JAGUARS QUARTERBACK GARDNER MINSHEW II
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
(On the challenges of preparing during a short week) “It’s kind of a quick order. And then it’s just getting that new install in. It’s a lot of plays that we’re kind of running through, but it’s all walkthroughs this week, so it’s a lot of mental reps and just trying to make sure your focus is there.”
(On the Thursday Night Football primetime spotlight) “I don’t know, it’s all the same really. I don’t really—it’s not much of a difference.”
(On Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s comment on his beard versus Minshew’s mustache) “Oh no, man. I’ll let mine speak for itself. I think I’ve shown I can grow a beard with no patchy sides. But you know, I’m going to have respect for my elders, especially when they’re much, much elder. I’ll be respectful.”
(On his comfort throwing to RB James Robinson and TE Tyler Eifert) “Oh very, very comfortable with those guys. They do a good job defining their routes, very friendly targets. They catch the ball well. They have good feel when it’s man and zone. So, I feel really good with both those guys.”
(On whether he thrives with fans and that energy there) “I don’t know, I think having our fans in the stands definitely gives us an advantage. It really fuels a lot of our guys, so we’re looking forward to having our crowd. Game 1, they really helped us out, we appreciate everyone that came out. Me personally, it’s fun with everybody in the stands when you’re celebrating and stuff, but ball is ball. It really doesn’t matter where you’re at.”
(On WR Laviska Shenault Jr.’s versatility) “Laviska is doing really well. I think one of the things that’s a testament to his work [is] being able to know all those different spots. And then, it’s a testament to our coaching staff being very creative and just trying to get him the ball in different ways. It’s fun to see each week what they come up with and how we can include him in different ways.”
(On whether this national game is an opportunity to show the world what the team can do) “I don’t know, I think every time we step out there, we’re always trying to prove what we are. But more than anything, we really don’t have to prove it to anybody else, we believe in our locker room. And as long as we have that and people in our locker room believe, then that’s our main concern.”
(On how this 1-1 start has helped the confidence in the locker room grow) “I definitely think it does. Those were two very good teams, two very good divisional teams we’ve played so far. [We] competed well, had a chance to win both. So, it’s just taking those good things we’ve done and building on those and then trying to fix the stuff that we haven’t done well.”
(On his thought process with tight windows in the red zone) “I mean, I think you just have to understand body positions down there. A lot of times, if guys, if their eyes aren’t on you, then there are still opportunities to put the balls out there, even if there isn’t that much space.”
(On even if they’re that far downfield and you can’t see their eyes) “Yeah, I mean you see if their heads are turned, you know.”
(On the challenge of stepping up in the pocket versus leaving the pocket) “Yeah, no it’s a very good point, something we’re working on. Just being able to stand in, get through your progressions. And then, there’s times when you’ve worked through your progressions, exhausted your options and it’s time to get out and I go make a play. So, it’s really just finding the balance between those two.”
(On expectations from the Miami Dolphins defense) “Yeah, no they did a very good job. They’re talented, very talented in the backend right there. They did a good job matching up with the guys. They do a pretty good job against the run and they’re very disciplined in what they do. And also, just like last week, they mix up the looks pretty good. So, it’s a good challenge especially on a short week.”
(On the offensive line and his confidence level) “Yeah the offensive line has done a great job so far. First off, starting off with the running game, man they’ve opened up some big holes and James [Robinson] is taking full advantage of that. Then in the pass game, they’ve been giving us a lot of time to work the ball downfield, find different guys. You know, super confident about that. I think keeping that group intact, their communication right now is really good. I’m just excited to see how they’re going to grow throughout the year.”
(On the red zone success thus far) “No it’s been good, man. The red zone is huge for us. Being able to get 7 instead of 3 is really big. It’s a testament to the execution down there, guys getting open, making contested catches. So, it’s been really good.”
(On the turnovers last week being a bigger emphasis heading into this year) “Yup, same focus as normal. You always try to make good decisions.”
JAGUARS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD WASH
September 22, 2020
(On why the defense has only recorded 2.0 sacks so far this season) “I think it’s a combination of all of it. We went in obviously versus Tennessee, early on we were rushing four and we weren’t having success with it. Then we came with the pressure and got the ball out a little bit quicker on third down. But I think a lot of it is, we have to do a better job on first and second down of trying to get them in a little bit of third-and-7 plus situation. I think when the playbook is open as big as it is on a third-and-3 to 6 and stuff like that, I think it’s hard to really just pin your ears back and rush the quarterback. So, a lot of it has to do with the down and distances that we’re in and we just have to continue to get better, which I think we are.”
