Category: Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer emphasizes the importance of fixing Jags’ defensive line

The new Jaguars coach understands how important it is to rebuild a defensive line that struggled tremendously in 2020.

Quarterback is the most important position in football, so it’s not surprising that coach Urban Meyer feels it’s the Jacksonville Jaguars’ top priority. But at his press conference on Tuesday, he also spoke of the defensive line.

“I always believe you build your team around the defensive line, and then you move backwards – so that’s what we’re going to do,” Meyer said to the media.

Jacksonville had one of the worst defenses in the league in 2020, finishing second to last in both points and yards allowed. The defensive line was a major reason for that, as it struggled to stop the run and pressure opposing quarterbacks.

The Jaguars have a pair of young edge rushers in Josh Allen and K’Lavon Chaisson who are promising, but there are still a number of holes, especially at the interior.

“The defensive line will be solidified first, then we’ll move to the back of the defense,” Meyer added. “Our defensive secondary needs to be revamped at a few spots. We have a lot of work to do, but there are some great young pieces. Josh Allen … his first year was a little better than last year, but as far as a person … I met his family. I want that guy around here as long as we can have him.”

One of Jacksonville’s top free-agent options at defensive tackle, New York’s Leonard Williams, was franchise tagged by the Giants. The pool of options is a bit thinner than the Jaguars had hoped it would be, but there’s still a number of potential upgrades available.

“There is one commonality of great teams: they have great defensive lines,” Meyer said. “You can’t avoid that. There are ways to hide other things, but you have to have a strong defensive line. We’re committed to do that here.”

Jacksonville can start negotiating with free agents on Monday, and they can sign those deals when the new league year begins on Wednesday.

Urban Meyer calls James Robinson an ‘integral’ player to build around in RB room

The new Jaguars coach had positive words to say about James Robinson, the undrafted rookie who finished tied for fifth in rushing in 2020.

There weren’t many bright spots in Jacksonville’s 1-15 season in 2020, but there was one that’s pretty difficult to ignore. Running back James Robinson came out of nowhere as an undrafted rookie to become the team’s starter at the position, and it seems the Jags landed a diamond in the rough.

Robinson was excellent in 2020, finishing tied for fifth in the NFL in rushing with 1,070 yards despite only playing in the first 14 games. The Illinois State product was also a workhorse, leading the league in carry percentage with 86% of the Jaguars’ carries. That likely won’t be sustainable in the long-term.

That’s why it isn’t surprising that coach Urban Meyer spoke of the importance of building around Robinson this week.

“Running back, James [Robinson], we feel pretty good about him,” Meyer said. “He had a good year, so we want to build a room with him being an integral part of it.”

This would seem to confirm that Robinson fits into the team’s plans as the lead back heading into 2021, but it also hints that the team is looking to add players at the position. That wouldn’t be a bad idea, considering the team’s second-leading rusher in 2020 was quarterback Gardner Minshew.

After moving on from Leonard Fournette, the answer at running back seems to have fallen into Jacksonville’s lap. The question now is can they build a successful offense around him with quarterback Trevor Lawrence likely coming to town.

Urban Meyer talks about CJ Henderson’s surgery, future

The new Jaguars coach seems to like what he’s seen from the team’s ninth overall pick in 2020.

Jacksonville put a lot of confidence into cornerback CJ Henderson when it selected him with the ninth overall pick in last year’s draft. The Jags were in desperate need of secondary help after trading star Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams, and the former Florida player was the best corner on the board.

As a rookie, Henderson battled through a shoulder injury and eventual groin injury that led to him landing on injured reserve. He played in just eight games, and his lone interception came in Week 1 in Jacksonville’s only win against the Colts. He finished the season with 36 tackles and six passes defensed.

Speaking to the media this week, new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer said he was encouraged by what Henderson showed as a rookie despite his limited action. He also revealed that Henderson had labrum surgery, which wasn’t previously known.

“I spent some time with CJ [Henderson]. My gosh, is he talented,” Meyer said. “I know Dan Mullen very well who’s coached him in college. He’s an integral part of this. Obviously, you spend a high draft pick on him and [he’s] a wonderful young man that dealt with some injury situations and missed some games near the end of the season.

He did have labrum surgery by the way, and everything came out fine. He’s actually in here rehabbing today, so we’re counting on him.”

For Jaguars fans, it should be encouraging to hear that Henderson’s rehabilitation process is going well, and that Meyer likes his potential. The team has high hopes for the former Gator, who will start again in 2021, but that begins with a step forward this season.

