JAGUARS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD WASH
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
(On LB Joe Schobert’s progress) “I think Joe has had a really good camp. Early on there was some difficulties with some terminology, they call it one thing and we call it the same thing here. Those things kind of got crossed up early on in training camp for him. But the last couple of weeks, we’ve really seen an improvement in the execution of the defense and what we’re asking out of him. But that was the biggest thing in the free agency, when that started to open up, that he just has a natural instinct to find the football in the run game. He’s very intelligent, he’s a great leader for us and [we’re] really excited about what he brings as our starting mike linebacker.”
(On his natural talent on defense) “Well, I think he’s just a natural playmaker, run and pass. But you see him really execute and he has stolen a couple passes for us and that kind of stuff. And he does a great job with his fundamentals, reading his keys, and I think that allows him, with his instincts, to make a lot of plays.”
(On defensive back group) “Yeah, obviously we feel very comfortable with CJ [Henderson]. I think he’s making strides, he’s a natural athlete. He really looks smooth out there, at times I go, ‘Jeez Tim [Walton], our secondary coach, it doesn’t look like he’s going very hard but he’s just so smooth.’ So, we’re excited about CJ. We’ve got [Luq] Barcoo, we’ve got [Tramaine] Brock who’s a veteran that’s competing along with [Chris] Claybrooks and Amari [Henderson]. So, we have a lot of competition going on right there. Obviously, we’ve got a couple more days to help figure this out, what we’re going to do back there. But I think they’re all playing well, they all have a skill set, it may be different, but they do have a skill set. And we’ve just got to be able to—whoever we decide that we’re keeping—to make sure we can put him in that position to be successful, that matches their skill set.
(On the safety group) “I think we’re about four or five deep there, to be honest with you. B-Wat [Brandon Watson], this is really the first time that he’s played Safety coming in. At Michigan, he played corner, he’s playing free safety for us. So, early on, there’s a lot of stuff new to him, but you really see him execute now. I think I call him Kid Rock [Andrew Wingard], our young man out of Wyoming, he’s had a good camp along with Josh [Jones]. J-Dubb [Jarrod Wilson] is solid always, knows exactly what you’re doing, he’s kind of the general back there. And Ronnie [Harrison] has really shown up the days that we have pads and being physical. I think him and Josh are both physical. So, I think we’ve got a really, really solid group. I think we’ve increased our depth back there, compared to where we were at a year ago. So, if somebody does go down, I think we’ve got quality guys to back that position up. And then obviously Daniel [Thomas], being a rookie, has really flashed at times. I think he’s coming back from this little knick that he had, and he’s been on the grass the last couple days and we’re seeing great things out of him.”
(On DE/LB K’Lavon Chaisson’s growth) “Yes, you know, I was talking with Dave [Caldwell] and Doug [Marrone] the other day. I think he’s a lot stronger than I anticipated, when he gets down there and lines up on tight ends and stuff, he’s a lot stronger than I thought he was going to be. So, we’re really excited about that, the strength that he can play. And we can get both of them on the field at the same time in a lot of situations, him and Josh [Allen]. But the biggest thing is you see him really show up as a pass rusher, he’s getting on edges. We need to continue to work with some power and that kind of stuff. But you see a natural pass rusher which is really nice to see, especially as a rookie. And I think there’s a big upside, not only in the run game, but as a pass rusher.”
(On the transition of new COVID-19 protocols going into the regular season) “Yeah, I think everything but the travel, should not be new to us. I think we’ve had meetings and that kind of stuff about travel. But I think the game day stuff, the things around our facility, there’s been a lot of thought and process from the league and obviously doctors and everybody else. I think there will be a smooth transition. Our players know the importance of social distancing and masks and stuff, not only in the building, but outside the building. But the only thing I think is going to be new is when we travel, that’s going to be a little bit different for us. I know we’ve done a lot of things, they’ve investigated a lot of things. If it wasn’t going to be safe, I don’t think we would do it. We all are onboard, it’s going to take all of us to make sure we stay safe, our players and our coaches, so we can play this season.”
