Big Cat Country
With Phase One of the Jaguars’ offseason program in full swing, head coach Liam Coen met with the assembled media. Here are a few takeaways from his media availability:
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ welcomed players back to the Miller Electric Center on Tuesday, April 8th, as the inaugural offseason program kicked off under the leadership trio of head coach Liam Coen, general manager James Gladstone, and executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli. This week kicks off phase one of their offseason program - two weeks of meetings, strength and conditioning, and rehabilitation. Coach Coen first took to the podium, followed by quarterback Trevor Lawrence and linebacker Foye Oluokun.
Full Media Availability:
The youth movement is here
Coen and this new leadership staff have been unflinching in their pursuit of building through the draft. Coen today leaned into that core philosophy when asked how he prioritizes the now versus the potential future for a draft prospect.
"So, ultimately, we have 10 picks. We're going to lean on some of those guys to play early on. Ultimately, we can't be afraid of that. We had three of them in Tampa last year play and have a lot of success for us. We can't be afraid of that moment and to play some young players. So, the goal is to get better, quicker. With having a vision, so having long sustained success, that's important to us. But at the moment, we're looking at winning right now.”
With the team previously moving on from tight end Evan Engram (30), cornerback Ronald Darby (31), and Mitch Morse retiring (32) it would seem that the youth movement in Duval has arrived. Defensive end Armstead and safety Eric Murray are the only currently projected starters over the age of 30.
Establishing the line of scrimmage
Listening to Coen, Gladstone, and Boselli this off-season, it would be hard to miss the consistent language surrounding a focus on establishing the run game. Coen again touched on the team’s offensive line investments, while also keeping the focus on how it helps Lawrence.
"I do believe we've brought in some players to come help compete in that room. Couple, obviously with Hainsey [OL Robert Hainsey], knowing the system and Mekari [OL Patrick Mekari] playing a lot of football and guys coming in, it's only going to help, right? Help add competitiveness to the room and also just some accountability to knowing the system that'll help everybody in that room. So, it's cool. Both of our centers actually know a version of the system in different ways, but it's only going to help bring in those guys in."
Most importantly, having said balance in the offense then allows Lawrence to play the game without the built-in stressor of believing that he has to win the game on every single throw, which Coen also commented on.
"And that's really what it comes down to. Being able to give him some balance around him so that he can feel like,...
