JAGUARS QB GARDNER MINSHEW II
(On the offensive struggles) “Yeah it was a tough day; they are a good team. I missed some balls that I can’t miss. They played good coverage at times and got after us up front at times. We’ll go look at the film and figure out what we need to fix.”
(On if there were any balls thrown that he should have had) “Looking back, I know the one that we thought was pass interference on Chris [Conley], should’ve had that one. Then looking back, there were some that I shouldn’t have thrown in general that I wish I could have back.”
(On if he normally likes to get the ball out of his hands quickly) “Yeah, they did a really good job taking away some of our quick stuff. They played really good coverage down the field. We’re going to look at the film and do whatever we have to do to get open and have me put the ball there.”
(On if coming off a game with career-high throwing yards to a game where things aren’t going together entered his mind) “I don’t know. I don’t really think one week has to do with the next week or anything like that. Each week has its own challenges. There was no point in time where we didn’t feel like we could go win the game. We moved the ball when we did what we’re supposed to do. When we didn’t, we didn’t move the ball.”
(On his interception in the second half) “I was off. We’re going to get that fixed.”
(On DJ Chark Jr. being shadowed more this week) “Yeah they put Marshon Lattimore on him but they also had a safety on him for most of the time. If DJ is one-on-one, I’ll take him versus anybody. When they start putting two guys, it gets tough. We got enough guys in that room that can make plays and we’re going to do better.”
(On if they broke out of the offensive slump with the field goal drive near the end of the first half) “Yeah, no doubt. Anytime we start getting momentum, I feel like we can do it every time. We’re going to look back and kick ourselves because we know we can do it every time. We just got to get it fixed and be ready next week.”
JAGUARS WR DJ CHARK JR.
(On the Saints pass defense) “When they covered us, they were in Cover 2 man [coverage] throughout the game. Personally on my end, Marshon Lattimore did a very good job by covering me along with the safety which made it harder for me to run my routes on my end of the field. We had to change up the play scheme and get to the middle of the field, but they had a pretty good defensive game plan coming into the game and not giving up too many yards to our offense.”
(On not gaining enough yards in the game) “This is something we can learn from and by that I mean we need to watch the film and work on the areas where we did not succeed on the play. We also need to find the holes within the defense and the schemes so that when we see it again playing against a different team, we will be able to find different ways to attack and be better.”
(On getting back into the standings) “The only thing I can say is that we know we are right there in every game. We have to continue to fight and be the explosive offense we can be and our defense needs to continue to be who they were today and we should see ourselves easily getting back on the board and in good standings in the league.”
(On New Orleans’ defense) “They came in with a good game plan which threw off the offense a little bit. We had an idea on how they were going to play today, but moving forward, this is something we have to learn from. We have to come up with a better plan so that we can know how to operate against them.”
JAGUARS DL CALAIS CAMPBELL
(On today’s loss against the Saints) “We didn’t play well enough to win the game. It’s tough taking a loss like that. We had our opportunities to make them lose yards and good plays that we could have made, but we just have to learn from this game. We have a lot of life still in this team and now, with us playing against these AFC teams, it is starting to get crucial and we have to step up and keep fighting until we win.”
(On the defense being out on the field more) “When we are playing good, it makes it tough for other teams to beat us. This team is very special, and we have the ability to go out there and play hard to win some games. I told these guys, ‘We have to believe in each other and help because when we do that we can become an unstoppable team against our opponents.’”
(On his thought process during the game) “Before the game, I had a feeling we were going to have to work hard against them because they are a very good team. So, I knew that this was going to be a very good ballgame and that every minute was crucial. There were plays that we should have executed, but we didn’t because we were slacking a little bit. We could played better on defense and there were some plays that we could have gotten away with and changed the momentum on the field. We have to find a way to capitalize and play better out there on the field so that we can win our next game.”
(On the next two games) “Every game is crucial to me; we just have to take things one at a time. The next game is the most important game because we need to get back in the win column and keep alive in the league. We have the talent to be a very special team. We have the players, coaches and game plan to make us succeed and win some games before the season ends. At the end of the day, we have to scratch us off some wins. This is a results-oriented business, you’re going to get wins. No matter how good you play or how good your stats are, you have to win some games to be the best in this league.”
