April 26, 2025 • 20 mins
Head Coach Liam Coen & General Manager James Gladstone meet with the media following the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
So how do you feel all about the draft class.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
As a whole?
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Oh, you know, jack to be at the finish line,
so to speak, but you know, the work doesn't stop, obviously,
Like I just articulated with our UDFA process coming to
a close, where at eighty eight on the roster, obviously
got a couple of spots open that we'll look to
fill here in the near future, but certainly appreciate such
(00:29):
a collaborative effort from so many different people, so many
different departments to bring this all the life, to make
it so that we felt like we were making the
best decisions for the organization moving forward and really looking
forward to what comes next and seeing the group of
rookies get out on the grass with their teammates and
began making an impact here in Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
As one was, one of the guys who wanted to
be a priority came in during the interview process. I
mentioned him the listen, how many of those guys that
you maybe mentioned as priority Day three guys during the
interview process that you end up landing.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
It's a good question. I don't know, memory serves me correct.
Maybe two, but none of that.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Maybe three.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah, So with that I mean, those are things that
you're projecting and aren't always accurate.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
That's pre combine, which.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Typically testing is going to play a major part and
where a player ends up getting selected. So I must
say once Tuton ran that forty, I don't know that
I would have guessed that he'd be available on day three,
but nonetheless he found himself there taking off pretty quickly
at one o four, and so we were jacked to
be able to be in that position to prioritize him
(01:38):
because you know, at the end of the day, we
want to level up the competition across the entirety of
the roster and running backs the spot that we're going
to lean on, and you know, as Liam can probably
allude to, it's so rarely just a one person spot, right.
It's going to take a collective effort, just like the
draft did, and we look forward to the group as
a whole in addition to quin, you know, come into
(02:00):
making this thing as rounded as it possibly can be.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
That's a good questions Kaiser. We got Jack Kaiser there
in Mannheim Center.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
J H.
Speaker 6 (02:14):
Most NFL teams, UH AT GMS would probably say that
as much as you'd like to, you can't get to everything.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I know where you're going.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
Why why why was that area not able to uh
be addressed?
Speaker 5 (02:29):
And will it be in the when you announce whoever
you're un drafted free agent?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So yeah, I think, UH, short answer to that is
the board always fallows certain ways, and UH you're not
gonna reach because of what might be a pros uh
perceived need.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
So you're always gonna take the players that you feel like,
uh are gonna put the the team in the best
interest uh moving forward, and UH you don't want ever
sort of lean heavily into just one idea of best
best player available and need. It's some version of balance,
it's dynamic that comes with that. So I I do
think you'll see us make some moves here in the
(03:05):
near future that will in fact address that. Obviously, our
our undrafted college free agents haven't been announced, but those
those positions were certainly close to filled there, and we'll look.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Towards the propree agent landscape as well.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
As One quick follow up, and I know you said
you have announced that the Benefits announced on Twitter that
you were exciting quarterback. Can you at least talk about
him because.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Lay, yeah, we've agreed to terms and Liam can probably
speak to it a little bit more than I can. Uh,
he poured into that stuff rather recently, and obviously yea,
with us making that move, it's certainly somebody that we
would like to develop.
Speaker 7 (03:46):
Yeah, coaches kid, right, he's got a ton of production,
does have, you know, a natural stroke and seems like
he's a great kid. He's just trying to get better
and better. So I felt like it was a good
ad for us at the time.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Name I think it the h you're opening Prescott, you said,
how do we make this offense in travel rollance, a
dynamic and.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
As explosive as possible?
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Yeah, So I taking in free agency and out through
the draft, do you feel you've got there or gotten
there or in how much further do you think maybe
you need to go?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (04:15):
I mean I think we've definitely addressed the ability to
strike from a distance, you know. I think that that's
something that uh, you know, we just we struggled to
do a little bit last year in Tampa where you
ended up having to go ten twelve play drives a
lot and it was efficient, right, But ultimately you're looking
to be as ex as explosive as you can and
both the run and the pass, and I think that
(04:37):
was definitely addressed in both pro free agency and in
the college or AFT landscape. So don't think we have
to to add any more at this point.
