Jags HQ | Boselli & Gladstone Discuss Roster Construction, Player Development Opportunities

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1:24Welcome to Jags HQ on a Thursday. I'd say let's go, but there's no game this weekend. Brian, section along with Jeff Login, Tony Bisselli is here, James Gladstone alongside, and we're talking Jaguar's football. What do you think of this by week before the season begins? Is it valuable for you to rather be getting ready for a game this weekend? You know, I think that you can take it a few different directions. I think the way that we choose to frame a lot of stuff is in a positive lens and getting as good a work as we possibly can. Oh, we got a few extra days here to prepare for our first week's matchup versus Cleveland. You know, our players, they got to turn our focus away from the idea that, you know, we're building for the regular season and we're in it right now. So it is a shifting dynamic and frame of mind that we're working with at this point because, you know, it's that opponent and prepping for them that really return our attention to. Does it make you nervous a little bit, you know, kind of because the weekend's going to be a little idle time for the guys, you know, Tony, I think we talked about this.

2:29And from a player's lens, you always appreciated the steady work, right? Yeah, I mean, I think this, I trust our guys. I'm not worried about that. You know, it's it's his balancing act all the time because I do think there's positives of allowing guys to get their bodies back and any injuries that you might have lingering for all the teams, you know, to get that extra week to rehab and hopefully have your frontline guys ready for week one. At the same time, I think there's a there's an edge you can lose as a player from going from camp and hitting and kind of get your body in shape and having this time off and then three days over the weekend. That first day backs really important because it's going to be a little bit of a reacquement mission period of going back and say, okay, we're back at it. Like let's get the energy, put the pads on, feel it, go hit again so that you are already opening day because I always felt like as a player, any long stretch of being off without

3:30playing the game of football didn't take long, but it was going to take a day. Maybe we're so to get back and acclimated to, you know, that the grind, the time, you know, the focus. Now, I'll say this. I think our guys have done a great job this week. I think they're mentally focused. They take great care of themselves or in the weight room, doing everything that we can possibly do at this time and they're preparing themselves for the season. And so it's probably more of some sort of neuroses of just being worried about everything at this time of year because you've kind of got this dead period for us too because we're all sitting around and we're doing work and getting ready and you prepare and you prepare and you prepare at the same time. You know, you don't want to lose your edge with your coaching staff in the front office and the building and take too deep of a breath because the whole thing we've been planning for all year and working towards is coming right around the corner and you can't forget that. All right. So let's go back to last weekend a little bit. The roster reduction, never easy.

4:31I think tell them certain guys, you know, that worked their rear ends off for your football team to say that the dream was over at least with you guys. Was it difficult for the weekend to try to figure out what the roster composition needed to be or was it fairly straightforward as far as choices felt obvious to you guys? Look, I think that's a steady build over the course of training camp where you come to a lot of those conclusions ultimately there at the end. And, you know, I don't know that you can label it as straightforward. There's certainly a lot of back and forth, a lot of conversations and dynamics that you got to work through. Nonetheless, I think when you do have those conversations and where we were at over the course of this training camp, I mean, you can be very candid, authentic and understand that, you know, for some of these guys, they're getting hard realities of a path may be closing when they put forth their best effort. And at the same time, you're having conversations with guys who are excited about the fact that

5:32they've earned the up to be on an active roster. As we're building out even our practice squad, right, those guys are going to have to give us real work this season. And a lot of instances dress on a game day as we get deeper into the season itself. And so, you know, we're not just considering the 53 as it relates to a lot of those decisions that are being made. We're talking how do we round out the best 17 practice squad players in order for us to prepare on a weekly basis and be prepared for attrition that naturally occurs. And so, that's where you see some of the signings externally that we feel good about. And we'll continue to, you know, work through that as the season progresses. One of the things that a lot of people, I don't want to say we're surprised at, but when you go out and you sign a backup quarterback to your roster, to the active roster, which was Quinn Ewers. And then you end up being able to keep Nick Mullins that are practiced. A lot of people are like, hey, that's a little different.

