September 19, 2025 • 26 mins
J.P. Shadrick and Brian Sexton catch up with former Jaguars' RB Fred Taylor, DE Dawuane Smoot, CBS sportscaster Spero Dedes and Jaguars' Defensive Line Coach Matt Edwards. The group discusses the early success of the new regime, being first in the NFL in rushing yards and forced turnovers and the upcoming matchup with the Texans.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We have reached week three.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
J P.
Speaker 3 (00:02):
Shadwick with you with our weekly.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Interviews on Countdown to Kickoff and this week the Jaguars
hosts the division rival of Houston Texans, and we begin
this week with our weekly conversation with pride of the
Jaguars running back Fred Taylor. Week three is here, divisional
play is here as well. The Houston Texans are in town.
The energy just amps up on a week like this, Fred, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good week for football man, especially after a tough loss
to a very persistent Bengals team. You got to give
them credit where is due. They played their tails off
to get that w Man, in spite of everything that
happened to them, Jacksonville have to find a way to
start winning that way. Yes, it was an ugly loss,
a tough loss for everybody in the building, but you know,
(00:43):
we got a lot of football left, fifteen more regular
season opportunities. But it starts with the Texans, a team
who has been a thorn in our side in the
history of this matchup. So got to find a way
to win. They're owing to struggling looking for a win.
We're wanting one, trying to come up with a tough
win the better team's gonna win today.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Fred, Let's get into Brian Thomas Junior's week last week
and the possible bounce back ability twelve targets four catches
last week. We saw how it looked on TV. We
heard from him in the locker room this week that no,
I'm not in the slump. It's just let's go play.
As an athlete, how do you work yourself out of
(01:24):
a situation like this? And where do you think Brian
is right now?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, I mean, based on the comments, you know he's
just said he made well, I'm not in a slump.
I love the optimism. It starts there. You have to
continue to ring in on your confidence. You got to
make sure you're not shooking up, shaking up shook. You
got to make sure you're not shook or shaking. Let's
let's use one of those tenses, right.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Shaking, not stird, right sacon, not third exactly, but no
either case. You know, I think he just has to
continue to show confidence.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
He doesn't want to get down on himself because the
team will get down on him. I remember a situation
for myself. I would drop a ball in practice. The
team thought I was down on myself from a confidence standpoint. No,
I was hard on myself on everything. I got to
catch those balls. Brian knows he has to catch those balls.
He has to make those those plays. We had him
(02:18):
on the pivot and he said, look, I want to
step up this year and be a leader, you know,
not just being a leader by example, but he wants
to learn how to be a vocal leader as well.
And the way you learn how to get people to
buy in is through trust. Trusting trust comes from crazy
as it is making plays, that's one thing. And also
(02:39):
standing on business. You got to be a man of
your word. So it's a few things he has to
grasp a hold of, but it starts with being optimistic,
staying confident, asking them to get me the ball, keep
coming to me, keep coming to me. I know this
is just two games in. It's nothing, and I'm going
to step up and show you all what I'm made of.
And I think that's the cloth that he's cut from.
(03:01):
He's one of those fantastic LSU receivers. As much as
it took out to get me to say that, I mean,
they keep pushing him out and he's one of the
top of those guys. That have come out, So I
believe in him. I think he'll bounce back.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Fred Taylor with us, there's some good things going on
for the Shags team. They lead the league in rushing
yards through two weeks, and they lead the league in takeaways.
They have six a season after they had.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Nine all years.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
So if they can do that every week, they're gonna
win a whole lot more than they lose this year.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
The stain they have to sustain, that's the standard. They
want to be consistent. And the way that pass rush
looked early on and then how it tapered down a
little bit in the second half. I don't necessarily equate
that to consistency, but in terms of the production from
a statistical standpoint, they're right there.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
They're right there where you want to be. It's all
the good stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Again, if you don't find a way to close out
these games, you know, because sometimes you're gonna have one
hundred and fifty yards passing and you're gonna find a
way to win the game. Dak Prescott last week, for example,
had one hundred and seventy eight.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
He found a way to win the ball game.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Late in the ballgame, Jacksonville, you know, with all these statistics,
and that's the great formula.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Do not get me wrong.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
We love to be the leading rushing team and the
leading team and turnover ratio. That's the formula for success
throughout the course of an entire season. Two games in,
you know, just chalk it up optimistic to see it.
But unless you got a W in that win column,
that stuff never matters, JP and you know it. So
(04:41):
they got to continue to build on that and find
a way to close out games.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Fred, I'm curious your thoughts on the running backs. We
talked about the running game. Clearly, obviously it's going pretty
well with ETN and base show tooting and the look
winn Allen in there and some third down situations as well.
But both of these guys he has a running the
ball effectively, but they were utilized in the passing game
last week, that wide pass. The screen game has been
(05:06):
pretty good for this team so far. As a running back,
having that balance that opens up a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, First, give credit to the colleges that they attended.
You know, you got the q's and you got V Tech.
And the good thing about it is they're well coached.
You know, Chad, he's.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
In the room.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Chad Morton, he's in the room and he's been phenomenal
in his career. He was a great player, very smart guy,
and you can tell that he trickles down to the
backs because you have a set of rookies who's picked
up the speed of the NFL game that I don't
see him making busts. You know, they're heavy and pass protection,
(05:47):
protecting the quarterback to trust that they have for the
quint there as a bigger back on third down. I mean,
he's been pretty solid in the past game. The quint
as you mentioned JP, running screens, very explosive, making the
right cuts, strong downhill.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
You know he had.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
He's a guy with tremendous upside and it makes that move,
you know, over a week ago with Tank Bigsby, it
makes that trade move look like an amazing smart decision.
So I say that to say we hope that Travis
etn continues to, you know, ascend right on the consistent basis.