Speaker 8 (04:45):
James, I, it seemed like a lot of these players
are actually all of 'em except for Tracks went to
the Senior Bowl. Just how much did that play a
role wide? Why did it seem like that sort of
acored in was just coincidence? And uh, could you talk
about the experience all these guys.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Yeah, you know that added exposure from the All Star circus.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
It's certainly something we leverage.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I mean getting to see him throughout the week of
practices and then in the game setting. So many of
the guys that you know are willing to do more
than what the norm might be, right, many are tapping
out before they ever get to the game. And to
see somebody like Jack Kaiser, you know, opt into playing
a position like safety when he has in fact an
(05:27):
inside linebacker, when that could make him look worse than
he would like, but was productive in that setting. I
think back to you know, Brayden Fisk. One of the
things that really resonated for us was when during the
game the Senior Bowl. He said, you know what, I'm
gonna go ahead and play defense on both sides, right,
I'm gonna fill the gap because there have been too
(05:48):
many opt outs. These are guys that love the game.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Of football, regardless.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Of if it might put them in a compromising position
in the eyes of evaluators and decision makers by playing
too many snaps or playing out a position.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Et cetera. These guys love ball and that's what we're
hunting up.
Speaker 8 (06:07):
And so you like, a lot of these guys have
a lot of experience. Obviously they've played a lot of
snaps And was that something you guys wanted? Did did
you need then to have play a good football?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I think it's something we lean into. I don't know that.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
It's exactly what we're prioritizing, but the fact that you
can look back to some of the recent drafts that
I've been a part of, and that's typically been the
case because those guys walk in the door and they're
fairly close to ready, right, I think, uh, because of
the nuances that come with this game. Uh, you know,
reps are something that are important, and uh, obviously with
(06:39):
the guys that have done it for a little bit longer,
uh of a runway.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
It it it caters to that right, building.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Off the senior goal point, I don't think you were
a senior Bowl Lee, I don't think you were hired
like the week that had started.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
So as far as leaning on.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
That as a tool, as well as working with scouts
that neither of you have worked with until four months ago,
described that process.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Yeah, I think so much of it is rooted in
the film.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
At the same time, there's boots on the ground so
to speak, who do in fact interact with the players,
interact with the coaches who are there, and sources who
were there. So that is a well from a background
and character and touch point with the player. But the
film is really where I'm talking about that evaluation being
(07:22):
meaningful for us. And it's certainly something because it's best
against best, right, some of the top prospects against the
other top prospects. It's certainly you know has a place
and it's one that we prioritize.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
More for me, Jalen A Cloud, there were a lot
of drushers still on the board at the point that
you've stayed and w I received the one that you.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Guys were hunting.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I think the you guys can probably see this across
a lot of the players that we selected, in particular
on the defensive side of the ball. But the versatility, right,
that's something that really stands out for us. And obviously
you know we speak about being intangibly rich. Right, His competitiveness,
his play, demeanor, his urgency is phenomenal. And you take
(08:06):
him another who was deployed across the defensive front at
Auburn stood up off the ball.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
When he went to the Senior Bowl.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
All he did was stand up off the ball when
one of the best elements of who he is is
being moved from one spot to the next and providing
a spark, being able to gain an edge, a change
of pace, rushing off the edge. That was one thing
that you know he signed up to do at the
Senior Bowl and wasn't batting and eye at the fact that, hey,
(08:34):
I don't get to showcase what so many would call
my superpower. But I'm going to do this anyway because
I love this sport and I love getting out on
the grass. Another thing here is, when you think about it, right,
one of the things I really value.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
I know Liam does the same, but when a guy goes.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
From a small school to a big school and you
see production continue to pop. That is a meaningful element
and that's something you can think back to guys that
I've been a part of drafting in the past, right adverse,
Braden Fisk, Kobe Turner.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Think about the guys today who have gone from a
small school to a.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Big school that we just walked away with who were
productive across both.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
You back here. Sorry this is either for bolth of
you or one of you, but you guys.
Speaker 7 (09:16):
Really built this identity of building a roster of intangibly rich,
mentally and physically tough players.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Do you guys feel like you did that with this
rookie draft.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Boss Junior?
Speaker 7 (09:27):
Absolutely, Yeah. That was very clear with every pick that
that was the priority. I mean, you look across the
board at these guys and you talk to the people
that were in touch with them, whether it be the coaches,
the personnel, their college coaches, their high school coaches. Tough
resonates with all these guys and guys that love football,
(09:49):
that love the process that drives the results. And you
know so many captains out of this group and leaders
and guys that have played a lot of snaps, so
so much of that was you know.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Part of this whole process and the way that people
talk about each of these players, it is inspiring. I mean,
it's something that has really caught our attention along the way.
And you know, it definitely jumps out when you got
people willing to stand on the table for them, who
have for all intensive purposes lived with them. And then
also people who in our own building are standing on
(10:23):
the table for them. And you know, there were a
couple of.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Players today that.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
You know, a scout or an executive made the phone
call because they were someone who was truly meaningful to them.