6:34Tell us about that trade and what you guys feel about Quinn Ewers, the quarterback. Yeah, first and foremost, I don't think without Nick Mullins, we're in the same position that we are today. And I think his professionalism, the way that he operates and moves, you know, it speaks volumes. And even his decision to stick around and be on the practice squad during this hard time for him personally, it says a lot about who he is as a teammate, as a human being. And, you know, can't thank him enough for continuing to work in the direction that he is with us. And from Quinn's perspective, you know, as we consider what could lie on the horizon for him still be on a rookie contract with a few years in front. You know, there's a certain baseline of capacity that he possesses that we want to continue to try to work with, build upon, tap into through the lens of a backup and contributing role, being able to have put forth starting performances a year ago, walk away with a

7:34win in one of those versus a quality opponent. That's not easy for any rookie, let alone one at the quarterback position. And so there was a lot of good there that we feel like we can continue to sort of surface if he ever has to be called into action. But obviously that doesn't come with the snap of a finger. It requires a lot of work. And between him, our coaching staff, over the course of these last few days since he's been here, it's been endless, it's been constant. You know, every time I find myself walking up the stairwell, he seems to be walking down. And so it's a pretty cool start, but obviously we got a lot still to do. The, it used to be you kept three quarterbacks when you guys were playing on the roster. And then it became two and one on the practice squad. Now it seems like the trend is two practice squad quarterbacks. There are a number of teams around the league that have four quarterbacks. Is that, some have four quarterbacks on the roster. Active 53. Yeah, tell me about that trend for more quarterbacks. I mean, where's it going? Yeah, it's really interesting. I could speak firsthand for us. It's far more effective to have, most times in NFL quarterback throwing to our pass catchers

8:42as opposed to a position coach. You know, that gives us a more authentic view in a lot of instances. So having a few more guys around certainly helps that cause and get quality looks regardless of if it's just in a drill or if it's in a seven on seven or team action, right? Beyond that, I think, you know, there are few and far between quality quarterbacks that exist and those that can potentially put you in position to win a football game in the NFL. And so when teams feel like that they have those under their roof, they're not just going to let them walk out the door. And so I think you're seeing folks hanging on to those who they feel like they. They're not the more the of continuing to develop because it doesn't happen with the snap of a finger. And in particular, those can be positions that we've seen far too often. Teams give up on quickly when the results don't match what they might have spent to acquire them. And so I think that might be a reaction to some of those instances where, you know,

9:43guys are out the door because they were thrust into early action. And now they get a little bit more of a runway to continue to work in an environment that they started at. And you look at a guy like Joey Aguilar. I mean, you're looking to see if he can evolve into an NFL backup. I mean, how do you look at an undrafted rookie that's on your practice? Yeah, you don't want to cap guys, right? But you certainly see what he possesses the game name demeanor that he operates with, which is hard to teach. Like typically that stuff has been developed up to this point and is innate in a lot of ways. And he's a com cool, collected dude back there and can put the ball in spots because of real capacity to do it and continue to level up and decision making over the course of this offseason and end to training camp in a way that gives you hope for continued progress. You are watching and listening to Jags HQ. We'll take a break and when we return, more with James Gladstone, Tony Bacellian, Jeff Langeman, this is the Jaguars Radio Network.

10:48Welcome back, Jags HQ continues right now. Welcome back to the Hyundai Studios, more of Jags HQ, Jeff Langeman, Tony Bacellian and James Gladstone with you here on a Thursday evening. Where to even start with the whole process. We talked with you guys a little bit last week about a quick weekend. Did it go smoothly? I really liked that timing. I think it made a lot of sense. It was very efficient. Obviously time will truly tell whether or not a few months from now I say the same thing, but I think in the immediate the after action of it all is certainly one that I felt good about and happy with. Nonetheless, like we just spoke about, it's not that easy day in terms of the weight of some of the conversations that have to take place, but at the same time the exciting element is your turn to the page of the regular season and what you've done up to this point is seemingly prepared you for it and you've got a few more days in front of us where we

11:48can continue to climb. But I think that you talk about the efficiency and how the weekend went. I think a lot of that goes to all the work done up to that event because I think so often you think, okay, these are like segments. You got OTAs, training camp. And then it's all said, now we have to cut the team. But it's an ongoing process that James mentioned, the conversations, the evaluations, but then we have countless scouts behind the scenes, whether it's on the pro side when our college couchs come in, doing evaluations so that when you get to that weekend and you're discussing and James has to make the final decision of how we're going to put this roster together. With all these conversations, this history, the data, the process so that when you get to the game time, you can be efficient and you can operate in a way that clear-minded make decisions and have all the information you need right there in front of you to hopefully make the right call for the organization.

