Chris Conley talks about setting an example for the youth after Ahmaud Arbery’s, George Floyd’s deaths

Chris Conley became a big part of Jags history with his statements today as he and Jags marched to combat racial injustice Friday.

Friday marked a good day in Jacksonville Jaguars history as the organization marched together in wake of George Floyd’s death and the country’s current issues with racial injustice. The team began their walk from TIAA Bank Field early Friday morning and made their way to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. While there, they shared a variety of powerful messages about inequality and standing together.

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JSO officer and former Jag Ernest Wilford and running backs coach Terry Robiskie were the first to speak while at the sheriff’s office, sharing awesome messages for the city to soak in.

Afterward, receiver Chris Conley came through with some encouraging words, too, urging those listening to understand the history of America’s issues because they will lead to change. He also encouraged others to follow the footsteps of those who’ve demonstrated how to make change peacefully and declared that those with good intentions wouldn’t allow those who are doing it through hate and violence to take from the moment.

Another important message from Conley came as he concluded his statements. He reached out to the children who were a part of the march and told them that Friday’s display was an example of what the future could be. While referring to the recent murder of Ahmaud Arbery, he also stated that he saw the youth’s lives being in jeopardy when watching the confrontation.

Conley’s conclusion and message, in general, proved just what kind of leader he is and it’s awesome to see him step to the plate early and use his platform as a player. Heading forward, it appears we could hear more from the veteran, who clearly has the ability to help the Jags do their part in changing the racial issues we see all too much in America.

Jags organization march in solidarity to bring awareness to racial injustice

As most NFL coaches were permitted to return to their facilities today, the Jaguars’ return to TIAA Bank Field Friday was marked by something bigger than football. In wake of the recent killing of George Floyd, the spotlight on police brutality and …

As most NFL coaches were permitted to return to their facilities today, the Jaguars’ return to TIAA Bank Field Friday was marked by something bigger than football. In wake of the recent killing of George Floyd, the spotlight on police brutality and rallying cries against racial issues that millions are protesting in America, the team got together to march from TIAA Bank Field to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in solidarity.

Many joined the march while wearing Black Lives Matter shirts and hoodies, and several players, including receivers D.J. Chark and Chris Conley, kicker Josh Lambo and running backs coach Terry Robiskie, spoke during the event. They were joined by former Jaguar and current JSO officer Ernest Wilford during the march, who also shared remarks. 

Per Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union, the idea was Robiskie’s. During his time speaking in front of the crowd, he stated that he has never seen such support from an organization having been in the league since 1982 as a coach. Robiskie also said that he attended his first protest in the late 60s, which shows just how long America has battled with racism.

Upon arrival at the sheriff’s office, Conley spoke about how racial injustices have been foreshadowed and urged those marching to know the history of America’s issues because they will lead to change. He also spoke on a confederate monument located at Hemming Park (less than a mile from the sheriff’s office), and how close it was to a horrific racist attack that took place in Jacksonville 60 years ago known as “Axe Handle Saturday.”

 

Afterward, the team walked back to TIAA Bank Field in solidarity once again where coach Doug Marrone spoke. His message was simply for everyone to do their best to understand where African Americans are coming from when they shed light on the racial issues of America. He also urged everyone to come together and fight against racism to make an impact for the past, present, and future.

Jags players doing their part to help communities as nation battles COVID-19

The Jags have continued to support their communities through the nation’s battle with COVID-19, including RB Leonard Fournette.

As the nation’s battle with COVID-19 continues, the NFL’s support for their millions of fans affected has also continued. Earlier in the month, we posted the stories on how owner Shad Khan and cornerback Tre Herndon have helped the Jacksonville area. Since, many more have joined the battle to fight COVID-19 including Leonard Fournette, DJ Chark Jr., Josh Lambo, Tyler Shatley, Carl Davis, and Chris Conley.

Fournette, who has been a huge part of his community in New Orleans and Jacksonville, will be donating 7,000 meals up until June to Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. The gesture is one that will certainly go a long way for a community that has been deemed a hot spot and area of concern for America.

Chark has done his part by using social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to spread the messages of local businesses. His friend from the receivers room, Conley, raised $9,300 for the World Health Organization after placing second in a Fortnite tournament.

Lambo, a big-time pet lover, has offered to cover a portion of adoption fees and a six months supply of dog food for any dog adopted from Fur Sisters of Jacksonville Beach. Lambo is familiar with the shelter as that’s where he adopted his dog, Indie, from.

Davis, who recently signed with the Jags, spent time with people residing at Five Star Veteran Center, which is a local non-profit that helps with supporting veteran mental health and re-integration into civilian life. Last, Shatley gave over $10,000 towards several outreach efforts to senior citizens.

The donation will be matched by the Jags Foundation. That funding will support a joint partnership between Florida Blue and Feeding Northeast Florida, who will prepare 1,500 meals for senior citizens in the Jacksonville area. Funding will also go towards feeding first responders and workers in the healthcare field.

As a big part of the community, the Jags have posted a page for fans to go to and donate to charities in the Jacksonville area. For those wanting to help the community, feel free to check that out here.

Josh Lambo named a second-team All-Pro for 2019 season

The Jags didn’t have any first-team All-Pros in 2019, but they did have a second-teamer in kicker Josh Lambo.

There weren’t a lot of positives for Jacksonville Jaguars fans to evaluate at the end of the season, but Josh Lambo was easily one of the brightest spots of 2019. The veteran placekicker was 33-of-34 on his field-goal attempts (97.1%) and was 19-of-20 on extra-point attempts (95%). With both figures marking a career-high and marking some of the best figures in the league, Lambo was named a second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press Friday afternoon.