(06:25):
The offensive line. They buckled down. They had a really
solid performance in the run game. Not so great in
the past game as they allow some pressure throughout critical
points in the game to get to Trevor Lawrence walk
a little challenge. You gotta step it up your one
on one matchups. You have to win. Win those and
understand the pressure situations when they're gonna bumple down the
(06:47):
pass rushue they're offensive coaches, I'm sure they've gone back
and said, hey, we got to send a little help
that way to slow down the Bengals, all sir, whomever's team,
all star.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I say all that to say, man, I know.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Along win it situationally, the Jaguars will get better. I
know they won't get called for those those illegal shifts
and all of that. They'll be prepared and give themselves
an opportunity to win this week, all.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Right, Fred, final thought quickly here about c J Stroud
and his mindset. The offensive line has had some issues
in Houston. Of course, he's got a couple of weapons
on the offense. But where is CJ Stroud and what
stands out of the most about his approach to the game.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
For you, CJ is probably knocking on Nick Sario's door, like,
hey man, it's been a few years since I've been
here and two of them we haven't had any linemen
to protect me, and then you trade away one of them.
So he's probably doing that. But CJ. Man just an
amazing kid, amazing young man. I love him to death.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Man.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Every time we cross paths, he's very welcoming and you
know he he opens everything up for me. Just a
respectful young man, very humble in his approach. Everything he
does he does with his community in mind, with his
father in mind, and making sure that he just does
everything right. He's an amazing person. Then it carries over
(08:12):
to the field as well, and you can see his
play and it's not what we saw his rookie year.
But he won't back down, you know, and I know
he understands this matchup. He's missing one of his weapons
in Tank Dell and they traded away Michi as well.
But CJ's gonna keep fighting, and this Texans team is
(08:33):
gonna keep fighting. Their head coach is a guy I
played against the mink O'Ryan, a guy who's gonna keep fighting.
We had some drama last year with the hit on
Trevor Laurn, so you can understand. This is their first
time back in Jacksonville since that happened, So you better
believe it's gonna be some tension and some fire in
the air. So the team that's the most physical, most prepared,
(08:56):
most discipline for situations is gonna win this.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
B Gred great stuff. We'll talk to you in the
post game coming up.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Man, appreciate it, you know. Man, I'll be ready.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
And no rain delays this week, baby, because I gotta
be in the studio with the guys.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Man, come on, God get us right.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Brian Sexton this week got into the defensive line room
with defensive linemen Duwan Smoot.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Like I never left.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
You know.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
The guys welcome me back, open arms, and I'm just
so happy to be back.
Speaker 7 (09:24):
Give me a sense of what the four of you
in that past rushing end unit are doing. Because you're
having great success early on and you know you're back
and you've got a Manuel here this year. Tell me
a little bit about the chemistry in that room.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Chemistry it was like like day one, like we were
all locked in from day one, and you just see
it out there on Sundays, like we're communicating.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
It's easy.
Speaker 6 (09:45):
It's just to look like, Okay, you're going here. I
know where you're going. I'm able to work off of
you and me Josh trade and rushing together.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
For so long, you know. Just getting back here with
Eric as well too.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
It's easy to work off with somebody who's penetrating every
single time he's in the backfield, so he's of the
playoff somebody who's that good.
Speaker 7 (10:00):
Important is that they have four guys you can chase
the quarterbacks so that the quarterback is tired and you
guys maybe get arrest.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Right.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
It's very important.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
I mean for us, our first philosophy is to stop
the run, and that puts them in that situation where
they have to pass.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
So I mean that's where we eat.
Speaker 6 (10:14):
You know, it's very important for all four of us
to be at one in the court, for us all
to be able to you know, be one on one
blocks and be able to get to the quarterback.
Speaker 7 (10:20):
You were a rookie on the twenty seventeen team that
was as good at defense as we've ever seen in Jacksonville.
This one is showing some potential. Number four against the
run eighty yards. Tell me personalities aside, you see some
similarities in the approach.
Speaker 6 (10:34):
Never see some similarities in their approach, Like we're very technical,
especially like especially today and coming off that tough loss,
it's easy to just like look at it negatively and like,
oh yeah, we lost but it was so much great
things that we did and so such a little bit
of small things that were bad. So I mean, we
know and we understand what we had to do coming
into this week, and we were intentional about fixing everything.
(10:59):
So definitely a lot of similarities from twenty seventeen. You know,
I feel like we can be a very good defense
this year.
Speaker 7 (11:04):
Are there any similar personalities or was that group just
its own?
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Hey, there's some similar personalities. I mean, you know, you
know on twenty seventeen how we were drawing at everybody.
Everybody get it didn't matter, And we're definitely not backing
down from any challenges this year. That's kind of the
tempo coming.
Speaker 7 (11:18):
With Houston has long been this team's nemesis. I mean
all the way back to two thousand and two, and
you obviously were a part of some of those games
first shot out of the gate. This year, how important
is it to push back against the team that thinks
they're the bully.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I mean it's huge.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
I mean, like you said, they come in here and
they think they're a bully, They're gonna try to smake
you in the mouth, all that stuff. But think about it,
like I said, we don't back down from no challenges
from anybody. We definitely pride ourselves on our physicality here,
you know, And that's the thing that Camp when he
first came in, he was like, We're gonna be the
most physical team in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
So and we were ready for the challenge.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
We know what they're coming with, and I'm pretty sure
looking at the family and know we're coming with too.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
You talked off the top about being home, about being
back here. How important is Jacksonville to do once? It's
more than just the place that you play football, right.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I mean, it's it's definitely home.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
Just the fact that we were able to do everything
in the community in the past what seven years, and
really being able touch community and getting to know a
lot of people. It's home. I mean, my kids are
here to stay. I'm here to stay. So I mean,
I'm hoping that I can retire for sure.
Speaker 7 (12:18):
And how much better would it be with a ring, right,
I mean, to turn this thing into it into a winner,
which I know you've been a part of at various
times but hasn't been consistent. How much would it mean
for you personally to see this thing become a consistent winner?
Speaker 6 (12:32):
I mean I mean everything to me personally personally, but
I mean I mean everything to the city of Jacksonville.
