Liam Coen on Eric Murray’s Return to Practice, Preparation for Titans | Jacksonville Jaguars

Liam Coen on Eric Murray’s Return to Practice, Preparation for Titans | Jacksonville Jaguars

All right, let’s do this stuff. Hey, Liam. Uh, four four divisional games in the last six games. Have you talked to the team about the opportunity here and just what does it mean to be able to play in the division basically the last six games? Yeah, it’s huge. We we did talk about it a little bit this morning spec obviously for this game um and how important um you know games in November and December are specifically but um even more so when when it comes to divisional games that um the teams are are used to playing each other know each other a little bit. There’s um obviously some familiarity um with both of these teams and staffs. So um yeah it’s huge opportunity for us. these are this is why you play. This is, you know, you get into these parts of the season, everybody’s nicked up, everybody’s uh a little bumped and bruised, but it comes down to um you know, taking advantage of these opportunities and making the most of them and having that heightened sense of urgency as we get into um later November, December games, specifically as we get into these divisional um ball games that how important these are. Yeah, we talked about it this morning. big window open for Eric this morning. As much as you can comment on it, what does that do for your depth at safety? And what have you seen from some guys stepping up in his place over the last few weeks and how do you keep them involved? Yeah, hopefully, you know, we’ll see what he looks like throughout the week. Um, great to just get him back out on the grass. hopefully um you know the the communication the the ability to um continue to calm things down with his presence. But I I really believe that Antonio Johnson has stepped up in a major way. I thought um the last few weeks specifically Dwey has also played some good football for us and Rayon Lane has stepped up in a big way. um you know with the the amount of he played the most snaps I think this past week that he’s kind of played uh throughout the season and and when he’s out there he just plays his tail off as he does on special teams. So um you know getting Eric back will will definitely help. We’ll see what it looks like um for his availability this week. but been very confident. Antonio Johnson is playing with as much confidence as I’ve ever seen him have. Um, and his impact in the game for us in a positive way back the last two weeks after the Houston situation there. You talked about the pass rush has to improve. What’s sort of sparked that? I know partly some beat up offensive lines, but what else has kind of sparked that? Um, I think that I don’t really know. I mean, you know, it’s not anything crazy different scheme or or anything like that. I I just think that um you know when the front and the coverage match well in terms of um whether it’s zone or man you know not allowing for the ball to to come out maybe as quickly as as it was able to come out and then um you know getting those guys up front going and and having them you know being in matchups that are favorable but also um winning one-on- ons you know defeating blocks, uh, straining through the echo of the whistle, um, you know, favorable matchups, like all that stuff I think goes into it. But, um, I do think our coverage in the back end has improved over the last, you know, two weeks, let’s call it, in terms of playing a little bit stickier, have having a little bit more of a feel on the underneath zone specifically to not get as much depth in in some of our zone coverage. having a little bit more of a feel for. All right. People are trying to work those quick to short intermediate throws as a linebacker or a nickel or a safety down at the second level, not giving up too much ground and depth. Um, you know, I think that those all of those things combined have helped the pass rush be able to get home more. What kind of challenges does Jeffrey Simmons present? Yeah, a ton. Um, man, he he’s I’m not saying he’s Aaron Don, you know, but there’s there’s some similarities there um in terms of his ability to create um in both the run and the pass, how how quickly some of his wins come um you know, the the effort like showed a clip this morning against Denver where they had uh double chip protection, playaction pass, the pocket looked extremely clean. um for quite some time and then the ball just kind of got held on to the routes maybe weren’t there yet and he just he’ll he’s going to finish and strain through the echo of the whistle. Great challenge for us um as a group, but he’s definitely disruptive and and you can see that he’s believing in terms of their they they have belief as a team. There’s no quit in that team at all right now. Um they’re actually, you know, playing better and better. Yeah, their last three games have been very close. Uh what what are you seeing out of Cam Ward in terms of his growth in these last few weeks? Yeah, makes the the throw on third and XL