JACKSONVILLE – This is a fit, and the fit is good.
Anthony Campanile is a little more than a month into his position as Jaguars defensive coordinator – and after a busy five weeks, he likes what he sees from the Jaguars' defensive players.
It's a good group, one that fits what Campanile wants to do.
"We have a lot of guys who play the right way," he said.
Campanile, 42, joined senior writer John Oehser for this 2025 offseason O-Zone Podcast and discussed multiple Jaguars-related topics. They included specifics of installing a defense with a largely new staff and a first-time coordinator.
That's a process that has been ongoing since Head Coach Liam Coen hired Campanile as defensive coordinator on January 30.
"We have a bunch of guys who have a lot of years in the business," said Campanile, who spent last season as the Green Bay Packers' linebackers coach/run-game coordinator. "The more you're collaborating on that, the better."
Much of the past five weeks for the Jaguars' new coaching staff also has been spent evaluating the roster. Campanile said he focuses more on playstyle than scheme, and said he very much likes the style of many Jaguars defenders.
"We have a lot of guys who strain to finish," he said. "There is great effort. That's really what we're looking for, first and foremost. You want smart, tough, dependable guys that love to play. We have a bunch of guys who love to play football and are great football players.
"I'm excited to start coaching them. I'm fired up."
Campanile reiterated what he said early this offseason – that the Jaguars' scheme will be more about allowing players to excel than focusing on particular formations.
"For us, being multiple is really important," he said. "Having guys that have multiplicity to their game is something I've always valued. Everywhere I've been we have valued that. You have to be adaptable."
While he said a defense must adapt to complex NFL offenses, Campanile said a priority for the Jaguars' defense will be to "dictate" situations.
"You want to try to get different groupings out there that make it hard for the offense to do certain things," he said. "What do your guys do well? The players more than anything drive the scheme, and that's the best way to go about it.
"Find out what they do well and put them in situations where they essentially take over the game and be at their best in what we're asking them to do."
Campanile spent his lone season in Green Bay working for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who also was in his first season with the team and installing a new system.
"I learned that you have to come out of the offseason program with guys confident in the techniques you're going to ask them to play," Campanile said. "That's probably No. 1 for me. The scheme will come through in the course of the practices, but guys understanding and knowing exactly what you're asking them to do, so that they can master that technique … that's the most important thing."
To listen to the entire O-Zone Podcast with Campanile, click HERE.
