JAGUARS HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
August 25, 2021
(On the starting quarterback) “Trevor [Lawrence]’s going to be the starter in Week 1. He will start this week as well.”
(On having a timeline for naming a starting quarterback) “I did, but it’s a three-week preseason as opposed to a four. We do have the bye week afterwards, but I think as we continue it’s a matter of a little bit of repetition helps. We wanted him to earn it, as we do with every position. We felt he has after the last [game], nice performance. It was good, obviously not great, but we didn’t run the ball very well. I kind of, in my mind, had that as of after the second preseason [game] that we kind of have to get somebody ready to play in three weeks.”
(On RB Travis Etienne Jr.’s injury and filling his spot) “That was a shot in the jaw, that one. He [Travis Etienne Jr.] was really coming on in practice and we saw his big play ability in practice, not in a game yet. [It’s a] tough injury. How do we fill that? We’re still in that conversation right now.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence and QB Gardner Minshew II’s reaction to the starting quarterback announcement) “I have not spoken to those [two]. We had a team meeting, and they went right to [practice] because we weren’t allowed to have them in until 10 a.m. today because of the rules. I’m going to visit with them afterwards, but I told Schott [Passing Game Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer] that I’m going to announce to you guys. He’s going to visit with them, and I’ll visit with them after.”
(On the competition for the backup quarterback spot) “That’s open as well. Obviously, my respect for Gardner [Minshew II] has been well documented as just a warrior. Then Gardner got stuck behind some protection issues, at times [he] was running for his life back there. Then C.J. [Beathard] came in, that’s two weeks in a row. I just admire C.J., and I like C.J. as a person. He has a nice release ball, gets out fast. He played well, so yes that’s open as well.”
(On the offensive line issues) “I talked to you guys after the game and was very disappointed in the run game and what’s our identity, all those questions. But then I watched the film and a lot of it was perimeter blocking issues, that we had many missed assignments. You had a rookie left tackle [Walker Little] that got walked back twice, but other than that he hung in there a little bit. The one thing about the Saints, they have a good, solid line. I thought [Tyler] Shatley hung in there pretty good. He’s a veteran player. A.J. [Cann] didn’t play as good as he did the week before and Jawaan Taylor actually hung in there, I think had one pressure or a sack, I can’t remember. To answer your question, three starters that are really our three big dogs as far as salary, as far as expectation. Our center [Brandon Linder] is a really good player. [Andrew] Norwell is expected to come back. He’ll for sure be back for Game 1. I don’t think we’ll play him this week. Cam [Robinson] was out. I think he’ll be ready for this week. I think I’ll know more tomorrow.”
(On starters for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys) “Josh Allen is still [questionable], we’re not sure about the COVID)-19 protocol with him right. Once again, we’re just getting over the game from two nights ago. My anticipation is [if] you’re ready to play, you’re going to play.”
(On CB Tyson Campbell) “His effort is incredible, speed, talent. Twice in the first game he missed [a ball] and then this past weekend he did. So, we’re having conversation about that and how to practice that because it’s hard to practice that without blowing their legs out. But you have to put him in position to be able to make those plays.”
(On keeping players healthy for the regular season versus playing them in the preseason) “I think it’s all with the position. The term that I’ve always used is ‘game ready.’ Once someone’s game ready, they’re done. We’re a young team right now. [Brandon] Linder to me is a guy that I’m not that I’m not in a panic [about] because I saw what he was like before he got hurt and he’s going to be 100 percent by game time. Marvin [Jones Jr.], I’m getting to the point where he’s game ready. Other than that, it’s a young team. It’s a young team. Myles Jack by the way played outstanding. He’s getting close to being game ready.”
(On defensive players that are ‘game ready’) “Ray[shawn] Jenkins is a guy that’s proved [that]. That’s why he’s not playing, I think he played six plays. Myles [Jack], I don’t think he even played ten plays, but his body, he feels great. He’s playing at a high level. Damien [Wilson] played pretty good. Our d-line once again held. You look to the interior, you look at Malcom Brown, DaVon Hamilton and Roy [Robertson-Harris] and Jihad Ward and [Dawuane] Smoot. Those guys played well. They hung in there against a good offensive line and negated the run game and two sacks, you knock three balls down. The opening drive where that’s two weeks in a row they go right down the field on us, but we have to knock some balls down.”
(On the depth at the linebacker position) “The guy that graded out a winner was Dakota [Allen] and Shaq[uille Quarterman] has been really coming on. So, [with] those two, [I’m] pretty comfortable. Chapelle [Russell] also had probably his best overall [game], including special teams, and Quincy [Williams] has to continue to get better. [I feel] decent.”
(On naming a starting quarterback to improve the rhythm of the offense) “That’s exactly one of the reasons and then the other is just when you have newness. The guy that’s performed pretty well is [Ben] Bartch. He’ll be an NFL player. He’s done a nice job. To answer your question, we are concerned about that especially. After Week 1 I wasn’t because we just didn’t show much. This Week 2, the intent was to run the ball, have some good play action. When you’re averaging 1.8 yards per carry because you took away the QB runs, it’s not good enough.”
(On the conversation with Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell following Monday night’s game) “It was a matter of execution and some missed assignments. There were composition groups that didn’t play very well, and we have to get that right.”
(On how QB Trevor Lawrence can show a jump in improvement) “Score points. We have to score some damn points. We weren’t very good in the red zone. C.J. [Beathard] I think scored every touchdown so far.”
