JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
(On the key to coming out hot in the second half) “It’s a little of everything. In fact, the defense had four
stops, and we had four scores to start the second half. They had two punts, two interceptions, then we
had a touchdown, field goal, field goal, touchdown to start the second half, so those are things that
when you get in the locker room at halftime, there’s no panic with this group, which is really good to
see. Our coaches made necessary adjustments on both sides of the ball, and the players had confidence
that they were going to pull that one out, even at halftime.”
(On why there was no panic) “That’s a lot of it (no panic in the staff). We’re not going to panic. There’s
30 minutes of football left. I talk a lot about starting games fast, which I thought, if we just end that
drive with a catch in the end zone, there’s a touchdown on your opening drive, then to start the second
half, be able to do the same thing. We’re not going to panic. We’re just going to get in there and go to
work and make the adjustments and come out swinging in the second half.”
(On OLB Travon Walker’s interception) “It’s a great athletic play. Sometimes they just fall into that, great
vision on his part to make that play. Good to see. He played well. There’s some room for improvement
in his game, but I think overall he did some good things.”
(On LB Devin Lloyd) “Devin played okay. Again, there’s some room for improvement there. I thought just
watching him yesterday and going back and watching it today, things were a little fast early for him. He’s
got to learn to exhale, take a deep breath, and really kind of get the game to slow down for him, be a
little more under control in his play.”
(On tackling issues) “Yeah, early in the season, but still, we’ve got to do a better job tackling, come to
balance. I felt like we were trying to get the big hit a lot of the time when you can just come to balance,
break down, and make the play. Listen, give them credit. There were a couple spin-outs by them that
were pretty impressive and a great play by them as well.”
(On if there are any concerns with the offensive line) “No concerns with the offensive line, and he (OL
Ben Bartch) settled down. You’ve got to understand, that’s two grown men in there that he took a lot of
one-on-one blocks with. Early, they got him, but as he settled into the game, got a little more help from
the center at times, and just kind of went back and forth, but no concerns with Ben or the offensive
line.”
(On if Washington’s defensive line is one of the best he’ll see all year) “So far. It’s only one. I’ll tell you
what, it’s a good group. Washington has put a lot of resources into that line. Chase Young is the one
they were missing yesterday, and you throw him in the mix, and you’ve got a really good—I thought
Montez Sweat played as good as I’ve seen him play in a long time, and rightfully so., It’s a good line.”
(On his evaluation of OL Luke Fortner) “Good. I’d say not great but good. Again, at times, the game felt
fast. As much as I try to tell the guys, preseason is one thing, regular season is another speed, playoffs
are even another speed. It’s good to kind of get it behind us, I think, early. Obviously, you’d love to pull
out the win, and we had chances to do that in the second half, but overall, he’s doing the right things.
He’s headed in the right direction from an assignment standpoint, but we’ve just got to get those young
guys to slow down and exhale a little bit and trust their instincts.”
(On if things start to slow down for players in game two) “It usually happens Week 2. It starts to slow
down for them. It’s just like it was in OTAs and training camp with these guys. Things were real fast, then
you get kind of comfortable and used to playing and being in there, and things start to slow down, and
it’s nice to have a guy like Brandon (Scherff) next to him that can help him stay calm, but it’s a great
learning experience for the young guys.”
(On roughing the passer penalties) “You love the aggressiveness, and you definitely have to get after the
passer, especially on third down, but you’ve just got to be mindful of where your hands are. The officials
are being more cautious, more sort of out in front with the QB hits, especially up around the head and
neck area. It was close, and it’s unfortunate. It kept a drive alive for them, but for us, it’s still maintaining
the aggressiveness, and we’ve just got to be more mindful of where our hands, headgear, and all that
are, especially on a quarterback.”
(On if he was surprised by the number of penalties after the preseason was relatively so clean) “I was.
Gosh, we had a couple like, illegal shift, illegal formation on offense, which should never happen. Those,
to me, are unacceptable. Those are critical errors that we made. Again, I kind of put that back on the
staff, too, the coaching staff, and myself, and we’ve just got to make sure that we’ve got the guys in the
right spots and we’re doing the things in the week that eliminate that. Then some of the defensive
offsides, especially in critical moments, we just can’t do that. The team, they know it. They’ve been
around, a lot of these guys have played a lot of ball, they understand that stuff, but I was surprised. I
think we had seven on offense and six on defense. We’ve just got to eliminate those.”
