JACKSONVILLE– Jawaan Taylor knew instantly that it was going to be totally different.
He additionally knew that this time change was going to be good. The Jaguars proper deal with had this sense – this good feeling – as quickly as he met Doug Pederson.
“Since taking the job, it has been nice,” Taylor mentioned.
Taylor, a four-year-old starter having presumably his finest season within the NFL, joined lead author John Oehser for this week’s O-Zone Week 5 of 2022 podcast. Among the many matters: Play subsequent to All-Professional proper guard Bandon Scherffrecovering his place on the 2022 coaching camp and dedicating the 2022 season to his late father, Robert – who died on January 18.
“My father and I have been extraordinarily shut” he mentioned. “He is a man I spoke to on daily basis. He despatched me motivational tapes earlier than each recreation and that is actually the explanation I play the sport. It has been onerous on the entire household He was the spine and the man who saved everybody collectively.
“It was a serious loss for the entire household. It is simply motivation to maintain going as a result of that is what he would have wished me to do.”
Taylor, a Jaguars second-round choice within the 2019 NFL Draft, hasn’t missed a single snap in his first three NFL seasons – the one Jaguars participant to play each snap the previous three seasons . He competed with second-year veteran Walker Little for the beginning proper deal with place all through coaching camp and preseason, being named the starter within the week earlier than the common season opener.
“It was motivational, however I simply embraced it,” Taylor mentioned. “It is a part of the enterprise. You need to compete for the job. Even should you’re not advised you are competing, on the finish of the day you are still competing. They’re nonetheless watching. They’re nonetheless watching. .
“I really feel prefer it gave me an additional increase in coaching camp. I did not go too excessive or too low. I did not get mad about it. I simply had the I felt just like the man to do the job. I simply needed to go show it.”
Taylor additionally mentioned the Jaguars’ tradition below Pederson — a tradition that Taylor says is a key motive for a 2-2 begin that places the Jaguars tied for the lead within the AFC South.
“It’s extremely totally different,” he mentioned. “Everybody purchased in. Everybody settled in nicely. It was superb. It is also a fantastic teaching workers – a lot of guys with a lot of wins below their belt who’ve coached plenty of nice gamers. It helps so much.
“He nonetheless brings that power on daily basis. We see the hearth in his eyes. We see the fervour and imaginative and prescient he has. It has been a superb change and it is labored for us.”
Hearken to all the O-Zone podcast with Taylor beneath.