Reset After Bye Week, Approaching Trade Deadline & AFC South Race | Jags A.M. | Jacksonville Jaguars

Reset After Bye Week, Approaching Trade Deadline & AFC South Race | Jags A.M. | Jacksonville Jaguars

[Music] Welcome to the Jags. I’m pan here with Brian Ston and John Oer. A bye week for the Jaguars last week, but now back in the full swing of things as they prepare to take on the Las Vegas Raiders this week on Sunday. So, we’re going to start with some of our big things today for you midweek here brought to you by GEA, Government Employees Health Association, Benefits for Federal Employees and retirees. Big thing number one is staying on schedule. Liam Cohen talked earlier this week when he looked back at the tape and some of the things he wanted to see going forward. This was his reflection on the offense. Especially offensively, you’re on schedule. Usually, good things have occurred and when you’re off schedule, it’s tough sledding. And uh we’ve got a couple, you know, different tweaks of how we want to try to get guys the ball and and get the get our best players the ball in space and um how to stay a little bit better ahead of the chains and executing first and second down a little bit better so that third downs are a little bit more manageable. Brian, things never going to go completely as planned, but it would be nice if they could stay on schedule at least with the early downs early in the game, get the offense rolling a little bit. Yeah, listen on schedule as the schedule turns to November when the contenders start to emerge and the pretenders fall away. Kai, you know, the last two games they’re seven of 31 on third down. Now, listen, drop passes, you know, negative plays on first down, penalties have all conspired to put them in situations that they couldn’t readily overcome, John. Uh, and so they have fallen off schedule. The running game has not been consistent. They haven’t protected the quarterback. We We’ve been through all of this. They’ve had two weeks now to get ready to go play a Raiders team and they desperately need to get to a position and I think they get there, John, by running the ball well on first down. Yeah. And what you don’t want, and we all felt it, most people who are watching this felt it. First play against the Rams, three yard sack, and and oh, they talked about all this all week and then here it was again. So on Sunday, the last thing you want is is a second and 12 on the first drive because you just feel like that’s going again. It’s got to be some second and seven, third and two. Get it going. That’s what it was early in the season. Um, this all sounds so simple. It’s about execution and you have to play better to get there. So, uh, we know the formula. It’s a matter of if the Jaguars can be consistent and prepared enough to go get it done, make it happen. Our second big thing today is going to be getting home. When Liam Cohen looked at the defense, he said a lot of it is going to be about getting after it with the pass rush, pass rush and coverage in terms of limiting explosives, but also getting home a little bit more as well. So, you look at all those things and and so much of it goes into it. These guys did a lot of work as a staff from a report and um and communicating that now to the players and some of those things that you want to end up getting maybe tweaked, but we’re not going to go and reinvent the wheel. John, not reinventing the wheel. We’re talking about a lot of similar things, but also executing to the degree that it’s helpful to their team. Obviously, we’ve seen some of the pass rushers near the quarterback, but getting sacks, getting to the quarterback, and helping themselves out. Yeah, there’s been a lot of because we’ve been breaking down two losses that are tough. There’s been a lot of like focus on the problems. Uh I do think they have a chance to start getting the quarterback because overall they have not fallen off in stopping the run. So I do think they can keep other teams in bad down in distance. Get in situations Brian to uh rush the passer and then at that point it is about getting home. You know, Josh Hines Allen and Trayvon Walker to me are still the best two players in this defense. If they can get Trayvon, we can use the hand. Um, I think there’s hope in this area. Uh, because I don’t think they’re as far off from getting legitimate disruption on defense as maybe people think. Well, we felt like it was a really aggressive attacking front. They had 14 takeaways, right? Uh, and then Trayvon Walker’s out of the game in San Francisco. misses Kansas City. And the last two weeks playing with that club, he hasn’t been nearly the same. And it’s fair to say that without Trayvon Walker in the lineup, the defense hasn’t looked anything like it was early on. They’ve got to win on early downs and set up those pass rushing situations. Really, John, I mean, if Trayvon Walker is as good as we think he is and he’s got any use of that hand, it should free up somewhere along the line for someone to win. Oh, and by the way, we talk about the pass rush. We almost exclusively talk about 41 and 44, but it would be helpful if you know 91 and 94 and 52 and the guys in the middle of the line are able to get some push and pressure. I mean, Eric Armstead was a 10 sack guy at one point in his career. Could he get five? Could he get six this season? That would help a lot. Leads the team right now. So, we’ll see what they can do in the second half of the season. Our final big thing today going to be more on his plate. We’ve talked a ton about it. We finally saw kind of a breakout game from Travis Hunter on offense against the Rams. some of that in garbage time, but still seeing he’s able to make those big plays. Liam Cohen talked about putting a little bit more on his plate as time goes