Redskins coach Steve Spurrier is known for his trick plays and Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin is doing everything he can to prepare his team for whatever tricks Spurrier has up his sleeve this Sunday.

"You practice a lot of them just to give you a sense of awareness," Coughlin said of Spurrier's bag of tricks. "You have to practice and select a few of them to know when they might come. It's another thing you have to defend. It's part of your preparation. They always have one involved -- a minimum of one -- and you have to be prepared for it."

Preparation would seem to have begun as early as last Friday, when the Jaguars claimed wide receiver Kevin Lockett off waivers from the Redskins.

"We've talked to Lockett, sure," Coughlin said when asked if the Jaguars' newest wide receiver has been asked to provide information about the Redskins. "A few things we already knew," Coughlin added.

This is a week of serious preparation for a Jaguars team desperate to end its four-game losing streak, and in the most high-profile game on the team's schedule. And Coughlin didn't hedge when asked to define the importance of the game.

"The importance is we need to win a football game so, in our division, we still have an opportunity," Coughlin said.

Of course, most fans are focusing on the Spurrier vs. Coughlin storyline. A large contingent of Spurrier fans are expected to be in attendance at Alltel Stadium and cheer for the Redskins.

"I haven't thought about talking about that," Coughlin said when asked if he's discussed with his players the potential for something less than a total homefield advantage. "We have to do something with our team that inspires our fans," he added.

What the Jaguars are doing this week is putting forth a stronger effort on the practice field, as demanded by Coughlin when the team reported Wednesday to begin preparation for this Sunday's game.

"We're on the right track. There was more activity out there," Coughlin said of Wednesday's practice.

Fred Taylor (back), Marcus Stroud (knee) and Fernando Bryant (shoulder) were held out of Wednesday's practice, but we're back in action today and remain listed as "probable" on the Jaguars' injury report.

"He wants to make sure you execute everything perfectly on the practice field and it goes over to Sunday on the game field," offensive tackle Todd Fordham said of Coughlin's increased demands this week.

Coughlin is apparently leaving nothing to chance.