um to put them in scoring position against Houston uh to go tie the game was an incredible throw um last week against Seattle off schedule, moving around more in the pocket, moving uh outside of the pocket, extending, allowing people to kind of win a little bit more. Um, you know, he’s he’s definitely found, I think, a comfort level in some ways of moving around more, moving within the pocket, extending plays, but also then playing in rhythm when he is uh in the pocket. Um, you definitely see growth and improvement there. Um, as I think we’ve all maybe, you know, thought was going to come and and happen for him. Um, so yeah, he’s he can tell he’s just continues to improve and I think using his legs and extending plays has helped him. When was the first time somebody mentioned to you the rivalry between the Titans after you took the job here? Um, I would say it was, you know, fairly early on. Um, Tony, I think mentioned it to me a few times with maybe some of the times he’s, you know, gone up there and played or or whatever it is, you know, stories of of vice versa, those guys coming down here. And um being in Lexington, you know, not far from Nashville, like you definitely heard it a little bit being out there in terms of um yeah, there is there’s a a care factor here. There’s a real um I guess you call, you know, there’s a rivalry. There’s an indivision game opponent that um both teams have probably, you know, won games they shouldn’t and won games that, you know, in lost games they shouldn’t. whatever it is, it’s it’s one of those games that we understand that uh anything can happen, right? Any any given Sunday, anything can happen, but especially in division games where there’s maybe just that little extra um you know, want to on both sides. So, um we know what this challenge is. Records don’t mean anything in the NFL right now. Mean nothing. Two big two big time uh goss from Trevor in the red zone. Uh throw us some anticipation on those. uh walk us through just the trust that he had to have from the receivers. Kind of let a few of those go before the guy could even see it coming. So like how was that? Yeah, the one in zero blitz um to Jacobe. We actually had a very similar rep on Thursday in the walkth through um we were doing a situational end ofame walkth through type deal and we were empty and our defense zero blitzed us and he retreated away and and threw it actually to Parker. It was a similar type route. Um but he was playing it live and true. And then he, you know, gets in the game in a not in the game desperation, but a critical third down got to have it play. Um you know, he it looked as if they were going to rush four, so he emptied the back out and then they zeroed him. So we’re in a fiveman protection with two chippers that are releasing. Um we’re hot and he just made a play and made a great throw. trusted Jacobe to stick his foot in the ground and get his head around uh in zero. And then the one to Parker in the red zone as well where he had to step up in the pocket, made a great peckto peek movement cuz the guy was swiping over the top. Made a great peck-to- peek movement in rhythm. Gave Parker an opportunity throw. So, both of those are just great examples of, hey man, you just go play and not try to do too much before the snap and not, you know, just go play and let your your your talents kind of take over and um those are two great examples that we can continue to build on. Parker Washington as well, just to add on him, continues to make plays in the special teams and in the receiving game. Just elaborate. Yeah, I mean he’s we’ve all been seeing it for a while, right? Since training camp, really. He was he’s been one of our our top performing receivers since training camp. Um he’s worked his tail off to learn the system since we got here. Um he’s one of the first guys in the building every day. Uh takes super care of his body. um very intentional about the way that he practices and goes about his business and then on Sundays has made plays for us in a lot of ways and um you know he’s definitely trusted. He’s um somebody we count on to continue to make plays and obviously the first play of overtime was a great example of that where he’s you know used in the slot a lot and you know we put him out at one on a one-on-one opportunity and he goes up and makes a play. So, um, a lot of respect for Parker and continue to help us win games. You guys are getting guys got guys back at tight end. How can 12 personnel kind of really help you guys? How has it helped you guys so far this season? Yeah, it’s um, yeah, I like 12 personally. I think it it um can help be balanced in in the run in the past. It helps you there. And then, you know, some games specifically dictate a little bit. Okay, we want to be a little bit more 11 this week versus 12 based on maybe what you’re getting structurally. Last week was a week that we wanted to be a little bit heavier just based on Arizona’s defensive structure and and some of the things that come up in uh nickel defense that we didn’t really want to deal with too much. and