(On the emotions of having no fans in stadiums) “Uh, I think they’re going to be able to hear me get mad. But, you know, it’s going to take an adjustment. I think you’ve got to have some mental toughness and some emotional toughness because the fans aren’t going to be there. I think a lot of players, they thrive off that, at home or on the road. They’re going to have to find a way to punch their own buttons. That’s the stuff that Doug’s been talking to the team about. That it’s [not] really about the fans and that kind of stuff, it’s about us playing for the guy next to you. And get yourself ready to go because it’s going to be a unique year.”
(On emotions with DE Yannick Ngakoue’s trade) “You know, I was excited for the player. It’s something that Yan wanted. I’m excited for the club that—there was a deal made where, obviously, we feel comfortable with that. But the biggest thing is I think it worked out for both sides. Obviously, I have strong feelings for Yan and having him for three or four years and that kind of stuff. But I wish him nothing but the best. And both the organization and Yan, we all have to move on.”
(On not being able to work with DE Yannick Ngakoue schematically) “Well, I think a lot of it was we were going to move him around a little bit. Yan’s a very intelligent football player. We were going to do some things schematically, obviously just to move him around, get him on space, get him on edges. There wasn’t really a situation where we could really get into that. But at the same time, we’ve kind of built some things so if we have players that fit that role, we’re able to get them in that role that best fits their skill set.”
(On DE/LB K’Lavon Chaisson’s position) “You know, once again, not only his play strength, but he’s a very intelligent young man. But I think we want to do what’s best for our football team and obviously what’s best for him to have success. We’re going to play him at defensive end, he’s going to be playing a lot for us and we’re very, very excited about that. Like I said, the best thing is what’s best for our team and what’s best for him for us to have the best success. And we feel right now that’s going to be leaving him at defensive end. But he can also play in our sub-package the big ends. So, he’s got a real nice skill set that we’re able to get him and Josh [Allen] on the grass a lot together.”
(On the improvement of communication within the defense) “I do. I think the back end has really [taken] it and put it on their shoulders, especially those safeties with the communication to the linebackers to know where we’re at within everything. It was a big point of emphasis. When we had breakdowns and stuff in the past, a lot of it was communication. They know the wrath if they don’t do it now, let’s just put it that way. And I think they’ve done a really nice job, Jarrod [Wilson] does a nice job. Even those younger safeties understand the importance of communicating where they’re at on the field, so everybody can adjust.”
(On progress from LB Myles Jack at the Will linebacker position) “I’ll be honest with you, it was probably a bigger adjustment for me, I’d walk in the huddle and I’d want to talk to him and not Joe [Schobert] because I’m so used to talking to Myles as the mike [linebacker]. So, it was probably more of an adjustment for me than it is Myles. But he’s more of a spatial player, just because of his athleticism. That’s the way Telvin [Smith] was when he played at the WILL spot. So, you really see him in space, making a lot of plays. His athleticism obviously coming back from that knick that he has last year. He’s healthy, he’s in great shape. So, we really see the athleticism and the playmaking ability out of him at that WILL position.
(On the increase in the practice squad spots) “I think anytime that you’re making personnel decisions, obviously, we develop some personal relationships with all these young men and that kind of stuff. So, they’re tough either way. But I think with the addition of some more practice squad players and veterans that you can protect, I think it’s very important that we understand that guys have to have dual responsibilities. So, in case something does happen you can say, ‘Hey he can play two spots, he can play two spots, and his value really goes up for us.’ But it is obviously very, very important that we pick the right guys for the development and if they have to come up because some unseen issue, that we have the right guy so we can continue to move on as an organization and as a team.”