In 2019 Lambo wasn’t only able to achieve career-high statistics, but he was able to surpass a franchise record as well. In Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, he topped Mike Hollis’ field goal record of 31 made attempts on the year by two field goals.

Lambo was also named the first alternate for the AFC in the upcoming Pro Bowl earlier in the 2019 season. With Justin Tucker making the cut ahead of Lambo, it’s possible fans could get to see Lambo and replace the Baltimore Ravens placekicker as they may be still fighting for an opportunity to be in the Super Bowl.

Lambo had several highlight moments on the season, but his biggest was kicking the game-winning field-goal against the Denver Broncos to get the Jags their second win of the season. Hopefully, 2020 will provide more of those moments for the veteran kicker who has been nothing short of solid for the Jags.

Calais Campbell headed to third consecutive Pro Bowl

Calais Campbell will represent the Jags for the third straight time in the Pro Bowl.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell will be heading to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.

With the league announcing its 2019 Pro Bowl rosters for the AFC and NFC Tuesday, the Jags announced that Campbell was their lone nominee (for now) to make the initial team. The Jags also announced that five players made the cut as alternates, including placekicker Josh Lambo (first alternate), tailback Leonard Fournette (second alternate), pass rusher Josh Allen (second alternate), punter Logan Cooke (third alternate) and receiver DJ Chark Jr. (third alternate).

So far this season Campbell has been able to register 53 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. He’s also found himself as one of Pro Football Focus top graded defensive lineman with a current grade of 90.3.

The veteran has had quite a career with both the Jags and Arizona Cardinals, accumulating a total of 688 tackles, 14 forced fumbles, and 88 sacks. His recent nomination puts him in company with Jags greats like Tony Boselli (five selections), receiver Jimmy Smith (five selections) and running back Maurice Jones-Drew (three selections) all of whom have been to three Pro Bowls or more with the franchise. He also had two nominations with the Cardinals in 2014-15.

Are there any Jags assistants who should survive a coaching change?

There are two coaches who may stand a chance to survive a coaching change for the Jags in our books. One of them is Joe DeCamillis.

With a 4-9 record currently and five straight losses by at least 17 points, the Jacksonville Jaguars are unquestionably going to have a coaching change at the end of the year. Of course, the reason for their record and pending changes is somewhat due to the Jags’ current staff being out-coached at times and fans have been very vocal about getting Doug Marrone and his staff out of the facility.

That said, our question of the day is whether or you all at home feel there is a member of the current staff who should survive what will likely be a coaching staff change in a few weeks? Here are two candidates who we feel at least deserve another year:

Special teams coach – Joe DeCamillis

Joe DeCamillis is one of the league’s most respected special teams coaches and it’s easy to see why when looking at his body of work before joining the Jags and after. Prior to coming to Jacksonville, he was so highly regarded at his last stop that he served as the interim head coach for the Denver Broncos Week 6 of the 2016 season with Gary Kubiak dealing with and illness.

First and foremost, he deserves praise for what he’s gotten out of Josh Lambo, who is kicking at a Pro Bowl level this season. The veteran, who the Jags signed off the free-agent market during the 2017 regular season, has converted 96.3% of his field-goal attempts (26-of-27), good for the best in the league.

DeCamillis has also turned Logan Cooke into a stud punter. With the offense not offering much production, Cooke has been a weapon for the Jags averaging just under 44 yards per punt and constantly pinning the opposition behind the 20-yard line. The crazy part about it is that he’s only 24 and keeping DeCamillis by his side could make him an All-Pro down the road.

Receivers coach – Keenan McCardell

The other assistant who comes to mind when discussing the staff’s ability to teach is receivers coach and Jags great Keenan McCardell, who pretty much has done a well as you can with the young receivers he’s inherited.

During his first season on the Jags’ coaching staff, McCardell immediately showed his skills as a communicator. One series into the regular season, he lost his top receiver, Allen Robinson, for the year with an ACL tear but it didn’t stop him from getting the best out of what was left for Blake Bortles to utilize. He got some quality moments and play out of undrafted rookie Keelan Cole that season, who totaled a career-high in statistics with 42 catches, 748 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

McCardell’s other noteworthy achievement was coaching up second-year receiver DJ Chark Jr., who struggled mightily in 2018 but looks like one of the league’s most improved players now. Chark is currently just 44 yards shy of the 1000-yard mark this season and has impressed on all levels of the field despite the frequent changes at quarterback.

If there is a new staff, they almost certainly will recognize the coaching Chark and the other receivers have responded to and possibly consider keeping McCardell. It also may help his case that he was formerly a receiver in the league who was largely successful.

That said, we’d like to know if you all at home believe McCardell and DeCamillis deserve to remain assistants past 2019. Is there someone we missed on the staff that deserves to stay? Let us know in our Jags Wire forum.

3 things to know for Jaguars vs. Colts

Two starting quarterbacks return to the lineup in a heated AFC South battle. Here are three things to know before kickoff on Sunday.

This Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars travel to Indianapolis to face off against the Colts in a heated, critical AFC South match-up. Both teams are hoping to make late-season pushes for the playoffs and remain in the hunt for a wild-card spot. Here are three things to know before kickoff on Sunday:

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Healthy Quarterbacks

Both the Jaguars and Colts have been without their starting quarterbacks for some time after injuries sidelined the two, however, for Week 11, both Nick Foles and Jacoby Brissett are set to suit up. For Foles, this will be the first time since the first quarter of Week 1 that the high price free-agent acquisition will get to play.

The Jaguars benched the fan-favorite, Gardner Minshew, in favor of consistency and experience in hopes to spark a late season playoff run. The AFC wild-card race is very much wide open and Doug Marrone and his staff thought Foles gave the team the best chance to take advantage of the weaker AFC. This should be the first time Jags’ fans finally get to see what kind of player Foles really is.