Tag: Press Taylor

Press Taylor: Jaguars are ‘very comfortable’ with Walker Little at LT

Press Taylor is feeling good about how prepared Walker Little is to start at left tackle.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will start Walker Little at left tackle to begin the year with stalwart Cam Robinson out of action due to a four-game suspension.

While not having Robinson is less than ideal for the Jaguars, it could be the beginning of the end of his time with the Jaguars. Little, a 2021 second-round pick, may be the better long-term option for Jacksonville on the left side and the next month could be his chance to prove it.

That’ll start Sunday against a veteran Indianapolis Colts defensive front.

“We’re very comfortable with Walker’s process and how he gets himself prepared to play,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said Thursday. “I’m sure all our guys face the first game jitters.

“That’s certainly something we understand, and we’ll deal with. We’re confident that our process prepares the guys to have that confidence to get ready and go perform.”

Little has spent the majority of his career as a backup after joining a team that already had a pair of starting tackles in Robinson and Jawaan Taylor. While the departure of Taylor opened up a spot, the Jaguars quickly filled it by picking Anton Harrison in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Still, Little has six career starts under his belt, including three late in the 2022 season at left tackle after Robinson suffered a meniscus injury.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Why the Jaguars waived preseason star Nathan Rourke

The Jaguars waived Nathan Rourke ahead of the 53-man roster cut deadline and opted to keep C.J. Beathard as the primary backup.

Jaguars quarterback Nathan Rourke’s play was one of the biggest highlights of Jacksonville’s preseason. However, he didn’t create enough buzz to stick on the 53-man roster.

While Rourke showcased his ability throughout the preseason, the No. 2 quarterback gig was C.J. Beathard’s to lose. After the Jaguars win against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 19, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Beathard was doing exactly what he was being asked to do, and wasn’t going anywhere.

“I like the way C.J. operates,” Pederson said. “I like the way his mental capacity is, the way he thinks, he sees the field extremely well, and he’s tough. You saw some of the athleticism today, the movement skills and stuff with him. He throws a really good football, and he played well today, he led us into a couple of field goal drives there. He does a nice job for us.”

Pederson believes in Beathard’s ability, but more important is his role with the team. Rourke is only 25, and his most recent football experience comes from the Canadian Football League. He looked promising in the preseason, but he has a lot of developing to do.

On the other hand, Beathard is 29-year-old, six-year NFL veteran going into his third year with the Jaguars.

With starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence still coming into his own, the ideal backup is a consistent veteran who can help coach Lawrence when he needs direction. The Jaguars have their young, talented quarterback. They just needed a consistent veteran backup, and Beathard is the guy for the job.

Rourke made a strong case for a place in the NFL, though. He started preseason with a highlight touchdown pass and kept the ball rolling as the season approached.

He completed nine of 17 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown in the preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Rourke then connected on 10 of his 12 passes for 121 yards in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions.

Pederson praised Rourke for his accuracy, toughness, and willingness to tuck the ball and use his legs following Jacksonville’s win over the Lions.

“Those are all things that I appreciate about him and the effort and leadership that he provides,” Pederson said.

He saw the field less in the final preseason game and finished with four completions for 74 yards against the Miami Dolphins.

Rourke impressed Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor and the rest of the team, which forced conversations about the possibility of having three quarterbacks on the roster. Taylor described the situation as a “case-by-case and week-by-week basis.”

“There may be a situation where you keep that guy on the 53,” Taylor said. “But if you’re light in another position, and you need the bodies, and you’re healthy at quarterback, maybe that week you don’t have a third quarterback.”

Jaguars starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence recognized “the great Canadian” — as he called him — for his highlight touchdown and other eye-popping plays. Lawrence said Rourke is just as impressive in practice every day and earned the respect of Jaguars players.

“He’s had some great plays, and that’s what you got to do,” Lawrence said. “The guy is looking to stick in the league and get a spot.”

Rourke could be eligible to return to Jacksonville’s practice squad if he clears waivers.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Trevor Lawrence: Nathan Rourke has earned Jaguars’ respect

It doesn’t look like Nathan Rourke will stick on the roster, but he’s still earned respect from his Jaguars teammates.

