(On the physical strides he set out to make this offseason, and how that process has gone) “It’s been good. I’ve been trying to [improve] really every asset – bigger, faster, stronger. Really putting an emphasis on trying to figure out the best weight for me to have as much arm strength as possible, while maintaining as much speed. So just figuring that out, it’s been a fun process. I’ve had a lot of help from Coach Anthony Tumbarello. I’ve been training with him a lot down in South Florida. Also, I have been using Coach Milo’s [Tom Myslinski] stuff with the Jags, kind of a joint effort there, we’ve been able to get me moving in the right direction.”
(On how much of an advantage it will be to enter training camp receiving all of the starting reps) “Yeah, I think it’s huge. I think you get to build those relationships, get a lot more timing with those guys. You can get to know what they like, and they kind of get to know what I like and build that trust there. I’m very excited for that. And even just now, being able to have those conversations with them — them being the receivers, tight ends, running backs, and linemen — I think that’s already given us a leg up from last year.”
(On the extent of his on-field work and communication with his receivers during this offseason) “Since the day after the Super Bowl, I’ve been going six days a week for the last, however many months it’s been. It’s been a lot of fun seeing growth in yourself and your game. I’ve been talking to the receivers, and everybody. We’re working on being back in Jacksonville soon, we’ll be able to get some field work there. We’ve been doing some players only walk throughs virtually that have been helping guys learn and also just getting us together. Then, moving forward we’re also going to try and get together a little bit more before camp to kind of get what reps we can, while being safe and smart.”
(On his performance from last season in balancing time in the pocket, as well as the progression he has made as a quarterback) “Yeah, by the end of the year the biggest thing was ball security and the fumbles that come with that. When I came back in, I did a little bit better job and having that awareness of when to call a play dead, or when to keep pushing and try to make the big play. It’s a credit to the coaches around me, teaching me up. That’s something that I will continue to strive for and find that balance.”
(On the importance of starting out strong and avoiding playing from behind this season) “Yeah, one of the biggest things in this league, everything’s so close. I think you’ve got to get it to the fourth quarter, and if you get it to the fourth quarter where you are in striking distance, then I think you have a chance to win every game. More than anything, we’ve got to give ourselves more chances than we did last year and that’s going to include jumping out earlier.”
(On the positive feedback surrounding his rookie season, and whether it has been validation or added pressure for this season) “I don’t really, necessarily, care about all that. What I really care about is when guys that are on our team come and tell me that they are behind me, and that they believe in me. When I feel like I’ve earned the respect of those guys, those are the opinions that I really care about. As long as I have that, we are going to build this thing together and it’s going to be very exciting.”
(On whether he feels like he has the support of the team behind him) “Yeah, I think we are definitely getting there. Through what we did last year, and it’s a little different this year with how we aren’t in person, but just trying to grow and develop those relationships from distance right now. Hopefully, we will get back together soon.”
(On his weight) “I gained probably 10 pounds after the season and got up to like 230 then I’ve cut back down to where I’m really just holding better weight, I feel like. So now I’m anywhere like 222 to 225. More than anything with emphasis on where I feel good running and on where I feel good having enough juice on the ball.”
(On if he’s reflected on the 2019 season with his time off) “Not really, I’m not big on looking back. I’m more concerned on what we’re going to do moving forward. I think you take what we did well this past season, learn from it. Take what we didn’t do as well and learn from that, but I think it’s all in an effort to get us better for the future.”
(On his reaction when the Jaguars did not select a quarterback early in the draft) “It didn’t change anything that I do. I’m still going to work the same way; I’m still going to lead the same way. I had conversations with [General Manager] Dave Caldwell, and I told him to do what he thinks is best for the team. I believe that I might give us the best chance to win no matter what and I just got to prove that every day and I’m excited for the opportunity to be able to prove that.”
(On learning the offense) “I think the more that you just have to do it, which I learned, I think was five offenses in four years in college which doesn’t even make sense. I think just learning how you learn best, I think that experience helped me as I move into the more complicated NFL offenses, but still just keeping that same process of learning how much repetition, learning different ways whether it’s hearing recordings or writing it out whether it’s just reading or a combination of both. I think just learning your own process is key for that.”
