cHead
Jaguars Defense Striving To Be The Best
7/31/06
AWS: Have you gotten a chance to get away this offseason?
DS: Other then working out, not much else.
AWS: What has your offseason workout regimen consisted of?
DS: Running twice a week. Lifting twice a week. Mostly, it was four days a week of running and lifting. Then, you have the offseason of the minicamps. Putting in some good work.
AWS: What position battles on the defensive side of the ball will be the most competitive on the team, and why?
DS: You have some guys that you know are already in there. But the rest of the staff try to make everything competitive so everyone can get better. Of course Kenny Wright, he was our cornerback last year on the other side of Rashean Mathis. He left. We signed Brian Williams this year, and he will probably be the starter on that side. We lost Akin Ayodele. So, there is another linebacker spot. But, you know, there is nothing definite.
AWS: The Jaguars had a very good defense last year. With the changes you are mentioning, how does this year’s squad compare to last year’s?
DS: We lost two players and we found hopefully another great cornerback. We have some young guys competing for the other linebacker spot. But, what we did last year is totally different from what it will be this year. You can’t take it for granted and we just have to go out and work harder then we did last year and possibly be better.
AWS: You guys made the playoffs last year, but had a first round exit. What do you think the team needs to do to make it back and deeper into the playoffs?
DS: We can do quite a few things. I think our defense finished 6th last year. Hopefully we can finish even higher this year, and we want to be one of the elite defenses in the league - top three. You know, we have to just create more turnovers, stop the run, and make plays in crucial situations. As far as special teams, we can do some things better. Create turnovers there, and get the offense and defense great field position. As far as offensively, we just need to put up points.
AWS: You have been with Coach Del Rio for two years now, what do you feel he brings to the Jaguars franchise?
DS: He brings that intensity and toughness that he played with. He is a former Pro Bowl linebacker, so he knows what it takes to be successful in this league. He instills that in us to go out and be tough. We’re going to run it down their throats, we’re going to stuff the run, and we’re going to do that with intensity and determination to get where we need to go.
AWS: Is there a game on your schedule that you have circled or are looking forward to?
DS: The Cowboys! Yes sir. It is the first one on the schedule. We are taking it one game at a time. I know it is a cliché, but that is the way you have to approach it. But definitely, the first one.
AWS: You have T.O. there, and Akin, your former teammate on the other side.
DS: Oh yeah. We are looking forward to it.
AWS: Is there a part of training camp that you dislike, or really not looking forward to?
DS: I guess you could say you love to get started because you know the season is just around the corner and getting into that rhythm and learning technique and getting ready for the season. That is the exciting part about it. But, you know, you kind of dread this. Being out there in that heat. But, other then that, it is exciting because the season is right around the corner and everybody is working hard for that.