HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
August 12, 2021
(On the starting quarterback for Saturday’s game) “We’ll finalize that tonight. I asked [Passing Game Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer] Schotty and [Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell] Bev, but they’ll both play. A lot of it’s who’s going to be behind. We just want to make sure we have protected both those quarterbacks, but both will play.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence getting snaps with the first team offensive line) “Once again, tonight’s going to be the final meeting on that.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence potentially lobbying for more playing time on Saturday) “I’m going to really rely on [Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell] Bev and Schotty [Passing Game Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer]. This whole preseason is fairly new to me, you know? Not fairly new, really new. In college, there’s no preseason. You’re winner-loser right away, so I’m going to listen as much as I can. They both have a lot of experience with young quarterbacks and that’s why I hired them. They’ve been not [just] good, they’ve been great helping me navigate those questions.”
(On QB Gardner Minshew II) “I didn’t know [Gardner] Minshew [III]. I knew his coach very well, [Gardner Minshew III’s head coach at Washington State] Mike Leach. I don’t say we got off to a bad start, but I just didn’t see very much of him. But he’s earned my respect. I love that guy. He’s a warrior competitor, he’s a fighter. I told him that. I just have great respect for Minshew. He brings it every day now, every day.”
(On what a successful game on Saturday will look like to him) “I just met with really all of the units on the team and I think to be fair, what’s the expectation? The expectation is I want a clean game. We spent an inordinate amount of time on fundamentals of the game, and I expect a winner mentality, a winner mentality at every play. The reality is that there’s people across from you trying to take your job. Some of these guys are in survival mode and I respect that, so we’re going to back off a lot of the twos and threes. They’re going to play a majority of the game, 40 plus plays, get their legs back because a lot of guys are blown out right now. [I expect] a clean game, taking care of the football, hustling on and off the field, and then competitors. Every play is going to be graded and you either win the rep or you lose the rep. I’m hoping you see a real competitive group Saturday.”
(On how many snaps the first team players will play) “We don’t have that finalized yet. Once again, I’m learning and listening. I think when you say ones, you have a guy like [Brandon] Linder that’s an eight, nine-year vet that may come out a little earlier than a guy that just started that needs more reps. It’s more instead of say first team, it’s more of an individual basis. But we’ll have that final meeting after practice today.”
(On the chance of QB Trevor Lawrence not starting Week 1 at Houston) “Is there really a chance? I think we’ll answer that as we get closer.”
(On if the quarterback competition is open) “Yes.”
(On CB CJ Henderson) “He’s doing good. CJ [Henderson], he had that COVID that set him back, he had the shoulder that set him back, he had something else, I want to say it was a groin or hip flexor, something last year, and he’s been fighting. He’s been fighting. His father’s been great, his mom’s been great, good people. But he’s had two really good days, so I’m counting on a third great day.”
(On the tackle position) “They didn’t play great last year. They played okay. We expect those two, Jawaan [Taylor] and Cam [Robinson], to play better than they did. All indications are, once again to be determined, but they’ve been fantastic in practice. They’re very serious about their trade, very hard working guys, great guys, so I’m anticipating they’ll be better than they were a year ago.”
(On rumors of CB CJ Henderson wanted to retire) “I have not heard that. No, I don’t see that as an option. I see a guy that’s fighting through stuff right now and the stuff is a lot. He had to get ready for training camp, [then] boom, COVID. Last year, obviously [his] rookie year started off strong and then fought with injuries, so there’s a lot to this.”
(On an injury report) “Andrew Norwell will not play. He has an elbow that’s going to fine, probably one more week. Rudy Ford has a lower body, just a muscle issue. There’s a chance he’ll play Saturday. [Phillip] Dorsett [II], he has a slight, tight hamstring, not a pull, a chance he’ll play Saturday. They’re all minor things, ready to go. DJ [Chark Jr.] also won’t play because of that surgery.”
(On if everyone on the roster will see playing time on Saturday) “Yeah, other than the names we just said.”