They were, you know, convicted on their thoughts around their players,
and we wanted to make sure that they had the
opportunity to be the first to welcome them to Jacksonville.
And I think those are some special moments and ones
that we'll hang on to. But again, I think it
(10:48):
points back to this being a collective effort and nothing
short of that, and very appreciative of our coaching staff,
our scouting staff, and all the other departments from content
team to you know, our sports performance group, our operation
staff who are currently working to get things aligned for.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Their arrival and travel.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Uh, this was a very fulfilling three day window and
look forward to taking the next steps to uh bring
it all the life are you.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Able to share? But one of those players may have been.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
Anecdotally uh on what front that the coach or an
executive or stout was.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Able to Oh, well, we ended up with a usc trojan. Yeah,
so you can probably guess who made that phone call
and then, uh, it's kind of cool. Uh so Josh Scoby,
who's u a former player in the NFL. Uh, he
had a lot of heat for Lane at a Navy
and uh, you know, he made it known early in
(11:39):
the process that he was someone he would like to
see become a Jaguar.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Now if you haven't already done.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
So, Uh, I would advise anybody to take the time
to watch his special team snaps because they.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
Are mighty enjoyable.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
But uh, he was able to make that phone call
to him and uh and get that conversation started, Sean, Yeah,
I g I.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Got one for James or for James, one for the
James just.
Speaker 7 (12:06):
With how things played out, the construction of the room
out dated leap and what are you guys expecting.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
From Mason Smith this year?
Speaker 9 (12:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:12):
I think that whole group is about to take a jump. Uh.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
You know, they're working their their tails off right now,
and you can tell that there's a connective element that's
coming to life in a short period of time. Uh,
So we certainly look look forward to seeing that. I
think guys be in different positions than they've been in
the past, and that being an element that activates uh,
you know, different sides of them. And you know, their
whole approach has been great so far, So we're looking forward.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
To ITAM just two to Allen. What do you think
they can bring to the offense. How can they kind
of maybe a compliment each other.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
Yeah, I think if you look at Tooting with the
ability to like strike from a distance, right, you can
you know, get to the second or third level and
and score from anywhere on the field.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Right.
Speaker 7 (12:53):
I think behind the line of scrimmage forced missed tackles
was like through the roof for him, you know, in
terms of getting back at or at least getting yards
after that contact behind the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
And then you look at Alan kind.
Speaker 7 (13:06):
Of a interesting player, can play a little bit of slot,
move him into the backfield. Obviously he had a thousand
yards over the last two years, and then he can
catch the ball out of the backfield. Good in the
screen game competitor man. This guy loves to play, loves
to compete. Made some critical plays and some critical moments
for Syracuse this past year on a team that was
(13:27):
really good. Again, so excited about both those guys. I
think both from New Jersey as well.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Right, Oh is that right?
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Yeah? I think some of it, I believe.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
So you're an offensive line with it hasn't played multiple
spots or roster.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I would like to think so.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I mean, as long as you're mentally and physically tough,
I think you got a chance.
Speaker 7 (13:47):
You talked about obviously worrying about injuries and stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
But when you get guys who have played all with
multiple splices, it's hard to.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Find sponsor for those guys as it get a little tougher.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Do you know what I mean, Like when you're evaluating
each guy.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know if that's the case.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I mean again, I I can point back to, you know,
just the importance of the offensive line and when you
go through attrition that you know you typically do throughout
the course of a season. Uh, it can be debilitating
if it ends up striking it at that spot. And UH,
that's just something that I don't wanna sacrifice or put
ourselves in jeopardy for. And it's gonna be a spot
that will always look to pour more resources into. And
(14:24):
you know, it's a great group, and I look forward
to seeing those guys uh begin to form some version
of cohesiveness because uh, it's often more than any one
individual in particular at that position. And UH, I think
finding the best five that work in tandem is gonna
be a fun thing here over the course of the
off season and into the regular season.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
Real quick, if you guys may have in mind on
the take your round shit.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Again, No, I don't think we have.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
We've been focused on the draft here over these three day,
these last three days.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
She and the uh change or or free to one
you when you look at this what what happened with
this team last year?
Speaker 6 (15:03):
Four win season with a lot of key injuries, with
two offensive players, uh, very good on defense, not enough
takeaways a whole bit.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
When you look at.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Where how this roster as uh not necessarily flip, but
certainly added to the last two us with free agency
and this draft, what are your.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Expectations, uh for this first year.
