Rookie minicamp is underway for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Saturday’s practice was open to the media.
No pads or contact are permitted, but it does give the incoming rookies the opportunity to begin learning the playbook and apply some of those concepts on the practice field.
Afterward, head coach Liam Coen met with local reporters for 15 minutes to answer questions. Here are the highlights from that conversation.
Highlights from Liam Coen’s rookie minicamp press conference
– “Just trying to get to know him personally a bit. What makes him tick. The learning curve — how he learns best,” Coen said when asked what he wants to learn about Emmanuel Pregnon in this setting. Coen added that how he takes coaching on the practice field is another factor. “I’ve been impressed with him.”
– Coen on UDFA running back J’Mari Taylor: “Production.” He adds that Taylor’s production compared to the top backs in the draft when facing the same opponents was “pretty impressive.” Coen also mentions his ability to impact the passing game as well.
– Coen on Joey Aguilar: “I think Joey did a nice job of learning a lot of information in a short amount of time.” He adds that what Aguilar is learning with the Jaguars is different than in college, including the cadence. “He did a nice job of running the show, if you will.”
– “It was up there,” Coen said about addressing the tight end position in the NFL draft. He noted that there were games last year where the Jaguars had only two tight ends active, and that’s not a world he wants to live in.
– Coen says the additions at tight end also open up opportunities for others within the offense to do other things, including Brenton Strange.
– Safety Jalen Huskey has experience playing cornerback in college. Coen notes that with offenses getting heavier with their personnel groupings, having that versatility on defense is important. That length and versatility can also help on special teams.
– Coen stressed to the veterans the importance of them setting the standard for the rookies upon their arrival.
– “The difference a year makes,” Coen said about working with the veterans during offseason programs. Rather than implementing new schemes, the Jaguars can now build off what was established last season.
– “It’s about our consensus,” Coen said about taking Nate Boerkircher in the second round. “Character matters. Personal and football character matters and the mental, the learning, how much they can take in a short period of time to get on the grass and be able to play. I wouldn’t say either of our offensive and defensive systems are “easy,” and so we do value players that can dod different things and can mentally play the game fast,” Coen said.
– Coen noted Boerkircher’s confidence and how he’s locked in during meetings. “Very serious about his craft. Very serious about playing football and getting better. I think he fits right in.”
– Coen notes that when you have tight ends who can both block and impact the passing game, it allows the offense to play with heavier personnel but still have the versatility to attack defenses in a variety of ways, which puts more on the defenders’ plates.
– “Relatively quickly,” Coen said when asked how quickly he begins diving into the Jaguars’ Week 1 opponent once he knows who that is. “It just gives you a little bit of excitement, something to dive into.”
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Highlights from Liam Coen’s Jaguars rookie minicamp press conference
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