Urban Meyer discusses franchise tagging Cam Robinson

The Jaguars coach discussed the team’s decision to franchise tag tackle Cam Robinson at his press conference on Tuesday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars made fairly surprising news on Tuesday as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that they would be franchise tagging Cam Robinson. The 25-year-old is heading into his fifth season in the NFL, and he was set to become a free agent.

Jags coach Urban Meyer, who had a presser following the news, explained the decision Tuesday afternoon.

“We are heading in that direction,” Meyer said of tagging Robinson. “[Offensive Line Coach] Coach Warhop feels very strong about his future and the development. We realize he has a great future. His ceiling is very high. I’ve studied him very much. I’ve spent some time with him.

We feel that the way this free agency is moving is that the left tackle position, as always but even more now this year from hearing from the guys who have been in the NFL, this a tough year for that left tackle position. We feel like with what’s just out there and with coaching, culture, and development, Cam [Robinson] has a lot of talent.”

There were other potential options available, such as veteran free agent Trent Williams and Baltimore’s Orlando Brown, a trade candidate. But it seems the Jaguars are going with their in-house left tackle.

Robinson came on strong as a rookie in 2017, but he missed most of the following season with an ACL injury. In his last two seasons, he hasn’t quite developed how Jacksonville had hoped.

But Meyer and his staff seem to still believe in him, and though the Jaguars lead the league in cap space with $82 million to spend, it seems that money won’t be allocated to bringing a new left tackle to town.

Urban Meyer discusses what makes a staff “elite”

The new Jags coach has hired a number of reputable former college and professional coaches. Here, he discusses what makes a staff “elite.”

Expectations are high in Jacksonville this offseason. Higher, perhaps, than in any other season prior. For the first time in franchise history, the Jaguars have the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft, and it just so happens that generational quarterback prospect Trevor Lawrence is available. With him all but certainly coming to town, the team also added legendary college coach Urban Meyer, who won three national championships in stops at Florida and Ohio State.

In a Q&A with Jaguars.com, Meyer said he understood the significance of this moment for the franchise and city.

“Not to overdramatize the situation, but I can’t imagine a more important time in the history of the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Meyer said.

If Lawrence is going to develop into the player scouts think he can be, it will take a strong staff around Meyer. He chose to fill his staff with several experienced former college and professional coaches, and he said that the variety should be helpful.

“I believe when you intertwine college coaches with professional coaches that you don’t have the rigidity some staffs and coaches have: ‘This is the way we do it and we’re not going to listen,'” he said last week. “The NFL game has changed dramatically in the last five years, specifically in the last three years. What you’re seeing is the influx of college systems because the college quarterbacks, primarily, are used to a certain way. I really appreciate the coaches, the collaboration that’s going on right now.”

Asked to elaborate on what marks a coaching staff as “elite,” Meyer had this to offer.

“You’re going to hear the word ‘elite’ all over the place around here,” he added. “Elite is hard; I take a little bit of offense when I hear people use that word loosely. I’ve been fortunate to be around elite. You see some of the high draft picks, some of the great players we’ve been around. Those are elite players. I’ve also had elite coaches. I take that word very seriously. There’s a term we’re going to use: ‘The edge’ is where average stops and elite begins.

“The greatest way to visualize that is practices. The first five practices in training camp your body’s fine, your mind’s fine … everything is good. But what about after practice five? What about after practice 15? That’s when your body starts shutting down on you a little bit and fatigue starts to take over. What does the average player, the average coach, do at that time? They step backwards. What do elite people do? They push right through that edge. I like to say the edge is where average stops and elite begins. That’s what I looked for in my coaching staff. In free agency and then draft, that’s what we’ll look for in players.”

If there’s anyone who knows how to put together a successful staff, it’s Meyer. Many of his former assistants have received head coaching jobs, and he’s built championship teams multiple times. Jags fans just have to hope his coaching skills translate to the professional level.

Urban Meyer says Jags are having a ‘serious’ conversation about a new team facility

Urban Meyer has built winning programs all over the country and it’s due to providing the best amenities to his players.

In his last few major stops, Urban Meyer has made sure his players have had the best amenities, which in return helped his teams win three national championships. Now that he’s jumped to the NFL, he expects nothing less and told Jaguars.com the organization is having a serious conversation about a brand new team facility.

“We’re having a serious conversation about a facility here, a brand-new facility,” Meyer said. “I’ve put together a sports performance team that I expect to be the best in the NFL. You’re talking about Jacksonville, Florida … no state tax and all of the above … weather. I want this to be the destination place in the National Football League.

