Jaguars coach Liam Coen says team must play up to its new standard
Jaguars coach Liam Coen talks about the standard the team set in its 35-6 win over the Chargers last week and how they can keep it going.
Following a dominant win over the Chargers, the Jacksonville Jaguars have set a new standard for performance.Head coach Liam Coen emphasized the team’s clean play, noting just one penalty in their last game.The Jaguars are looking to maintain their successful routine for long-distance travel ahead of their game in Arizona.
Liam Coen isn’t settling for what the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ standard was at the start of the season. At 6-4, there’s a new standard the team must live up to, and it’s largely because of the dominant result they had against the Los Angeles Chargers last week.
Every year, a franchise will go through ups and downs, whether that be defeating a top opponent one week and losing to one of the worst teams in the league the next. The objective is to continue moving up, especially as the season nears its end and the NFL playoffs approach.
Right now, Jacksonville is squarely in the mix for at least the seventh seed in the AFC. With head-to-head wins over the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chargers, their chances of making it to the tournament have improved. Still, they’ll need to take care of business over the next several games, or it’ll be all for nought.
“Ultimately, in a season, right? There’s highs and lows, but when you play as we played on Sunday, there’s a new standard in terms of, OK, that’s what it looks like when we prepare the way we did, and got ourselves in the mindset, mentality, to go play that way, and performed obviously cleaner, right?” Coen said.
The Jaguars were called for just one penalty for 5 yards against the Chargers, and didn’t have a single pre-snap penalty or holding call that put them behind the sticks. It was the first time this season that Jacksonville’s operation, specifically on offense, looked clean and the type of offense Coen envisioned when Jacksonville hired him at the start of the year.
The Jaguars preached physicality before, during and after their win against the Chargers. It’s true, the team’s physicality stood out against L.A. as the Jaguars dominated both lines of scrimmage. But it was the clean play in all three phases that Coen wanted to highlight on Wednesday.
“We all kind of owe it to each other in that room, to uphold that standard moving forward in terms of the way we go about our business, prepare and ultimately play. So, that’s the thing about coaching and playing in the National Football League with long seasons, is the teams that can maintain that sustained success and consistency throughout a number of weeks and give yourself a chance,” Coen explained.
The Jaguars dominated the Chargers to the tune of a 35-6 beatdown in EverBank Stadium. All three phases played above expectations, making Los Angeles look like an up-and-coming team rather than a seven-win, playoff-bound club. While that won’t always happen, the Jaguars’ change in standard is something the team is embracing.
Jaguars look to keep long-distance travel routine smooth vs. Cardinals
The Jaguars have had to make multiple cross-country or global trips this season. They’ve gone to San Francisco, London, visited the Las Vegas Raiders and will play at least two more games further away, including this week against the Cardinals in Arizona and in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos.
The Jaguars are 2-1 in their long-distance trips this year with wins over the 49ers and Raiders. They’ll travel about four hours by plane, landing in Arizona sometime Saturday, with just a couple more things to take care of after meetings in Jacksonville Saturday morning.
“Look, we’ve obviously handled it well thus far in terms of travel west. So, hopefully we can continue to have the same mindset and mentality going into it, and it’s a business trip, a good trip. It’s a team that’s going to be fighting, and it’s a great opportunity for us to, again, go on the road together as a team and prepare the right way,” said Coen.
Jacksonville’s process hasn’t been convoluted, and they shouldn’t be expected to change that heading into Week 12 against the Cardinals.
Liam Coen optimistic, but unclear on Jaguars returning from injury
The Jaguars will need to determine the injury status of several players this week, as they missed at least last week due to various injuries.
The Jaguars ruled out four players last week ahead of the Chargers game, including receiver Brian Thomas Jr., starting right tackle Anton Harrison, cornerback Jourdan Lewis and tight ends Brenton Strange and Hunter Long. All five players have a chance to suit up this week and were seen during the media availability portion of practice.
Still, there are others that Jacksonville will need to keep a close eye on, including starting corner Greg Newsome II, backup running back Bhayshul Tuten and defensive end Travon Walker. All three players left last week’s game due to injuries, though Walker returned. Newsome and Tuten injured their ankles.
Coen is hoping to get them back this week, but is pleased with how players stepped up in their place.
“I really don’t know. You were optimistic on them last week, and [it] didn’t end up working out,” Coen said of players who missed last week’s game due to injury.
“That was frustrating for those guys specifically, and for us, when you’re trying to continue to get your guys out there. But, I thought guys stepped up well in their places and you look at operating again with two tight ends in a game, and those two tight ends play their tails off. So, it is definitely a next-man-up. Has to be a next-man-up mentality. Hopefully, we get these guys back.”
The Jaguars have had to operate with a lighter load at the tight end position after Brenton Strange was placed on injured reserve earlier this season. Strange is entering his second week with his 21-day practice window opened.