No More Speeches, It Is Time To Play Football | The Day After

Sep 24, 2024 at 05:46 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – The urgency is real, and time is short.

If that makes a tough situation for the Jaguars this week a bit tougher, Head Coach Doug Pederson said he sees it differently.

A time crunch in this situation maybe isn't all bad.

"What I like about situations like this is we're back on the field tomorrow," Pederson said a day after a 47-10 prime-time loss to the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

"We get a chance to erase obviously a poor performance."

Pederson spoke Tuesday, as coaches began preparing for the Jaguars' game against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans (1-2) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday. It's a shorter week of preparation than normal because of the Monday game – and in the wake of a third consecutive loss to start the season, Pederson on Tuesday emphasized action over words.

"If you want to be an elite football team, it's led from within, it's led by the players," Pederson said. "Listen: The speeches are done. The speeches are over. We don't need any more rah-rah stuff. It's just time to go play football, fix the mistakes and do everything we can to play our best football this weekend."

Pederson on Tuesday also said his communication with Jaguars Owner Shad Khan remains strong, regular and positive.

"We've had great conversations before and after football games," Pederson said. "Obviously, those conversations are private and all of that. He's very supportive, has been supportive and he continues to be supportive of what we're doing."

The Jaguars on Monday allowed touchdowns on the Bills' first five possessions, trailing 13-0 after a quarter and 34-3 at halftime. The Bills led by double digits throughout the final three quarters, outgaining the Jaguars 388-239. Pederson, as he did Monday after the loss, on Tuesday said changes could be made – and that all areas must be examined.

"We have to take a hard look at ourselves, first internally as far as coaching goes," Pederson said, "and then making sure we are presenting the plans with great communication. Look: It's a two-way street, too. Coaches coach and players play.

"We have to make sure our players are playing fast and not making the mistakes that are showing up."

Pederson specified that he expects no changes in game-day coaching responsibilities, and said communication on game day from offensive play-caller to quarterback Trevor Lawrence "has been great" so far this season.

"There have been no issues from play-caller to quarterback," Pederson said. "We haven't had any issues whatsoever. Sometimes the mistakes that people misinterpret when it comes to communication is play to play. It's sometimes on the field. I make sure that coach to player – whether it be in game, on sidelines, during the week – is of the utmost importance. It's imperative to have any success right on game day. Then we can fix the play to play or the in-play communication issues that sometimes pop up."

Pederson, too, said the shorter-than-normal preparation week could play a role in changes this week.

"It's tough," he said. "The first thing we have to consider is obviously injury for a short week.That plays into personnel and who can be available for this football game."

The Jaguars' week was further shortened when their flight from Buffalo was delayed two hours, with the team arriving in Jacksonville at 6 a.m. Tuesday rather than the scheduled arrival of 4 a.m.

"It was out of our control," Pederson said. "We just camped out at the [Bills'] stadium for a couple of hours. We got a got a couple hours of rest and we were back in the office. The biggest thing is for the players. They were off [Tuesday], obviously, then the schedule is pushed back alittle bit [Wednesday] by design to give some more rest before we take the field.

"It's imperative they do everything they can to get rest, rehydrate, get focused and start working on Houston."

NOTABLE

Inside linebacker Foyesade Oluokun could miss Sunday's game against the Texans, Pederson said Tuesday. Oluokun sustained a foot injury Monday. Also injured Monday: Rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones (shoulder), right tackle Anton Harrison (knee) and wide receiver Gabe Davis(shoulder). Pederson said Jones' status will be based on pain tolerance. Pederson said Harrison and Davis will be day-to-day this week. Pederson also said he expects safety Darnell Savage (quadricep) to play Sunday after missing the past two games while tight end Evan Engram is less likely to play Sunday after missing the past two games with a hamstring issue.