(On if he thinks Miami QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is good at getting the ball out quickly) “Yeah, there’s no doubt the ball comes out quick. Obviously, he’s a very intelligent individual. He really does a good job pre-snap trying to see what you’re in so he can get those quick, abrupt throws so he’s not in a situation where he’s going to get hit. We’ll face the same thing this week, but we have to do everything we can to try to get him to hold it to buy some time for our rush to get there.”
(On his confidence level with S Andrew Wingard) “My confidence level’s very high with those young men, I think they’re getting better and better each week. We played a pretty good crop of wide receivers and stuff last week. Some of it was just running away from our leverage for Andrew [Wingard] in a couple situations when we were in man coverage. That’s going to be a tough matchup, especially that tight end. I think he’s very talented, but I have all the confidence in the world in our backend in Andrew and all the defensive backs. I think we’re going to be in good shape. We have to continue to do what we do: play some zone, mix in some man, and try to mix the quarterback up a little bit.”
(On why DE/LB K’Lavon Chaisson didn’t play as much in Week 2 and what he sees for him moving forward) “I think a lot of it depends on the offenses that we play. If they’re out there in a lot of eleven personnel, then we can put both of our defensive ends or our rushes on the field at the same time if they’re using a lot of big people. Down and distance tendencies all determine that. I know everybody sits and just counts the numbers, but you really have to look into the game and see what we’re facing and see what we’re trying to do defensively or as a team to be successful. But if there’s an opportunity to get him on the grass, he will be on the grass, no doubt.”
(On his philosophy on blitzing) “I think it depends on the protections that you’re getting. Are they a max pro team or are they a chip pro team? Why are you going to blitz? If you’re just going to run your face into the wall? So, a lot of it has to do with the scheme we’re playing. For me, I think it’s got to be a situation if we’re not getting pressure with four, then we have to come with pressure, but down and distance once again dictates that. If you want to play man coverage, you want to just turn them loose or do you want some plugger help and high hole help? So, it all depends on really how we’re going about it. We got blitzes up each week, but it’s just a situation in the game and if it calls for it or if it doesn’t.”
(On what concerns him about Miami’s offense and if he is preparing for both quarterbacks) “What’s today, Wednesday? Tuesday? Yeah it all runs together, but we have a couple more days yet to figure out exactly how the game plan’s going in and that kind of thing. Obviously, they have two very talented quarterbacks. They have a really exceptional tight end and receiver group, so those are all concerns for us. But obviously, it’s a short week. Will we see Tua [Tagovailoa]? I’m not sure, but if he comes in the game, we’ll be prepared.”
(On what he says to his players after the questionable interference calls in last week’s game) “Keep doing what you’re doing. I think we had good coverage; the officials threw the flag. We’re trying to look at the situations and that kind of stuff and how we can coach it better. For those two plays, I think there’s a lot more plays that impacted the game as we went through it, but we’re going to keep coaching them and they’re going to keep playing aggressive. I don’t have a problem with aggressive penalties. I have a problem with dumb penalties, but aggressive penalties we can live with and I think they were in pretty good shape coverage-wise.”
(On why LB Myles Jack was an insider linebacker last year) “Obviously, Myles [Jack] was our MIKE linebacker a year ago and at the time with the situation and the way our team was constructed, he was the MIKE linebacker. So, I think I answered that question at the time. That fit well for what we we’re doing at the time, but obviously we brought in [Joe] Schobert [and then] we were able to move Myles. I think he’s played very well up until this point, but last year at the time, he was our MIKE linebacker.”
(On if moving LB Myles Jack from the inside linebacker position has shown more of his potential) “Yeah, I think it does. He’s more out of an edge, he’s more of a spatial player and that’s what the WILL linebacker spot is. We’ve seen that when we had Telvin [Smith] and that kind of stuff, [he was] a real good spatial player that can really run and use his athleticism. We’re able to get Myles in that position and I think you see him really playing well right now.”
(On DE Josh Allen’s performance so far this season) “I thought he’s been playing really well versus the run. You see the stoutness and stuff that we’ve asked him to develop. He had a couple rushes where he got there just a smidgen late and stuff against Tennessee, but I really think he’s preparing well. Mentally, physically he’s in great shape and I think we’re going to continue to see him grow as the season goes on. Obviously not having preseason games and stuff like that, it’s taken him a little bit of time to really show everything he’s got, but we do see him improving each and every time he steps on the grass.”
(On what the difference is the run defense this year) “I think you have to give credit to our players. They’re doing a really good job of the fundamentals. I think the biggest thing is [that] we challenge them each and every week that we have to win the physical battle up front and I think we have the type of players that can do that. I like how we’re knocking the line of scrimmage back. We’re playing with good technique and it’s not just the defensive line. You really see our linebackers reading and diagnosing and when it’s a run, they’re getting downhill so it’s a credit to them and [Linebackers Coach] Coach Collins and obviously [Defensive Line Coach] Rebs [Coach Rebrovich] with our defensive line. But there’s a mentality right now with those guys that we’re going to do everything we can to stop the run with our front guys. Then obviously, hopefully, we can handle that pass game, which we have to do a better of and I have to put them in a better spot to be able to handle the pass game.”
