WIDE RECEIVER CHRISTIAN KIRK
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2023
(On if the coaches have given QB Trevor Lawrence more responsibilities) “Most definitely. The keys are
his and we have the saying of, ‘Trevor can get to anything at any time.’ It’s basically his toolbox of all the
tools he’s been equipped within the offense, and when we go out there, if he sees something on the fly
or if the defense comes out in something we maybe weren’t expecting, he knows where to go and what
to get to put us into a better play. They trust him to be able to do that and that’s a thing that we did
really well, especially towards the end of the year. Just being able to read and react and him thinking on
his toes. Also, knowing what we’re good at and being able to identify those mismatches. He does a really
good job and communicates with us, skill players especially, of where his mind is going into the week of
what he can get to.”
(On if it’s a night and day difference of QB Trevor Lawrence’s growth from last season to now) “I think
he’s played at a high level for a long time. I know early on last year, his second year in the league, there’s
definitely some learning curves but I still think he was playing at a high level. It was more of us coming
together as a team and learning how to play together. He’s progressively getting better, but I wouldn’t
say that there’s a drastic difference in his level of play.”
(On how different the overall offense is this year compared to last) “I would say there’s some similarities,
but it’s different in a sense of just the way that we operate. You just feel the efficiency, the effectiveness
and everybody is on the same page. We talked about it a lot this offseason of being able to see tons of
different looks and reps and being able to get time on task. Having a full season in this system, you come
in now and it’s like you know it like the back of your hand. You know you can get; you know what works
and what doesn’t work. You know what we’re trying to accomplish on each and every play. That’s a big
part. You may have a route and a concept that you may think is a route that you try to get somebody else
open, or you’re trying to do one thing, but it really has a great impact on what you’re trying to
accomplish. I think for all of us, we got more of a grasp on what we like to do and what we’re good at.”
(On how having high expectations feel going into the year) “I think for us and my mentality behind it is
we have to block all that out. That’s the difference, that now there are expectations for us. Last year,
there weren’t any expectations. People started raising eyebrows and we were winning games last year,
now people are just going to expect us to do that. For us, it’s just going out there and playing to our
standard and playing to our ability and just taking it one week at a time; not being able to lose that edge
and lose what got us to where we were last year.”
(On if the team used last year’s final loss as a motivator) “I think it can be drawn from in certain periods
of time. I think it was spoken about a couple of times, but I think that’s it something you can draw from
and it can be effective. The last time we took the field, that’s what happened, and nobody liked that
feeling. Nobody likes sitting in that locker room. When you go back and you put yourself in that moment,
you realize, and you remember how painful that was. Just everything we had been through and to come
up short, thinking about how close we really were. It’s going to take a long road to get back to that. You
can pull from those moments, and you can use that as fuel to be able to push you through moments of
adversity. When times get tough, you can pull from certain things to be able to get you through that.”
(On if it’s exciting to play a divisional opponent in Week 1) “Yeah, it’s a big game for us. Anytime we talk
about divisional opponents, those are the biggest games on our schedule because that’s step number
one in getting to where we want to be and taking care of our division. To be able to come out Week 1,
those are already heightened atmospheres and going into divisional territory and whatnot. Being on the
road and in their stadium, we know how much this game means to them as much as it means to us, just
to be able to get that. The adrenaline will be going and the level of expectation and standard of how
we’re going to have to execute is going to be at a high level. We expect to go out there and definitely
start off with a bang.”
(On if this team is more confident heading into this season than last) “I think confidence is in there, but I
think I would describe it as we’re just more comfortable with who we are. We know who we are, we
understand who we are, and we’re going to own that. Going back to that, we know what we’re good at.
We’re not going to shy away from that, we’re going to beat that into what we do. We’re not going to get
away from that. I think everybody individually and as a team are comfortable with who we are, what we
are, what we stand for and what we do best. I know offensively we have that mindset and I know as a
team we have that. I would say it’s comfortability but also confidence as well.”