Speaker 9 (15:24):
I mean obviously nobody's c proclaiming you were a Super
Bowl contender just yet, but I've been I I'm curious
just to ware how much better do you feel like
you've got between free agency and this draft.
Speaker 7 (15:36):
I I honestly haven't even thought that far, you know,
Like I honestly it's really gotta be a completely one
day at a time approach, like a he Yeah, you're
always feeling like you're you're adding levels of competition in
depth to the to the roster is exactly what we did.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
We do feel like we got, we got better and improved.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
We will not have a clue until we do this
thing more than uh a week here, you know, in
terms of being on grass because we haven't even been
able to truly play football yet. So the focus is
so deeply rooted in the culture, the way that they're
going to play, our style of play, teaching those elements,
and now we have to go and get an entire
rookie class onboarded.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
I mean, that's a lot of work. So the focus
is so tight right now that probably haven't even thought
that far ahead.
Speaker 5 (16:23):
James just talk about just upgrade of just the players
that you guys have taken.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Them in, you know, the nineteen guys.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Or whatever it was that you guys have taken here
in the last two months.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
You know, I think bringing in competition is just a
healthy thing for any football team. And you know, I
look forward to this, this group integrating with what we
currently have on site, and you know, I think it's
going to be a beautiful process here over the offseason
window and look forward to finally getting the pads on
when we get the chance to do so, because you know,
(16:56):
there's nothing.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Better than tackle football.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
And obviously, like Liam just a little to, we have
yet to see this group do that as a whole,
and really that'll show us a lot about what we're
gonna be here in the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Layam first draft as an NFL head coach. Was it
different than you expected about what you thought you were
gonna experience going in?
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Yeah, kind of about what I what I thought in
a lot of ways.
Speaker 7 (17:21):
You know, it was fortunate enough in LA right, like
you're you're in and out and so you do get
the workings of it and the feeling of it. But yeah,
when it's when it's ours and when it's this you're
a part of it in a different landscape.
Speaker 9 (17:33):
It was.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
It was really cool. It was really cool to see
this guy work. I mean, that's this is his super
Bowl really in a lot of ways.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
At first, I mean.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
This is this is the first super Bowl that's happened
for us, you know. Really he was unbelievable. And the communication,
the resilience, the ability to move around this draft and
navigate it the way he did and the way these
guys communicated was really fun to watch. So the work
was done, and then he went and operated in this
(18:00):
staff went operated at a high level, and it was really.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Cool to see. It's really cool to see the guys.
Speaker 7 (18:05):
The player's response is to hear that, because that's what
it's all about. When you get them on the phone
and you actually get to hear the response and make
somebody's dream come true, that's what it's really all about.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Liquent, he tapped it at the end there. Well, it
was a special call. There's no doubt he brought the juice.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Ye and James, I know the undrafted free agent process.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
He said, you wrapped it up without I guess sharing
too much into your process. What he give us a
peek int of what goes into that what looks like
for you.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Yeah, once the bell rings and the draft has concluded,
our coaching staff and our scouting staff, who are paired
together by position, they.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Began making calls to agents to see if.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
A player has interest in coming to Jacksonville and began
sort of walking through the idea of, hey.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Here's the current roster.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Here's a path that you can put yourself in to
be competitive, whether it's to make the fifty three man
roster the practice squad, and go from there to see
if we can come to some agreement contractually.
Speaker 8 (19:07):
All right, last one, Sorry, all right, William, Sorry we
didn't get a chance to ask you about Why or
Kalo yesterday, just in terms of.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
What they bring to the table.
Speaker 8 (19:17):
How do you feel about the obviously why.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
It's like everywhere?
Speaker 7 (19:20):
Yeah, I think like you said about why, it is
the ability to play multiple spots at a high level
and just the finish, the way the guy plays.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
The toughness. Uh, he's rooted in.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
That, right, Like that's kind of what he prides himself
on being and it's what he's kind of known for
around that building, is being a guy that finishes, that
plays the game the right way, that approaches it the
right way, and he's and he's a big du he's long.
So and then Caleb Man, this is somebody that you know,
we we've been really excited about for the last few
weeks here especially, And you know, I worked with John
(19:54):
sommerl at Tulane, actually bought his house and I was
leaving Lexington and so I you know, got a little
trust there. And but man, he's he's dynamic. You know,
he can run. One of the better tacklers in this draft.
And the leadership, the way that he communicates, the passion
for the game. Again, those are the things that really
(20:15):
stood out to me about those two guys.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Thanks, Thank you guys.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Thanks my coverage guys,
We got.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
So how do you feel all about the draft class.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
As a whole?