on. You look at the end of the last game against the Rams with he and Trevor building on a connection and um making some plays towards the end of the game. Obviously was a little out of reach at the time, but um you’re still seeing competitive throws and catches um in live action, which is something we’ve needed. So, um, you know, you definitely look at how much more can he handle, how much more can we, um, put him in a position to be successful on both offense and defense, and what what does that look like? So, it definitely gave us an opportunity as a staff to look at how we can continue to to use him. Brian, we know we’re going to see more of Travis Hunter on offense now, and it feels like they’re getting to that point where they’ve got to get him more involved in different positions as a wide receiver. or we’ve seen what he does in the slot, but he’s got that big play ability. Yeah. You know what would make this a lot easier? If Brian Thomas Jr. could get started, if Brian Thomas Jr. holds on to a few of those passes and draws some of the attention away, defense has been able to focus on Travis Hunter because they haven’t had to worry as much about Brian Thomas. If if you can get Brian Thomas Jr. started, boy, can you have a a much broader usage plan for Travis Hunter? And of course, if the offense is humming, you’re not relying on him because he’s got to play on offense, then you can get him on the defensive side a little bit more. And we know what he’s capable of doing on that side of the ball. I I think getting seven going would have a lot to do, John, with getting 12 into a rhythm. Yeah, it’s really tough because seven hasn’t been getting going. In the first couple of games, you thought Brenton Strange huge part of this and he hasn’t been there. Uh, Adami Brown hasn’t quite, I don’t think, been as consistent as they hoped in terms of a deep threat. So, now you have three things that aren’t quite what you thought. I think Travis Hunter is going to be a huge focal point moving forward. I’m very curious as to how that’s going to look if that’s the case because he’s your most dynamic, dangerous player. Um, how ready is how ready is he for that role? How much does he know the offense to be able to be the core? Um, can he handle that? He’s he’s uber talented. Um and it’s going to be a fascinating storyline to me in this in these last 10 games. All right, stay with us here on Jags AM. Coming up after the break, we’ll do a little this or that as we look forward to the game against the Raiders. [Music] Jags fans, you want customized Jaguars furniture for your home? Check out zipchair.com to browse all the customizable options. Zipchare is furniture for fans. This or that. This or that. Welcome back. We’re going to play a little this or that. It is by week, so we’re going to see if there’s any big changes coming up. I for one am curious if they might change some of the starters on the offensive line. Is now the time? Do you think they will or do you think they’ll stick with what they have? Well, I think now might be a good time to see if Wyatt Milm can play. you know, he was a guy that they were really excited about on draft day and really liked what they saw from him as they put him into the lineup during training camp before he had the knee injury. Uh he’s big, he’s strong, he is the future, so why not see if he isn’t a guy who can give you something at right guard. I think um Ezra Cleveland’s played pretty well at left guard and Patrick McCari had three penalties last week against the the Rams. So if I was going to make a change, I would get Wyatt Milm on the field. Yeah, I don’t know if they automatically do it yet, but I think that is is something that will happen at some point during the season. Uh because like you said, Brian, he’s going to be the starter. It’s not like you’re trying to plug in a guy that you don’t know what his future is. Um so I I see that happening at some point this season. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was this week or at the very least you might see a share, which they sometimes do to bring a guy along. uh very much at the ready. I don’t think you change anything else because I don’t think you want to have, you know, an entire system of moving parts in front of Trevor Lawrence, but that makes sense. But there were a couple of guys that you you you heard their names mentioned during uh training camp as being rookies who could start. I mean, Travis Hunter, obviously, uh Caleb Brandsaw, but he got hurt. Milm hasn’t been in because he got hurt. So, it just seems to make sense that you’re looking at that list again and saying, “These were the guys that we thought were our core players. Let’s let’s see what we can get them in.” Also, with the deadline approaching for the trade deadline, we’ve seen obviously James Gladstone not afraid to make moves in season. He’s already made a couple handful of them and I’m sure he’s making calls and whatnot. Do we think that there will be a deadline move for the Jags or do you think they’re going to stand Pat? I don’t think they’re going to be scared of it. Meaning, uh, you know, some just don’t want to do that because the draft capital you’re giving up. I think if if it’s there and it’s somebody they think will help them, they wouldn’t hesitate to do it. I could see it on the defensive interior. Um, I’ve got a lot of questions about wide receiver. I I don’t know who you pull out of the lineup to insert a wide receiver that you would acquire. Um, and I could see tight end. Um, if there was somebody out there, uh, again, it made sense. Those would be the three positions I would I would not be surprised about. You’d love to see help at safety as well, but it has to fit, right? I mean, you have to be bringing a guy in who isn’t going to bury your cap in