(On seeing traits as a leader grow within himself through camp) “It’s just really getting to know my
teammates on a different level, expanding my relationships outside of the receiver room, and making
sure I try to know everybody on the team in more of a personal and intimate manner. To where I can sit
down and have conversations with them and know where they came from, know their families, know
what makes them tick and know how to be able to talk to them throughout this season and throughout
practices. When I may see a guy having a tough practice or he may be tired, to be able to go over to him
and give him some words of encouragement. If I can just have that little bit of an impact and be able to
push guys a little bit more and bring them with, I think anything helps. It’s been really fun to grow as a
leader and be able to see guys respond. Especially in our receiver room, we had a young room this year
especially through training camp. Being able to see those guys evolve and know that they’re listening, I
think that’s the coolest part. They really appreciate the coaching and the knowledge that you may hand
down to them. It’s been fun and I look forward to embracing that role throughout the season.”
(On balancing his talent versus what the team needs) “I thought about it a lot this year, and it comes
down to one, buying into our ultimate goal. One of the reasons why guys like me and guys like Zay [WR
Zay Jones] and guys like Evan [TE Evan Engram] were brought here last year was to have an impact on
the game but to also change the culture. That’s one of our ultimate goals, to change the culture.
Personal statistics and accolades, those come with how well the team does, how much success we have.
That’ll all take care of itself. If you buy into what we’re trying to do, and that’s to win a championship
here, the rest will handle itself. To me, leaving a legacy means to be able to make it to the postseason
and being able to do something special here. That’s where my mind is at. I know we have the pieces to
do it and this is on paper one of the more talented teams I’ve been on. I understand that and I don’t ever
want anything else to get slided from this opportunity, to just buy in and cohesively as a group be able to
make a push. I think we’re all bought into just putting our pride aside, checking it at the door, and
coming together as one. We all know it’s going to be week-to-week of who’s able to have those
opportunities to individually have a big game. But as long as we’re walking off the field with a W, I’m sure
we’re all going to be happy.”
(On what being in Jacksonville means to him and how it’s changed his career) “It kind of gives me chills
to think about it because it’s changed my whole entire career. I never take it for granted and every time I
talk to Trent [General Manager Trent Baalke], I always say, ‘Thank you so much for giving me this
opportunity to come here and be apart of this.’ I never forget or take for granted the opportunity that
he’s given me to be able to come here and be a part of this. Just walking around town and talking to
fans, not only what they say, ‘Good job on the field, great game’ but when they say like, ‘Thank you for
what you’ve done for Jacksonville.’ I think that’s the coolest part, because we’re just out there playing a
child’s game but the fact that we’re having an impact on the city and the fans and how they feel about us
is bigger than football. To be a part of that and to be able to recognize how cool of a time it is to be a
Jacksonville Jaguar I think is the most important part. It’s had an everlasting impact on changing the
route of my career and my life in general.”
LINEBACKER FOYESADE OLUOKUN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2023
(On how many times he’s tackled someone bigger than him) “When push comes to shove and somebody
has the ball in their hands, you just try to get them down. I know he’s [Colts QB Anthony Richardson] big,
I know he’s fast and explosive, it’s just the mentality. As soon as somebody gets the ball in their hands,
you just got to attack them. I’m sure I’ve tackled people bigger than me before.”
(On the tackling plan against QB Anthony Richardson) “Make sure we have eyes on him. We know that so
far in preseason, it seems like he likes to get out and run, especially when plays break down. So make
sure we have eyes on him and when he breaks the pocket, be able to keep running our feet through
contact as if he’s a runner. A lot of times people might give up on a play early for the running
quarterback, but just staying on your feet when he pump fakes if he does, be able to break down his stiff
arm when he escapes the pocket. Just really treating him like a runner when he’s running outside the
pocket with the ball in his hands.”
(On where the defensive group is better from last year) “It’s just what to expect out of specific calls we
have, being able to play off of each other and already knowing where my boy is. Even if I might be
dropping this way, my help might be to my left or something. Just knowing where all the pieces fit on the
field I think is going to be huge. Hurry up, being able to communicate with each other on the field,
already knowing what to expect from each other out there. Just being able to play faster when we see a
look.”
