Jaguars’ Doug Pederson has final comments for Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson spoke to the media one last time before kickoff against the Green Bay Packers and, as always, we were there for it all.

To watch Pederson’s press conference, see above

Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen also spoke this week; Below is a transcript.

Q: Where have you seen the most leadership development from DE Travon Walker?

Nielsen: “He’s done a really good job. You can see that he is with his teammates and the coach and he is training them. He encourages them and you see all the things you want to see in a guy who’s in that position, and you do the things he’s doing, and you’re very encouraged about where he’s going, he continues. His game has been really good. He’s doing a lot of really good things and then he adds that piece to it. He’s really gotten it and we’re excited about it.”

Q: About preparing Walker to face more double teams?

Nielsen: “He just expands his plan. If there’s a tight end next to you, you have to rush him a little different or if there’s a back next to you, just keep an eye out for a chip or push from a tight end or a guard kicking you. All good runners, every week, that’s what they’re up against. He’s just another guy you have to keep finding a way to win and work on your plan. “It doesn’t matter who is around you.”

Q: How has Walker handled being double-teamed?

Nielsen: “He has done a good job. Since the Indianapolis game, you’ve seen his plan when you watch it back-to-back. One race to the next. He has a plan. He is executing his plan. It doesn’t matter if you have a nudge or a chip on your side. He’s going to hustle like this and you’ve seen him really grow and take the next step in terms of football IQ, in terms of the hustling part. You’ve seen his game even go up another level because he has power, finesse, his hands. It’s on the limit. You can go in the middle. “He can do anything and you’re seeing his progression grow and I think his confidence is the biggest thing that’s grown throughout the season.”

Q: About bringing S Andrew Wingard’s energy back to the defense?

Nielsen: “It’s about getting a player back who you hope will contribute. We expected it at the beginning of camp and things happen and the other guys have done a good job. Just getting our entire defense back together has been good. You get Foye (LB Foye Oluokun) back. We are excited. “We’re excited to have those guys back as a part of what we’re doing.”

Q: Does CB Tyson Campbell’s impact have a ripple effect in the secondary?

Nielsen: “Sure. He is a very good soccer player who can do everything. Man coverage, zone coverage, speed. You saw the last game: the drive route, he came out of nowhere. That was a great play by him. Just add things that you can, ‘Hey, you’ve got that guy, you want to play in the cloud or look like a man, play in the zone,’ that kind of stuff and it really adds to the package.”

Q: Does Campbell add a level of confidence to the secondary?

Nielsen: “Sure. I think all these guys need to be brought back. You’re just watching the guys play and look, we’ve already played a few games together. There’s also that part of guys who know where everyone else is going to be. The continuity of the defensive position, you see that communication improves and things like that. “We still want it to get better and build on it one more day today.”

Q: How have you seen Packers quarterback Jordan Love grow?

Nielsen: “He’s a really good soccer player. He’s running the position, the offense. He is in charge of everything. He knows where to go with football. Matt (Packers head coach Matt LaFleur) did a great job with the offense, the scheme and putting them in position where he can make all the throws. That’s what happened last year and this year. The guy can make all the shots. The offense is just being built, obviously, from the beginning of his career until now. You’re seeing the progression of that. Then with your legs you can get out of trouble. You saw him in the Philadelphia game, he escapes the pocket and throws the deep ball. The ability to move and throw on the run makes him an elite player at the position. “It will certainly be a good challenge.”

Q: On the impact of playing S Darnell Savage at safety?

Nielsen: “He’s played there before. It wasn’t new to him. That was always, when we had him here first, nickel, security and we had him in that double role. I just wanted to try it out last week and thought there was good communication back there. He did some really good things in terms of costumes and things like that. He flew around and made some plays. It was really good to see. We will continue to grow with that.”

Q: About the safety position when S Andrew Wingard returns?

Nielsen: “I don’t know yet. We’ll go through that. We will take care of this game. Then when Dewey comes, maybe we’ll have a different package.”

Q: About what you’ve seen from DE Joe Gaziano?

Nielsen: “He’s a tough guy, a tough player, very good run defender, good edge setter. He is excellent in the running game. Then as a runner, as a power, he rushes more with power and then he can get to the edge and move. Our plan is to get him some more snaps this week and see how it goes. But Gaz, the story with that player, it’s solid, you know exactly where he’s going to be. “You know how hard he’s going to play and that’s what you like about him.”

Q: Are you surprised by the success LB Ventrell Miller has had?

Nielsen: “No, because you saw it in the OTAs, you saw it in camp. He flew. He has done a very good job with the reps he has had. He is in command of his position and the things he does out there. It is often in the right place. He’s doing really good things. What really excites you is how physical he is playing. It is a physical type, direct contact. He doesn’t stop his feet. He will accelerate. There were a couple of hits in the last game that were very impressive.”

Q: About the possibility of seeing Miller and LB Foye Oluokun on the field together?

Nielsen: “Sure. But that’s what we’ve been doing since OTAs. We’ve had that rotation in that position group and you’ve seen it work in the game, so when Foye comes back, we’ll have a rotation. Those guys will continue playing. Ventrell has definitely earned the plays. So he’ll play in that rotation and see how it all works out.”

Q: About what you had seen from coach Jordan Jefferson the second time you played him versus the first time?

Nielsen: “Yeah, he did some really good things in the pass rush game. Coming off of blocks: Maybe it didn’t show up on the stat sheet at the end, but you saw him come off of blocks a little better in this game. He played with a little bit better pad level and just his confidence. That’s the most important thing from game to game: confidence grows: “I belong.” I should be playing here.’ So he did a good job.”

Q: Do you think coach Maason Smith has confidence issues?

Nielsen: “I don’t see that. Maason is a very confident guy. He is an intelligent player. It has nothing to do with that. He had a sack against Chicago. We will stay with him and I am sure he will continue to improve.”

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