To be the first team, you know, to bring it
home and to have that parade for the first time.
It's going to be everything at Jacksonville. So we're definitely
gonna try to bring that home this year for sure.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Spirodidas has the call of the game on CBS Sports
this week. It's another new era of Jaguars football. You know,
the NFL season is back. When Spiro's on our ear?
What's up man? Hey doing buddy? Always good to hear
your voice.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Hey, good to be with you all.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
So and here we go, another new era of Jaguars football.
We've heard this before. What's outside view of what they've
done in the front office.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
JP, it's it's a rite of passage, new season, new
regime in Jacksonville, and away we go. But you know, look,
I mean it's as disappointing as I think the finish
was this last weekend for Jags fans. I think if
you just step back and just see where this team
is and some of the early signs, I think you
have to be encouraged, really intrigued with with what they
(13:32):
did in the off season. I think when you have
a regime GM head coach, both under forty, considering their backgrounds,
considering the recent success, considering the organizations that both of
those guys have come from, fascinating to see them put
the roster together. With what Gladstone did in the off
season and the way they've performed, I think, very encouraging
(13:55):
signs early on. I think there's a run game something
that they've lacked clearly, and the defense flying around playing
as well as they are the first couple of weeks,
So positive signs. I think two weeks end of the year.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Well, the big question that a lot of people will
have for Liam Cohen is can you fix the quarterback?
You know, they've had two different coaches before that tried
to fix the quarterback and had really not a lot
of success there. What about Liam Cohen the way he's
worked in Tampa and LA and the other places, makes
you is there confidence there that this is the right
(14:29):
connection with Trevor Lawrence?
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Well, I think, you know, look what Liam has done
the last couple of years speaks for itself. Not a
huge sample size there, clearly a guy who hasn't called
plays for very many years, but a recent track record
is something to build on. Really like his temperament. I
know a lot was made about the exchange in game
(14:53):
towards the end last week in Cincinnati, but the guy's
got fire. Loved that part of what he bring to
the table. The other thing I think he understands and
anyone who studied Trevor Lawrence the last couple of years
knows that, you know, this offense needs some balance. You know,
they had to retool the offensive line that's always been
an issue with them. And can they give Trevor run
(15:16):
support consistently to keep defenses honest? I think that, to
me is my biggest takeaway through the first two weeks.
Trevor ETM last year, you know, for whatever reason, took
a step back the offensive line issues. You know, some
of the injuries they had up front. Obviously Trevor in
out of the lineup. They just can never commit to
that part of their offense, and I think that always
(15:38):
puts stress on a quarterback, especially a guy like Trevor Lawrence.
So I think the fact that they've committed to that
part of their their offensive attack speaks to who Liam
Cohen is. I think it's a coach recognizing his personnel
and trying to tailor a system to put his quarterback
in the best possible position to succeed. And if you're
a Jacksonville fan, I think that the biggest hope is
(16:01):
that that part of their offensive arsenal can continue to
grow and they can stay committed to that, because if
they can give Trevor I think, a consistent run threat
each and every time they step on the field, I
think this is a very capable offense.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Spirodiitas, CBS Sports with us.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
The Jaguars defense the last couple of years has been awful,
thirty first in the league overall last year, but so
far they've they've put together some things this year. Six
takeaways leads the NFL through two weeks. They only had
nine all of last season, so that's a good step
in the right direction. They had some plays in big
moments last week where they couldn't get off the field
(16:36):
and fourth down on the last drive and then the
pass interference. But this is a whole new defensive scheme
with a whole almost new back end of the defense,
some new faces back there, and if they just improve
like halfway, if they're middle of the pack, then that
has to be a good step for this defense.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
This year, yeah, had more youth, you know, with Anthony
Campanil coming in. This has to be one of the
youngest staffs, you know, when you consider front office and
coaching staff, and so that part has been really kind
of interesting to.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Watch from afar.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
But the takeaway issue has been something it seems like
we've talked about for the last couple of years. It's
just never been a defense that can take the football
away and make big plays. Because you know JP as
you know as well as anyone covering this league. It's
one thing to build a defense that can play well
and do some things, but if you can't make the
(17:26):
big home run play, to put the football back in
the hands of your offense and keep parts of games,
you're just not gonna have much of a chance to
truly compete in this league. So I think the fact
that they're doing that early in the season is a
fantastic early sign for this defense. The other encouraging part
I think for the Jacksonville defense is some of the
younger players that they drafted that maybe took a little
(17:48):
bit of time initially, Guys like Trayvon Walker now really
starting to play well. I think that's always a sign
guys when you can draft well and when those those
players start to come into their own some of the
moves that they made in the offseason. Loved what they
did on the back end with guys like Eric Murray
and Jordan Lewis coming into free agency, So I think
(18:08):
there's been just and again we're very early in the season.
Who knows what this thing looks like four or five
weeks from now, but I think based on the moves
that they made in the offseason, obviously the coaching changes,
new system, so far, it's looked like it's something that's
trending in the right direction. You know, we've been here
before with good starts with this team and it's petered out.
(18:30):
But if I'm a Jacksonville fan, I feel good about
where this team sits right now.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
It was a season where the Jaguars won the first
game and lost the last fifteen, So you know how
I go spirods with this CBS Sports that's not gonna
happen this year. By the way, Hey, this is a
huge game this week, early swing game in the AFC South.