(On what it’s like going against a rookie quarterback like Colts QB Anthony Richardson) “I’m sure as the
game goes on or the coaches scout him, we’ll try to see what a flaw might be. A lot of times, you get a
rookie guy, he’s confusing with looks, maybe bringing some pressure from where it looks like it’s coming,
see if we can pick up on that. Obviously, he has great talent running the ball as well, he has a strong arm.
We’ll see how to combat that as the game goes on or going into the game. We got to see through film
study and through experience as game goes of what we can attack him with.”
(On trying to repeat being the back-to-back league leader in tackles) “I’m trying to win as many games as
possible. When the ball leaks out or if I’m in the gap and I make those tackles, I want to make more
obviously. I want to not miss tackles; I want to make plays on the ball. I want to just win games and do
whatever it takes to win games. If a guy lets me be around the ball for tackles, then that’s how that goes.
Having a goal to lead the league in tackles, it’s really just effort and getting to the ball as much as
possible when it’s required.”
(On if he watched the Colts in the preseason) “More film stuff, I don’t watch because announcers like to
make things up and fill in for noise. They have to keep talking as the game goes on sometimes so they’ll
talk about stuff that’s not really going on. Sometimes, I do give them credit and they know what they’re
talking about. A lot of times, just noise. I like to watch my film study, the calls, the formations, really just
breaking down NFL film. If I’m trying to watch football for enjoyment, I’ll probably watch a college game
or something where tendencies don’t really match college to pro.”
(On if watching Colts QB Anthony Richardson’s film from college helps) “I don’t know. They’re breaking
down some of his Florida films I watched him a couple of games back in the day. I’ve watched a lot of his
preseason stuff and the couple of games that he did play. Obviously, that coordinator came from Philly
so I’ve watched a lot of Philly film.”
(On if he watched any college football games this week) “Yale did not play this week. No, I watched all
the big ones. I flipped through the channels, I like to just watch to watch. I don’t have anybody to pull for.
I’m just a hater to everybody in the locker room. I just go there and talk about how their team lost or
how they were about to lose or something. Just try to stir the pot in the locker room.”
(On ensuring the year starts off strong by making turnovers) “Kind of like you said, just think about it.
Understand the importance to it, we already went through practices and OTAs during preseason. We’re
still talking about it, every time we get a turnover in practice we’re showing it on the board or we’re
showing it in the film room before we even start off our defensive meeting. Just putting that importance
on the ball, when you take the ball back, you give a possession to the offense and they’re electric. Give
our offense more possessions, we can win games.”
(On people saying the Jaguars being Super Bowl contenders) “Oh really? I was still stuck on they don’t
think we’re top-tier. I didn’t know they gave us Super Bowl contenders. I’m already fueled to prove what
we can be. They said we were Super Bowl contenders? I appreciate that. We got to go out and improve
every week, it all starts at the first game and going forward after that we’re trying to get on a roll earlier
than last year. We already know how it looks when it’s not looking right, so we’re trying to do our thing
out there.”
(On how the confidence in the locker room has grown) “We’re definitely closer as a team. I’d say already
this year, a lot of new faces from last year when I first came in. This year, we’re kind of already gelling
together. Offense talking to defense and it’s all cohesive in that locker room right now. Just keep those
positive vibes going and energy is so important throughout the year. Bringing in that positive energy,
good mindset and just going out there to let the juices flow for that. You got to come into every game
ready to go.”
(On difficulty of defending the offense in practice) “I like what they do. I’ve seen some articles and
picking your poison out there. I’m sure whatever match up they want to exploit, they’ll try to go to that
and even if that’s taken, if it’s one-on-ones out there, I like our guys in a lot of one-on-one situations. I’m
excited, I loved how we ran the ball during preseason and I’m excited how we got play passes off of that
and everybody is fast, very fast. They’re going to cause some problems out there. I just want to see us
extend drives and we give them ball back to them as much as possible to watch them work.”