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Oh, you know, jack to be at the finish line,
so to speak, but you know, the work doesn't stop, obviously,
Like I just articulated with our UDFA process coming to
a close, where at eighty eight on the roster, obviously
got a couple of spots open that we'll look to
fill here in the near future, but certainly appreciate such
(00:29):
a collaborative effort from so many different people, so many
different departments to bring this all the life, to make
it so that we felt like we were making the
best decisions for the organization moving forward and really looking
forward to what comes next and seeing the group of
rookies get out on the grass with their teammates and
began making an impact here in Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
As one was, one of the guys who wanted to
be a priority came in during the interview process. I
mentioned him the listen, how many of those guys that
you maybe mentioned as priority Day three guys during the
interview process that you end up landing.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
It's a good question. I don't know, memory serves me correct.
Maybe two, but none of that.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Maybe three.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah, So with that I mean, those are things that
you're projecting and aren't always accurate.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
That's pre combine, which.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Typically testing is going to play a major part and
where a player ends up getting selected. So I must
say once Tuton ran that forty, I don't know that
I would have guessed that he'd be available on day three,
but nonetheless he found himself there taking off pretty quickly
at one o four, and so we were jacked to
be able to be in that position to prioritize him
(01:38):
because you know, at the end of the day, we
want to level up the competition across the entirety of
the roster and running backs the spot that we're going
to lean on, and you know, as Liam can probably
allude to, it's so rarely just a one person spot, right.
It's going to take a collective effort, just like the
draft did, and we look forward to the group as
a whole in addition to quin, you know, come into
(02:00):
making this thing as rounded as it possibly can be.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
That's a good questions Kaiser. We got Jack Kaiser there
in Mannheim Center.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
J H.
Speaker 6 (02:14):
Most NFL teams, UH AT GMS would probably say that
as much as you'd like to, you can't get to everything.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I know where you're going.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
Why why why was that area not able to uh
be addressed?
Speaker 5 (02:29):
And will it be in the when you announce whoever
you're un drafted free agent?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So yeah, I think, UH, short answer to that is
the board always fallows certain ways, and UH you're not
gonna reach because of what might be a pros uh
perceived need.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
So you're always gonna take the players that you feel like,
uh are gonna put the the team in the best
interest uh moving forward, and UH you don't want ever
sort of lean heavily into just one idea of best
best player available and need. It's some version of balance,
it's dynamic that comes with that. So I I do
think you'll see us make some moves here in the
(03:05):
near future that will in fact address that. Obviously, our
our undrafted college free agents haven't been announced, but those
those positions were certainly close to filled there, and we'll look.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Towards the propree agent landscape as well.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
As One quick follow up, and I know you said
you have announced that the Benefits announced on Twitter that
you were exciting quarterback. Can you at least talk about
him because.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Lay, yeah, we've agreed to terms and Liam can probably
speak to it a little bit more than I can. Uh,
he poured into that stuff rather recently, and obviously yea,
with us making that move, it's certainly somebody that we
would like to develop.
Speaker 7 (03:46):
Yeah, coaches kid, right, he's got a ton of production,
does have, you know, a natural stroke and seems like
he's a great kid. He's just trying to get better
and better. So I felt like it was a good
ad for us at the time.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Name I think it the h you're opening Prescott, you said,
how do we make this offense in travel rollance, a
dynamic and.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
As explosive as possible?
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Yeah, So I taking in free agency and out through
the draft, do you feel you've got there or gotten
there or in how much further do you think maybe
you need to go?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (04:15):
I mean I think we've definitely addressed the ability to
strike from a distance, you know. I think that that's
something that uh, you know, we just we struggled to
do a little bit last year in Tampa where you
ended up having to go ten twelve play drives a
lot and it was efficient, right, But ultimately you're looking
to be as ex as explosive as you can and
both the run and the pass, and I think that
(04:37):
was definitely addressed in both pro free agency and in
the college or AFT landscape. So don't think we have
to to add any more at this point.
