Jaguars Center Mitch Morse on Offensive Line Progressing as One Unit

Oct 22, 2024 at 05:06 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – They're growing and coming together, and that matters.

While that wasn't unexpected for the Jaguars' offensive line this season, Mitch Morse on Tuesday said it's nonetheless a positive moving forward.

The group is meshing and developing. That must continue.

"It's a work in progress, for sure," Morse said Tuesday.

Morse, a ten-year veteran center who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason from the Buffalo Bills, spoke as the Jaguars (2-5) prepared to play the Green Bay Packers (5-2) at EverBank Stadium Sunday.

He also spoke two days after a strong performance by the line – the latest in a run of strong performances by a group that entering the season under scrutiny.

"I think when we're all on the same page, we're all seeing the same thing, it helps," Morse said.

That has been the case for the Jaguars this season, with the team starting the same five offensive linemen – left tackle Cam Robinson, left guard Ezra Cleveland, Morse, right guard Brandon Scherff and right tackle Anton Harrison – in all seven games.

Robinson is beginning this week in concussion protocol, with Walker Little – who has started 17 games for the Jaguars in three-plus NFL seasons – playing 56 of 61 plays in place of Robinson against the Patriots.

"Just his poise, and the way he carried himself was pretty impressive," Morse said of Little."That resonated with the rest of the guys. When you see a guy come in that you know has confidence in himself – as well as the game plan and working with each other – that's one less thing you have to worry about. He's a smart football player, he's tough and I thought he played very, very well and helped us kind of progress as the game went on."

After ranking 23rd in the NFL with 96.3 yards per game rushing last season, the Jaguars rank 12th this season at 124.3 yards per game. They are averaging 5.1 yards per carry – tied for fourth in the NFL this season – after ranking 31st at 3.6 yards per carry last season.

The Jaguars, who have rushed for at least 126 yards in five of seven games this season, rushed for a season-high 171 yards against the Patriots – and they ran 17 consecutive running plays across the third and fourth quarters.

"There's something to when the coaches and the staff put the game plan in your hands," Morse said. "That's not something you go into the game saying, 'We're going to run so many runs in a row.' I think it's a testament to them seeing how the game was playing out and making game plan adjustments.

"It felt very good. Not every game is going to play out that way, but when it does, you wake up a little sore in the morning but you're happy for it. You don't realize how tired you are till you get on the sideline, and people are offering you oxygen.

"It was really a very unique experience, and we were very appreciative of it."

QUOTABLE

Morse on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence: "Trevor's playing pretty inspired football right now. It's a quarterback-driven league, and whether he's handing the ball off, making checks or putting it down the field, if you have a guy who's as poised and confident as Trevor can be and in all the right ways, it helps everyone along."

NOTABLE

The Jaguars' secondary made some significant changes Sunday, with veteran Darnell Savage starting alongside Andre Cisco at safety Sunday and Antonio Johnson – who started the first six games at safety – playing as the "dime." Starting cornerback Tyson Campbell also returned, androtated at times with Ronald Darby and Montaric Brown. Head Coach Doug Pederson this week called the moved "a good change" and said the approach could remain moving forward. "We haven't really all been out there at the same time since camp," Savage said. "The unique thing about our room is that we all can play a lot of different positions and then when you get a guy like Tyson back … he can go step-to-step with whoever, so that's also makes it a lot easier."Savage previously had been playing mostly nickel corner since signing with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason. "I felt comfortable back there and all that, so it's good," Savage said.

QUOTABLE

Savage: "We have family in here and we try to keep it that way. At the end of the day, we're the ones who come to work every day and it comes to a point in time where you've got to work through things together. You can't worry about what everybody else outside is talking about, you got to work through it together and I think we've done a good job with kind of coming together getting on the same page offensively and defensively and playing special teams as well."