(On if the confidence in the run defense has been restored this year) “There’s no doubt they have confidence in themselves up front, which is really good to see. You really see the athleticism, but more than anything you see the strain. I think to stop the run in the NFL or at any level, you have to be willing to get in there and grind and strain and the mentality with that defensive line right now is they’re doing that and that’s a credit to them.”
(On why DE/LB K’Lavon Chaisson didn’t play many snaps against Tennessee and on his first career NFL sack) “It was a situation with the personnel groupings that was dictated by Tennessee. Obviously if they go big, we’re going big and that’s some of things I think are helping us stop the run. But when the situation dictates to get obviously him and Josh [Allen] in the game, we’re going to get him in the game at that point in time. As the season goes on, it all depends on what kind of offenses we face. We’re not facing just little people or ten personnel or eleven personnel, people are trying to get big on us, which Tennessee did at times, and we have to match that size. So that’s how that turned out on Sunday. His pressure that he got; it was [a] really nice inside move. We had a pressure called at the time. He did a really nice job staying on a straight line being able to get to the quarterback and making his first sack. I know he was excited on the sideline and we we’re extremely excited for him.”
JAGUARS DE JOSH ALLEN
September 22, 2020
(On why there has not been a lot of pass rush according to the stats from the first two games) “We just have to do a better job of getting to the quarterback. We basically say what you said but that still doesn’t neglect the fact that we still have to get to the quarterback as much as we can. So we all have to take that pride in just getting to the quarterback more, especially I do, so I’ve just been grinding as much as I can today and I’ve been thinking about all the missed rushes that I could’ve had. [I have to] just learn from that and just move forward, just think about this week and plays I can make this week for my team.”
(On the progress of DE/LB K’Lavon Chaisson and him getting his first sack last week) “He’s definitely taking strides to be a good defensive end in the league for a very long time and I’m excited to see that. I think I was more excited than he was, especially after I realized that he got the first sack of the year. Him being part of our d-line group, I was so excited. He needs to do better on the celebration because it was kind of trash, so we’re kind of working on that because I think he’s going to get many more. But yeah, I was excited and hopefully he gets many more.”
(On LB Myles Jack’s performance so far this year) “I mean he’s been balling. He’s been coming downhill, making the interior d-linemen’s jobs a lot easier, taking the double teams off, making plays in the backfield. So, he’s definitely been doing a heck of a job. With Joe [Schobert] being there, Joe has to do all the communication so Myles [Jack] can just line up and just play ball. See ball, get ball. That’s [when he’s] at his best so just moving him over just to the right, to the left without him communicating as much has been more beneficial for him and more beneficial for the team. He’s just flying around, he’s making a lot of plays, getting the first sack of the year. I was kind of hating on that one. I was trying to tell him that he was trying to run the ball, then he’d get a tackle for loss, not the sack, but they didn’t want to listen to me. But he’s definitely making a lot of good plays for us and [I] hope he continues to grow and get better each day.”
(On if LB Myles Jack’s new position is a better fit for his athleticism) “To be honest, I don’t see any difference between what he was doing last year and this year. He just comes down a lot more downhill, so I really don’t know how to answer that one. He’s just been making a lot of plays so he must be doing something good with his WILL position.”
(On the challenge preparing during the short week when they are the favored team to win) “We just challenges ourselves not to really get into the media, not get into the status quo of us being the better team than them. We have to come out there and preform like we’re the underdogs every game and just to play to our abilities and not play lower at anything. But Miami’s a really good team, nevertheless. They do a lot of good things on offense. Defensively, I haven’t really watching them but on the offense side, [Miami QB Ryan] Fitzpatrick gets the ball out pretty quick, especially on the RPO’s so we have to be real keyed in on that one and we have to have good eyes. We just have to be aware of the situations and just get after this quarterback.”
(On having a leader with the humor and personality of QB Gardner Minshew II) “Oh yeah for sure, especially him being young. That’s my classmate so I treat him like my classmate. Then more stuff when he’s on the field, I think he’s a superstar. But him on and off the field, he’s a great guy, great quarterback, and he’s also a special human being and he’s just a guy that you just want to be around. He gives off that energy. My wife loves him, probably more than she loves me, which I’m kind of a little mad at. She thinks he’s a superstar, so I kind of have to check him about that. But that’s just the vibe he gives. He’s a superstar on and off field but he doesn’t give off that attitude and I love Gardner. That’s my guy, G-Money. He signed my gloves, ‘To Josh.’ I’m about to frame this.”
