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MASSIVE SEASON INCOMING FOR BRIAN THOMAS JR.?! · Duval Daily: A Jacksonville Jaguars Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jacksonville jackwars fans welcome in to do wall daily presented by jing Jack dot com i'm Jordan Lua thanks so much for being here Tuesday June 2nd right now we're talking about B. T. J. Brian Thomas Jr. going to talk about What Liam Cohen and he both had to say yesterday about kind of having a bounce back or whatever you want to call it in 2026 for B. T. J. I'm also going to talk about just like
• 0:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: narratives around the NFL when it comes to the jag wars when it comes to Brian Thomas Junior how how one narrative about the jag wars
• 0:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just doesn't make sense and BTJ is a part of that, but I'm excited to get into it.
• 0:40
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• 0:55
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• 0:57
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• 1:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just kind of going to go, you know, off the cuff here with this one, yesterday BTJ and Liam Cohen, both spoke with the media and, and I thought,
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, Liam Cohen said was unsurprisingly insightful, right?
• 1:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Pretty much every time he gets up on the mic.
• 1:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's pretty insightful.
• 1:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: And often, like, when asked about players, offers like fair criticisms.
• 1:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think one thing they did last year with BTJ was, I think when there was struggles early on, which the struggles really were early on.
• 1:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: After he came back from injury,
• 1:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think he was struggling much at all, like he's making plays on the sideline.
• 1:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was blocking, he was catching the football, he was getting open.
• 1:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: He just wasn't the featured target anymore because you had Jacobi Myers.
• 1:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: You had Parker Washington step up, you had Britain strange back all these things, right?
• 2:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: So,
• 2:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was playing better.
• 2:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: He just wasn't like a featured targeting or a D featured target in those games, but he was playing better football.
• 2:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Liam Cohen talked about ball security, the small details.
• 2:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: And to me, I feel like phrasing it as ball security with BTJ,
• 2:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think is smart.
• 2:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Behind closed doors, I think they probably have much more direct conversation.
• 2:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Limkoan is usually direct, but with some players, you don't want to, you can't talk to every player the same way.
• 2:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can't talk about every player the same way.
• 2:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: You have to understand personalities.
• 2:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think they did a good job of supporting Brian Thomas Jr. last year, and not like alienating him.
• 3:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: despite all the trade talks, which are still still happening, crazy to see.
• 3:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I think Liam Cohen did a good job there, and then yesterday, phrasing it as ball security, instead of like questioning toughness or effort, you just phrased it as ball security, which ultimately, yeah, ball security was a problem early on in the season for Brian Thomas Jr., ball security in terms of like catching the football.
• 3:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And yeah, I think that that's something he needs to improve on because even in his rookie year where he was like setting the world on fire, there were a bunch of plays where there were double catches where if half of those break a different way, you're probably talking about a much different season where there's drops, there's not as much yards, there's not a big touchdown, et cetera.
• 3:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, that's something he needs to work on.
• 3:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: So again, completely unsurprising that Liam Cohen had some insightful things to say.
• 3:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he also came to him, his defense and his team's defense, like talk about a bounce back.
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's like, I don't know about you, but we won 13 games last year, right?
• 4:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: I just love how fiery he is, but Brian Thomas Jr.
• 4:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: I thought his media scrum yesterday was the most mature and impressive media availability that he has had.
• 4:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: in the NFL by a wide margin.
• 4:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: He felt more comfortable, insightful, thoughtful, mature.
• 4:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: He talked about changing his mindset in a big way.
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that that's huge.
• 4:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: I didn't know necessarily what his mindset was, but based on the way he communicated and all that it seemed like maybe there was another level of maturity to reach, another level of mindfulness to reach of standards.
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: personally, you know, accountable standards, right?
• 5:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he's, he sounds like he's focused on that.
• 5:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he's focused on the small details.
• 5:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Stuff that he didn't do last year that would have helped him and helped his team.
• 5:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's focused on that.
• 5:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Focused on making sure he secures catches.
• 5:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he's not focused as much on a bounce back year as he is on
• 5:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: making sure he's focusing on all the little details to help his team win games for him to perform at his best.
• 5:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: And hearing him talk like that, which again, I have encouraged you to go.
