The Jacksonville Jaguars have the best one-two defensive tackle duo in the National Football League in John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. Last weekend, the Jags allowed 152 yards on the ground during a 36-30 overtime loss the Redskins and they might be without the services of Stroud on Sunday.
"We have him listed as doubtful right now; he's not going to play today," Del Rio said of Stroud, a 6'6", 308-pound Georgia product. "He's been playing through an ankle, and he's a Pro Bowl player who's banged up and he's doing the best he can to fight through it. Last week he also sustained an injury in his groin, so now he has two injuries he's fighting through. We just don't know if he's going to be able to be effective enough to help us on Sunday."
Read Below for the Full Del Rio Press Conference Transcript
Jacksonville Head Coach Jack Del Rio, 10.4
On his impressions of the Jets against the Colts last week…
First of all, offensively, the QB is playing very well for them. Chad Pennington, in this league, has been successful, he's back healthy and he's always been a very quick decision maker. He's very accurate and we think he's playing very well. They are converting third downs right at the top of the league, that was a problem for us last week. Additionally we struggled with an explosive playmaker last week and we see Laveranues Coles as being that type of guy. He already had 30 receptions. We feel like they present a lot of challenges there. Special teams wise, Justin Miller had the KOR and we've had some problem with our special teams covering, that's another challenge for us. (Head Coach) Eric Mangini was the (defensive) coordinator in New England last year when they shut us down and limited us to three points. Obviously, his system, his experience against our team was a good one. We look at this team as a good team that has probably been underrated, but not by us. It's in our conference and it's a big game, so we're gearing up for it.
On the team's mood after the two losses…
We want to get back up, shake ourselves off, and get back to work. Much like the Jets, we've lost a couple of games, close games, against teams that are good football teams. But we're not in it for morale victories. We need to play better, make more plays and win. Both of us are sitting here 2-2 and really needing this third win.
On the Jets' trouble against the run…
I've seen a couple of guys in there that I have a lot of respect for. Obviously, the scheme is one that has been very productive over the years, so we're gearing up for the very best. I think that stats can be misleading. They have some players that are pretty darn good, so we're preparing for their very best.
On DT Marcus Stroud…
We have him listed as doubtful right now, he's not going to play today. He's been playing through an ankle, and he's a Pro Bowl player who's banged up and he's doing the best he can to fight through it. Last week he also sustained an injury in his groin, so now he has two injuries he's fighting through. We just don't know if he's going to be able to be effective enough to help us on Sunday. He's a proud guy and I know he'll fight to try and get there. We'll just make a decision on what's best, if he can help us win on Sunday then we're going to use him. The biggest thing, and we all understand, is each and every game is huge and important and we want to do all we can to bring the best 45 active players into the game against the Jets.
On the big win vs. Pittsburgh propelling you this season…
We've played four very good teams, we've won two and lost two. Obviously, that was a big win for the organization. but we got right back to work; got ready for Indy. Things didn't go the way we wanted there because we didn't win the game. Then we got ready and played the Redskins. I think you take them one at a time, you put your best plan together, and you prepare hard and go out and play hard. That's what our guys have been doing. That's what we're going to continue to do. It's a process, you have to work at it every day and be committed. What we're looking for right now is more consistency. We've shown flashes in all three phases of being pretty good and then we've had moments in all three phase where we haven't been very good, so we're looking to be more consistent.
On DE Paul Spicer feeling bad about injuring Pennington in last season's game…
Paul Spice has been knocked out of a season as well. Our guys want to play hard, but they all understand that they don't want to see anybody get hurt. It was an unfortunate incident there. We've have guys get hurt, we have guys on the IR list right now. We don't want anybody to get hurt and I'm sure that's how he feels.
On Spicer's injury that caused him to miss time…
He got (injured) when he got chop blocked, so he's had his season ended by an injury. I know that these guys work so hard to be able to play a 16 game schedule and hope that you earn more in the postseason. Anytime your season gets cut short that hurts.
On Pennington's comeback from injury…
I'm sure a lot of people questioned if he'd be able to make it back. He's a competitive guy, and competitive guys are going to find a way to do everything within their power to rehab and work at it and give themselves an opportunity to come back and play the game they love. That's what you're seeing. That's what you saw with Paul (Spicer), with us and that's what you're seeing with Chad there in New York. It's a credit to those guys for working hard and spending those countless hours, when nobody is watching, working on getting back.
On Marshall QBs being tough…
I don't know. They're doing something up there in Marshall. They put a couple, very intelligent, team oriented, good tough QBs in the NFL and we're happy to have ours.
On the Jets tendency to run gadget plays…
Obviously, that's part of the game plan, is getting an understanding of the things they like to do, with the players they have. Certainly they've been able to utilize (Leon Washington and Brad Smith) and get them the ball and be explosive with them.
On opening the season with a tough schedule two years in a row…
It's always a challenge. You go out there, you get 16 on your slate and you go out and play them and do the best you can. We have a lot of respect for everybody in the league. I know that there are a lot of different teams with talented players and coaches that are working their tails off trying to beat you. We're not really concerned with how the schedule is put together, we just know that we're four games into it and we have the Jets up this week. I do believe that if you play a bunch of quality teams, like the Jets are, like we've played for four weeks, teams that are playoff hopefuls or are going to be playoff teams, when you play those teams, you do get somewhat battle hardened, for a postseason run. First you have to win enough of those games to earn your way into the postseason.