JAGUARS LB JOE SCHOBERT
September 2, 2020
(On his career-high forced turnovers last year and whether that is an innate ability for a defensive player) “I mean I think it’s a combination [of] being in the right place and the right time and taking advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself. I know in college and a couple of my early years in the NFL, I had a couple of balls that I was able to get hands on and they just kind of squirted through. I remember a slant with Marcus Mariota hit me right in the hands and [I] dropped it. [There was also] a fumble recovery against the Washington Redskins that somehow just leaked out. So, you have to take advantage of the opportunities when they come your way because NFL quarterbacks aren’t giving them out like candy. Then last year, I was able to do that, take advantage of that, put myself in the right spot, and a lot of that putting yourself in the right spot comes with study in the game week.”
(On if this defensive scheme sets him up to make a lot of big plays this year) “I like [Defensive Coordinator] Coach [Todd] Wash’s scheme, obviously just from a first couple of weeks in it, with not having an offseason. But, I just feel like the way that me and Myles [Jack] are able to play as linebackers [and] the way the scheme is set up, there’s going to be a lot of opportunities for us to run around the field, make a lot of plays on the ball, and have a good time doing it.”
(On if QB Gardner Minshew asks him about turnovers he committed during practice to use as a learning opportunity) “A few times he’ll come up, not even when he does turnovers, just after practice in general. If there’s a look that we’re giving him and he doesn’t quite understand what we’re looking for, he’ll come up and ask what our thought process was in that certain look versus what they were doing. So, he’s definitely been eager to learn in those situations and doesn’t take [it] as a negative. He tries to learn from it and turn it into a positive, so it’s been good to see.”
(On the difference between playing with the Cleveland Browns versus how it’s been so far on this team) “I mean it’s a different team, different situation, a lot different players. Since I’ve been in the locker room, it’s been a different time frame, just with the COVID and the masks and the plexiglass barriers separating your locker from the next guy over. Versus the overall team comradery, once you’re in the locker room has been great in my experience and then just being out on the practice field, just the way [Offensive Coordinator] Coach [Jay] Gruden has those guys on offense work and the way we’re doing things on defense. It’s just a competitive atmosphere and obviously it’s been a kind of fast-tracked training camp where the season’s already around the corner. I’m really excited to see how we’re able to go out and preform on the field on Sundays.”
(On if playing with the underdog mentality can help this team) “I think there’s a lot of guys on our team that thrive off of that mentality. In the NFL, everybody got here, everybody deserves to be here who is here and when you are slighted in terms of preseason expectations or what people think of you, I mean, that puts a chip on your shoulder. As competitive individuals you want to prove everybody wrong so that’s definitely something that we’ll be able to take and use to our advantage I think.”
(On his thoughts on undrafted rookie LB Nate Evans) “Nate [Evans], first off, he’s a great kid. He comes in ready to work and learn every day. I think the rookies this year have been at a huge learning disadvantage compared to rookies in the past with no actually on field work, no rookie minicamp in the offseason, and shortened training camp. But I’ve been impressed by him and Shaq[uille] [Quarterman], how they came in and worked and understood the defense. Even at this point, even with some veterans, the calls start to stack up when you put your whole playbook in at once and every single call’s up and running, and he’s been able to do a good job staying on top of his thing. Obviously, there’s mistakes that are made but you can learn from it. What he’s shown is when you get to game plan week, when the playbook gets limited down a little bit, he’s going to be ready to go if he’s needed.”
(On if he’s surprised at the level of communication on defense without having the regular offseason to come together as a group) “Coming from Cleveland, I had three defensive coordinators in four years. There’s a lot of turnover and a lot of player turnover, so the communication was something that we always struggled with there. I think coming into this system, a system that’s been around for a while, have guys who’ve played it for awhile on the frontend and the backend and the defensive line and in linebacker, it’s been great just to be able to communicate out there. Myles [Jack] before every play is talking, just our little checks that we have as a back or as a safety. Communication’s been great and it’s just nice to be able to hear it loud and clear. That allows us to make less mistakes because we’re all on the same page. Even if we’re all wrong, even if we have the wrong call and you make it loud, you’re going to be alright because everybody’s on the same page.”