12:50So it's the process that's the most important. I mean, I think we all get naturally focused on the weekend when the cut downs made. Is it hard, easy, so on, so forth? But it's really, it's all the work that goes in that the people in this building and everyone on James staff and team and even the support staff, how they weigh in our coaches, that's an ongoing process so that does make the weekend, while hard from a human standpoint, the emotional side can be still taxing and hard because you appreciate what these guys have done, but the process can be efficient and smooth and you can operate quickly and smartly and I get through it in the right way. I would have to think that James from an evaluation standpoint, you really liked the joint practices because I mean, it just gave you so much more to evaluate from your starters, but then also the backups. I mean, heck, you know, we had some guys that were backups getting 70 snaps in the last game on offense and on defense, there were some guys that got to think of around 47 plus

13:51almost 19 special team snaps. I mean, that's great stuff to look at. The great. No question. I think so my most familiar mode of operating is actually through the lens of joint practices. That's what I had been doing for quite a few years back to back to back and you then have the preseason games themselves where a lot of the rookies and under after college reagent are back into roster players who were fighting for some of those final spots are getting the opt to perform under the lights and do that not only for us, but also 31 other teams to continue to get ops that may exist elsewhere, but you also get a peak in those joint practices as, you know, across the field at some of the rosters that you're playing against and get to evaluate those guys and that digger said last year that Matt digger said was the great example of that and you know, he had caught our eye in his first preseason performance that that year and we didn't play him until week three got to see him up close

14:56and personal and continued to be drawn to what he could offer and that's where I kind of turn to right now and say, you know, we don't know what on stories about what stories are about to unfold for the players that exist in our environment right now. There's 53 eyes on our active roster, there's 17 others on our practice squad and, you know, good teams they can be built over the course of the offseason and training camp, but the best they continue to evolve and grow over the course of the regular season and I think that's what we got to see here as we get into that. How much or should I say this? How comforting is it to have a practice squad? I mean, if you think about it going back into the day, how many did you guys have? Sixth guy, the first year, I don't know what it was before I got in the NFL, but 95 I think the first year was, was there six guys in the press squad? I can't wait to have practice. It was six and it quickly became a no. But I don't think it was eight until after I left here. Okay, I think it was like five or six,

15:57I think when a couple years of of me being in the leagues, we had Brad Baxter, a full back who was a hardhead that used to beat us up in practice. Yeah, there was six people and, but there was also different, those individuals could not be elevated. No, no, no. Now the way you look at the 16 guys on practice squad and you can have six veterans, you talk about the quarterback situation, those are guys that we feel like are part of the roster. Not only are they getting us ready to play and you mentioned Matt Dickerson, you can talk about Branson Combs, 51 possible elevations out of 16 plus one. That's exactly right, because we have the extra one with Killian as our IPP. And a lot of what we do and how the evaluation continues for those guys during the season, during practice. And Liam is a coach who emphasized like, Hey, you want to play on Sunday? You want to get a helmet? You want to be one of the 48 that you got to go earn that in practice. And it's not just lip service. It's not just a bunch of words. It's backed up by the proof of last

17:01year and guys helping us win football games that were on the practice squad through either an elevation and or being signed to the active roster. So those are 16 guys that are part of our team. It's not like we have 53 and that's our team. And then we have these extra 16 or 17 with the IPP that are kind of separate. They're just practice players. No, they help us in practice to help us prepare, which is critical. But those are individuals that they are here because they we believe at some point during the season they can help us win. When you look at that, that group as a whole, how do you manage that through the course of the season? I mean, those guys aren't here the whole season necessarily. I mean, they are, I guess, if you like them and want to keep them, but they can be plucked off by another team. And I think they've got to go to the active roster, the other team for three games. So there's a little bit of a make sure you're getting the right guy. Do you find yourself managing that week to week? Oh, undoubtedly. Guys will get calls. Stay today. Undoubtedly. Guys will get calls and we'll have to, you know, react accordingly, depending