Speaker 8 (04:45):
James, I, it seemed like a lot of these players
are actually all of 'em except for Tracks went to
the Senior Bowl. Just how much did that play a
role wide? Why did it seem like that sort of
acored in was just coincidence? And uh, could you talk
about the experience all these guys.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Yeah, you know that added exposure from the All Star circus.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
It's certainly something we leverage.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I mean getting to see him throughout the week of
practices and then in the game setting. So many of
the guys that you know are willing to do more
than what the norm might be, right, many are tapping
out before they ever get to the game. And to
see somebody like Jack Kaiser, you know, opt into playing
a position like safety when he has in fact an
(05:27):
inside linebacker, when that could make him look worse than
he would like, but was productive in that setting. I
think back to you know, Brayden Fisk. One of the
things that really resonated for us was when during the
game the Senior Bowl. He said, you know what, I'm
gonna go ahead and play defense on both sides, right,
I'm gonna fill the gap because there have been too
(05:48):
many opt outs. These are guys that love the game.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Of football, regardless.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Of if it might put them in a compromising position
in the eyes of evaluators and decision makers by playing
too many snaps or playing out a position.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Et cetera. These guys love ball and that's what we're
hunting up.
Speaker 8 (06:07):
And so you like, a lot of these guys have
a lot of experience. Obviously they've played a lot of
snaps And was that something you guys wanted? Did did
you need then to have play a good football?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I think it's something we lean into. I don't know that.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
It's exactly what we're prioritizing, but the fact that you
can look back to some of the recent drafts that
I've been a part of, and that's typically been the
case because those guys walk in the door and they're
fairly close to ready, right, I think, uh, because of
the nuances that come with this game. Uh, you know,
reps are something that are important, and uh, obviously with
(06:39):
the guys that have done it for a little bit longer,
uh of a runway.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
It it it caters to that right, building.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Off the senior goal point, I don't think you were
a senior Bowl Lee, I don't think you were hired
like the week that had started.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
So as far as leaning on.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
That as a tool, as well as working with scouts
that neither of you have worked with until four months ago,
described that process.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Yeah, I think so much of it is rooted in
the film.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
At the same time, there's boots on the ground so
to speak, who do in fact interact with the players,
interact with the coaches who are there, and sources who
were there. So that is a well from a background
and character and touch point with the player. But the
film is really where I'm talking about that evaluation being
(07:22):
meaningful for us. And it's certainly something because it's best
against best, right, some of the top prospects against the
other top prospects. It's certainly you know has a place
and it's one that we prioritize.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
That's for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
More for me, Jalen A Cloud, there were a lot
of drushers still on the board at the point that
you've stayed and w I received the one that you.
Speaker 5 (07:43):
Guys were hunting.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
I think the you guys can probably see this across
a lot of the players that we selected, in particular
on the defensive side of the ball. But the versatility, right,
that's something that really stands out for us. And obviously
you know we speak about being intangibly rich. Right, His competitiveness,
his play, demeanor, his urgency is phenomenal. And you take
(08:06):
him another who was deployed across the defensive front at
Auburn stood up off the ball.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
When he went to the Senior Bowl.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
All he did was stand up off the ball when
one of the best elements of who he is is
being moved from one spot to the next and providing
a spark, being able to gain an edge, a change
of pace, rushing off the edge. That was one thing
that you know he signed up to do at the
Senior Bowl and wasn't batting and eye at the fact that, hey,
(08:34):
I don't get to showcase what so many would call
my superpower. But I'm going to do this anyway because
I love this sport and I love getting out on
the grass. Another thing here is, when you think about it, right,
one of the things I really value.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
I know Liam does the same, but when a guy goes.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
From a small school to a big school and you
see production continue to pop. That is a meaningful element
and that's something you can think back to guys that
I've been a part of drafting in the past, right adverse,
Braden Fisk, Kobe Turner.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Think about the guys today who have gone from a
small school to a.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Big school that we just walked away with who were
productive across both.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
You back here. Sorry this is either for bolth of
you or one of you, but you guys.
Speaker 7 (09:16):
Really built this identity of building a roster of intangibly rich,
mentally and physically tough players.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Do you guys feel like you did that with this
rookie draft.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Boss Junior?
Speaker 7 (09:27):
Absolutely, Yeah. That was very clear with every pick that
that was the priority. I mean, you look across the
board at these guys and you talk to the people
that were in touch with them, whether it be the coaches,
the personnel, their college coaches, their high school coaches. Tough
resonates with all these guys and guys that love football,
(09:49):
that love the process that drives the results. And you
know so many captains out of this group and leaders
and guys that have played a lot of snaps, so
so much of that was you know.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Part of this whole process and the way that people
talk about each of these players, it is inspiring. I mean,
it's something that has really caught our attention along the way.
And you know, it definitely jumps out when you got
people willing to stand on the table for them, who
have for all intensive purposes lived with them. And then
also people who in our own building are standing on
(10:23):
the table for them. And you know, there were a
couple of.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
Players today that.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
You know, a scout or an executive made the phone
call because they were someone who was truly meaningful to them.