(On seeing the results of the improved run defense so far) “I mean it’s real good. Now, we have to get after this passer. We made a big emphasis on stopping the run, but we still have fourteen more games left of the season to keep this up. We just have to continue to stop the run and now we just have to do a better job of getting to the passer and I feel like we’ll be a really good defense.”
(On playing this week in a prime-time game at home with fans versus playing last week in front of no fans) “I mean I see that as an advantage, especially because we’re playing at home so we have our fans. We have our fan to get rowdy when we need them to be. We have our fans to get quiet when we need them to be, so I feel like it’s to our advantage. Plus, for a lot of young guys, it’s their first time [playing in a] prime-time game [being] the only team playing so the real ballers are going to ball out so I’m excited to see who shows up to play and just get it cracking. But I hate playing with no fans though, it kind of sucked.”
(On how his body is holding up playing more snaps this year) “It’s just something I have to control. [I] just have to hydrate myself a little bit better. I feel like I did a better job for the weeks coming up so I’m doing the same thing. It’s just the little things I have to continue to do so I can be at my top best self. I’ve just been hydrating, getting IV’s, not as much as I can but right before the game. I just have to self-quarantine myself and just be ready to play the whole game.”
(On why the Dolphins were able to have comeback in their game last week) “[It’s] because I feel like a lot of people sleep on them. I don’t even know to be honest. I haven’t finished watching the game yet, so I have to go ahead and watch that. I didn’t even know they were coming back, but I’m going to watch the film.”
(On what he sees from their offense that allows them to move the ball) “They’re just quick with the throws. [Miami QB Ryan] Fitzgerald gets out of the pocket really well and he has good scramble capabilities. That sets up bad rush lanes to a lot of defensive linemen, so you have to have proper rush lanes. Plus, the RPO’s. You have the linebackers playing run and they can just throw the ball right over the top of that and that’s big chunk yards right there. Like I said before, we have to have good eyes, front and back line and just make a lot of plays in open field.”
(On Miami QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s statement about beards being better than mustaches) “You know what’s so crazy, I felt like I was just thinking about that yesterday. I was looking at him and I was like, ‘This dude does have a really good beard’, but you can’t beat the [mu]stache, though. Gardner [Minshew II] doesn’t just have a little [mustache]. He rocks his. You have a lot of guys that try to do the little thing Gardner does and it just doesn’t look right. I feel like everybody can rock a nice beard. I got me a little beard. It’s not like his, but I rock mine. A lot of people can’t do what Gardner does, so I’m going to have to rock with my dog and keep that mustache game going.”
(On if his beard is better than Miami QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s beard) “I mean no, but it’s good for me. I’ve been growing it out for a couple years now. I haven’t cut it yet, so I don’t think it’s going past this right here, but I wish I had a beard like that. It’s pretty cool.”
(On why he was thinking about Miami QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s beard) “What was I doing? I was watching film. Last night we were in a little team meeting and somebody just brought up the beard and I was like, ‘Bruh does have a really good beard’ because his chinstrap is so small, and the beard is just everywhere. It’s kind of cool, but like I said, I still rock with G-Money [QB Gardner Minshew II].”
(On his responsibility to read the RPO’s correctly and knowing Miami QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will use that on Thursday) “I don’t know, I just have to get off the ball quicker. I feel like last week I did more reading than I should’ve, like you said, [during the] play action pass. Now I just have to know situations on when they could do play action pass and that was something I was going to get better on. So this week, I know the RPO’s a little bit quicker so if that first receiver’s not there, I know he’s going to hold on to that ball so that’s going to give me more opportunity to really get after this man. I’ve just been working on my eyes, watching film, see little keys that I can pick up on these guys so I can play pass first. But the real thing is just to get him to second-and-long, third-and-long. I think last week we did a good job on first down, so they had a lot of second-and-long which we knew was play action pass. I have to do a better job at converting, but if we get these guys to second-and-long, third-and-long, then we know the plays are going to come so now I can do a better job in just reacting to the pass and affecting the quarterback.”
(On if the RPO is there to neutralize his position or vice versa) “I feel like it plays more of a baggage on the linebackers, on our eyes, and DB’s. If you have quick runs, you have linebackers that are aggressive, they might come up and attack that and then you have quick slants [when] you can just dump it behind and that’s chunk yards. With me, the whole entire D-line, I feel like just getting our hands up when we pass rush knowing that it’s going to be RPO, knowing that’s going to be short passes, quick passes to get our hands up because we have to get tip balls and then if we get tip balls, we have to capitalize on those interceptions.”