It seems inevitable at this point that Nathan Rourke will be waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars next week when the team cuts its roster down from 90 players to 53.

Despite a stellar preseason for Rourke, which included an incredible touchdown against the Detroit Lions, Jaguars coaches are sticking with C.J. Beathard as their backup quarterback. When asked Wednesday about the possibility of keeping three quarterbacks on the roster, Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said it wasn’t particularly necessary if the top two passers on the depth chart are healthy.

“You take into account the health of your quarterbacks at the moment,” Taylor said. “If you had one that was going in maybe injured a little bit and would be a little more likely to reinjure something like that, maybe then the value would be having another one. It’s one of those situations where you don’t need it until you need it.”

If this really is the last week for Rourke in Jacksonville, he’ll go out having earned the respect of his teammates in Duval.

“The great Canadian,” Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said of Rourke on Wednesday. “He’s done a great job. The guy works really hard. … He’s had some great plays and that’s what you got to do, the guy is looking to stick in the league and get a spot.

“I think he’s played really well, and it’s been impressive to watch him work. Everyday he’s like that in practice, too, just really committed and works super hard. I know the guys have a lot of respect for him.”

Rourke, 25, has completed 19 of 29 passes for 274 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions through two preseason games. With Jaguars starters expected to play the entire first half on Saturday against the Miami Dolphins, Taylor said it’s possible Rourke won’t take any snaps in the preseason finale.

The Jaguars could add Rourke to their practice squad, but only if the quarterback first clears the waiver wire without getting claimed by another NFL team.

Prior to joining the Jaguars in January, Rourke played two seasons with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League. In 2022, he earned the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Press Taylor: ‘We’re light years ahead’ of this time last year

Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor is very confident in the progress the team has made since 2022.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars started the 2022 season, they had a new head coach in Doug Pederson who brought his own coaching staff to jumpstart the career of former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence.

The Jaguars started the year 2-6 with Lawrence throwing 10 touchdowns and six interceptions through those eight games. Then he caught fire, leading Jacksonville to seven wins in their last nine games with 15 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

A year later, Jaguars coaches are hoping the growing pains for Lawrence are in the rearview mirror.

“It’s certainly seems like [Lawrence] has picked up where he left off at the end of the season and carried that through the entire offseason, not necessarily [just] training camp,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor told reporters Wednesday. “It feels like we’re light years ahead as an offense than we were at this time last year.”

Jacksonville finished the 2022 season with the 10th most points scored and total yards of offense. An improved Jaguars offense would have a chance at being one of the best units in the NFL.

“I think we have a really clear vision of what we want and what our objectives are,” Lawrence said Wednesday. “I think we have a better idea, too, of what we’re good at and offensively what we want to try to do. We’re in a good spot there, and just the rapport with the guys offensively.

“Whether it’s receivers, tight ends, O-line, running backs, all those guys. We’re just a close group and I think with that, that gives everybody confidence. You can count on the guy next to you and the guys have played well, performed really well.”

The Jaguars’ record for points in a season was set in 2017 when the team averaged 26.1 points per game. The 2022 Jaguars scored 23.8 points per game.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jaguars hope Gerrit Prince’s strong camp carries over to preseason

Gerrit Prince has been a star in Jaguars training camp. All that’s left is a strong preseason to match.

Gerrit Prince spent his rookie year on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad, but the second-year tight end is making a strong push for a spot on the active roster.

After standing out in the first two weeks of training camp, Prince is making himself difficult to ignore. All that’s left is a few preseason games where Prince can seal his spot.

“From what we’ve seen from Gerrit, you just want to see that carry over,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said earlier this week. “Last year I think he had a good preseason. That kind of raised some eyebrows from us of just, ‘Alright, this guy can continue to do it.’ He had a good year for us on the practice squad, making plays.

“Our expectation of him is that he can perform at this level. Now, you want to go see it against a new defense like I said, and just see it carry over and continue to grow as you move closer to the season.”

Prince, 25, was a two-time All-Conference USA selection during his time with the UAB Blazers, but joined the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent last year. While he didn’t play at all in 2022, he still managed to impress coaches and teammates.