A lot of season to go, but it's the Jaguars
only divisional game in the first nine weeks of the season,
and against the team that won the division last year
(18:56):
and supposedly is a favorite to do it again coming
in of the season. They're up against the wall. The
Texans are zero and two. We all know about the
physicality that this Texans defense has. I mean, they knocked
Trevor Lawrence out of last year's game here in Jacksonville
and he didn't play the rest of the season. I
don't think there's any retribution coming. But this also feels
(19:18):
like spirou a Jaguars team now that won't back away
from something like that echo of the whistle. They want
to show their physicality. I think this could be like
just a real slugfest.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
I think on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Yeah, I think it's you know, when you have a
team that is as desperate as the Texans are early
in a season, a team that's expected to contend, a
team that has expectations going into the season, as you
just mentioned, I think that's a dangerous thing. And as
I'm sure you recall, two years ago twenty twenty three,
Demico Ryans first year is Houston's head coach. They were
(19:51):
in the exact same position. Come to Jacksonville Week three,
zero to two. That obviously was a different Houston team
with very low expectations. Houston comes, they win the game
by twenty I think it was thirty seven to seventeen,
and then they catapult themselves the rest of their season,
go on to win the AFC South. But I think
you make a good point. I think this Jacksonville team
(20:13):
is much better equipped to be in this position that
they're in to come in and face a team that's
going to be as desperate as Houston is on Sunday
in Jacksonville. This will be an early I think barometer
for both of these teams. Is this Jacksonville team truly
ready to compete? How do they handle this kind of
(20:33):
a desperate team early season and their building? And also
for Houston, you know, is this truly going to be
a team that can achieve what the expectations are for
them because they're in a different position. I think that
they've been a great story with Demco the last couple
of years. Obviously, twenty twenty three their first year, get
to the playoffs, win a playoff game, advance did the
same last year before it kind of ended for them,
(20:54):
but they're now dealing with expectations. I think they're at
that juncture of a franchise, you know, that natural ascending
that a team tries to do in their division and conference.
So this is this is going to be a fun
game for both teams to see where they're at early
in the season.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Spiral great stuff as always always a pleasure. I'm sure
we'll do it again soon here this season. Thanks J
Peek and finally Brian Sexton again this time with Jags
defensive line coach Matt Edwards. It's a group trying to
get after CJ.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Stroud. Yeah.
Speaker 8 (21:23):
I would say the guys approach it with the right mindset.
They've really adopted our play style, and I think the
understanding on all three levels of the defense of what
we're trying to accomplish resonates with them, and they're seeing
the outcomes that we're trying to create.
Speaker 7 (21:36):
How important is that to see outcomes like you're getting
this early in the process.
Speaker 8 (21:42):
I think when you get the outcomes that you're looking for,
it just helps you reinforce our process and how important
individual teamwork, practice, all those things that lead up to
the execution on game day.
Speaker 7 (21:56):
Let's talk about communication, because that's something that Liam has
talked about since the first day he arrived here, and
you just mentioned all three levels. How do you develop
the kind of communication that's required to be a great
run stuffing unit.
Speaker 8 (22:09):
I think the first thing when it comes to communication
is I think the guys need to be around each other.
They come in, they meet on their own, they get
in groups, they talk about what they're going to see,
they solve problems, they practice communicating in the classroom setting,
then they bring it out to the grass and I
think that when you're able to do that, the communication
(22:29):
gets cleaner. You kind of have some anticipation of what
you should hear and everybody's on the same page and
allows you to play as a unit.
Speaker 7 (22:36):
Let's work for the inside out with your unit. Tell
me what you like about the interior of your defense.
Eric Armstead, Devon Hamilton, Colin Saunders, Mason Smith. I mean
you've got an interesting mix of personalities and size, and
what about that group stands out?
Speaker 8 (22:51):
Yeah, the most important thing to me is like, this
is a real selfless group, right. They all want to
be out there, but they all support each other. Whoever
is out there, they all have a different skill set,
but they all try to play to our play style.
The most exciting thing is like they come out every
day and they work.
Speaker 7 (23:09):
They also appear to have really gravitated towards one another.
They like one another, and I think Saunders was an
interesting mix because his personality is so big.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (23:19):
I think the closeness from the group is intentional on
their part. You know, they go to the defensive line, dinners,
they're around each other.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
It's not just football.
Speaker 8 (23:29):
And what you see is like these guys support each
other off the field as much as they do on
the field.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
In life.
Speaker 8 (23:35):
They know what's going on in each other's lives and
really it's the time that they've invested in one another
that makes it easier for them to be invested on
the field.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
Tell me what you've seen from Trayvon Walker through the
first two weeks. He was an absolute wrecking ball last
week in Cincinnati, just play after play after play. Did
you see that in him when you watched his tape
from the first two years. How has he progressed?
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (23:55):
I think Trayvon is first off, he's a tremendous person
and his work ethay and what he brings from an
intangible aspect of doing what we ask is exactly what
you want as a coach. He's obviously incredibly skilled. But
what I love most about Trey he doesn't look at
himself as I'm just a rusher, I'm just a run defender.
(24:17):
He is a true three down player with the ability
to impact the game, and I think we're just scratching
the surface for the standard that he has for himself.
Speaker 7 (24:30):
I enjoy the competitiveness that he has with Josh heinz
Allen on the other side, and how much they push
one another.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Do you see that?
Speaker 7 (24:36):
Have you seen that? Did you see that in Buffalo?
Or is this a rare quality between two guys?
Speaker 4 (24:42):
I think you know.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
I've been around a lot of different groups, and the
groups that have performed at a high level have certain
things in common. Won the connectivity that we already mentioned,
but the ability to compete. Like these guys love to compete, right,
They don't want to lose in anything. And when you're
competitive and you're working hard and you're trying to use
the right techniques, that's what produces the results that individually
(25:07):
they're looking for. As we all accomplish it as a defense.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
Since we talked about the group as a whole inside
what does it mean to have a manual and to
bring Smoot back here and to have two veteran guys
who can keep chasing the quarterback when the other guys
need a blow.
Speaker 8 (25:21):
You know, the way the NFL is right now, you
have to have a wall of rushers to throw at people.
You know, send the guys out there telling go so
you can't go no more, We'll get somebody.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Else in there.
Speaker 8 (25:32):
And they're confident when that next guy goes out there
that there's not going to be a drop off, that
those guys are going to go out there and do
their job. And as far as adding Smoot and og
By the veteran presence, they assimilated to the room really
easily because they're great guys and it's just it's really
a good mix and they're able to share some of
their experience from other places and bring it into the
(25:53):
room as well.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
The Jaguars host the Texans Sunday at one o'clock. We'll
talk to you Sunday at noon for countdown to kick
off on the Jaguar RS Radio Network.
