Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson on Texans Quarterback C.J. Stroud: "Playing the quarterback position is hard, right? Playing any position is hard. He's an exceptional quarterback. A good young quarterback in this league that the league needs. He's an exciting player. I don't know everything that goes on down there. I'm sure there's been injury, guys have missed. He's missed his playmakers from time to time. And then there's the film. There's the film out there. There are ways to—what he's put on film, the explosive plays, things of that nature, defenses have time to scheme that, to play defense against it. So, it's the natural progression. He's going to continue to make his plays and lead that football team and continue to be a great player. He's just going to continue to get better each and every game, each and every season. I think one thing, and I don't know C.J. personally other than just talking to him when we play, but he knows that he's a piece of that offense, right? He's a piece of that team and he's going to continue to improve and get better to help his team win just like Trevor is here or [DE] Josh [Hines-]Allen is here. They're one piece to the big picture, to the whole pie."
Jaguars Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen on Stroud: "I'm really impressed with this player. He's a very good quarterback and he's a competitor. I think that when you watch the tape and you can feel his energy with the offense and the way he can extend and get off, break tackles and then get out of the pocket. It's extremely impressive and throw the ball down the field. The guy makes every throw. He's got some really good targets. I can't say enough good things about how he sees the field and where he throws in the coverage. I mean, the arm talent, no question about it. This guy, he's going to be a premier quarterback in our league for a long time. There's no doubt about it. He's going to be one of the top guys, and he's there right now. They won a lot of football games with the guy and he's been there for a year and a half."
Pederson on Texans Running Back Joe Mixon: "You've got to be able to get him on the ground. You've got to be able to tackle. I think he's strong, powerful and explosive that way. If you don't get him on the ground, he can punish you and make you pay. So, whether you're playing a six-man box or seven-man box or potentially eight, you've got to be in the right spot and you've got to tackle. That's something that we haven't done a great job of, and so you just look at these next couple of weeks and some of the running backs that we're going to face. I mean, it starts this weekend with Joe and making sure that we can get him on the ground."
Nielsen on Mixon: "The way Mixon's running the ball too, like it's that combination—we didn't play him last time. Now he's back and so that'll be another good test. Our guys will be up to it. He's a good back. We can't just focus on the past game and say, 'Hey, they're not running the ball because.' I tell you what now, a couple of runs, he breaks and he's gone. It'll be a good test, real good test. We'll be ready for it."
Pederson on Texasn Wide Receiver Nico Collins: "You put the film on and you see Nico running all over the place. It doesn't matter who's over there covering him. He's an outstanding player and he made some plays late in our game the first time. That's probably why they won that football game."
Jaguars Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor on the Texans Defense now vs. when they played in Week 4: "I mean they have different players available and different players down throughout the course of it. Obviously, getting Danico [Texans DE Danico Autry] available, losing Pitre [Texans S Jalen Pitre] in there, [Texans S] Jimmie Ward, I don't believe played against us the first time we played them as well. But you watch just they've kind of made some adjustments in the back end with who's playing there. They've added [LB] Devin White. They're really good. They're really fast. It's not an overly complicated scheme. You pretty much have an idea who's going to be where. Now, obviously they have their mixers in there. They've played us coverage-wise a little differently than they play some other people at times. So, that's kind of the cat-and-mouse throughout the course of the game of, all right, we came in thinking this, we're getting a little more this we adjust, how quickly do they adjust out. So they're really well coached, they play really really hard. It really starts with the defense ends and they do a great job getting up the field kind of ruining everything you're trying to get outside the tackles and things like that. Then the interior just firing off the ball, jumping up, getting vertical. Causing issues in the back field. I think that everything kind of starts with their defensive line and really the two ends to start."
Jaguars Quarterback Trevor Lawrence on the Texans Defense: "They just fly around. They're well-coached. It's not the most complicated scheme, but it helps them play fast and be on the same page and really anticipate and react and kind of play ahead of some offense as you see on tape. They just play really fast. I think that helps them. Then obviously, Pitre [Texans S Jalen Pitre] is a big player for them. I heard he's out this week, but he's a guy that does a lot for them. He's a huge part of that defense and there's all the things you got to look at how they're going to adjust. Obviously, there's going to be some changes. But yeah, it's a good defense. They're really good up front. Good on the back end. Stingley [Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.], he's been playing great the last couple of years. Every time we play against him, seems like he's making plays. Then the rookie Lassiter [Texans CB Kamari Lassiter] on the other side has been doing a good job, seems like he's getting better every week. So, all the way around, it's a good defense, challenging. It's going to be a challenge for us. They're physical. They play with a certain attitude and we're going to have to bring it on Sunday."
Pederson on Texans Defensive Ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson, Jr.: "I mean, Danielle and Will, these are two really good defensive ends. The way they coach their scheme, this wide-nine scheme, it's a jet rush front. I mean, these guys are rolling off the ball. Just really good tandem together and especially in that scheme. Again, it's a game where you've got to account for them, right? If you can put four hands, you put four hands. You cover them up with tackles. Tight ends have a hard time and struggle to block them. And then pass protection, you've got to be in the right spot, or they'll beat you over the edge and around the corner. So, two really good players that are playing well. As a team, they had eight sacks last week and did a nice job getting after the quarterback. So, work is cut out for our O-line and tight ends and backs this week."
Lawrence on Anderson and Hunter: "Obviously, the two guys on the edge, those guys have been big players for them. Obviously, we've played against Will a few times, just him being there the last couple of years. And then Danielle on the other side, he's having a great year. He's been a great player for a long time. So those guys, they make everything go. Not to take anything away from the other guys, they've got a good defense."
Pederson on Texans Defensive End Denico Autry: "I think it's just the versatility that he brings, right? Foley's [Texans DT Folorunso Fatukasi] missed the last couple of weeks, so if he doesn't play, I mean, that's the only thing about Denico, he can go inside and outside. So, he gives them that versatility with that. And again, he's another veteran player, big, powerful. He's long. Another good tandem and whether he and [Texans DE] Derek Barnett are in the game together, it's almost like two hammers on the edges and what they do. They can still rush the passer. So, with Denico, I think just having the versatility for them being able to move inside and outside."