um those guys obviously Strange coming back, but the you know, Quinton and Johnny and Hunter Long, how much they’ve continued to ascend and and help us win games this year is uh I like 12 and hopefully we can continue to use it. What’s the challenge of keeping the ball out of Chim DK’s hands on the punt returns? He’s done such a marvelous job. We liked him a lot coming out. Um you know, obviously not far down the road here in Florida. um watched him a ton throughout the evaluation process. Was somebody we were um had a lot of respect for in that process and man he’s he he has made gamechanging plays or game altering plays to give them boosts and give them um opportunities to stay in games. Um you know that’s some that was the guy that we talked about this this morning on the game records for special teams. So, um, not just on teams, but on offense where you see him catch shallow crosses and he can go and take it. Um, you know, I think they’re getting more and more comfortable using him on offense and confidence and on the special teams unit. I know John Fossil very well and I know he’ll try to scheme him to get opportunities to make plays again this Sunday. You excited to see how your team performs if the weather does? I mean, it looks like it could be really cold and rainy throughout. is that are you excited about that challenge of November football, man. You know, I mean, it’s it it is it’s November uh football in the NFL, you’re you got to deal with the elements and um you know, going and playing a little colder weather. I mean, that’s it’s football. And so, um I grew up in that. This is different for me. Uh seeing palm trees out here is a little uh new in November and and heading into December and you’re in Thanksgiving week and it’s like wait where’s the the tree color change and all that. But it’s no it’ll be a great op. I mean this is um you know what you you why you play why you prepare to to have games like this that um you know it’s it’s kind of the essence of football. Foyer with what has he kind of meant to you and your team for sure? Yeah. Um I’ve gotten closer and closer with Foyer, I think, over the year. Um the amount of respect I have for not just the football player, but the person, the leader, um the the the the man. Um you know, he’s he’s definitely been a a consistent rock for us in a lot of ways. And um the the guy in the locker room, the guy that you know, he’s just the same all the time, right? It doesn’t change. He’s he’s not a chameleon by any means. You know, he just he doesn’t change. And the way that he talks to to me, the way he talks to the team, the way that he plays, you know, he’s been doing it at a high level for a long time now. And um you know, very pleased with his consistency, his leadership. Um and he gets people to the ground. He’s a darn good tackler. expectations. He’s two in one. Brian, working him back in, but not just in terms of his availability for Sunday, but also once he does come back, how does that maybe change how you view that wide receiver room and how you use Yeah, just we’ll have to see what he looks like obviously this week and see how much he can, you know, do and help us get out on the grass obviously um you know, we we definitely need his presence and get somebody out there that can continue to stretch the field and and make big plays for us. So, uh we’ll take it day by day. your first my calls Mike as a head coach. Does it do anything special? You need it. What does it mean to you to be able to have this platform? Yeah, it’s um definitely a plat you know it’s it’s interesting because you’ve gone through it as an assistant and um you know it’s you’re not in the spotlight about what your cause is. And so now obviously going into this position, it’s more it’s a really cool I think our organization’s done a good job of kind of highlighting this and and letting our players have a platform to not only show um as a team, but individually some of the the meaning behind uh their causes. they’ve been able to do some tapes, I think, you know, things that are have gone out um and take a little bit of a a a deeper dive into some of these players and what uh their causes are, maybe some of their wise behind why they play and why they do this and and obviously for us as coaches, it’s it’s a great opportunity for us to be able to um help support uh maybe things that have affected our lives in the past. Your your shoes are delayed. They’re coming. Yeah, they’re coming. uh suicide prevention. Is there some connection for you there? Yeah, that’s my mom passed. Yes, she um committed suicide when I was 21 years old. So um you know that was obviously she was sick um you know had Lyme disease for a few years there and um you know I was red shirt sophomore in college when that occurred. So that’s um you know definitely in my family in terms of the she’s in our thoughts and prayers. So, she’ll be with us on Sunday.

Jaguars HC Liam Coen speaks to the media before practice on Wednesday of Week 13 during the 2025 NFL Season.

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