(On how you teach a team how to win and finish games) “You’ve just got to keep talking and keep
showing them. Show them the good. Show them the positive. That was really my message to the team
this morning, like, ‘Listen, guys. This is what we did during the week. This was my message during the
week to you, then this is how we went out and played, so you’ve just got to keep revisiting and showing
just like we talked about with the possessions in the second half, as bad as they were in the first half, to
start the second half as good as they were, that’s what you’re capable of doing. If we just get ourselves
out of the way and go play. Obviously, you’ve got to think out there, but as they say, don’t think, just
react, you’re going to be better off. It’s an ongoing process. You do have some young players that are
playing, and it’s a different game. We as a coaching staff, myself, have to continue to educate the
players on that.”
(On if he worries the team will start having a “Here we go again” mindset) “I don’t. I don’t because it
starts with me. I’m not going to let that creep into our thinking at all. I coach the staff that way to make
sure they’re positive yet very critical of the players as well, critical of ourselves, and I’m just not going to
let that happen.”
(On what were some of the main issues with QB Trevor Lawrence’s passes) “It’s a little of everything.
There was some pressure in his face a couple times, movement in the pocket could have been a little
better at times, but listen, it’s the NFL, and we ask a lot of our quarterback, of Trevor, and there were
some really good things that he did during the game. There are some plays he’d love to have back, but I
thought overall his vision down the field and what he saw was right on point to what we’re trying to get
done.”
(On the run-pass balance) “You get in those games and you kind of do what’s working. There were times
when you run, run, set up the play-action pass. Even to start the game, I think we had six first downs if
you count even the first and 15 where we were backed up. We had six first downs I think on the opening
drive, and those were some runs and some play-action passes. I feel like if we have a good blend and
mix of that, at the end it probably evens itself out. Too, when you’re down 14-3, as a play-caller,
sometimes your mindset is, ‘The only way we can get back into this game is to throw it.’ Well, that’s not
the case. We actually came out and started running the ball a little bit, then we had the shot to Christian
(Kirk) there in the third quarter, and eventually in the endzone, so it’s a little bit of a balance. We had a
nice rushing touchdown there in the third quarter with James (Robinson). We had a missed opportunity
with Zay Jones on the left side and again on a fourth down to (Travis) Etienne. The plays are there. To
me, run, pass, the plays are there to have, we just have to make them.”
(On if he is pleased with the way he mixed players in in the lineup) “I thought it was good. I think it was
roughly 36 or 37 snaps there for Travis, another 35 or so for James. James felt good. We wanted to make
sure that he was feeling good if we kept him going, and he ran hard, ran tough. Both those guys did a
really great job for us, and it’s a good one-two punch. We’re going to continue to find ways to get them
both in the game and get them touches.”
(On frustration of having the plays there and just not making them) “It’s frustrating, but I look at myself,
too, and say, ‘Could I have done a better job putting our guys in situations?’, but ultimately, we’re in this
together, and if the plays are there, we ask the players to make them. That’s part of our philosophy,
make the plays that kind of come to you, and we didn’t make enough of those yesterday. They were
there, but it’s good film to correct and learn from and get better in week two.”
(On how Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell did in his first regular season game in his position) “I
thought he did well. Again, it comes down to the communication and putting the guys in position to
execute the defense, and I thought that was the case again. We’ve got some young guys in big spots
we’ve got to continue to coach and get them to kind of slow the game down for them a little bit, but I
thought overall Mike did a nice job with the defense.”
(On the breakdown in the long score along the right sideline) “Again, I think it was a cover two look, and
we played man inside with Darious (Williams). You look at (Andre) Cisco and Shaq (Griffin), just not
being there at that time. Just a little bit of communication, eye placement, and eye discipline, and those
are things that obviously was a big play for them, but it’s a great learning experience for our guys, when
in that situation again, what to do. Again, we can explain it, coach it, teach it better and ultimately let
them go play.”
(On if that can be ironed out by playing more together) “It can. We can do better at the corner position
there as far as redirecting the receiver then secondly, we can be a little better with our eyes on the back
end, again, it’s just teamwork. It’s 11 guys pulling together for one play.”
(On how the team fared injury-wise) “Good. Yeah, just cramps (OL Jawaan Taylor). We came out good.
WIDE RECEIVER CHRISTIAN KIRK
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
(On how the halftime adjustments came about with mentality) “I honestly see it as an opportunity, or I
saw it as an opportunity, of who we wanted to be early on in the season. You know, quickly we had a
decision to make of ‘Are we going to fight through adversity and come out a different team in the
second half, or are we just going to hang our heads and say that we’re down eleven points, and maybe,
hopefully we’ll get back?’ The resiliency that everybody showed on both sides of the ball was great, like
you said, defense had a big stop coming out at half. We were able to capitalize on some things
offensively, but it shows the types of guys and the culture that we’re trying to build here, so, it was
really encouraging, one of the more encouraging things about the game.”