We have reached week three.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
J P.
Speaker 3 (00:02):
Shadwick with you with our weekly.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Interviews on Countdown to Kickoff and this week the Jaguars
hosts the division rival of Houston Texans, and we begin
this week with our weekly conversation with pride of the
Jaguars running back Fred Taylor. Week three is here, divisional
play is here as well. The Houston Texans are in town.
The energy just amps up on a week like this, Fred, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good week for football man, especially after a tough loss
to a very persistent Bengals team. You got to give
them credit where is due. They played their tails off
to get that w Man, in spite of everything that
happened to them, Jacksonville have to find a way to
start winning that way. Yes, it was an ugly loss,
a tough loss for everybody in the building, but you know,
(00:43):
we got a lot of football left, fifteen more regular
season opportunities. But it starts with the Texans, a team
who has been a thorn in our side in the
history of this matchup. So got to find a way
to win. They're owing to struggling looking for a win.
We're wanting one, trying to come up with a tough
win the better team's gonna win today.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Fred, Let's get into Brian Thomas Junior's week last week
and the possible bounce back ability twelve targets four catches
last week. We saw how it looked on TV. We
heard from him in the locker room this week that no,
I'm not in the slump. It's just let's go play.
As an athlete, how do you work yourself out of
(01:24):
a situation like this? And where do you think Brian
is right now?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, I mean, based on the comments, you know he's
just said he made well, I'm not in a slump.
I love the optimism. It starts there. You have to
continue to ring in on your confidence. You got to
make sure you're not shooking up, shaking up shook. You
got to make sure you're not shook or shaking. Let's
let's use one of those tenses, right.
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Shaking, not stird, right sacon, not third exactly, but no
either case. You know, I think he just has to
continue to show confidence.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
He doesn't want to get down on himself because the
team will get down on him. I remember a situation
for myself. I would drop a ball in practice. The
team thought I was down on myself from a confidence standpoint. No,
I was hard on myself on everything. I got to
catch those balls. Brian knows he has to catch those balls.
He has to make those those plays. We had him
(02:18):
on the pivot and he said, look, I want to
step up this year and be a leader, you know,
not just being a leader by example, but he wants
to learn how to be a vocal leader as well.
And the way you learn how to get people to
buy in is through trust. Trusting trust comes from crazy
as it is making plays, that's one thing. And also
(02:39):
standing on business. You got to be a man of
your word. So it's a few things he has to
grasp a hold of, but it starts with being optimistic,
staying confident, asking them to get me the ball, keep
coming to me, keep coming to me. I know this
is just two games in. It's nothing, and I'm going
to step up and show you all what I'm made of.
And I think that's the cloth that he's cut from.
(03:01):
He's one of those fantastic LSU receivers. As much as
it took out to get me to say that, I mean,
they keep pushing him out and he's one of the
top of those guys. That have come out, So I
believe in him. I think he'll bounce back.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Fred Taylor with us, there's some good things going on
for the Shags team. They lead the league in rushing
yards through two weeks, and they lead the league in takeaways.
They have six a season after they had.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Nine all years.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
So if they can do that every week, they're gonna
win a whole lot more than they lose this year.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
The stain they have to sustain, that's the standard. They
want to be consistent. And the way that pass rush
looked early on and then how it tapered down a
little bit in the second half. I don't necessarily equate
that to consistency, but in terms of the production from
a statistical standpoint, they're right there.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
They're right there where you want to be. It's all
the good stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Again, if you don't find a way to close out
these games, you know, because sometimes you're gonna have one
hundred and fifty yards passing and you're gonna find a
way to win the game. Dak Prescott last week, for example,
had one hundred and seventy eight.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
He found a way to win the ball game.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Late in the ballgame, Jacksonville, you know, with all these statistics,
and that's the great formula.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Do not get me wrong.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
We love to be the leading rushing team and the
leading team and turnover ratio. That's the formula for success
throughout the course of an entire season. Two games in,
you know, just chalk it up optimistic to see it.
But unless you got a W in that win column,
that stuff never matters, JP and you know it. So
(04:41):
they got to continue to build on that and find
a way to close out games.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Fred, I'm curious your thoughts on the running backs. We
talked about the running game. Clearly, obviously it's going pretty
well with ETN and base show tooting and the look
winn Allen in there and some third down situations as well.
But both of these guys he has a running the
ball effectively, but they were utilized in the passing game
last week, that wide pass. The screen game has been
(05:06):
pretty good for this team so far. As a running back,
having that balance that opens up a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, First, give credit to the colleges that they attended.
You know, you got the q's and you got V Tech.
And the good thing about it is they're well coached.
You know, Chad, he's.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
In the room.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Chad Morton, he's in the room and he's been phenomenal
in his career. He was a great player, very smart guy,
and you can tell that he trickles down to the
backs because you have a set of rookies who's picked
up the speed of the NFL game that I don't
see him making busts. You know, they're heavy and pass protection,
(05:47):
protecting the quarterback to trust that they have for the
quint there as a bigger back on third down. I mean,
he's been pretty solid in the past game. The quint
as you mentioned JP, running screens, very explosive, making the
right cuts, strong downhill.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
You know he had.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
He's a guy with tremendous upside and it makes that move,
you know, over a week ago with Tank Bigsby, it
makes that trade move look like an amazing smart decision.
So I say that to say we hope that Travis
etn continues to, you know, ascend right on the consistent basis.
