Added Walker of the secondary, “When we’re on point, that’s going to help them out, and when they’re on point, it’s going to help us out. So, everybody doing their one of 11, that’s going to play a big role in helping each other, being able to play off each other.
“If they’re covering on the back end, we can get home in the front, keep the quarterback from getting it out quick. And if we get home, that keeps them from having to cover so long. So, it works hand in hand.”
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield called the practice “a little eye-opening.”
“They gave us some good looks and were playing with their hair on fire,” Mayfield said after practice Tuesday. “If this was a full game, I don’t think we would have come out on the winning side.”
Walker and most of the Jaguars’ starters did not play in the first two preseason games against the Saints and the Panthers, with few – if any – starters expected to play Friday. Starters have participated heavily in the joint practices, with Coen and the Jaguars using the preseason games for development and evaluation.
“I’m just looking forward to the guys coming out playing free, physical, whooping the man in front of them, and just taking the thinking out of the game and going out there and playing,” Walker said. “We know everybody’s not going to make this roster, but I want the guys, a lot of the younger guys, to go out there and put some great things on tape because it’s 31 other teams out there that they’re interviewing for, and I wish all of them the best.
“I definitely want to see the physicality on the defensive side of the ball, and I know I’m going to see that.”
Coen is ensuring preseason is about opportunities for assistant coaches. Coen on Tuesday said he will call offensive plays in the first half Friday, with quarterbacks coach Spencer Whipple calling them in the third quarter and offensive pass-game specialist John Van Dam calling them in the fourth quarter. Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski called plays in Preseason Weeks 1 and 2, with Coen calling them during the regular season. Coen said multiple assistants will call the defense at various times Friday, including linebackers coach Tem Lukabu and defensive pass-game coordinator Mathieu Araujo. “A couple of guys are going to be able to get turns,” Coen said. “We’ll be able to get a lot of guys some reps.”