(On if anything was learned about the offensive) “I wouldn’t say learn anything, I think we definitely
could’ve been better. There’s a lot of missed opportunities. That was one of the glaring things that we
saw on tape today, but it was a really good defense, we talked a little bit about it after the game. They
have a great front seven. Those guys are wreaking havoc up front, so there’s some things we’re going to
correct and get better from and get ready for the Colts.”
(On the process of what the franchise was versus now) “Yeah, it doesn’t happen overnight, for sure. I
know there have been plenty of teams that people have seen that came from an organization that went
through the same type of development as well, so this stuff is going to take time, but like I said, good
teams finish. We definitely have some work to do to be a good team and we got to learn how to finish
football games because that’s how you make a living in this league and you become one of the better
teams, is if you finish games in tight situations like that.”
(On important things that he saw in Arizona as they improved that are important) “I think the most
important thing is learning how to win. It may kind of seem like, ‘How do you learn how to win?’ It’s in
crucial situations, it’s scoring in the red zone, being more than fifty percent on third down, being the
best situational football team, mitigating penalties and getting behind the chains on first and second
down. Those things all play a part into having a successful football game and also putting yourself in the
best position to win. Those are all things that we didn’t do on Sunday, and it’s hard to win when you do
tha. We’re going to learn from it. Like I said, it’s Week One, and I’m pretty confident with where we’re
at.”
(On having help in the running game with RB James Robinson and RB Travis Eitenne Jr. in the second
half) “One hundred percent. You know, I think it was our first drive. Offense had the ball, two good runs
by James, and then set up a play-action-pass that we were able to hit down the field, and it’s a direct
correlation to if we can get those guys going and defenses are scared of what we are able to do in the
run game. It just opens everything else up and makes us, it makes it easier for us on the outside. Getting
them going is great, and I thought they played well.”
(On if he was impressed with RB James Robsinon) “Definitely impressive. He’s definitely an all-around
back, and it’s been really cool. When I got here in the spring, seeing him still early on in his development
of recovering from the injury and just how far he’s come and just being patient and waiting for his
opportunities. For him to be able to get out there and play the way he did was super impressive and, like
you said, he has it all, so, I’m really excited for him, and he’s definitely going to be somebody we’re
going to lean on throughout the year.”
(On the conversation of resetting the wide receiver market with a good game statistically) “I’ve kind of
said it before and early on, I’m confident in what I can do, and from day one I’ve always known the
player that I am and what I’m going to continue being, so, that’s why I kind of just blocked out the
outside noise and just let them talk because none of that means anything to me. I know what I can do
and I’m going to keep proving that.”
(On the difference in how he was utilized throughout the game between Jacksonville and Arizona)
“Definitely. I thought Doug (Head Coach Doug Pederson) and Press (Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor)
did a great job of including everybody. As you can see, we have so many offensive weapons. Even
getting (WR) Jamal Agnew into the game and getting the ball into his hands, just with what he’s able to
do; the tight ends, and then, obviously, us in the receiver room: me, Marvin (WR Marvin Jones Jr.), and
Zay (WR Zay Jones). There was all equal opportunities, and there’s plays where we could’ve made plays
and didn’t make them, guys did come up and did make them. I think for us in our room, we all know that
there’s going to be an opportunity for us to change the game. I thought it was great, and continue to
build off of that and be exciting to see.”
(On Head Coach Doug Pederson’s aggressive coaching style) “Yeah, he believes in us. He’s definitely one
of the more aggressive play callers that I’ve experienced. Which is great because you know he’s not
afraid to take that shot or go for it on fourth down or to be risky, which is good because when your
coach has confidence in you to go do that, it puts a little bit more incentive for you to go and put it all
out on the line. He’s definitely aggressive. We were joking after the game that it felt like a track meet
because we’re running so many deep balls and motions and whatnot, but it’s great, I love it, and like I
said, we’ll keep building off of it.”
(On the aggressiveness with a young team) “I think that all depends on situationally. There’s definitely a
time and place where we may just kick a field goal, and fourth and two when we’re inside the fifteen,
but that’s obviously his (Head Coach Doug Pederson) call to make, but I think it is good. Like I said,
especially early on in the season for him to show that he has confidence in us to go make those plays.”
(On the importance of knowing that this was just one game with a season ahead) “Very important. I was
talking to some of the guys after the game. It’s just the first game. Not to say that it didn’t count, but
how we were able to battle back coming out in the second half, and there’s flashes of us being a good
team. That’s one thing that we can at least hang our hat on, but this week becomes even more
important, and that’s how the NFL is. The next week is always the most important. Especially with a
divisional opponent coming here, we have to flush this today and go ahead and move on to Indy.”