“He was the young guy last year that was kind of all over the place, adjusting and learning how to be a pro,” Jaguars tight end Evan Engram said in July. “He’s a really talented player, he’s a really fluid athlete and he’s a tight end that is made for Doug [Pederson]’s offense. Just the growth I’ve seen in him, and even him now, he’s coaching guys in the meeting room better than I think I could.

“Really proud of the steps he’s taken, and he’s still got a lot of work to do, but the opportunity is at his fingertips. I’m very excited about his future, his potential, playing with him, him being able to learn from me, and honestly, I could probably learn some things from him too.”

Last year, the Jaguars carried four tight ends (Engram, Chris Manhertz, Dan Arnold, Luke Farrell) through the regular season. After allowing both Manhertz and Arnold to walk in free agency, there’s more room for Prince even after the Jaguars added Brenton Strange in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.

It may only take one strong performance from Prince this August to make him too valuable to waive after preseason.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jaguars OC Press Taylor sets his expectations for preseason debut

Press Taylor is expecting to see a clean, crisp Jaguars offense Saturday against the Cowboys.

There are high hopes for the Jacksonville Jaguars offense in 2023. The team finished 10th in yards and points a year ago and is now adding wide receiver Calvin Ridley to the mix.

With quarterback Trevor Lawrence entering his third season and his second year with head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor, expectations are for the Jaguars to score a lot of points.

On Saturday night, Jacksonville will make its preseason debut against the Dallas Cowboys. And while the result doesn’t matter, Taylor knows what he’s hoping to see from his team.

“I think the expectation for them is to have clear communication in the huddle, substitutions in and out, being really crisp at the line of scrimmage,” Taylor said. “You want to see clean operations that everybody understands the excitement. It’s not some exotic game plan with a lot going on, it’s core stuff that these guys know really well. We anticipate them being clean with their operation and execution.

“That’s really what you want to see; you want to have a good feel for their confidence, get them back into being in a huddle, something is on the line more so than practice here. That’s what you’re looking for from the ones early on.”

Earlier this week, Pederson told NFL Network that the Jaguars’ starters would play “a series or two” against the Cowboys on Saturday. If the Jacksonville offense cruises its way down the field for a touchdown on its first possession that may be all it takes for coaches to feel content with what they saw.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Press Taylor on Anton Harrison: ‘He gets better every single day’

Jaguars coaches are encouraged by the steady growth of first-round rookie Anton Harrison.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are returning all but one of their starters from the 2022 season. The sole departure in the offseason was right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who received a blockbuster deal from the Kansas City Chiefs and was replaced by first-round pick Anton Harrison.

That leaves a team with high expectations relying on a rookie to maintain the right side of the Jaguars’ offensive line. But offensive coordinator Press Taylor likes what he’s seen from Harrison so far.

“The biggest thing expected of him is that he gets better every single day,” Taylor said of Harrison. “You want to continue to push him and continue to see that growth keep going. We don’t expect today where he’s going to be in week one. We want to see a lot of growth in that time, and so far, we’ve seen that day-to-day with him.”

Harrison made 24 starts in his three seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners with 23 on the left side. While coaches have been encouraged by the early signs from Harrison, it’s also tough to have too many takeaways from practices without pads.

“Obviously when you’re in shorts like we’re in, it’s a little harder for the offensive and defensive lines,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Saturday. “I try to control the tempo there and control the pace. I just don’t need a lot of bodies on the ground. There’s a different tempo when the pads come on, we’re okay, let’s go and cut it loose.”

Harrison’s first practice in pads was Tuesday and he’ll (presumably) get his first live snaps next weekend when the Jaguars travel to play the Dallas Cowboys in their preseason opener on Aug. 12.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Press Taylor: Jaguars have ‘high hopes’ for backup QB Nathan Rourke

Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor says former CFL star Nathan Rourke has done a “great job” so far in camp.

Former Canadian Football League star Nathan Rourke probably won’t be starting games for the Jacksonville Jaguars any time soon, but offensive coordinator Press Taylor isn’t discounting the quarterback’s potential impact.

