JACKSONVILLE – With Liam Coen, it's about adaptability.
New Jaguars center Robert Hainsey likes a lot about Coen, the Jaguars’ first-year head coach – and Hainsey discussed Coen in detail last week after signing with the team as an unrestricted free agent.
His praise of Coen was high and specific.
"One thing he really does is focus on our strengths as players," Hainsey said.
Hainsey spoke last Thursday during a series of introductory press conferences, with newly signed nickel cornerback Jourdan Lewis also speaking highly of Coen – who was named the Jaguars' head coach in January.
"His energy is unmatched," said Lewis, who signed with the Jaguars after eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
Guard Patrick Mekari, who signed with the Jaguars after six seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, called Coen "a great guy" and a great football mind."
"I've heard about him," Mekari said. "I've seen his success. I've seen the way his offenses run. I'm just happy to be here with him, talk with him, meet him in person and go win some football games."
Added Mekari, "He brings the energy. He seems to be a great leader."
Hainsey, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past four seasons, said he saw Coen's energy and leadership last season – which Coen spent as the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator.
"It's super exciting," he said. "I really enjoyed working with Liam last year. I'm really looking forward to working with them again this year."
Hainsey said what impressed him most about Coen was how the coach changed approach during his lone season with the organization.
"The way he uses his offense to his players' strengths is something that I think that he's going to do a great job with here with the group we have and a group we're building," Hainsey said. "He knows what he wants, but if we're doing something better, he's not going to try to fit a square peg into a round hole. He's going to lean on what we do."
Hainsey said Coen's ability in this area could be seen in the Buccaneers' running game, which improved from 32nd in the league in 2023 (88.76 yards per game) to fourth (146.8 yards per game) in 2024.
The Buccaneers, after beginning the season as a zone-scheme running offense, transitioned to mostly gap blocking by season's end.
"We came out and we were running it (a gap scheme) really well, so we leaned on that and we kept running it and we kept running it well," Hainsey said. "It became one of our calling cards even though when he got there around this time last year that probably was not his original plan. But you can see how he adapted to it and used those strengths that we showed on film as a team and made it our whole strength, made it our identity.
"Using our strengths to the team's advantage is what's important to him, not trying to make your players do things they're not good at. We all bought into the scheme. We bought into them as coaches."
Hainsey, too, said Coen's approach went "a long way" in easing the transition.
"It was easy to buy into because of the way it was presented," he said. "It's simple enough to understand but complex enough to confuse others. It's exciting to be able to take that next step in the same system."
Hainsey called the adaptability "a huge characteristic for a football coach to have."
"You want to be able to listen to your players and put them in the best position to win," he said. "That's probably what a lot of coaches will tell you is their main job, is to put your players in the best position to win.
"He does a great job with that. I'm excited to see what nuance he has to our offense. I loved it last year, love being a part of it. I'm excited to play more in it because it does fit us well. He'll make it fit the players because that's just how he does it, so I think it'll work really well."
QUOTABLE
- Hainsey on signing with the Jaguars: "Honestly, Liam had a lot to do with it because I know and I trust him. I believe in him deeply that he's going to do everything he can to make this organization as best as it could be. That's the main factor."
Time to get to work. The newest Jaguars are in Jacksonville! These players met our leadership, signed their contracts, spoke to media and walked the facility. Check out some top pictures 📸😊
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga meets the offensive line coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Patrick Mekari poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga meets the coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray (right) meets defensive backs coach Anthony Perkins during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey reunites with head coach Liam Coen during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey reunites with head coach Liam Coen during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis meets the defensive coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray and wide receiver Dyami Brown arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars xxx arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey, Chuma Edoga, and Patrick Mekari arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey reunites with head coach Liam Coen during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens and cornerback Jourdan Lewis arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga meets the offensive line coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Patrick Mekari meets head coach Liam Coen during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis meets the defensive coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt arrives for his first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens poses for portraits at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey and Chuma Edoga arrive for their first day at the Miller Electric Center on March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis meets the defensive coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive linemen Chuma Edoga (left) and Patrick Mekari (right) mets head coach Liam Coen during their first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis meets the defensive coaching staff during his first day at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Hunter Long signs his contract at the Miller Electric Center on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