They were, you know, convicted on their thoughts around their players,
and we wanted to make sure that they had the
opportunity to be the first to welcome them to Jacksonville.
And I think those are some special moments and ones
that we'll hang on to. But again, I think it
(10:48):
points back to this being a collective effort and nothing
short of that, and very appreciative of our coaching staff,
our scouting staff, and all the other departments from content
team to you know, our sports performance group, our operation
staff who are currently working to get things aligned for.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Their arrival and travel.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Uh, this was a very fulfilling three day window and
look forward to taking the next steps to uh bring
it all the life are you.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Able to share? But one of those players may have been.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
Anecdotally uh on what front that the coach or an
executive or stout was.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Able to Oh, well, we ended up with a usc trojan. Yeah,
so you can probably guess who made that phone call
and then, uh, it's kind of cool. Uh so Josh Scoby,
who's u a former player in the NFL. Uh, he
had a lot of heat for Lane at a Navy
and uh, you know, he made it known early in
(11:39):
the process that he was someone he would like to
see become a Jaguar.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Now if you haven't already done.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
So, Uh, I would advise anybody to take the time
to watch his special team snaps because they.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
Are mighty enjoyable.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
But uh, he was able to make that phone call
to him and uh and get that conversation started, Sean, Yeah,
I g I.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Got one for James or for James, one for the
James just.
Speaker 7 (12:06):
With how things played out, the construction of the room
out dated leap and what are you guys expecting.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
From Mason Smith this year?
Speaker 9 (12:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:12):
I think that whole group is about to take a jump. Uh.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
You know, they're working their their tails off right now,
and you can tell that there's a connective element that's
coming to life in a short period of time. Uh,
So we certainly look look forward to seeing that. I
think guys be in different positions than they've been in
the past, and that being an element that activates uh,
you know, different sides of them. And you know, their
whole approach has been great so far, So we're looking forward.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
To ITAM just two to Allen. What do you think
they can bring to the offense. How can they kind
of maybe a compliment each other.
Speaker 7 (12:43):
Yeah, I think if you look at Tooting with the
ability to like strike from a distance, right, you can
you know, get to the second or third level and
and score from anywhere on the field.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Right.
Speaker 7 (12:53):
I think behind the line of scrimmage forced missed tackles
was like through the roof for him, you know, in
terms of getting back at or at least getting yards
after that contact behind the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
And then you look at Alan kind.
Speaker 7 (13:06):
Of a interesting player, can play a little bit of slot,
move him into the backfield. Obviously he had a thousand
yards over the last two years, and then he can
catch the ball out of the backfield. Good in the
screen game competitor man. This guy loves to play, loves
to compete. Made some critical plays and some critical moments
for Syracuse this past year on a team that was
(13:27):
really good. Again, so excited about both those guys. I
think both from New Jersey as well.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Right, Oh is that right?
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Yeah? I think some of it, I believe.
Speaker 7 (13:33):
So you're an offensive line with it hasn't played multiple
spots or roster.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I would like to think so.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I mean, as long as you're mentally and physically tough,
I think you got a chance.
Speaker 7 (13:47):
You talked about obviously worrying about injuries and stuff.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
But when you get guys who have played all with
multiple splices, it's hard to.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Find sponsor for those guys as it get a little tougher.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Do you know what I mean, Like when you're evaluating
each guy.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Yeah, yeah, I don't know if that's the case.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I mean again, I I can point back to, you know,
just the importance of the offensive line and when you
go through attrition that you know you typically do throughout
the course of a season. Uh, it can be debilitating
if it ends up striking it at that spot. And UH,
that's just something that I don't wanna sacrifice or put
ourselves in jeopardy for. And it's gonna be a spot
that will always look to pour more resources into. And
(14:24):
you know, it's a great group, and I look forward
to seeing those guys uh begin to form some version
of cohesiveness because uh, it's often more than any one
individual in particular at that position. And UH, I think
finding the best five that work in tandem is gonna
be a fun thing here over the course of the
off season and into the regular season.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
Real quick, if you guys may have in mind on
the take your round shit.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Again, No, I don't think we have.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
We've been focused on the draft here over these three day,
these last three days.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
She and the uh change or or free to one
you when you look at this what what happened with
this team last year?
Speaker 6 (15:03):
Four win season with a lot of key injuries, with
two offensive players, uh, very good on defense, not enough
takeaways a whole bit.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
When you look at.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
Where how this roster as uh not necessarily flip, but
certainly added to the last two us with free agency
and this draft, what are your.
Speaker 5 (15:21):
Expectations, uh for this first year.