JAGUARS LINEBACKER MYLES JACK
(On being able to contain Alvin Kamara) “Guys were just hitting their gaps. We were trying to be physical with them, get more than one hit on him. Obviously, we were embarrassed by the performance we put on with [Christian] McCaffrey and those two guys are very similar. [Alvin] Kamara, I think he’s a little sturdier and McCaffery is shiftier, but they are both great backs, both two of the better backs in the league. We just tried to bow up and try to put on a better performance, but it wasn’t enough.”
(On getting some wins going) “Absolutely, this is where we start getting to AFC games. We got Cincinnati next week. Start getting on this run. We got to win now that’s kind of how I feel. We got to turn this thing around. We can’t panic. We still got to have fun with and do our jobs. Losing by seven two weeks in a row it hurts.”
(On Najee Goode and Leon Jacobs performances) “Lights out. I thought Najee [Goode] did really good. Being a veteran, he knows ball so me and him on the field, we can talk things out. He alerts me on concepts, and I was alerting him on stuff. It was kind of like having a second middle linebacker on the field. Leon [Jacobs], he’s just been getting better and better every week just making tackles, making crucial plays on the edge. Just guys continuing to get better, picking our game up.”
JAGUARS WR CHRIS CONLEY
(On the pass interference challenge.) “We were hopeful, but we just didn’t get the call. That happens and that’s just the way it’s been this year.”
(On his frustration) “Yeah, that is frustrating. We knew how they were going to play the game today. We knew that DJ [Chark Jr.] was going to draw double-coverage, and we have to execute in other spots. They played a little different than what we expected. We expected them to double DJ, but we didn’t expect them to play two-man all-day basically. We have to win versus two-man [coverage].”
(On looking ahead at the next few weeks) “In the next couple of weeks, we have to really be able to put a full game together, you know. Offense, defense and special teams. Me, speaking offensively, we have to be better. We have to be able to adjust on the fly when they come out and they play something different from what we have been practicing. We have to take the sheets we see on the sidelines and then adjust our routes and timing to the defense. “
(On the passing-game being at out of sync) “I think it was a combination of what New Orleans was doing and giving us different looks, and us not necessarily being ready for that look. I’ll take full responsibility for that in my room… receivers, we have to be ready for that. We can’t blink, we can’t hesitate, we have to play fast. Today, we didn’t play fast enough for fifteen [QB Gardner Minshew II]. We didn’t get open fast enough for [Minshew].”
JAGUARS CB A.J. BOUYE
(On defensive performance in today’s game) “We played good ball, but we didn’t capitalize off when we needed to. Our mentality is if offense puts up points, then we have to stop them. We gave them some X plays and runs that we couldn’t finish off. We played good red zone defense which made it a little hard for them to get in the end zone and score on us. This is a learning experience. We are going to come in tomorrow and watch film and work on the areas we were slow to cover.”
(On guarding WR Michael Thomas) “It was good matchup going against him because it really prepared me on when he was running his routes. He is more of a push off guy, and I had to be ready for that. He mostly ran slants, but it was still a little tough to cover him.”
(On missing some big plays in the game) “We didn’t have that many opportunities, but we have to capitalize when we do get that opportunity. In the first half [Alvin] Kamara had a fumble, and we could have took that to change the field around, but they got to it before us. This is something that we have to work on in practice so that if it happens in a game, we will know what to do and how to execute it and put points on the board.”
JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG MARRONE
(Opening statement) “I thought it was a hard-fought defensive battle. I think everyone that was out there saw that. I thought our defense came back from a game that they didn’t play well last week. I thought they did a nice job today, especially in the run game. Obviously, holding a team like that to one touchdown and the field goals and the stops that they had was a good job. I thought special teams went well. Offensively, we weren’t in sync. We’ve got to do a better job there. I thought early on with a couple of those third downs, I thought we had a little bit of life in the second-to-last drive of the first half where we were able to stay on the field a little bit. Before that, we had three three-and-outs, which is unfortunate. Obviously, we just weren’t able to make plays. We had a turnover that gave them three points. That’s disappointing. What I told the players is that I’ve got to do a good job. I’ve got to get this team to play well in all three phases. That’s going to be the formula for us to win football games. One game, the offense plays well, defense maybe not, special teams maybe not, things of that nature, you know, the turnover battle. When you are inconsistent, and you can’t play well in all three phrases, it’s very difficult to win. You’ll be in some close games. You might come back and win, but it makes it difficult. It starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job. I told the team [that] I like their effort, playing hard, we’ve just got to perform better, really.”