18:01on, you know, where we're at and what potential mechanics we can put into practice. But that also, I mean, that's something that we can deploy as well. So every team is facing that dynamic. And, you know, you just got to go about it in the ways that you feel like is best in the best interest of the Jacksonville Jaguar. It's in particular. Yeah. The best way to think about the practice squad and what you're talking about in Brian Sanders says this all the time. Basically, on the press, what those guys are weekly free agents. That's a good term. They're weekly free agents. They can be plucked by anybody. Um, any team can come sign them. Now they have the choice. They can say, no, I'm going to stay. That's the key. They have that choice. But so it's really, if you're a player on practice squad, so often, obviously, there's disappointment. You're not on the 53. There's a pay difference. There's, there's best, best thing in all the different stuff that goes into that. But set that aside, that's an opportunity. If you take it and approach it the right way. And those are the type of guys we want here that if you approach the practice, it's an opportunity to go prove that number one, I can help the team. I'm on. But then when I get

19:06those opportunities to be elevated to go put good tape on because we're watching every team play every week. And we're watching those practice squad guys when they get from another team elevated into the game. And it's an ongoing thing. So those guys are free agents, weekly free agents for all 32 teams. All right. We've got another segment with Tony and James. We're back after this son, Jaguars Radio. Welcome back, Jags HQ. It continues right now. So yeah, either one of you have chance to see Liam with the headsets on the TV broadcast. I don't know. That many have to go watching. I mean, you know, I'm so well, you'll appreciate it. He was coaching, commenting and cheering all at the same time. Three that 14 play drive that ended with the touchdown, which he called the minute the ball was standing like this touchdown. And then he called for the two point conversion. Is this all that is Carter Bradley throwing to the ad. Yeah, Carter, the Dallas and the Carter running

20:07it in. It's fantastic stuff. Nice. I mean, great television gold, which doesn't matter to you guys. That's the press. The personality that he showed, the way that he interacted with the players, it gave the fans a really good look at who he is. I thought James on the broadcast did a great job. I was coming back with that. That's going to be pretty. No, I was not as fun from the booth. I was coming back with it. We talked a lot about Brian Thomas that night in particular. I'm just I'm curious. That's a guy who when I talk to him, it felt like he felt like he belonged. Yeah. Obviously he had the connection with his dad and been around the NFL. And then you saw the production. And I think you said at your news conference last night, there was still a little bit more than he had to do. What was his reaction to making the team? That was, you know, I think he knew that night. Okay. You know, I think you talked about the confidence. You felt that off of him over the course of that game and then even in the post game, I think he had felt like he had earned the op. And I think

21:08he left no doubt. The next morning, I shared that I shared this yesterday that we had a very brief interaction. And I thought it was a reflection of, you know, just sort of the way he operates. Which is, you know, he goes about his business and he does it the right way. And he's earned what he's going to get. But I just said congrats to him as I'm walking by. And he said appreciate it. And then after that, I said earned it. And he said, I know. You know, like, but he's, it doesn't come off the wrong way, man. It's legit. And it is earned. And, you know, you, it's when you walk around with unearned standing, you know, that sort of thing. And his is all work. Yeah. Well, it's, you think it seemed that 13 and 4, it would be tough for an undripted rookie for agent to find a spot. Yeah. I mean, unless you have a real wide open position group, but that the power of rushing the passer means it's really, I got to give a ton of credit to our UDFA committee folks at defensive end in particular for back to back

22:11cycles and committee for just defensive end. So specific to the under after college free agent process, we pair both coaches and scouts to work through a list of players prioritize those guys and execute their signings post draft. And they did a phenomenal job, obviously, over the course of last year, having three undrafted college free agents at the position, which is a really rare position to find undrafted college free agents who have now found footing on our 53 man roster. And even beyond that, some of the guys that they were prioritizing outside those three have gone on to make other 53 man roster. So they're surfacing the right players to the top and they're executing at a high level. And you know, that's just a very collaborative process across both coaching staff, scouting staff, analytic staff to get to those types of results, but you know, got to be really happy and appreciative of their efforts and work there. So do we need to take that defensive end committee and reassign them to a different position group next year

23:14that's a priority maybe? I mean, they're pretty good last two years. Undoubtedly. And I think they're getting better and better each cycle that they go about it. So you know, usually, usually when you get a chance to do something a second time or even a third, you do it a little bit better than the first. And you know, you want to keep building off that continuity for sure without getting too out of whack. And a little internal competition to see if any of the other committees can sort of come through. But nonetheless, I think that's a process that I'm very familiar with. It's one that helped deploy in the past and have brought here. And you know, up to this point, got to continue to find ways to improve that. But nonetheless, I think at this stage of the game, happy with that that group's work and how it's unfolded. I think what was was fun to watch being a former player and then watching some of the work that these guys put in is watching a Brian Thomas Jr. defensive NH player rookie make it because he earned it. But then also a 12 year veteran