Obviously, money plays a huge role, but if those start to get close: ‘We want to go to Jacksonville.’ Why? Great place to raise a family, great place to live, great weather, great tax situation – and oh by the way: We have the best facility and the best support staff and best sports performance team in the NFL. That’s the vision. That’s the dream I have.”

This isn’t the first time a facility has been mentioned since Meyer has been associated with the Jags. When he was in the process of signing with the team, Albert Breer of the Monday Morning Quarterback reported that facility upgrades were a huge point of emphasis. That’s not surprising when considering Meyer came from the college football realm where facilities give teams an advantage in recruiting. With him taking on a similar role in Jacksonville as a program overseer and coach, his way of thinking makes sense, especially with the staff being expanded full of new assistants. 

Meyer’s statements could mean the Jags are eying an off-site location from TIAA Bank Field, which has served as the organization’s headquarters from the start. Approximately three-fourths of the league’s teams have an off-site headquarters away (or across the street) from their stadium, but some like the Jags, Houston Texans, New England Patriots, and a few others operate from their stadiums.

If the Jags were to get a new state-of-the-art facility, they would be joining a trend of several other teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, who’ve even taken it a step further by building mixed-used mega complexes. The Panthers eventually will be joining the two, as they plan to move their headquarters to Rock Hill, South Carolina, where a world-class facility will be built for them.

The Miami Dolphins are also constructing a new facility with Miami Orthopedics and Sports medicine worth $135 million. It will be privately funded by their owner Stephen Ross.

Only the Jags know how much a new facility for Meyer and company would cost and who the cost will fall on, but it’s clear something is in the works. We’ll be sure to monitor the situation as more becomes available. 

Trent Baalke praises Meyer’s communication skills early in their relationship

The new Jags GM said his relationship with Meyer is “great” and that Jacksonville’s new coach is easy to work with.

New Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke have only been together on the job for under two months, but it seems things are going swimmingly so far. Baalke, who was promoted to general manager after serving as the team’s interim following the firing of Dave Caldwell, told the media that after six weeks, his relationship with Meyer is “great.”

“There’s no other word I can say,” he said via Jaguars.com. “There’s a lot of harmony, a lot of collaboration. The thing we entered into is a partnership and that partnership is taking shape. Urban is a very easy guy to work with – difficult in the sense of demanding, but that’s the expectation of this league. It’s a demanding league.”

This characterization may run counter to the public image of Meyer, who is known as an intense, winning-focused coach. But asked to elaborate, Baalke said Meyer’s direct style brings the staff together.

“Communication skills are excellent,” Baalke added. “He knows exactly what he wants. He’s team-centric. When you’re team-centric and everybody’s involved in the decisions, it’s an environment that’s easier to work within.”

The decision to retain and promote Baalke was a bit controversial, as critics pointed to his time in the same role as general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, a position he held from 2011-16. Though the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season, the team declined from there under Baalke’s watch.

But Meyer and Baalke reportedly hit it off after the former was hired, and it seems that so far, the partnership is off to a good start. Jags fans will just hope that translates to on-field success.

Alex Smith expecting to be released by WFT, Jags among landing spots that make sense

With the Washington Football Team likely releasing veteran quarterback Alex Smith, the Jaguars could be a possible landing spot.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Washington Football Team is expected to release veteran quarterback Alex Smith, and the soon-to-be 37-year-old quarterback reportedly isn’t ready to hang up his cleats. After battling back from a gruesome compound fracture in 2018 that resulted in sepsis which nearly cost him his leg, he returned to the playing field in 2020 after a lengthy rehabilitation process.

Smith started in six games this season, throwing for 1,582 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions. Now, he’s set to become a free agent for the first time in his career after previously being traded twice. Like several others, former NFL player and current analyst Bucky Brooks thinks the Jaguars could be a natural landing spot for Smith.

If Smith came to Jacksonville, he would reunite with his college head coach in Urban Meyer. Smith played under Meyer at Utah, where he excelled in the then-novel spread offense. He led the Utes to an undefeated season and Fiesta Bowl win in 2004 before Meyer was hired at Florida, becoming a First Team All-American in the process.

As Brooks mentioned, Smith also has a relationship with new Jacksonville General Manager Trent Baalke, who worked for San Francisco in various roles during the entirety of his eight-year tenure playing for the 49ers.

If Jacksonville picked up Smith, he would likely serve as a backup to Trevor Lawrence, who the Jags will almost certainly take with the first overall pick and should start Day 1, assuming his recovery from shoulder surgery goes as planned.

