COURTESY OF JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
(On dealing with the new faces on the defensive line) “I can’t control anybody’s health or anything. We just have to keep going and hopefully the guys that are behind those guys, the guys that we have here now, just have to play a bigger step in this role. The guys that we bring in to replace those guys, we have to hold them to a higher standard. They have to hold themselves to a higher standard. So right now, we’re just looking to keep playing, keep our heads up high, [and] just do what we can for right now because we can’t control if somebody for health reasons [can’t play] or somebody just is not here. We can’t really help that. I’m going to do what I need to do. Abe’s [Abry Jones] going to do what he needs to do. Taven [Bryan], [Dawuane] Smoot – all those guys are going to do what they need to do. We’re just going to have to ball.”
(On what he learned about leadership from Calais Campbell) “Before you get to be a leader, you have to make plays. If you’re not making plays and you try to have a voice, nobody is going to listen to you. [You] just [have to] be able to make plays on the field and show guys you’re consistent at doing that. Guys want to follow somebody that makes a lot of plays. If you’re making a lot of plays for your team, helping your team win, then that’s how you become someone guys listen to, someone guys want to follow. I feel like that’s just the first step of being a leader.”
(On if he’s proven he’s ready to be a leader early in his career) “I mean yes. Yes, but I’m not forcing myself. I’m not proclaiming myself to be the steadfast leader. I’m going on my second year. I did what I did last year and I’m only trying to improve on that. All I can do is just make as many plays for my team, get myself better, focus on myself first. If I focus on everybody else, then I’m going to be all jacked up. Right now, I’m just staying after practice with K’Lavon [Chaisson] and we’ve just been getting a lot of extra pass rush in so we can be great. Hopefully, they can see that- see that I’m putting in the extra work and then I’m stepped up to be the leader. I can definitely take that role now if they want me to.”
(On new teammate Timmy Jernigan) “I remember him back at Florida State. League-wise, I really wasn’t familiar with him, but that’s not an insult. I know he’s a heck of a player. He looks the part. Today was his first day out here and unfortunately for him, his first day in pads. We all have to get back in that football pad shape, but I’m looking to see what he becomes because he looks like he can be a heck of a talent for our team.”
(On what he’s seen in his matchups with OL Cam Robinson and OL Jawaan Taylor) “I was waiting for today for a very long time so I can really work on a lot of moves with those guys because I know those two, to me, are one of the best. They’re both two different tackles. Jawaan [Taylor] is quick on his feet. Cam [Robinson] is a heavy guy. It’s just working different moves. You can’t really work the same move on both guys. It’s just moves that I had in my head that I want to use on each one of those and I really got to, today, use some of those moves. I didn’t get to rush against Cam today as much as I wanted. But with Jawaan, you win some, you lose some. Jawaan’s a heck of a player, but I just can’t lose every rep to him. I trained with Jawaan also this offseason, so I know how good he got. I can’t wait to see him progress this year and be great, a great All-Pro, a Pro Bowl left tackle. Right tackle? Right tackle.”
(On the advantage of practicing against both Cam Robinson and Jawaan Taylor) “It’s big for us. They’re both good at what they do. If I’m playing against a bigger tackle coming up, I’m going to really rush against Cam [Robinson] more. Then If I’m playing more against a leaner or more athletic- I’m not saying Cam’s not athletic, but Jawaan is more athletic than Cam feet-wise and just being able to move in different directions- I’m going to rush against Jawaan more. Just talking to them, asking them questions [like], ‘Hey bro, did you see when I stabbed you? Was I too early? Was I too late?’ I ask those guys all the time that question and they try to get me better because we’re a team. I just want the best for them, they want the best for me and that’s how we’re going to be able to grow.”
(On his thoughts on Al Woods’ choice to opt this season versus a situation like Josh Oliver or Rodney Gunter not being able to play due to injury) “I didn’t see when Josh [Oliver] got hurt but I came and talked to him after practice. It just sucks for him because I feel like he’s never had that opportunity to play. I was really excited for him this year and just to see he got hurt again really, really hurt me. I really wanted to see him be a great football player because I know he is. That really hurt. As for Rodney [Gunter], I was really looking forward to playing with him. I know he’s a heck of player. I know he’s a heck of a three-technique on the inside so just being able to rush with him was going to open up my game a lot better, a lot more. It’s really unfortunate but I wish both those guys healthy progress and just nothing but a clean recovery. For Al [Woods], I never met Al yet. He was one of the first people to opt out. It kind of made me think. When I told you that I was thinking about opting out, it kind of made me think like what was the reason for he opted. But he was an older guy. He’s been in the league for a long time and so I kind of put that in perspective of he probably has more health concerns or something. I never knew him. That’s what I gathered from that.”
(On RB Leonard Fournette) “First and foremost about Leonard [Fournette], I really do believe Leonard is one of the best backs in the NFL, personally. This year I really got to be able to connect with him off the field and know what type of person he is, not just player, but person. He’s changed a lot in my eyes, just being to talk to him more. We talk about life, family, and literally football every time we talk. He’s really a great person. I know he gets perceived as one of those bad words, but Leonard is a guy that’s growing. He’s growing in his career, growing off the field. As a football player, on the field going against him, I kind of hate it. He is a really big back who is explosive, who catches the ball, who runs really great routes, who blocks in protection extremely well. He’s just one of those really versatile running backs that’s going to be a nightmare in the league for a very long time.”
(On working with DE/LB K’Lavon Chaisson after practice and how he’s dealing with his injury during practice) “He has a serious injury, an injury that affected him in the past so you can’t really be too hard on him because it is what it is. I can’t wait for him to come back. I need a break. I’m trying to rotate a little bit. Being able to do that with him and just be able to see him work and see him move and for him to see me move and me work. It’s good just to have that connection with him because now I know what type of player, pass rusher he is. The one thing I really want to harp on with him about is stopping the run. Before you become a good pass rusher, you have to be able to stop the run. That’s just something I’ve really been keeping in the back of his mind. Just being young together we can definitely grow. [I] had a great conversation with CJ [Henderson]- well-minded, strong-minded individual. I see CJ becoming a great player his first year and throughout the rest of his career as well.”
(On the first day of practice in pads) “I know speaking from my perspective, I have to definitely get back in full padded shape. I tried to go as hard as I can every play without taking any plays off. I definitely didn’t take any plays off. Just being back in full pads, it’s just something that we have to get used to again. I know Coach Marrone is taking really good care of us this offseason, so I really appreciate that. That’s why I do stay after practice to get that extra conditioning so I can be more prepared for the next day to come.”