“He’s done a great job, just in terms of growing from the spring, through the summer, into now at training camp,” Taylor said of Rourke on Monday. “He’s done a great job in that [quarterback] room with those guys, and he’s somebody that’s going to get a lot of opportunities as well coming up in these preseason games, that we have high hopes for leading our offense.”

Rourke, 25, previously spent two seasons with the CFL’s B.C. Lions and earned the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award after completing 78.7 percent of his passes in 2022 for 3,349 yards and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.

After working out for at least a dozen NFL teams in December and January, Rourke opted to sign with the Jaguars.

To earn a place on the team’s 53-man roster this fall, Rourke will likely have to beat out former San Francisco 49ers starter C.J. Beathard for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Catching up to a seventh-year veteran entering his second season in the Jaguars’ offensive system could be a challenge, though.

“He’s done a good job,” Taylor said of Rourke. “The big thing with those guys is understanding what we’re trying to do on each play, where to go to with the ball and playing on time. Throughout this training camp, we’re really evaluating the quarterback’s process, not as concerned with what the stats may look like and this and that, because again, we’re not scheming our defense.

“We want them to understand the process within each play and how we get through our progressions, when we may throw a ball to a certain guy in certain times.”

The first of Jacksonville’s three preseason games is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. ET against the Dallas Cowboys.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Press Taylor: Trevor Lawrence has made a ‘huge leap’ as a leader

Trevor Lawrence’s growth on the field has been evident, but he’s made a “huge leap” as a leader too, according to Press Taylor.

The Jacksonville Jaguars watched quarterback Trevor Lawrence blossom right in front of their eyes during the 2022 season.

After a shaky start to his second year in the NFL, the former No. 1 overall pick threw 15 touchdowns and two interceptions in the last nine games of the regular season to lead Jacksonville to the postseason. Now expectations are sky high for the 2023 season and Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor says Lawrence looks primed to take another step forward.

“It’s his offense,” Taylor said Thursday in a press conference. “The empowerment he feels. Yesterday, day one, we have a play on, they play a different coverage, he checks it to a different play. He would not have done that at this point last year.

“His communication with the skill group around him has been fantastic. … We want everybody to know, this is how I’m going to react, this is what’s going to happen. That comes from communication on the practice field, in the meeting room. That’s where Trevor really has taken a huge leap from this time last year.”

It helps too that a year ago, Lawrence was working with a completely reshaped offense featuring several new players. While the team is working Calvin Ridley as well as a few rookies into the mix this season, the Jaguars’ third-year quarterback is also surrounded by familiar faces in Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Evan Engram, and others.

Still just 23, there’s no doubt that the Jaguars are Lawrence’s team to lead for the foreseeable future.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Press Taylor: Jaguars’ logjam at OT is ‘great problem to have’

What will the Jaguars do with their starting lineup when Cam Robinson’s suspension ends? Press Taylor isn’t too worried about it.

It’s no mystery who will start at offensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. With Cam Robinson expected to serve a yet-to-be-announced suspension at the beginning of the season, Walker Little is set to start at left tackle while first-round rookie Anton Harrison will take over at right tackle.

What the team does when Robinson’s suspension ends is a dilemma with no clear solution, though.

“[It’s] a great problem to have,” Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said Tuesday morning in a press conference. “Depending on the timeframe they give us with Cam [regarding the length of his suspension], or however that falls, we’ll have a plan — a little bit firmer plan moving forward into that. Until then, we’re just preparing every single day for everybody to be the best at whatever we’re asking them to play that day.”

Robinson’s future with the franchise looks shaky, at best. The Jaguars can save $17.75 million in cap space by moving on from the offensive tackle during the 2024 offseason. They could even save $17.1 million this year by trading him before or during the 2023 season.

With Little and Harrison, two top 50 draft selections, on the roster for much less, moving on from Robinson at some point in the next year makes plenty of business sense. On the other hand, re-inserting a stalwart left tackle into the starting lineup after his suspension ends could make a lot of football sense.

It’s a situation the Jaguars will have to navigate not only when Robinson’s suspension ends, but through the remainder of the year and into the offseason. But as Taylor said, having three capable tackles juggling two starting roles is a much better problem than the alternatives.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]