(06:25):
The offensive line. They buckled down. They had a really
solid performance in the run game. Not so great in
the past game as they allow some pressure throughout critical
points in the game to get to Trevor Lawrence walk
a little challenge. You gotta step it up your one
on one matchups. You have to win. Win those and
understand the pressure situations when they're gonna bumple down the
(06:47):
pass rushue they're offensive coaches, I'm sure they've gone back
and said, hey, we got to send a little help
that way to slow down the Bengals, all sir, whomever's team,
all star.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I say all that to say, man, I know.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Along win it situationally, the Jaguars will get better. I
know they won't get called for those those illegal shifts
and all of that. They'll be prepared and give themselves
an opportunity to win this week, all.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Right, Fred, final thought quickly here about c J Stroud
and his mindset. The offensive line has had some issues
in Houston. Of course, he's got a couple of weapons
on the offense. But where is CJ Stroud and what
stands out of the most about his approach to the game.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
For you, CJ is probably knocking on Nick Sario's door, like,
hey man, it's been a few years since I've been
here and two of them we haven't had any linemen
to protect me, and then you trade away one of them.
So he's probably doing that. But CJ. Man just an
amazing kid, amazing young man. I love him to death.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Man.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Every time we cross paths, he's very welcoming and you
know he he opens everything up for me. Just a
respectful young man, very humble in his approach. Everything he
does he does with his community in mind, with his
father in mind, and making sure that he just does
everything right. He's an amazing person. Then it carries over
(08:12):
to the field as well, and you can see his
play and it's not what we saw his rookie year.
But he won't back down, you know, and I know
he understands this matchup. He's missing one of his weapons
in Tank Dell and they traded away Michi as well.
But CJ's gonna keep fighting, and this Texans team is
(08:33):
gonna keep fighting. Their head coach is a guy I
played against the mink O'Ryan, a guy who's gonna keep fighting.
We had some drama last year with the hit on
Trevor Laurn, so you can understand. This is their first
time back in Jacksonville since that happened, So you better
believe it's gonna be some tension and some fire in
the air. So the team that's the most physical, most prepared,
(08:56):
most discipline for situations is gonna win this.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
B Gred great stuff. We'll talk to you in the
post game coming up.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Man, appreciate it, you know. Man, I'll be ready.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
And no rain delays this week, baby, because I gotta
be in the studio with the guys.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
Man, come on, God get us right.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Brian Sexton this week got into the defensive line room
with defensive linemen Duwan Smoot.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Like I never left.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
You know.
Speaker 6 (09:21):
The guys welcome me back, open arms, and I'm just
so happy to be back.
Speaker 7 (09:24):
Give me a sense of what the four of you
in that past rushing end unit are doing. Because you're
having great success early on and you know you're back
and you've got a Manuel here this year. Tell me
a little bit about the chemistry in that room.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Chemistry it was like like day one, like we were
all locked in from day one, and you just see
it out there on Sundays, like we're communicating.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
It's easy.
Speaker 6 (09:45):
It's just to look like, Okay, you're going here. I
know where you're going. I'm able to work off of
you and me Josh trade and rushing together.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
For so long, you know. Just getting back here with
Eric as well too.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
It's easy to work off with somebody who's penetrating every
single time he's in the backfield, so he's of the
playoff somebody who's that good.
Speaker 7 (10:00):
Important is that they have four guys you can chase
the quarterbacks so that the quarterback is tired and you
guys maybe get arrest.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Right.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
It's very important.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
I mean for us, our first philosophy is to stop
the run, and that puts them in that situation where
they have to pass.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
So I mean that's where we eat.
Speaker 6 (10:14):
You know, it's very important for all four of us
to be at one in the court, for us all
to be able to you know, be one on one
blocks and be able to get to the quarterback.
Speaker 7 (10:20):
You were a rookie on the twenty seventeen team that
was as good at defense as we've ever seen in Jacksonville.
This one is showing some potential. Number four against the
run eighty yards. Tell me personalities aside, you see some
similarities in the approach.
Speaker 6 (10:34):
Never see some similarities in their approach, Like we're very technical,
especially like especially today and coming off that tough loss,
it's easy to just like look at it negatively and like,
oh yeah, we lost but it was so much great
things that we did and so such a little bit
of small things that were bad. So I mean, we
know and we understand what we had to do coming
into this week, and we were intentional about fixing everything.
(10:59):
So definitely a lot of similarities from twenty seventeen. You know,
I feel like we can be a very good defense
this year.
Speaker 7 (11:04):
Are there any similar personalities or was that group just
its own?
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Hey, there's some similar personalities. I mean, you know, you
know on twenty seventeen how we were drawing at everybody.
Everybody get it didn't matter, And we're definitely not backing
down from any challenges this year. That's kind of the
tempo coming.
Speaker 7 (11:18):
With Houston has long been this team's nemesis. I mean
all the way back to two thousand and two, and
you obviously were a part of some of those games
first shot out of the gate. This year, how important
is it to push back against the team that thinks
they're the bully.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I mean it's huge.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
I mean, like you said, they come in here and
they think they're a bully, They're gonna try to smake
you in the mouth, all that stuff. But think about it,
like I said, we don't back down from no challenges
from anybody. We definitely pride ourselves on our physicality here,
you know, And that's the thing that Camp when he
first came in, he was like, We're gonna be the
most physical team in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
So and we were ready for the challenge.
Speaker 6 (11:50):
We know what they're coming with, and I'm pretty sure
looking at the family and know we're coming with too.
Speaker 7 (11:54):
You talked off the top about being home, about being
back here. How important is Jacksonville to do once? It's
more than just the place that you play football, right.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I mean, it's it's definitely home.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
Just the fact that we were able to do everything
in the community in the past what seven years, and
really being able touch community and getting to know a
lot of people. It's home. I mean, my kids are
here to stay. I'm here to stay. So I mean,
I'm hoping that I can retire for sure.
Speaker 7 (12:18):
And how much better would it be with a ring, right,
I mean, to turn this thing into it into a winner,
which I know you've been a part of at various
times but hasn't been consistent. How much would it mean
for you personally to see this thing become a consistent winner?
Speaker 6 (12:32):
I mean I mean everything to me personally personally, but
I mean I mean everything to the city of Jacksonville.
To be the first team, you know, to bring it
home and to have that parade for the first time.