CORNERBACK TYSON CAMPBELL
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
(On what was seen on film from the defense) “We made some plays out there. Definitely some plays we
left on the field, and some plays that we hurt ourselves, mostly, and we’ll watch over it, learn from it,
and onto the next.”
(On how to learn how to finish games in the second half) “Just back to what we always preach, like make
sure we’re not beating ourselves, whether it’s penalties or missed assignments or whatever it may be,
we just got to make sure we’re clean on that part of the end. We feel like we can compete with
anybody, so, we can play a clean game and don’t beat ourselves and force teams to have to make good
plays to beat us and we’ll be fine.”
(On the interception from last game) “You know, all week I was seeing when they would do sprint-out,
and it would be a lot of close stacks to the tight end. Once I saw two or three stem away from me, I took
my eyes to one and saw he ran an out and I just broke on him and saw the ball.”
(On if OLB Travon Walker’s interception was better than his) “Yeah, I saw his. I was playing so I didn’t
really get to see it live in action but once I saw it on the phone, yeah that was a pretty good pick. I’d
probably give it to Tra (OLB Travon Walker).”
(On his coverage of Washington’s touchdown) “Just going back over it, as I was running with him, I saw
he was slowing down, so I’m thinking he’s like, on my back shoulder so I was like getting my head
around and I saw the ball already over my shoulder. Good throw, good catch, but, I’m going to live with
the results and I’m tough on myself so, I’ll come back stronger, we’ll come back stronger. I’m excited to
get back to work.”
(On the perspective of it just being Week One, with lots of games left to play) “It’s good we know that,
but we live through a standard and we’re working to win, but like you said, Week One is over, now it’s
Week Two, so we’re going to fix the mistakes we had in Week One and move on, and have a better
game.”
(On thoughts of OLB Travon Walker having the potential he expected) “Yeah, you know, Travon has
always been a great player ever since he was a freshman at Georgia. Just knowing where we came from
and that program over there, how they mold guys to be ready for this type of league, it just goes to
show how much work he’s put in.”
(On being able to see OLB Travon Walker’s interception) “No, I was covering the receiver and I just
heard, once I heard the crowd noise I was like, ‘Oh, something must’ve happened,’ so I turned my head
and I saw him running.”
(On if he watched tape of OLB Travon Walker’s interception) “Yeah, I’ve seen tape of it.”
(On OLB Travon Walker’s athleticism during the interception and to pick up yards from it) “Yeah, it was
impressive, but, like I said before, he’s always been a freak of nature, so he’s not really surprising me.”
(On if Travon Walker was fined for getting tackled by QB Carson Wentz) “(joking) No, we didn’t fine him
for that.”
(On if OLB Travon Walker was given a hard time for being tackled by a quarterback) “No, no, he got the
offensive ball back, that’s all we can ask for.”
(On if each game slows down throughout the season, specifically in his rookie year) “I think it slows
down every week for me. As I was learning how to get my preparation right in the NFL, learn how to be a
pro, it slowed down for me a lot. I think Coach Pederson is right, it does slow down for you, and once
you’re watching tape on the team and kind of getting a feel of how they’re going to be on Sunday.”
(On if someone can be prepared for that, or if they have to go through it) “Yeah, you got to go through
it. If you’re a rookie, you just ask questions. I think asking questions helps a lot. That’s what I did, just
picking our coaches’ ears and picking my teammates’ brains. That helped me a lot, so I think the more
they do that is going to prepare them.”
(On coming out at halftime with better adjustments) “We just took a deep breath and just put
everything that happened in the first half behind us and just came in with a new mindset if we believe
how talented we are, as long as we do what we need to do, everybody does their jobs, we’ll be fine.
That’s the mindset we took in the second half, and I believe it showed.”
(On if Head Coach Doug Pederson’s confidence rubs off on the team) “Yes, especially when you’ve got a
coach that’s won before, and you got a bunch of groups of guys that want to win, and want to get to
where he’s been, and everybody buys in. That just brings us even more closer and makes us even more
hungry. I think that’s the culture we’re trying to bring around and just focus on winning, doing
everything we need to do for winning. The little things, you know, whether it be showing up on time for
meetings or doing walkthroughs the correct way. It’s just that every little thing matters. That’s the
culture we try to bring in here.”
(On Sunday’s loss versus losses in the past) “I can speak for me. I feel like this was one of the toughest
losses knowing we were right there. I’m trying not to beat myself up too much about it. It’s a new week
now so I got to focus on something else. It’s definitely going to make me stronger, make us stronger,
and make us hungry, so I’m excited.”
(On when it’s time to start looking at the Colts receivers coming in town) “Tonight.”