(On whether doing things virtually has changed how he’s learning the offense rather than being on the field) “Yeah, it’s different. When I was at Washington State this was kind of the similar thing because I wasn’t there for the spring, so I had to a lot of it on my own, as well, but we’ve been fortunate. We’re meeting everyday with Coach [Ben] McAdoo, Coach [Jay] Gruden and the other guys in the QB room and we’re all just helping each other and getting as good of work as we can and I think you have to take ownership on our own, as well.”
(On if quarantine has impacted the training schedule he set for himself back in February) “It’s been great. Honestly, just being able to stick to the schedule I feel like we’ve been able to refine a routine to where we’re getting really efficient work right now. I think it’s exciting when you start seeing results and you see yourself getting better. So, as awful as this whole thing has been, it’s been an opportunity to really focus on getting yourself better.”
(On how being home has changed his training) “It’s all good. We got our home gym here that we use. Then I sneak out to whether it’s my high school football field or local park just opened back up, just finding any piece of grass we can get. So, we’re making do with what we have.”
(On his daily workout) “We’ve been on the same program since February, since after the Super Bowl. Lifting three days, running three days, throwing three days. It’s been a lot of fun.”
(On whether salons being shut down had an effect on him) “Yes, so I got my haircut for the first time, we had a little house call. My mom was getting mad because I hadn’t gotten my hair cut in like a year, so she had somebody come to the house to cut my hair. So, yeah it was effecting her more than it was effecting me.”
(On what the most exciting part of his cross-country road trip, what he learned and whether he has plans to do it again) “The most exciting part was definitely flying with the Air Force Thunderbirds. Got up, went and did their whole program, all the flips, turns, all that, G-Forces, it was a blast and just getting to learn how they operate as a team. It was a great experience. We got to see so much of the country in really about three weeks, or a little less even. So, it’s something I definitely hope to do again. I think it’s a good way because if I’m just at home or if I’m anywhere else I’m going to get right back into training as soon as the season ends because that’s just how I am but it’s good to be able to step back a little bit and kind of distance yourself from everything.”
(On whether his road trip will be a yearly event) “We’ll see. I definitely would not be opposed. I think it was a lot of fun. It was a blast and I definitely could do it again.”
(On his relationship with Jay Gruden and if Tyler Eifert has been helpful in helping him learn the offense) “It’s been awesome with Coach Gruden getting in and you know he is in all of our meetings so we are getting to hear the offense through his eyes and how’s he thinking it. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for the both of us and I think we are going to mesh well. With Eifert, I call him, with these scripts and I ask him on every play, ‘Alright what are you thinking here? You know what, what are you expecting?’ How do you like to do this? And just kind of just picking his brain for as much information. Similarly, with Chris Thompson who also has played with Coach Gruden, just kind of hearing their thoughts, seeing it through their eyes and I think it has been a valuable experience for the both of us.”
(On virtual walkthroughs with the players and how it works) “So on Microsoft TEAMS there is an application that is called white board and so you are basically on a group call. I will call out a play and like whoever is in for that play will just draw their assignment and we just kind of go around and talk about it. What are you thinking here? What do you like against cover two? How are you running this? I think it is a good way, it is one thing to learn it on paper but to hear the call and then know what to do right there, I think it has been a good way, got to make the best of a bad situation.”
(On the virtual walkthroughs being an intermediate step to actually being on the field) “Yeah I think it’s with how everything is right now it’s as close as we are getting, which hopefully here soon we will all get together and really get quality work together on the field.”
(On excitement of the addition of Lavsika Shenault Jr. and what he can bring to the offense) “I am super excited. I remember playing against him in 2018 and he kind of banged up our game, which I was not upset about because he was the type of guy that every time he touched the ball you just got nervous because you knew he could break it, we had seen it on tape and at that point he was going to be in the talks for the Heisman until he got injured that year. He is a very special player. I am excited for him. He is just the type of guy that you get the ball in his hands and good things tend to happen.”
(On how helpful it will be having a versatile player like Lavsika Shenault Jr.) It is awesome, know it is something that the defense has to really prepare for. It is nice throwing a 5-yard ball and him taking it 50, it definitely makes the quarterbacks job a lot easier so I am definitely excited to have, to add a guy like that into the room.”
(On taking outside noise and low expectations of the team personal and seriously) “I think it should put a chip on everybody’s shoulder on our team, know being kind of counted out like that. I think we do have a lot to prove, prove that we are not what anybody says about us, the only people that really know, the only peoples whose opinions matter is who is in that huddle, who is on that team and I think we are going to set those expectations for ourselves and not worry about what anybody else has to say about us.”
