HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2023
(On if he’s worked with Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell before) “I have not worked with him, obviously we both played around the same time. Other than that, no, just coaching and our paths have crossed that way.”
(On what QB Trevor Lawrence can get out of joint practices) “I think the biggest thing is getting a chance to go against a different look, a different presentation and different guys. We’ve been going against our own guys now for about three weeks. It’s just refreshing to be able to have a different perspective from a quarterback’s eyes. This will not only be good for Trevor but for C.J. [QB C.J. Beathard] and Nate [QB Nathan Rourke] as well these next couple of days.”
(On what he learned from QB Nathan Rourke in his performance) “I learned a lot. There’s some toughness there, obviously mental and physical toughness. His ability to lead the football team, he was able to perform under some pressure and duress, made some really good throws. Obviously, the one that is most famous right now. It’s just exciting to see from a young player who is competing and trying to make a spot.”
(On how QB Nathan Rourke has handled publicity’s reaction to his performance) “I’ll tell you, one thing I appreciate about Nate is he’s just the same guy every day. He’s just humble, he comes to work to get better, and that’s the way he handled it last week.”
(On what’s impressed him out of Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson) “He’s a great player. We did our due diligence and really studied him and all the other top edge rushers last year. The way he came out and played in our game last year and the way he had nine and a half sacks I believe last year. Just a great performance for a young player and the sky is the limit, he’s going to continue to get better and he really makes that defense a little more solid.”
(On being content with having OLB Travon Walker instead of Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson) “Yeah, that’s just the way it works. I’m excited for both players, two young players that are going to have great careers in this league.”
(On communication level between him and Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell) “We spoke when the preseason schedule came out. We both got on the phone and called each other and expressed interest to do a joint practice. For us, getting out of Northeast Florida in 100-degree temperatures to come up here, it’s good for the team. Dan and I, we spoke and we both agreed to do this. I kind of set the ground
rules for the next couple of days and we just want to get some good solid work in and compete against each other.”
(On these practices being good competition for the Jaguars’ defense) “Yeah, we’re still in the preseason, we’re still learning and evaluating. We’re going to practice a lot of guys and I don’t look back to last year. They got us, it wasn’t our best day. But this is a good football team and one that I think is going to compete in the NFC and it’s going to be good for us these next couple of days.”
(On if there was something in the last matchup against the Lions that was a turning point in the season) “Well, other than the fact that we didn’t play our best football for whatever reason. There are moments throughout the course of an NFL year where there’s games, there’s situations that could be an injury to your team, whatever it might be, that kind of spurs a little bit inside of everybody, coaches and players. That was a moment that wasn’t our best and we seemed to figure it out from there and flip it around after that.”
(On if there’s any positional groups that he’s excited to see go against the Lions) “We’ve got a lot of young secondary guys, taking away Tyson Campbell [CB Tyson Campbell] and Darious Williams [CB Darious Williams] the starters, we’ve got some young guys in the secondary that we want to see against this caliber receiving group that Detroit has and sort of vice-versa that way. Up front, we know how the
big guys are going to compete, our offensive line against their D-line and vice-versa. Those are all things we want to see, but at the same time, we’re trying to get better. This is Week 2 of the preseason for both teams and we’re just trying to get better and improve. It’s still a long way from Week 1.”
(On expectations of the team being physical or too physical in today’s practice) “Obviously, today is the first day we’re in pads, they’re in pads for today. It’s not about who’s the tougher man, it’s about getting good work in. It’s going to be physical, that’s just the way padded practices are. Our guys understand that we’re here to work and get some quality time done.”
(On what it was like having WR Marvin Jones Jr. on the Jaguars last season) “Marvin? Oh, man. I can’t say enough great things about Marvin. What a great leader, helped us get into the postseason last year and came up big a lot during the year. He’s well liked in the community. I know he’s been here and fitting in really well. I just wish him the best.”