Speaker 9 (15:24):
I mean obviously nobody's c proclaiming you were a Super
Bowl contender just yet, but I've been I I'm curious
just to ware how much better do you feel like
you've got between free agency and this draft.
Speaker 7 (15:36):
I I honestly haven't even thought that far, you know,
Like I honestly it's really gotta be a completely one
day at a time approach, like a he Yeah, you're
always feeling like you're you're adding levels of competition in
depth to the to the roster is exactly what we did.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
We do feel like we got, we got better and improved.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
We will not have a clue until we do this
thing more than uh a week here, you know, in
terms of being on grass because we haven't even been
able to truly play football yet. So the focus is
so deeply rooted in the culture, the way that they're
going to play, our style of play, teaching those elements,
and now we have to go and get an entire
rookie class onboarded.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
I mean, that's a lot of work. So the focus
is so tight right now that probably haven't even thought
that far ahead.
Speaker 5 (16:23):
James just talk about just upgrade of just the players
that you guys have taken.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Them in, you know, the nineteen guys.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Or whatever it was that you guys have taken here
in the last two months.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
You know, I think bringing in competition is just a
healthy thing for any football team. And you know, I
look forward to this, this group integrating with what we
currently have on site, and you know, I think it's
going to be a beautiful process here over the offseason
window and look forward to finally getting the pads on
when we get the chance to do so, because you know,
(16:56):
there's nothing.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Better than tackle football.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
And obviously, like Liam just a little to, we have
yet to see this group do that as a whole,
and really that'll show us a lot about what we're
gonna be here in the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Layam first draft as an NFL head coach. Was it
different than you expected about what you thought you were
gonna experience going in?
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Yeah, kind of about what I what I thought in
a lot of ways.
Speaker 7 (17:21):
You know, it was fortunate enough in LA right, like
you're you're in and out and so you do get
the workings of it and the feeling of it. But yeah,
when it's when it's ours and when it's this you're
a part of it in a different landscape.
Speaker 9 (17:33):
It was.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
It was really cool. It was really cool to see
this guy work. I mean, that's this is his super
Bowl really in a lot of ways.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
At first, I mean.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
This is this is the first super Bowl that's happened
for us, you know. Really he was unbelievable. And the communication,
the resilience, the ability to move around this draft and
navigate it the way he did and the way these
guys communicated was really fun to watch. So the work
was done, and then he went and operated in this
(18:00):
staff went operated at a high level, and it was really.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Cool to see. It's really cool to see the guys.
Speaker 7 (18:05):
The player's response is to hear that, because that's what
it's all about. When you get them on the phone
and you actually get to hear the response and make
somebody's dream come true, that's what it's really all about.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Liquent, he tapped it at the end there. Well, it
was a special call. There's no doubt he brought the juice.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Ye and James, I know the undrafted free agent process.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
He said, you wrapped it up without I guess sharing
too much into your process. What he give us a
peek int of what goes into that what looks like
for you.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Yeah, once the bell rings and the draft has concluded,
our coaching staff and our scouting staff, who are paired
together by position, they.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
Began making calls to agents to see if.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
A player has interest in coming to Jacksonville and began
sort of walking through the idea of, hey.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Here's the current roster.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Here's a path that you can put yourself in to
be competitive, whether it's to make the fifty three man
roster the practice squad, and go from there to see
if we can come to some agreement contractually.
Speaker 8 (19:07):
All right, last one, Sorry, all right, William, Sorry we
didn't get a chance to ask you about Why or
Kalo yesterday, just in terms of.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
What they bring to the table.
Speaker 8 (19:17):
How do you feel about the obviously why.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
It's like everywhere?
Speaker 7 (19:20):
Yeah, I think like you said about why, it is
the ability to play multiple spots at a high level
and just the finish, the way the guy plays.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
The toughness. Uh, he's rooted in.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
That, right, Like that's kind of what he prides himself
on being and it's what he's kind of known for
around that building, is being a guy that finishes, that
plays the game the right way, that approaches it the
right way, and he's and he's a big du he's long.
So and then Caleb Man, this is somebody that you know,
we we've been really excited about for the last few
weeks here especially, And you know, I worked with John
(19:54):
sommerl at Tulane, actually bought his house and I was
leaving Lexington and so I you know, got a little
trust there. And but man, he's he's dynamic. You know,
he can run. One of the better tacklers in this draft.
And the leadership, the way that he communicates, the passion
for the game. Again, those are the things that really
(20:15):
stood out to me about those two guys.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Thanks, Thank you guys.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Thanks my coverage guys,
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