the next two or three years. I mean, they unloaded Tyson Campbell’s contract, and in the process, they got Greg Newsome, who’s on a one-year deal, so it’s not a long-term strap to your cap. Um, Caleb Bransaw is going to be the long-term guy there at some point next year. And so you don’t want to bring someone in that his cap and his his salary structure creates problems. So I I think you’re not just looking at positions, but you got to find great value. Uh someone that fits what you want to do with your cap. They have to be available to be traded for as well. So we’ll see. Um the Raiders game on Sunday. This team heads to Las Vegas. It’s uh four of five games are going to be away from here coming up on the schedule. So I know we overuse this phrase a lot, but is it a must-win for the team? I think it’s a big game. I I know I don’t know that it’s a must win. Although I mean I could certainly make the case for it because you need to get some traction back. Uh but it’s a really big game because John after after the Raiders you’ve got the Texans, right? And the Texans have won three of four and and they’re rising now and then you’ve got the Chargers and their power at five and three in the AFC. So you can’t afford to lose ground. You’ve got to turn the trajectory on this thing. So, while it’s not a must-win in terms of your overall season, it sure feels like a really damn important game for this football team. Yeah, it’s not a must-win because if they lose and they win nine, then you’re 13 and four. Sure. But I agree with Brian. it it’s really big because I think at as players I there’s adversity and they very much wanted to win against Seattle and LA, but you can also easily tell yourself those are two really good teams that might be playing in the NFC Championship game. They’re that level of good. Uh the Raiders, they’re two and five and uh they’re not out of it. They’re not in a quit on the season mode, but anybody would say on paper they’re a team you ought to beat. You lose that one. Liam’s not going to lose the locker room, but you might doubt yourself a little bit. Can we do it right now? Um I think this team right now believes it can do it right now. Uh if you lose to the Raiders and you’re four and four, like Brian said, a tough schedule coming up, it does sort of deliver a gut punch of, hey, maybe you’re not as good as you thought you were. I think they are, but that’s what it would tell them. Well, this is one you better win then. I mean, just sobering thought here. You Brock Bowers is one of the best young tight ends in the game. He hasn’t been playing. He’s supposed to be back this week. And Max Crosby’s one of the best pass rushers in the game. So, and they’re coming off of a 31 to nothing thrashing at the hands of the Chiefs and their by-week. So, they’re going to be they’re going to be licking their wounds, too. I mean, you’re not going in there to get somebody who’s not ready to play. Yeah. until December. I’m a big believer if you’re playing teams in December, January when they’re mailing in. This is still a firstear coach. Nobody I’m sure nobody out there thinks there’s going to be a oneand done. You’re still trying to play for this guy. Uh so this is not a you know the Raiders will not be mailing it in yet. Very important game for both teams clearly. Um coming up we’ll talk a little bit more on Jagam about what’s been going on in the AFC South. [Music] Exam brought to you by Dreamfinders Homes. For 12 years, Dreamfinders Homes have been proud to call themselves the official home builder of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Visit dreamfindershomes.com for all of the available inventory. And go Jags. Welcome back in. We’re going to keep tabs on the AFC South as we always do here on Wednesday because we want you guys to know what’s going on. And uh breaking news, the Colts are still really, really good. They got a win over the Titans who are not very good. And uh John, is the division a runaway at this point? I know we still have a bunch of divisional games, but Well, it’s not a runaway, but it it’s certainly at the point where you you look at the Colts and even they have a tough schedule coming up, but even when they play that tough schedule, they’re playing so well they’re going to get some of those. Um, and they what’s scary about them is they look like a team right now that when they’re supposed to win, they handle it and they don’t put themselves in dicey situations. So, look, they’re two and a half games up on the Jags. Uh, with 10 to play, that seems like a lot, but it means the Jaguars can’t drop for him anymore. I mean, they’ve got to start It makes the Raiders game that much more. Yeah. I mean, like we were talking before the show, Brian, that that they still have two games to reel them in in December. Yeah. But the way the Colts are playing, you got to stay where you can reel them in. And you can’t assume you’re going to beat them twice. Listen. No, you can’t. No, they’re Listen, they’re seven and one. They’re one of the best two or three teams in the league. Kai, they’re running the ball so well. It’s just taking all the pressure off Daniel Jones, who never handled it that well during his time with the New York Giants, but he’s playing so well because Jonathan Taylor is a great running back. Their schedule does get tough. They have to go to Kansas City. They’ve got the Steelers. They’ve got uh Seattle and San Francisco and the Texans twice, as well as the Jaguars twice. So, it does get dicey. uh you have a chance if you can stay within a game or two of them to be able to reel them back in in the head-to-head matchups, but you can’t go lose to the Raiders and all of a sudden think, well, we’re still in this thing. You lose to the Raiders now, you’re hoping for for you’re hoping for wild