Today I had the pleasure of chatting with the Jaguars' starting free safety Jarrod Wilson. Entering his fourth year in the league, Wilson's now getting his shot to run with the ones.
Here's the Q&A! Jordan: What's been the most challenging aspect of moving from a primary back up at safety to the full-time starter? Jarrod: I haven't had too many issues. It's really just getting a lot of reps, a lot of reps with the ones. I've gotten reps with those guys before like Myles (Jack), Calais (Campbell), and some of our older vets, Abe (Abry Jones), Marcell (Dareus). We are mainly getting in rhythm, getting in rhythm with my DBs. Especially, me and Ronnie (Harrison) being on the same page, and communicating with our corners as well. It hasn't been like too much of a change, but it's different communicating and everything like that. Jordan: Talking about communication, how important is communication, specifically with you and Ronnie Harrison? Jarrod: It's key. We've got to talk every play, pre-snap and during the play. Being on the same page allows us to execute best as a tandem and as a secondary and it carries over to the rest of the unit. So being on the same page helps us a lot. Jordan: Who's the most difficult Jaguars' offensive skill position player to match up with? Jarrod: There are a couple of difficult skill players to work against on our Jags team. I can't pinpoint anybody. You got Leonard; you got Chris Conley; you got Dede; you got Benny Cunningham; I think he's really good coming out of the backfield. You got good tight ends like (James) O'Shaughnessy and (Geoff) Swaim, so I think they're pretty good. I mean Foles is a good QB as well, so it's hard matching up with a really good QB who's sharp like that. Jordan: It's been more of a challenge this year with some of the pieces the front office brought in on offense? Jarrod: It's just precise. It was the same as far as last year; the offense ran smooth, but I think it's just a lot more on time and stuff like that. It's good to against stuff like that. Jordan: Yeah, Foles is a sharp guy. What are your expectations for the defense as a whole in 2019? I tell you we can expect to be a hard-nosed, physical defense, a smart defense. I've been able to be in this system for four years, and it's a good system, so just a hard-nosed defense that likes to stop the run. Our goal is obviously to probably be the best in the league. But we're not even going to think that far. We're just going to take it week to week. Get through the preseason and then come week one against Kansas City, it'll start then. Each week is a different challenge, so we're not going to think too long term and just take it week by week. Jordan: Which QB are you most excited to face in 2019? Jarrod: All of them. They're all NFL QBs. S***, Lamar (Jackson) this week; after that, I get to go against (Carson) Wentz; after that, I get to go against (Ryan) Fitzpatrick and (Josh)Rosen; last (preseason) game we got Matt Ryan and then top it off with (Patrick) Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, (Marcus) Mariota. All those guys. I think being a starting QB in the NFL is hard, so to earn that job and earn that right, I don't think there's any bad QBs in the league, so I'm excited to face every single one. Jordan: Final question. You ready to start hitting players from a different team this week? Jarrod: Yeah. It'll feel good to get out there and get different looks against different people. Baltimore is a really good team, so it'll be exciting just to see different guys and line up against someone different besides out teammates will be exciting and fun. Jordan: I appreciate you joining me Jarrod! Jarrod: Thank you! |