(On how he’s handling camp physically and mentally) “I have to start wearing a straw cap, the doctors told me because they told me, ‘Hey pal, you’re not 35-years-old anymore’ because it got me the other day. That was Gainesville heat the other day. We’ve been lucky, we haven’t had, the players laugh, I call it Gainesville heat. We’ve not had that, but the last few days we have. So much for the ocean breeze or whatever they say.”
(On his typical involvement with his teams) “I’m involved.”
(On DT DaVon Hamilton) “I’d like to talk to [Brandon] Linder, Linder’s a grown man, to get a feel for the NFL. He has a lot of respect for DaVon [Hamilton]. They go against each other a lot at practice, and I asked him [about his] strengths, weaknesses. We, actually, in the staff meeting two days ago I had our d line coach [Tosh Lupoi] talk about our offensive linemen in front of the whole staff. I’m curious to get another set of eyes on it because they see each other. Same thing with [Offensive Line Coach George] Warhop talking about our d-line. His issue is quick feet, foot acceleration on contact. Power, I can’t imagine many more powerful, stronger than he is. But his was all about footwork and acceleration on contact, he’s really gotten better at it.”
(On bringing in Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson, among others, to speak to the team) “Something that I’ve done my entire adult life [is] I spent [time on] human performance, human behavior. I just can’t get enough studying that and of winners, great players, the great coaches, the great teams. I kind of locked in on when [Patriots Head Coach] Bill Belichick invited me up to New England in ’06. They were coming off back-to-back Super Bowls, and I was mesmerized with the way that organization ran, the leadership within the locker room. Also, because Jimmy [Johnson] is a friend, he became a really good friend at FOX, and I’ve known Michael Irvin, we became friends, I just for the last six months dove into the history of that turnaround [with the Dallas Cowboys], and it’s just an incredible opportunity to learn. Michael Irvin came in and he gave an A+ talk about the locker room. Jimmy Johnson follows up with use of highlight video, etc. and our players couldn’t get enough. I had to cut it off. I’m grateful. Those guys are busy guys to do that for us.”
(On using Saturday to work through game plan, etc.) “This is interesting that in professional football, I want to say its seven out of ten times you’re going to come down to the final drive. In college football, it’s not that way at all, so we actually have an analytics team. We have Bevell and I have two guys, that’s their only job is analytics, and we’ve actually been working at night going through the scenarios. We do have 2-point charts, but it’s a little more complicated than just go for 2. There’s a lot of variables that quite honestly I’ve never been this detailed as we are now because it just didn’t happen very much.”
(On learning about the rules of the NFL) “That’s a big reason why [Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell] Bev’s going to be upstairs and he’s going to have strategically located people to help me with that. To say I have the answers for that, I’m going to learn as we go. I think most coaches would tell you, [with] the chaos on the field, you have to have someone upstairs in that kind of environment that has all the data in front of them and then plus that video.”
(On where coaches will be located for game) “[Defensive Coordinator] Joe [Cullen]’s downstairs. [Passing Game Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer] Schott’s with me downstairs and [Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell] Bev’s upstairs.”
(On trying to learn what he doesn’t know about the NFL and surrounding himself with people that do) “That staff, I can’t imagine people working harder than we did and, like I usually do, I just take my time. There’s a lot of NFL veteran coaches on our staff. I very well could’ve hired some college guys for quarterback play, but when you have a young quarterback, you have a rookie head coach, I need some [people with experience]. I can handle the college game pretty good, it’s a little different animal here. They’ve been not [just] good, they’ve been fantastic for me about practice plans, about just the reality of when this roster starts to shrink, how do you actually practice with 53 veteran players? Those are all things I don’t think college guys [know]. College guys know how to motivate, run an organization, but [for] those kinds of intricacies, you need to have people around you, and I do.”
(On Hall of Famer Jimmy Johnson speaking with the team) “I talk to Jimmy [Johnson] a lot. To me, it’s all about the locker room. Once you get culture inside that locker room where [former New England Patriots] [Mike] Vrabel, [Tedy] Bruschi, Tom Brady, I think it was Rodney Harrison when I first went to visit the Patriots, I was just astonished at how the team was run from that locker room and the same thing when you study about Michael Irvin. They told a story about when they first got there, it was all about Tuesday payday. They didn’t care if they won or lost, and they changed that. They changed it how? They got a room full of competitors in that locker room that it’s not about the Tuesday payday, it’s about winning. If that fits your job description, there’s a good place for you. If it doesn’t, you can’t stay here. That was the message, and it was pretty profound.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence stacking consistent days of good play) “Really good days. He’s doing really well.”