(On why he feels they weren’t able to get any big plays offensively) “There were a couple of 20-yard plays, but I don’t disagree with you. I think that at the end of the day, that’s a good football team and we’ve got to find ways to make those plays. Starting with me, to [Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo] ‘Flip,’ to everybody on down to the players. We said it during the week. This is probably one of the best teams we’ll face, all around. Defensively, they are good at all three levels and they played well today. They did a couple of things, a couple little wrinkles that we were trying to make adjustments and catch up to, but we expect that in this league. That’s what happens. When you have a young quarterback, you’re going to expect things like that. At the end of the day, everyone is fighting hard. Like you said, I think there were times that with protection, we could have made it, but we didn’t really make plays.”
(On the pass interference challenge) “I think when it comes down to the hands battle, you know, trapping hands and things like that, you aren’t really going to get a lot of those. My opinion was if you make contact prior to the ball getting to the receiver, then he has no chance of really catching the ball, which I would look at as egregious, but obviously, they didn’t feel that way and they didn’t take a chance. They do a lot of stuff during the week where they give us a ton of film and we know it’s difficult to get a flag down on the field, but I thought at the time, that he hit him before the ball got to him. I thought that was egregious enough, but I was wrong.”
(On the Saints’ secondary and their ability to take away plays from Jaguars receivers) “I think they did a nice job. I think they were able to cover well. Going into the game, we knew that they had very good players in that secondary. They have two top corners with [Marshon] Lattimore being a Pro Bowl-type guy. The two safeties have really great range. I saw a lot of two-man today, so they have help over the top and could be aggressive down underneath. At the end of the day, do we sit here and say we have to do a better job? Absolutely. No doubt about it, but at the end of the day, sometimes you have to say, ‘Shit, those guys are pretty darn good, and they covered our ass and they won that battle.’ I hate to say that, but that’s what happens. Now, when it comes to coaches, we’ve got to do a good job of scheming things up and getting guys open. That’s where it comes down to us. That’s why when I say, not to be a martyr, ‘Hey, we’ve got to do a better job,’ we say things like that because we’ve got to do a better job and those guys have got to do a better job of getting open. It’s not going to be just one thing or another.”
(On his thought process with going for it on fourth-and-2) “That’s a no-brainer for me. A field goal, that doesn’t really do anything. You’re in good position. That was a no-brainer. I knew going all the way, what we were going to do going down there. It was going to be [four]-down territory pretty much the whole way in. That was my thought process prior to that drive. I like to get across the 50 because it can get tough, they can go up, but if you’re anywhere…well, not to give anything away. Hopefully we’re not in that situation anymore. Yes, I was thinking about…obviously I was going [for it] all the way, unless it’s something crazy like fourth-and-18.”
(On if he was pleased with his linebacker play) “I thought they did some good things. I think we’ll look at the film. I’m sure there’s some things they want back, but I thought, overall, the gap control early on… one of the things we’re working on is guys staying where they were. Are there some runs we want back or some missed tackles? Sure. That’s going to happen during the course of the game. From a standpoint of where we were last week to where we were this week, that was a great improvement.”
(On the team’s injuries) “[Geoff] Swaim is probably in the concussion protocol. I think that’s natural. Marqise [Lee] I saw walking around, so I don’t know. That will probably be, I don’t know, they’ll update me later on. The foot is always tough, got a lot of small bones in there… you don’t really know. A lot of times, it’s like anything else, the next day. Cody had a hamstring, Cody Davis, so we’ll see how that is tomorrow when it calms down a little bit. I think that’s it, right? That’s all I know from the game.”
(On the play of Leonard Fournette) “Yes, Leonard has been solid for us. We have to get more plays. It’s like anything else. It’s like I said, whatever we were, 29 percent or something on third down. A guy like Leonard does such a good job with all-purpose, whether it be run or pass, and we get him the ball quite a bit, but when we have more opportunities, it’s going to be more opportunities to get everyone the ball, the wideouts and Leonard and get more rushes and establish the run more. When you aren’t making third downs, it’s like I said a couple of weeks ago, it’s very difficult to get a run-game going when you’re not making third downs.”