(On emerging players for the second safety position) “That group is probably the most consistent group right now. We have DT [Daniel Thomas] back and he played exceptionally well on special teams. He
wasn’t player of the game, but J-Dub was, Jarrod Wilson. That’s tough because you have to numbers crunch at that position. Those are all NFL players. If they’re not here, they’re going to get picked up. They’re really good players, so who is that guy? [Andre] Cisco’s another guy that just keeps getting better and better and better. J-Dub probably played his best game. He’s been dinged up since we got here in the spring. He was a little dinged and then COVID hit him. But he was special teams player of the week, had two tackles on kickoff. He was on two reps and got two tackles and he played good in the backend.”
(On if there is concern with the kicking and punting) “Yeah. Make the field goal, and the punter [Logan] Cooke, who I love him as a person and a punter, didn’t punt very well. I haven’t even met with those guys yet, I will.”
(On WR Marvin Jones Jr.) “He [has an] AC sprain, so he’s questionable for this week. That was just when he dove for that ball.”
(On WR Marvin Jones Jr. being back for Week 1) “Yes.”
(On CB Tyson Campbell giving up touchdowns in consecutive games) “Of course it worries us, but we ask him to play as hard as he possibly can and the coach’s responsibility is somehow get him in those, I call them snapshot moments. How you do that without [saying] go run 40 yards, run 40 yards? We’re going to do some creative things out there that judge it. He misjudged it and then the other one, he didn’t lean back enough the first game. We are really high on him. We really think his future is real strong, but obviously you have to make those plays.”
(On running backs making the roster with the loss of RB Travis Etienne Jr.) “I’m very pleased with Tavon Austin. [Jamal] Agnew didn’t play great, we didn’t have him do much yet. He has done some really good things for us. Also, the running back depth, that position we all know, that’s a violent position, so a guy
like Dare [Ogunbowale] becomes more and more valuable. Zig [Devine Ozigbo] had a nice run, Nate [Nathan Cottrell] had a nice two-point conversion, and we are keeping our eyes open.”
(On taking advantage of being first on the waiver wire) “We have had that chat and I’m anxious to see how this thing works. How much to take advantage of it? I’m not sure. We will see how that goes.”
(On this being QB Trevor Lawrence’s last quarterback competition in the NFL) “I hope so and you can capitalize that if you want to.”
QUARTERBACK TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021
(On the initial feeling of being told that he is a starter) “It was good man, we talked about it in our QB room. We have a great group so I am really excited for the opportunity, but it doesn’t really change anything. We still have the same task in front of us — got to get a lot better individually, as a team and an offense, so just looking forward to going to work this week. You know it brings some clarity which is nice going forward but it really doesn’t change much. But, yes, I am really excited for the opportunity and grateful or it.”
(On team reaction when they found out) “We more so talked about it in our QB room and really like I said, we have a great group. You know Minsh [Gardner Minshew] has been awesome and treating me really well. We have had a lot of conversations and he has been a guy that I have been able to learn from and CJ [Beathard] and Jake [Luton] and all those guys. We are all in it together, we are all on the same team and at the end of the day that is the most important thing. It has been good — moving forward we are not making it bigger than it is. I am going to be the starter and just have to play well so that does not change.”
(On how he found out he was the starter) “We talked about it in the QB room — we had a good team meeting this morning but we had a conversation, just our unit.”
(On what he learned watching his film against the Saints) “Obviously the things I said after [the game] held up for the most part but just little details that we have to be more on the same page as an offense and that just starts with me with communication. Reiterating what I did say after the game is just stay out of second and third and longs — staying on schedule. That comes with being more productive in the run game and then me checking it down, taking what I can get — completions and not trying to force things down field. It is everyone just playing better and that starts with me as a quarterback obviously so just looking forward to this week, going to work, going back to the drawing board and getting some good reps in practice and getting better.”
(On talking to RB Travis Etienne Jr. and how he is feeling after injury) “I think he is handling it well — obviously that sucks. I’ve played with him for four years and have never seen him hurt. This is like the first serious injury of his playing career so it is tough. He is handling it great but just trying to support him and keep him locked in because he will be out physically but this will be a really good time mentally to make sure he is learning everything and getting ahead so that when he does come back it will make it that much easier for him. He is doing really well — obviously it is tough with that injury especially right before the season starts but he is going to be good.”
(On frustration from not scoring enough points) “Yeah I mean it is frustrating but also we just all have to stick together and keep playing. We are going to figure it out and I am really confident in that so we
have a bunch of guys that are putting the work in and we are going to do everything it takes to get on the right track. I am confident in that. I am not worried. You know obviously you would like to score points than we have for sure but all stuff we can build on and we know what we need to get better at so it is just a matter of doing it and going out there and practicing it.”
(On frustration with play calling) “No, I thought it was good — we definitely opened it up more. Like I said, I thought we had a good game plan, we just did not execute it very well. That is more on us as players and everyone just has to play better and prepare better. It is all of those things, it is a lot of different things we have to get better at but I think we have a really good plan moving forward and it is just one thing at a time. Addressing it, fixing it and moving forward so I feel really good about it and I know the guys feel good so we are ready.”
(On others around him being less patient about the situation) “I mean yeah there is always people saying different things. You know for you, not for you — you just block all that out. I know the situation I am in and these coaches and these players — we are all here to win and we are doing everything we can to win, to prepare, to play our best and that is really all that matters. I just try to block all that stuff out. All I can do is be the best I can be and just keep doing that every day.”