(On when DT Taven Bryan will return to practice) “I think today. He’s on the COVID [list]. With Covid, you have the Covid but then three days after too [you can’t participate]. I think it might be conditioning one more day and then tomorrow, so he won’t play in the game.”
(On how far behind DT Taven Bryan is) “He’s not. He’s behind some practice, but he’s a strong [guy]. I mean he’s in great shape.”
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
AUGUST 12, 2021
(On whether he’s excited for Saturday’s preseason game) “Yeah, I’m pumped. First game, obviously. It’s nice we’re playing at home, in front of the home crowd. So, we’re really excited, we’ve been working the past three or four weeks, but really even since the spring. Just trying to get ready for these moments and this will be good. A lot of people are going to play, but in our minds, it’s a real game, we’re still trying to win the game. A lot of people look at preseason differently, but I think this is where it starts for the Jags this year, is game one, preseason.”
(On whether he’s gotten better going through his reads) “Yeah, I think as time goes on, you keep learning and when you learn from a mistake—when you make a mistake, it’s like, ‘Well, I’m not going to do that again.’ So, I’ve had a few dumb mistakes over the past few weeks, that’s just part of the learning curve, the learning process. And the good thing is, when you make a mistake, you’re probably not going to do the same thing again. So, that’s the way I’ve been looking at it, but I think just trusting my guys, building that relationship, connection and trust with them to where I’m not having to really think. I know what I’m doing, they know what they’re doing, and I know the spot they’re going to be in, and I think we’re getting more and more comfortable. And then, for me, just keeping it simple, finding an open guy, not trying to do too much. We’ve got great players, I don’t have to run around and do everything. We’ve got guys that can make plays so just trusting them.”
(On his expectations of his playing time on Saturday) “Yeah, I mean, I know I’m going to play, so that’s just—if I know I’m going to play, I’m going to be prepared and that’s the way I’m looking at it. So, how much? I don’t really know for sure. I’m sure a fair amount. So, I’m just going to be ready for whatever I have. I know me and Gardner [Minshew II] will play.”
(On whether he will be comfortable lobbying to the coaches for another series) “Yeah, I’d be comfortable, but I don’t think that’ll really help. So, I don’t think it’ll really matter, but for sure. That’s how—we’re all like that. When you get in the game, you get rolling, you get in a rhythm, you want to keep playing, but also, you’ve got to understand that it’s a long season. So, I understand that, and I think I just really trust the coaches and their plan. So, we’ll be ready though.”
(On whether he’ll have family and friends coming down for his NFL debut) “Yeah, we’ll have a good bit of people here. My family is coming, some of my wife’s family is going to be down and it’ll be good.”
(On how many family members he has coming for the game) “I don’t even know. I’m trying to just let my wife and all of my family handle it and me just focus. But we’ll have a good bit of people here.”
(On where he is right now with command of the scheme) “I feel good. I feel like I’ve come a long way, especially in camp with just owning it and knowing where my answers are and being able to make adjustments. I think that’s the biggest thing, transitioning from college to the NFL. You’re going to see a bunch of different looks and it’s really about how you respond and adjust it to put you in a good situation. And that’s something I’ve just had to learn and I’ve gotten a lot better at it [over] the past few weeks. I feel good about where I’m at and where the offense is. There’s still a long ways to go, but we’re making progress for sure.”
(On whether it will take an actual game for him to evaluate where he is in the process) “Yes and no. I think I know—I mean, I trust I’m in a good spot. But also, it’s nice to verify and it’s just different when you have live bullets, seeing how people react. You really get a real look at it, so I’m looking forward to that and I know we’re in a good spot though and I know we’re ready. So, it’s going to be good.”