card. Yeah. I think when I look at the Colts schedule, their beginning schedule is similar to the end of our schedule. Games that you have the ability to go win those games. They clearly took care of business on their first half of their schedule. Now the Jaguars have to do that in the back half of although they should have beaten the Rams in LA and they did beat the Broncos already. Those are two quality wins. So even the Chargers bad, too. So they’re they’re legit. I’m not saying this team can’t get legit enough to catch them, but don’t think they’re just going to automatically fall back to you. Listen, we hope that this is not We’ve been talking about this not being the same Jaguars team. We know that’s not the same Colts team that we’ve seen in recent years. Certainly not. And now the Texans are kind of getting back to what they do well as well. We saw them get a win over the 49ers. Um Brian, we were talking earlier just kind of seeing that offense. CJ Stra kind of got a little bit more comfortable. He didn’t have his normal target, Nico Collins, but spread the football around, right? You know, they just kind of ham and egged it the other day. They had three or four receivers with more than 50 yards receiving. They had two backs with over 50 yards rushing. They ran for 157 total against San Francisco. I mean, the numbers the quarterback was 30 of 39 for 318 yards and two touchdowns. But when you watched them make throws like that, you’re like, “Yeah, that’s the CJ Strad that we’ve seen that is very difficult to defend.” So, I get it. This is not a San Francisco team. You know, without Nick Bosa and without Fred Warner, they’re not that great San Francisco team. But the Texans took care of them and they looked to me, John, winners of three of their last four, like a team that’s starting to get their legs underneath them after an 0 and3 start. Yeah, I did wonder after after Warner got hurt how long San Francisco would be able to continue to sort of piece it together. And I think the way the Texans won, which was fairly controlling it, yeah, may have had a little something to do with that. As soon as I say that, I thought when they beat the Texans here, even though the Texans went to 0 and three, the Texans are going to figure out a way to be around 9 or 10. They’re good enough and they’re a proud franchise. They play with heart. Um, so I I still say that early victory over the Texans is going to be huge for the Jags in a couple of weeks. Um, it’s going to be a tough get to sweep this team the way they play. Well, and their defense, their defense, we talked so much about CJ Stout and Nico Collins, but that defense is so very aggressive. And with the outside, I mean, Will Anderson was a factor in the ball game here and Denil Hunter is an excellent outside rusher. And and remember the game here, you didn’t have uh Stingley on the field for most of the game. He got hurt. When he’s on the field, that changes the dynamic completely. So, their defense is going to is going to help them stay in the race. It’s going to be a hell of a race in the AFC South with the Colts and I think the Texans coming. And if the Jaguars can get their legs back underneath them, it’ll be a lot of fun. People will look at the difference the division differently than they have in recent years. You’ll have three teams that will be interesting. That’s why the game on Sunday for the Jag is so important. You want five and three going into Houston so that you don’t feel like it’s sliding and you know Yeah. and you don’t want that to feel like a must-win game because if it’ll feel more like it still won’t be but go into that four and four uh it’s going to feel like a must-win. It’s good stuff. We like the competition for sure. We’ll keep an eye on things. Uh stay with us here after the break. We’ll tell you more about what’s coming up the rest of the week. [Music] Jagan brought to you by Fields Auto Group. See Field’s first Jacksonville’s premier luxury auto group. Head over to fieldsauto.com. Also brought to you by Mr. Chubbies. You can cheer on the Jags as they travel to Vegas this weekend to take on the Raiders at the official away game watch party taking place at Mr. Chubby’s Westside locations. I can’t go because we will be in Las Vegas, but I’ll be there vicariously. Please get all of the snacks, all the wings, the chicken parm sandwich, a personal favorite of mine. Unbelievably good. Everything is good. All of the things are good. So, there are no bad choices. Um Brian, looking forward to this week, kind of getting back into the swing of things a little bit. We’ll get a injury report for the first time and kind of figure out where everybody’s at. What are you looking forward to this week? Well, I’m going to talk to Edgar Bennett, uh the Jaguars wide receivers coach, obviously a Lehi grad, uh and talk a little bit about drop passes and how they attack it. Uh Brian Thomas Jr. and how you get him started and Travis Hunter how you involve him more and I will have uh Foyer Luicon on the Ozone podcast. Looking forward to that. Um veteran guy who I think can put in perspective just where they’re at with the season. Checking in with Travis ETN. Obviously a great start to the season. Want to get back to the running game a little bit going forward. So that will be our off the- field interview this week. And we’ll be back here on Jags AM on Thursday to do a full uh preview of what this Raiders game is going to look like. We’ll see you tomorrow. [Music]

Kainani Stevens, Brian Sexton and John Oehser discuss the Jaguars’ reset coming out of bye week and look ahead to Week 9 at Raiders. Later, the crew talks the approaching trade deadline and the AFC South race. All this and more on Jags A.M, presented by Jet Home Loans.

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