24:14and a running back like a mere Abdullah. Okay, whether you're an undrafted guy or long in the tooth barn fine running back that's got low mileage. I mean, that's all you want is an opportunity. And when guys earn it and because you know, certain places or in the past, sometimes things are earned but not received. Yeah. And it's good to see that what is earned is received. Look, we're trying to win football games. So it's pretty straightforward from our vantage. Yeah, it's not James. Well, but that's the thing. I mean, what James is saying is that's right. There's hard decisions. Like, life is full of hard decisions. We make them every single day. Whether it's in this building, people make them all all the time. But the key is in where we try to stay disciplined that. And James and I and Liam talk about a lot. And in this process, James and I talk about hours a day about being disciplined to execute on what we were brought here to do. And that is to win football games. And so if we can continue to make every decision, that doesn't mean we won't be wrong at times.

25:21We might make the wrong decision, which I know he can live with, I can live with. But as long as that decision is made with the goal in mind, keep the main thing, the main thing is we were brought here by Shotcon to do one thing and one thing only. And that is to win football games on Sunday afternoons Monday nights, Thursday nights, Sunday nights, playoffs, whenever we lace them up. And so we try to make every decision, whether it's who we go get, how we operate in this building, how we practice. I know Liam thinks about it on a daily basis. It's one thing. It's not to protect ourselves or to meet the smartest guys in the room or any of that stuff. And the only way you do that is create a competitive environment where the best guys get the opportunities to go on the field. All right, gentlemen, that'll do it. You're out. See you. Appreciate the invite. Thank you guys. Thanks. HQ. Enjoy the downtime. We appreciate it. Yeah. Next week we're talking about Browns. Let's go. Should be fun. We're going to play a game in the history of the franchise.

26:24I hope you say that every week. By the way, you guys were in the same shirt. I'm just asking you to find mine's bigger uniforms. Okay, just just check in. Okay, who we call each other. I'm just saying you guys are matching. Everyday we call us to Hey, what shirt do you want to wear today? It's a little ferrule movie, right? Time to wear it down the road. I hope you get a little off time this weekend. Just enough. Come back to football on Monday. All right, that'll do it. J. H. Q. Jeff and I are back after this on the Jaguars Radio Network. Welcome back. Jags H. Q. Continue right now. The UF Health is the official health care provider of the Jacksonville Jaguars and they are the name sponsor of our UF Health injury report. Brian, Section Jeff Lagerman back with you for the second half hour of Jags H. Q here on the Jaguars Radio Network. Fairly healthy team, right? The three names that I would bring up to you are Colvin Lannon, who's come off Pup. Brian Thomas Jr. with the eye, the guy who spells it right.

27:29That joke is getting old. And then Jacobi Myers. So your thoughts on those three guys and Colvin Lannon in particular on his way back from the ACL. I think Cole is a bit of a question mark just because I think there's a lot of unknowns there. You know, once he started football drills not long ago, you kind of want to see where he's at. And with the other two guys, I think they kind of know where they're at. Yeah, I don't think it's anything that's going to be threatening. But you never know. I mean, they could have had a setback that I don't know about. And that's the one thing that's hard this time of year is that there's no injury reports to speak of. They don't have to talk about it. Right. So there's a little bit of unknown. But the last we were told, they felt like that they weren't major injuries. One other guy. And he's been out for a couple of weeks is Laquan talent, Jr. They're running back that everybody loves when he's on your team. Love that. And nobody likes when he's on the other team because the intensity. I don't know if he was on the other team, Brian, I'd probably like it. I mean, just the tenacity and the way

28:29he plays the game, the way he goes after the other teams alpha dog. If you haven't seen it, folks, anything with Laquan talent, Jr. wired, right? Mike does from the Raiders game last year. He's my guy. What he did to Max Crosby. And we all know what he did against Jeffrey Simmons. That was maybe even more impressive when when when the top defensive player of the opposing team after the game is talking about a third down back of the other team that you just played and is complaining about what he did and what he said. Then Laquan, Alan, Jr. is living rent-free and people say he's so much more than just a third down running back. But it's hard to describe. Go look that one up. Overall health of this team and the time this week to get healthy, it seems like it's an optimum situation. Well, we don't know who's got a nagging. And there is benefit to look, there's some time to get healthy. There's some time to recoup and

