Jacksonville Jaguars Media Conference

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Dawuane Smoot

Weekday Press Conference


Q. Dawuane, Coach Meyer's talked several times about the pass rush has gotten better because the inside guys, Malcom and Jihad and everything, are getting more of a push. Then secondary beneficiary, you get the pass rush because there's some pretty weak passes going out there. Then maybe they cover better and it gives you more time. Are all the units starting to be more complementary now at this point? Is everybody starting to be kind of symbiotic with each other?

DAWUANE SMOOT: I would say on every level everyone's kind of doing their job. I would say the back end, they're kind of finding their way. They're finding exactly the coverages that work best for the people that's on the field. It's been working a lot. Rushing coverage has been working very well.

Interior push helps me and Josh as well. We're going to make them step up all day. So if we have that interior push, there's going to be a lot of sacks out there.

Q. Carson Wentz has been in the league for five, six years now. When you guys are looking at the tape, where would you evaluate how they're using him in this Colts offense?

DAWUANE SMOOT: They're getting the ball out more than anything. They're doing quick releases. They're just getting the ball out more than anything. They're complementing it with their run game. They have a great run game.

So if we're able to shut down the run game and put him in a pass situation where he has to throw pass five yards, I think we'll be good.

Q. Do you feel you have to jump on them early? You guys haven't had a lot of success playing in their building. Do you feel you have to -- obviously come out the way you did against the Bills. What do you have to do to, I don't know, crowd, take them out, jump on them early, what?

DAWUANE SMOOT: I would just say focus on our game plan just stopping the run. They're No. 1 and No. 2 in rushing right now? That's their offense more than anything. If we shut down the run, we're going to have a good day for sure.

Q. How is the scheme taking best advantage of your skills?

DAWUANE SMOOT: I think it takes great advantage of it. I'm able to move inside. I'm able to move outside. I'm able to stand up, able to blitz, drop, do whatever I need to do. I feel like it really complements how versatile I am.

Q. Is it fun being asked to do more than just one or two things? Do you find the more they ask of you, that it's fun to play the run, play the pass, drop, all that kind of stuff?

DAWUANE SMOOT: Yes, I definitely feel like it's a lot more fun than it was last year. Last year I was basically like a big end. So I was basically in the four and two-gapping the whole time. Me getting that space to be able to work my speed and work my moves, it's a lot more fun for sure.

Q. Do you like having a hand in the dirt? Do you prefer to be standing up edge rushing? Do you have a preference? You're kind of doing a little bit of everything.

DAWUANE SMOOT: I definitely like to put my hand in the dirt when it comes to pass rushing, but to mix it up a little bit, get a different set, it's good to come out of a two point as well too.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
114626-1-1182 2021-11-10 19:30:00 GMT

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