It's going to be everything at Jacksonville. So we're definitely
gonna try to bring that home this year for sure.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Spirodidas has the call of the game on CBS Sports
this week. It's another new era of Jaguars football. You know,
the NFL season is back. When Spiro's on our ear?
What's up man? Hey doing buddy? Always good to hear
your voice.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Hey, good to be with you all.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
So and here we go, another new era of Jaguars football.
We've heard this before. What's outside view of what they've
done in the front office.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
JP, it's it's a rite of passage, new season, new
regime in Jacksonville, and away we go. But you know, look,
I mean it's as disappointing as I think the finish
was this last weekend for Jags fans. I think if
you just step back and just see where this team
is and some of the early signs, I think you
have to be encouraged, really intrigued with with what they
(13:32):
did in the off season. I think when you have
a regime GM head coach, both under forty, considering their backgrounds,
considering the recent success, considering the organizations that both of
those guys have come from, fascinating to see them put
the roster together. With what Gladstone did in the off
season and the way they've performed, I think, very encouraging
(13:55):
signs early on. I think there's a run game something
that they've lacked clearly, and the defense flying around playing
as well as they are the first couple of weeks,
So positive signs. I think two weeks end of the year.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Well, the big question that a lot of people will
have for Liam Cohen is can you fix the quarterback?
You know, they've had two different coaches before that tried
to fix the quarterback and had really not a lot
of success there. What about Liam Cohen the way he's
worked in Tampa and LA and the other places, makes
you is there confidence there that this is the right
(14:29):
connection with Trevor Lawrence?
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Well, I think, you know, look what Liam has done
the last couple of years speaks for itself. Not a
huge sample size there, clearly a guy who hasn't called
plays for very many years, but a recent track record
is something to build on. Really like his temperament. I
know a lot was made about the exchange in game
(14:53):
towards the end last week in Cincinnati, but the guy's
got fire. Loved that part of what he bring to
the table. The other thing I think he understands and
anyone who studied Trevor Lawrence the last couple of years
knows that, you know, this offense needs some balance. You know,
they had to retool the offensive line that's always been
an issue with them. And can they give Trevor run
(15:16):
support consistently to keep defenses honest? I think that, to
me is my biggest takeaway through the first two weeks.
Trevor ETM last year, you know, for whatever reason, took
a step back the offensive line issues. You know, some
of the injuries they had up front. Obviously Trevor in
out of the lineup. They just can never commit to
that part of their offense, and I think that always
(15:38):
puts stress on a quarterback, especially a guy like Trevor Lawrence.
So I think the fact that they've committed to that
part of their their offensive attack speaks to who Liam
Cohen is. I think it's a coach recognizing his personnel
and trying to tailor a system to put his quarterback
in the best possible position to succeed. And if you're
a Jacksonville fan, I think that the biggest hope is
(16:01):
that that part of their offensive arsenal can continue to
grow and they can stay committed to that, because if
they can give Trevor I think, a consistent run threat
each and every time they step on the field, I
think this is a very capable offense.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Spirodiitas, CBS Sports with us.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
The Jaguars defense the last couple of years has been awful,
thirty first in the league overall last year, but so
far they've they've put together some things this year. Six
takeaways leads the NFL through two weeks. They only had
nine all of last season, so that's a good step
in the right direction. They had some plays in big
moments last week where they couldn't get off the field
(16:36):
and fourth down on the last drive and then the
pass interference. But this is a whole new defensive scheme
with a whole almost new back end of the defense,
some new faces back there, and if they just improve
like halfway, if they're middle of the pack, then that
has to be a good step for this defense.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
This year, yeah, had more youth, you know, with Anthony
Campanil coming in. This has to be one of the
youngest staffs, you know, when you consider front office and
coaching staff, and so that part has been really kind
of interesting to.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Watch from afar.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
But the takeaway issue has been something it seems like
we've talked about for the last couple of years. It's
just never been a defense that can take the football
away and make big plays. Because you know JP as
you know as well as anyone covering this league. It's
one thing to build a defense that can play well
and do some things, but if you can't make the
(17:26):
big home run play, to put the football back in
the hands of your offense and keep parts of games,
you're just not gonna have much of a chance to
truly compete in this league. So I think the fact
that they're doing that early in the season is a
fantastic early sign for this defense. The other encouraging part
I think for the Jacksonville defense is some of the
younger players that they drafted that maybe took a little
(17:48):
bit of time initially, Guys like Trayvon Walker now really
starting to play well. I think that's always a sign
guys when you can draft well and when those those
players start to come into their own some of the
moves that they made in the offseason. Loved what they
did on the back end with guys like Eric Murray
and Jordan Lewis coming into free agency, So I think
(18:08):
there's been just and again we're very early in the season.
Who knows what this thing looks like four or five
weeks from now, but I think based on the moves
that they made in the offseason, obviously the coaching changes,
new system, so far, it's looked like it's something that's
trending in the right direction. You know, we've been here
before with good starts with this team and it's petered out.
(18:30):
But if I'm a Jacksonville fan, I feel good about
where this team sits right now.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
It was a season where the Jaguars won the first
game and lost the last fifteen, So you know how
I go spirods with this CBS Sports that's not gonna
happen this year. By the way, Hey, this is a
huge game this week, early swing game in the AFC South.