29:30recover. But I think also what Tony talked about there is that sometimes as a player routine is everything. And when you don't have a routine and you have downtime, sometimes you can lose your edge that you just gain from working so diligently day in and day out in training camp. And so I think there's a little bit of nervousness. I think it's always associated with that. But you know, this team I think has really good leadership and I think they'll be able to handle that. But there's still week one of the NFL is always scary. Regardless of the down. Because you don't know what's coming. Because you don't know the unknown. So you know, and here you are, you're getting ready to face a team on opening weekend or opening week, kick off weekend, kick off week, whatever it's called, that has an entire new staff. They've got a quarterback coming back off of being injured for so many years. There's a lot of unknowns and there's always something that's different in week one that you just don't expect or prepare for that makes it a little bit

30:33unnerving. And also because you saw nothing from most teams during the preseason. I mean, if there was a joint practice and you were able to go and watch it or preseason, you can. You like, for example, like the Cleveland Browns aren't watching the Jaguar joint practice film from the bucks or the Carolina Panthers or, you know, unless they somehow got it from the Carolina Panthers or somebody using the phone that I told you, no, no, that's not going to happen. 100%. But so you, you've got a lot of different things that you think, but nothing that you know. And I want to tap into that AI football brain of yours when we come back. I want to get your take on the 12 and 13 personnel groups that people have heard so much about. And what you think it means for Brenton Strange this year. You good with that? I think it's going to be a huge deal this year. Well, then you won't want to miss the next segment, folks. Your listening to Jags HQ on a Thursday evening, a week, actually, six days because there's a Wednesday game next week. But six days ahead of the start of the NFL season and Jeff and I are back in the Hyundai Studios in Jacksonville after this son Jaguars radio. Welcome back, Jags HQ continues right now. Bright, sex dinner, Jeff Langeman with

31:42you from the Hyundai studios inside the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Jaguars and Browns opening day a week from Sunday, one o'clock here. It'll be hot, but it'll be fun. I can't wait. No, it's it's like opening games and games account for real. It's always exciting. And when the NFL season gets underway, there's no breaks for the most part and it's a lot of fun, which is the point I was making to these guys earlier, kind of like this, you know, little pause. It's a mental break to some degree because we know the storm that's coming and it it man it picks up and it rages and hopefully it rages into February, but we'll leave that for a moment. All right, folks have heard since draft day about 12 and 13 personnel and they know 12 is one running back two tight ends. 13 is one running back three tight ends. Yeah, second number always the number of tight ends. So first number always running backs and then the one that's unspoken is why receive these. And they all three add up to five. Make sure we get that down that a long time. Okay, so

32:47you've been very complimentary of this tight ends room. What do you think 12 and 13 looks like and what does it do? I mean, I was listening to another podcast this week and they were talking about the Jaguars inability last year to run from 12 personnel. Run from 12 personnel, which you think, well, two tight ends, you ought to be able to run. So you tell me your thoughts on how you think Liam can effectively use this room in 12 and 13 personnel. Well, I think first where you speak about why coaches like 12 and 13 so much and the reason is is that it puts the defense in a situation to where they kind of have to declare. Okay, we're going to declare and we're going to try to beef it up and stop the run because we believe your tight ends are going to be blockers or we're going to treat those tight ends like wide receivers because we believe that you're going to pass the ball with them. And so as a coordinator, if they're going to treat your tight ends like receivers, then you run them all. If they're going to treat your tight ends like blockers and your tight ends are capable receivers, then you throw it. And I think it allows an

33:50offense to always find what they believe is going to be the best play because it makes the defense match. How are they going to match your tight ends? You got to treat them as offensive linemen or wide receivers. And that makes it, I think, and it also restricts the number of defenses that coordinators can call and play from a personnel standpoint. So it allows the offense to really kind of dictate a lot of the terms of the field or the battle. So Liam Cohen was also heard to say and I think this was on Rich Eisen's show that the presence of Nate Borkerture is going to be a major win for Brenton Strange. How? What didn't happen last year? What can Borkerture do to make Brenton Strange his best? Well, first all, they're both really good blockers. And that's going to be exciting to watch. That's what I can't wait to see. And Colesio is a very willing blocker. Quint Morris is a very good blocker as well as we saw with some pancakes to the ad last year.