The one hang-up here is the quarterback already on the roster: Gardner Minshew. After captivating the national media in 2019, his production fell off in 2020. And though he’d be a quality backup, if Jacksonville can get decent trade value for him, dealing Minshew to a team in need and signing Smith for cheap could be a reasonable option.

Tim Tebow discusses the relationship Urban Meyer could have with Trevor Lawrence

Tim Tebow is confident that Urban Meyer will thrive with Trevor Lawrence due to his ability to make his quarterbacks comfortable.

If there is anyone who can relate to being a polarizing college quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, it’s ESPN college analyst Tim Tebow. After a highly successful career with the Florida Gators, Tebow had a brief run in the NFL where he experienced both highs and lows before walking away.

Now, a player who Tebow has watched closely through his job, Trevor Lawrence, is set to be the No. 1 overall selection to the Jacksonville Jaguars. After three years of watching the superstar at Clemson, Tebow told his ESPN comrade, Adam Schefter, that the Jags shouldn’t pass on Lawrence as he brings a lot of great traits to the table.

“I think they have to pull the trigger and make that happen,” Tebow told Schefter in his podcast “I think that Trevor brings so much to the table. Not only is he a great athlete that has an incredible skill set, but he’s also a very mature young man that has been in a lot of big moments. That really helps with the pressure.”

Having the chance to possibly come to a place in Jacksonville that will be super excited to have him and really, I guess, as a city, bring him in with open arms. I think that will be really encouraging for a young quarterback.”

With ESPN and ABC (a sister company of ESPN) covering a lot of Clemson’s games, Tebow undoubtedly has seen Lawrence in person many times. He would also understand the degree of mental maturity it takes to succeed in the NFL after spending six seasons in the league. With that being the case, fans can only hope Tebow and many others are right about Lawrence’s mental skills as they could propel him to success rather quickly.

Tebow also spoke on the head coach Lawrence is likely to be paired with in the NFL, Urban Meyer, who he had the luxury of playing under while with the Florida Gators. While together, the two had great success in Gainesville due to Meyer’s ability to cater to Tebow’s strengths, and though he’s now an NFL coach, Tebow said he expects Meyer to do the same for Lawrence.

“He’ll have a chance if he gets teamed up with Urban,” Tebow added. “One of the things I love about Urban is he’s going to put someone in a position where their strengths can flourish. He’s always done that. I believe he’ll always do that.”

Meyer’s choice to hire Darrell Bevell as his offensive coordinator is proof that the team plans to cater to what Lawrence does best. After working with Russell Wilson as a rookie and beyond, Meyer clearly felt the veteran coordinator has the ability to make Lawrence comfortable, too, but time will tell how successful the trio can be.

To hear the full episode of Schefter’s podcast, simply click here.

Shelley Meyer: Urban’s desire for ‘another challenge’ factored into jump to NFL

Shelley Meyer explained why she thinks her husband, Urban Meyer, made the jump to the NFL, which shocked her.

It still doesn’t feel quite real that Urban Meyer is an NFL coach, or that he’s back in Florida for his new career. Sure, it probably helped that he’s likely on a direct path to Trevor Lawrence, but no matter the reason, fans are excited about the hire.

Meyer’s not alone in his excitement. His wife, Shelley, recently spoke with WSYX ABC 6 about her husband’s jump to the professional realm of football, and while the offer and tools the Jags had on the table couldn’t be passed up, she added that there was another reason Urban decided to coach the Jags — and that was the desire for a challenge.

“I wasn’t shocked, although I never thought we’d be in the NFL,” Shelley said.

“He loved his FOX job, so great. It was not stressful, his team was awesome, but he had played golf for two years … and he wanted another challenge, that’s the way his mind works.”

With coaching being a part of his life for so long, it isn’t shocking that Urban’s itch returned after leaving Ohio State. Add in the fact that those around him, like Jags assistant head coach Charlie Strong, told him that he had “another run” left, and Meyer had several reasons to jump on Shad Khan’s offer. 

Although Shelley wasn’t shocked that Urban wanted to return to coaching, she revealed that she didn’t know of his desire to return until December, right around the time talks between Khan and Urban got serious. 

“I have to really think about that. It was in December, I really don’t know,” Shelley said about her knowledge of the situation. “He wants to go back and then there was talking that started between the two, Shad and Urban.”

Now, the Meyers are back in the state of Florida just as they were from 2005-10. For the first-year NFL coach, many challenges are ahead as college coaches like Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, and others before him have seen. Despite that, it’s safe to say he’s been preparing for them long before now, and he’s got his mind set on conquering the NFL.