(On what had to change for him to succeed in red zone drill situations) “Yeah, I think just—like I said before, just trusting my guys. I mean, if you put it in the right spot and you’re on time, especially in the red zone, our guys are going to win. We’ve got some great playmakers. So, I think that was yesterday, they did a good job. I mean, you see the separation they’re creating, they’re making some great catches. But yeah, it’s just that trust and then also, for me, just the confidence, too, of knowing I know what I’m doing, knowing the system and feeling confident. That goes a long way.”
(On what he’s gotten a better grasp on since training camp began) “I think just playing faster out of the huddle, seeing it, making my adjustments, making my calls and getting the ball snapped. At first, I’m letting that play clock get down and I’m waiting and then now we’re getting in a good rhythm and routine. We’re calling things a lot faster and we’re moving.”
(On what would make Saturday’s preseason game a success) “First of all, to win the game, that’s the main goal. I know, like I said, some people look at it differently. Here it’s just the first game for us. Whoever is in there is trying to win that game. And I guess individually, for me, it’s just to do my job, nothing more than that. If I do my job, it’ll put us in a position to win. So, that’s all I’m looking to doing is every play doing the best I can, putting us in a good spot, getting it to our playmakers. That’s all it is, being a quarterback, is getting it to our best players. So, that’s all I’m going to do.”
(On whether he has a list of things he’s got to get done or improve) “I think we’re past some of that now, as the season is close. I feel confident in that. There’s always things that you need to get better at and there’s a lot— I don’t want to go into all the little details of it—but there’s always a lot of little things that I’m constantly trying to get better at. Whether that’s recognizing what the defense is doing, pressure, different adjustments, whatever it is. It’s constantly things that you work on, you figure it out in one look and then the next day you see something different. So, it’s a constant evolution of trying to figure out what they’re doing.”
(On how important it’s been to work with veterans like OL Brandon Linder) “It’s been huge, critical for me. Just being a young quarterback that has a lot to learn and has come a long way, but still, having him up front, especially in the run game, is something that I haven’t had to handle much of in college and he’s really smart, he sees stuff as I’m seeing it. Usually, as a quarterback, you have a really good view that sometimes they can’t see up front, but I mean, Linder is on it. He’s always seeing the rotation, does a great job and just teaching me, too. Like when we see something, what he’s looking at, I think we’re working great together.”
(On whether he’s gotten experience getting plays inside the helmet) “Yeah, we do it every day. Every competitive period we have here, we’re calling it in there. So, I’m used to hearing it. That was definitely something I had to—that was way different for me. But we were doing that in the spring, so I feel like, I’m good with that now. I hope I am, we’re about to play, so.”
(On his expectations for fan attendance on Saturday) “I’m just—hopefully we’ve got a full stadium. I don’t know how the preseason works as far as like how many fans actually come. But I know everybody is excited, I know the team is really excited and we’re just ready to show the city, show everybody, what we’ve been working on.”
(On his approach for the next month leading up to the first regular season game and competing for the starting QB position) “Yeah, it’s competing, but also, at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team. So, I’m going to do everything I can to be the best guy for the job and to win games. But at the end of the day, that’s not in my hands, the decisions. I trust the coaches, we’re all on the same team and we’re just trying to win. So, my mindset is just to win games, to be the best prepared as I can be. And as we’re kind of transitioning out of camp now, it’s really taking care of my body, getting in a good routine that can sustain me through the season. This is a much longer season than I’m used to, so I think I have a really good plan of what my weeks are going to look like, just to stay healthy, but also to stay prepared as far as studying and just getting with the guys, all of that. So, we’re in a good spot, but that’s kind of as we’re shifting our focus—it’s about to get real, we’re about to start playing every week. The mentality changes a little bit from what we’ve been doing out here, but it’s still—we’ve just got to win, that’s our main goal.”
(On whether he’s done everything he needs to do for his progression) “Yeah, definitely. That’s one thing I can say, is I know I’m going to put the work in. I trust my work ethic and the time I spend—it’s never going to be because I wasn’t prepared enough. I’m going to make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes, especially as a young player, you’ve got to learn. But I know I’ve put the time in, and I’ve just got to continue to do that and we’ll keep getting better.”