34:56Goal line against the Chargers last year. He laid out. Oh, who's the outside lineback? Kilomer Buffalo Bill. Yeah, a little mat. Yep. Late amount. Tremendous block. But what Brenton Strange, I think, is really good at. And we've only seen the tip of the iceberg because last year he had a good year, but he had some time that was missed because of injury. His numbers can be so much better if he's just available. But he is so good after the catch. I mean, literally so good after the catch, Brenton Strange is. So there's going to be a lot of opportunities for them to utilize Brenton Strange not only as a blocker in space, which he's really good at instead of the inline why. But then also a receiver that's going to do things once the ball is in his hands. And I've said this before and I think a lot of people at the very beginning part of it laughed at me when I was saying that he's the closest thing to George Kittle that's in the national football league. I heard that from some national people this week who are watching. And that's what I believe that he is. He's that kind of a player.

35:59You've been on him since his rookie season. You saw this guy. That was President of his fan club. Because of the way he blocked. Yeah. Borker. People offered a critique of his selection at number 56 because they saw him as a blocking tight end. And you just said he's a really good blocker. He's very persistent. Okay. When he blocks. And he's not the kind of guy you want blocking you. He never quit. Yes. And that I think that's also like Brenton Strange. He doesn't have the power of Brenton. But I think in time he'll develop even more. Right. But I think what a lot of people are sleeping on is his receiving ability. Yeah. He's got a hands now. And it's going to be possible. What are you talking about? He didn't catch the ball in college. Well, you're right. But you got to get the ball thrown to you to you before you can catch. And it's something to do with it, doesn't it? And they they didn't throw in the ball for whatever reason. And shame on some of the offensive coordinators for not being able to see his catching ability because I think he's got outstanding hands. I mean, look, he's not should Kobe Myers. Right. But he's he's got really good

37:03hands. And if you sleep on him and think he's just the blocking tight end, buckle up. Yeah. Then you're going to get smoked down the middle on a 20 yard completion on a seam route. Absolutely. We're going to take a break when we come back more with Jeff Longham and here on Jags H Q. You're listening to Jaguars Radio Network. Welcome back. Jags H Q continues right now. You know, I don't even know if we've said the name of the Jaguar starting quarterback and we're 48 and a half minutes into this show. Shame on us. It's always about the quarterback. We talked with James and Tony earlier about the backup and the trade for Quinter's and keeping Nick Mullins and Joey Aguilar. What do you think about the quarterback? There's a broad question. Yeah. Wherever you'd like with it. Well, I will say that the reality is is that if your starting quarterback gets hurt, whether it's Nick Mullins or Quinter's

38:05or you're screwed. Joey Aguilar and your practice squad. I mean, every team is going to be in a tough spot. Right. And even the teams that have really talented rosters. There's not very many teams that can survive losing their starting quarterback and continue to flourish. It just doesn't happen. I thought Trevor had a really good and a really strong preseason. I liked the chemistry that he's built with Brian Thomas Jr. He's always had for whatever reason chemistry with Jacobi Mars. And when you watch the week he showed up, he had it. Oh, then it's crazy. It was unreal. I mean, that's just how quarterback friendly Jacobi Mars is. But those two guys, I think, have a real personal relationship where they enjoy each other. And you can really tell because when the preseason games are going on and those guys aren't dressed out, Trevor and Jacobi are always standing with each other. And it's like they're the same maturity level. They speak the same language, etc., etc. But I think Trevor is matured this year. I think the Jaguars running game

39:09is going to be improved this year. I really like the one to punch with Bazel Tut and having the speed. And then Rodriguez having kind of that hammer effect against defenses. So I expect big things out of this offense this year, especially with Liam feeling like there's anything that's open to his quarterback now and year two. The question that I think a lot of people reasonably can have is you've got a new left tackle. You know, your right tackle moves to left. Your right tackle has been on the public. You've got a left guard playing right guard and a rookie playing left guard. There's some questions you don't necessarily know because you didn't see this group on the field in the preseason. Where do you stand with the offensive line right now? I think it's fair to say, hey, look, I'm not sure about that offensive line from the outside. And I think because we get more exposure to it, we have a tendency to be a little bit more comfortable with it. And the reality is is that at the beginning of camp, it was not looking like a thing of beauty, but then there was change made. Emmanuel Pregnom was inserted into the left guard. And then