A lot of season to go, but it's the Jaguars
only divisional game in the first nine weeks of the season,
and against the team that won the division last year
(18:56):
and supposedly is a favorite to do it again coming
in of the season. They're up against the wall. The
Texans are zero and two. We all know about the
physicality that this Texans defense has. I mean, they knocked
Trevor Lawrence out of last year's game here in Jacksonville
and he didn't play the rest of the season. I
don't think there's any retribution coming. But this also feels
(19:18):
like spirou a Jaguars team now that won't back away
from something like that echo of the whistle. They want
to show their physicality. I think this could be like
just a real slugfest.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
I think on Sunday.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
Yeah, I think it's you know, when you have a
team that is as desperate as the Texans are early
in a season, a team that's expected to contend, a
team that has expectations going into the season, as you
just mentioned, I think that's a dangerous thing. And as
I'm sure you recall, two years ago twenty twenty three,
Demico Ryans first year is Houston's head coach. They were
(19:51):
in the exact same position. Come to Jacksonville Week three,
zero to two. That obviously was a different Houston team
with very low expectations. Houston comes, they win the game
by twenty I think it was thirty seven to seventeen,
and then they catapult themselves the rest of their season,
go on to win the AFC South. But I think
you make a good point. I think this Jacksonville team
(20:13):
is much better equipped to be in this position that
they're in to come in and face a team that's
going to be as desperate as Houston is on Sunday
in Jacksonville. This will be an early I think barometer
for both of these teams. Is this Jacksonville team truly
ready to compete? How do they handle this kind of
(20:33):
a desperate team early season and their building? And also
for Houston, you know, is this truly going to be
a team that can achieve what the expectations are for
them because they're in a different position. I think that
they've been a great story with Demco the last couple
of years. Obviously, twenty twenty three their first year, get
to the playoffs, win a playoff game, advance did the
same last year before it kind of ended for them,
(20:54):
but they're now dealing with expectations. I think they're at
that juncture of a franchise, you know, that natural ascending
that a team tries to do in their division and conference.
So this is this is going to be a fun
game for both teams to see where they're at early
in the season.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Spiral great stuff as always always a pleasure. I'm sure
we'll do it again soon here this season. Thanks J
Peek and finally Brian Sexton again this time with Jags
defensive line coach Matt Edwards. It's a group trying to
get after CJ.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
Stroud. Yeah.
Speaker 8 (21:23):
I would say the guys approach it with the right mindset.
They've really adopted our play style, and I think the
understanding on all three levels of the defense of what
we're trying to accomplish resonates with them, and they're seeing
the outcomes that we're trying to create.
Speaker 7 (21:36):
How important is that to see outcomes like you're getting
this early in the process.
Speaker 8 (21:42):
I think when you get the outcomes that you're looking for,
it just helps you reinforce our process and how important
individual teamwork, practice, all those things that lead up to
the execution on game day.
Speaker 7 (21:56):
Let's talk about communication, because that's something that Liam has
talked about since the first day he arrived here, and
you just mentioned all three levels. How do you develop
the kind of communication that's required to be a great
run stuffing unit.
Speaker 8 (22:09):
I think the first thing when it comes to communication
is I think the guys need to be around each other.
They come in, they meet on their own, they get
in groups, they talk about what they're going to see,
they solve problems, they practice communicating in the classroom setting,
then they bring it out to the grass and I
think that when you're able to do that, the communication
(22:29):
gets cleaner. You kind of have some anticipation of what
you should hear and everybody's on the same page and
allows you to play as a unit.
Speaker 7 (22:36):
Let's work for the inside out with your unit. Tell
me what you like about the interior of your defense.
Eric Armstead, Devon Hamilton, Colin Saunders, Mason Smith. I mean
you've got an interesting mix of personalities and size, and
what about that group stands out?
Speaker 8 (22:51):
Yeah, the most important thing to me is like, this
is a real selfless group, right. They all want to
be out there, but they all support each other. Whoever
is out there, they all have a different skill set,
but they all try to play to our play style.
The most exciting thing is like they come out every
day and they work.
Speaker 7 (23:09):
They also appear to have really gravitated towards one another.
They like one another, and I think Saunders was an
interesting mix because his personality is so big.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (23:19):
I think the closeness from the group is intentional on
their part. You know, they go to the defensive line, dinners,
they're around each other.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
It's not just football.
Speaker 8 (23:29):
And what you see is like these guys support each
other off the field as much as they do on
the field.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
In life.
Speaker 8 (23:35):
They know what's going on in each other's lives and
really it's the time that they've invested in one another
that makes it easier for them to be invested on
the field.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
Tell me what you've seen from Trayvon Walker through the
first two weeks. He was an absolute wrecking ball last
week in Cincinnati, just play after play after play. Did
you see that in him when you watched his tape
from the first two years. How has he progressed?
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (23:55):
I think Trayvon is first off, he's a tremendous person
and his work ethay and what he brings from an
intangible aspect of doing what we ask is exactly what
you want as a coach. He's obviously incredibly skilled. But
what I love most about Trey he doesn't look at
himself as I'm just a rusher, I'm just a run defender.
(24:17):
He is a true three down player with the ability
to impact the game, and I think we're just scratching
the surface for the standard that he has for himself.
Speaker 7 (24:30):
I enjoy the competitiveness that he has with Josh heinz
Allen on the other side, and how much they push
one another.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Do you see that?
Speaker 7 (24:36):
Have you seen that? Did you see that in Buffalo?
Or is this a rare quality between two guys?
Speaker 4 (24:42):
I think you know.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
I've been around a lot of different groups, and the
groups that have performed at a high level have certain
things in common. Won the connectivity that we already mentioned,
but the ability to compete. Like these guys love to compete, right,
They don't want to lose in anything. And when you're
competitive and you're working hard and you're trying to use
the right techniques, that's what produces the results that individually
(25:07):
they're looking for. As we all accomplish it as a defense.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
Since we talked about the group as a whole inside
what does it mean to have a manual and to
bring Smoot back here and to have two veteran guys
who can keep chasing the quarterback when the other guys
need a blow.
Speaker 8 (25:21):
You know, the way the NFL is right now, you
have to have a wall of rushers to throw at people.
You know, send the guys out there telling go so
you can't go no more, We'll get somebody.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
Else in there.
Speaker 8 (25:32):
And they're confident when that next guy goes out there
that there's not going to be a drop off, that
those guys are going to go out there and do
their job. And as far as adding Smoot and og
By the veteran presence, they assimilated to the room really
easily because they're great guys and it's just it's really
a good mix and they're able to share some of
their experience from other places and bring it into the
(25:53):
room as well.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
The Jaguars host the Texans Sunday at one o'clock. We'll
talk to you Sunday at noon for countdown to kick
off on the Jaguar RS Radio Network.
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