our goal is to get everybody in games. Don’t
read into, ‘He played and this guy didn’t.’ That’s not really our—whatever snaps he got, 15
snaps or 12 snaps, it’s just getting him ready to play in this game here, was a little bit of last
week. That’s just all we’re doing. Just knocking the rust off, getting some game-type, some
plays. But he’s done a good job, he’s really improved in the last two weeks and continue to
look for that this week.”
(On if there is an emphasis to get Armstead into the game on Friday) “We’re going to take
Arik, the injury stuff—I could say, ‘No comment,’ but, you know… I don’t think so, but I’m not
sure totally right now. I mean, he just came back yesterday, so I don’t want to close the
door on anything. We’ll see. Just taking it one day at a time there.”
(On the growth he’s seen from DE Myles Cole) “Kind of the same thing with the other D-
linemen is the routine of learning how to be a pro. He’s done a really good job of getting in
the weight room with our guys here, with Ced [Director of Strength and Conditioning Cedric
Scott] and the strength coaches and really developing his body. Seeing guys get stronger,
getting more confident playing on the edge, using his hands. And then pass rush, he’s
rushing the passer pretty good. When you watch him just come off the edge, and you just
watch his snaps, he’s big, he’s long, he can dip and he can lean. So that combination, he’s
doing a good job with that. We’ve still got to work on some other things, and a little bit ways
to go, but he’s trending in the right direction.”
(On Prince and the other young players) “Another guy in the weight room that’s done a really
good job. Really, when you look at when he first got on campus here to where he is now, the
strength because his body weight has increased, that’s helped him in terms of contested
catches and putting the body on a receiver. Really fast. The thing you like about Tre, again,
another guy, just he’s the same every day. Comes into the building, he works hard. You
know exactly what you’re going to get out of him. He’s elite speed. Really, the guy can roll.
He is a fast, fast player. It’s the same thing every day which is awesome. That has helped
him get a little bit better every day. Again, Kris [Defensive Backs Coach Kris Richard] and
Cory [Defensive Assistant/Cornerbacks Coach Cory Robinson], when you watch their
individual and you watch the things they’re doing, you see the same thing on the game
tape. The guys really bought into that. Continue to look to see him get better too.”
SAFETY DARNELL SAVAGE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2024
(On if he was happy to be a full participant at practice again) “Heck yeah.”
(On if he was tired of wearing the red jersey at practices) “Yeah, I mean, just want to be one
of the guys. You know what I’m saying? They were joking with me and giving me a lot of stuff
for wearing the red, but I’m out of it now, so it’s all good.”
(On what it was like seeing a regular jersey in his locker) “I was excited. I knew it was
coming though, but I was definitely excited. That was yesterday, so I had something to look
forward to on that Monday. It was good.”
(On him getting an interception in the new jersey) “Yeah, I did. I did. I was just breaking it in,
breaking the new jersey in.”
(On if he feels 100 percent healthy again) “Yeah, I feel good. I mean, I’ve been feeling that
way. It’s protocols, so I’ve just got to be smart, be patient, but feeling good. Ready to go.”
(On if he felt like he was still productive during practices while wearing the noncontact
jersey) “Yeah, I mean, I was out there practicing every day. It was just more so my
teammates taking care of me, I’m taking care of them, that kind of thing. Just being on the
same page with that. But other than that, the biggest thing for me is just conditioning. Just
being ready to run and cover and that kind of thing. So, I was able to accomplish that even
though I was in the red.”
(On his level of comfort fitting into Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s scheme) “Yeah,
because I was out there every day just in the red jersey.”
(On if he fits as expected into the defense) “Yeah, definitely even more so. I feel like it’s rare
that you have a defense that’s dynamic because normally you think of offenses are
dynamic. But I feel like this defense is dynamic. It lets the playmakers go make plays. So, I
think it’s a perfect fit for me.”
(On if he feels as a safety the defense is more instinct-based or assignment-based) “I
mean, obviously you have assignments, but at the same time, you have rules. So, you kind
of know when your chance is to go make a play or whatever. Obviously, you’ve got to find
your assignment, read your keys, that kind of thing. But once you do that, you’re playing
football.”
(On how close he feels the defense is to meeting expectations for Week 1) “We’re stacking
blocks. We don’t want to put a ceiling on ourselves. We just come in here each and every
day. Iron sharpens iron. We’re just trying to get better every single day.”
(On the breadth of different playmakers in the secondary) “I mean, it’s good, we feed off of
each other. You know what I’m saying? It’s kind of that anticipation of who’s going to be the
one. So, we’re just out there just focusing on doing our jobs and when our moment comes,
we’ve got to make that play. It’s exciting, it’s fun. We challenge each other, we get after it a
little bit. It’s cool.”
(On how DE Travon Walker and DE Josh Hines-Allen pressuring the quarterback up front
helps his role) “We’re working with each other. It kind of goes hand in hand. If we’re not
covering back there in the back end, the quarterback’s getting the ball out quick and if
they’re not necessarily getting home and we’re covering all day, we’re back there fighting for
our lives. So, it goes hand in hand. We’re just holding each other to a high standard on both
sides and just trying to keep that same pace and that same intensity every single day.”
(On WR Brian Thomas Jr.’s explosiveness as a receiver) “Well, I wouldn’t say four steps
behind you. But yeah, he’s an easy runner. I mean, he’s so tall. You don’t really realize how
tall he is. I think BT’s probably about 6’3″, somewhere around there. He just kind of glides
when he runs. He’s got long strides, so it doesn’t really look like he’s digging, but he’s
covering ground.”
(On if receivers similar to Thomas Jr. are particularly deceptive) “Yeah, it’s deceptive. This
league is full of great athletes, tall runners, short runners. He’s definitely got a unique skill
set as far as being that tall and being able to cover that much ground and kind of just get on
top of the defense. But it’s good. It’s good for him to see us and it’s good for us to see him
too.”
(On his free agency and what went into the decision to sign with the Jaguars) “For me, it was
just really just getting back to playing football the way I know how. Obviously, my time in
Green Bay was good. I learned everything I could and I’m forever grateful for that
opportunity. But just being able to just be a playmaker and just move around and make
plays in different positions, that kind of thing. I feel like that was a big factor and I feel like
we picked the right spot.”
(On how much homework he did on Nielsen before signing with the Jaguars) “I mean, I
wouldn’t necessarily say it was a lot of homework. I knew he was in Atlanta last year. He
had Jessie [Atlanta Falcons S Jessie Bates]. Jessie had a great year, obviously, at safety for
him. He’s just a fiery guy, he just loves football. That’s somebody you can come to work with
every single day. So just that on its own is a big thing for me, too.”
(On how he would describe his role in the defense) “I don’t think it’s a specific role. I just
want to be around the ball, man. You know? I feel like I could really make the game difficult
for offenses, so with me just moving around, and I’m pretty smart, too. I can wear a lot of
different hats, so just me just moving around and just staying in it and just being all over the
place, it’s fun. It keeps me engaged, so it’s cool.”
(On if he should be labeled safety or corner) “However you all want to split it, man.
However you all want to split it. DB [defensive back]. DB.”