40:11as her Cleveland was moved to right guard. And there was a level of accountability with that change that, hey, look, where we were at and where we were going is not where we need to be. And I think sometimes change really can spark improvement. I think in this instance, it did. And you can see that everybody got a little bit better after that. And then the continuity got a little bit better. And if Col van Lannick can get healthy now, suddenly depth improves. And then also the, I think you're better at right tackle. No offense to Walker a little, but I think Col van Lannick is a better player at right tackle. You do have some depth. If Col is not ready, Walker can play there. And he's fine. Yeah. Look, Walker is a capable tackle. And he may have to play left side if you have any injuries over there. I think that's, you know, and hopefully, hopefully you don't have to worry about that. So you'd hate to have to talk about that, but that's a possibility. But Ezra can play guard. He can play tackle. He can play left. He can play right. I think Ezra can play probably anywhere that he needed to play. He needs to play. He's

41:12many people have said, this is kind of wild. And you go back to the Iron Jaguar games that they had in the beginning season. And people could see that on YouTube on the Jaguars, the hunt episode. And many people have said this. And they believe it. Otherwise, they wouldn't be saying it that Ezra Cleve was one of the best athletes on this football team. And that's true. I mean, that's, and I also think that and Haintee talked about this before about how good this offensive line is when Ezra is that guy that's finishing plays and finishing guys off and brings a little bit of that nasty to that group. And so I'm excited about Ezra at right guard because he has shown to be much improved at right guard this year. Well, and he certainly stepped over there with an edge after. I would know I would. No, no, no, no. I mean, the reality is I just got something of demoted or moved from left guard to right guard. And then also, but this didn't happen at this point. But the reality is is that what's next, we've got white violence still battling at

42:16that right guard spot. And then all of a sudden, they trade for a guy who's had a lot of reps and starts at right guard in his recent past. I mean, the writing is kind of on the wall there, Brian. Here we go. Okay. Here we go. Ezra's not a dumb guy. No. And he sharpened up and had a great rest of his training camp. We've got to squeeze one final break in. We'll come back final thoughts from Jeff Longham and on Jags HQ here on Jaguars Radio. Welcome back. Jags HQ continues right now. Less than three minutes until we say goodnight and enjoy your weekend. Next week Jaguars on the practice field on Monday and on the Game field Sunday. It's exciting. It is right around the corner. One of the name that we have not mentioned in this hour, Travis Hunter. We're talking about the two way threat. But you seem to think maybe defense is where he's going to be spending most of his time this year. Yeah, I, you know, I'm guessing on that. I mean, I don't have anything. We all confirm it. But look, I just believe with the weapons that you have on offense with Jacobi

43:22Myers and the chemistry building with Brian Thomas Jr. and all the tight ends. And Parker Washington just, I mean, showing like he can be a number one that he's needed on the defensive side of the ball for that defense to take that next step. And so, but that's one of the greatest intrigues to this Jaguar season, I think, from that standpoint is what is that role going to look like? What is it going to end up being? But I'm sure and I'm expecting again, defense and then packages on offense. But we'll see third down red zone that kind of stuff. Yeah, I don't know. It could be, could be anything like have 20 plays where he's going to be on the field for potentially on offense. Yeah. But yeah, I don't know. We'll see Jeff, I hang on one play that makes me think he can be elite as a quarterback. It was third down in the third quarter against the Rams, right? A forgettable game to be sure. And they had the ball near midfield and he was covering Devonta Adams.

44:25And it was down the Rams side line if you remember the play. And he ran the route for Devonta. This is a rookie playing two positions against one of the best receivers in recent memory. And an MVP caliber quarterback, he ran the route and broke it up. They punted the Jays, got the ball back. The game was already over by that point. I'll go back to the Cincinnati game that they call a penalty on him, which was total BS. And that it was a legitimate play. And he was right in the hip pocket. I mean, he just got great coverage skills. And this is a great debate. You know, he's a better on offense, better on defense, but we're not going to have to decide that. I hope you have a very productive weekend. Thank you, you too. And I know that you're going up to your place and going to enjoy it with your family. Happy Labor Day to you. And you. And then next Thursday, the show is going to be a whole lot of fun. Game time, Jags and Browns coming up. Folks enjoy Labor Day weekend. For Jags HQ, our entire production crew for James and Tony and Mark Duffner, we thank you for listening. And we're back with you next week on Thursday evening.

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