• 5:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: go listen to that because I was I just came away for the first time I came away from a Brian Thomas Jr. press and media availability really impressed and really like okay this seems like there's something there there has been a step taken from a mental standpoint and that's great that is fantastic for Brian Thomas Jr. that's the best thing that can happen
• 6:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you have those talents and traits that he has combined with now another level of maturity, attention to detail, I renewed mindset and focus on just improving yourself every single day.
• 6:24
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• 6:40
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• 6:49
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• 6:53
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• 6:59
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• 7:04
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• 7:11
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• 7:15
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• 7:24
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• 7:34
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• 7:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: BTJ's mindset where he needs to improve, the attention to detail, the small details, just the focus level and kind of maturity level improving.
• 8:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think you, again, saw the improved play on the field towards the end of last year.
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Then you get to OTA's and you've heard Liam Cohen talk about how,
• 8:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: the connection with Trevor Lawrence is looking better.
• 8:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're looking sharper.
• 8:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're focusing on in practice before practice after practice.
• 8:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Making sure they're locked in, making sure that BTJ knows what Trevor Lawrence is expecting when he gets to his certain drop in his progression and Trevor Lawrence making sure that
• 8:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: He knows what BTJ is going to be trying to do in those moments as well.
• 8:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: I just think that that's huge for the next step and growth of the Jaguar's passing game and BTJ and Trevor Lawrence's chemistry just those two together, but the whole passing game as well.
• 8:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: And there's this narrative nationally, A that the Jaguar should trade BTJ, which I've
• 9:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: And B, that the Jack Wars didn't do anything to improve this off season.
• 9:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: And like, it's fair to sit here and on paper be like, okay, for agency.
• 9:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: They lose Travis ETF and Lloyd, they only bring in Chris Rodriguez.
• 9:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: They have a draft where it's like, where's the stars in this draft?
• 9:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Um, I just think,
• 9:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's wild that there's so many teams, fan bases, analysts around the league, clamoring for Brian Thomas Jr to be traded elsewhere and wanting him elsewhere and not also acknowledging that if you want Brian Thomas Jr that much.
• 9:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: Do you not think he can have improvement?
• 9:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that that improvement can be a massive upgrade for the Jaguar's passing attack.
• 10:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: Those two things don't add up in my opinion.
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: Fans wanted to trade a first or second round pick for Brian Thomas Jr., teams and analysts around the league suggesting first or second round pick for Brian Thomas Jr., which I don't really think first round picks have been on the table but I do think they too pick probably.
• 10:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: but then he's not going to be someone that can improve for the Jaguars in year two of a system.
• 10:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And there's another factor we haven't really brought up and he talked about it.
• 10:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was hurting him to get out and run last year.
• 10:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was in pain.
• 10:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was dealing with injuries a lot of the year.
• 10:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: He missed time due to injuries.
• 10:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: He played through injuries.
• 10:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: So just being healthy,
• 10:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: I just don't think the national narrative around the jag wars, not doing anything to improve off this offseason, while everyone also wanting Brian Thomas Jr. on their team makes a lick a sense.
• 11:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: When it comes to improving, I mean, I think they improved their run game.
• 11:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Brian Picucci, Chris Rodriguez.
• 11:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yes, you can talk about Travis ETN and all his big numbers, but Chris Rodriguez from an efficiency standpoint, metric standpoint, tackle breaking, vision and pace is just a more well-rounded runner of the football.
• 11:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: ETN is a more well-rounded back because he's a really good receiver and a really good pass protector last year.
• 11:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Rodriguez is a more capable in between the tackles runner.
• 11:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Toten is improved, I think Lee Quay Allen is improved, right?
• 11:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I think their run game is going to be improved.
• 11:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: People talk about them not improving their pass rush.
• 11:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, by having Travis Hunter playing corner and Monterey ground playing corner, I think your pass rush is improved in a big way.
• 12:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: And having a healthy trip on Walker, a healthy aerogram step, right?
• 12:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's all these different things that so many people just kind of don't mention.
• 12:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I think the Jaguar is going to be improved in some areas.
• 12:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think they're still going to be really strong in their passing game and again, Brian Thomas Jr. can help that further.
• 12:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think they're going to be really improved in their coverage off-ball corner coverage.
• 12:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think they're going to be a better football team.
• 12:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, I still think I have them at 12 wins right now, just because the schedule gets a little bit tighter.
• 12:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: They're playing 11 games away from Jacksonville.
• 12:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's some hurdles and things they got overcome.
• 12:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think the National Narrative of the Jaguars didn't improve this off season or won't be a better team, more prepared potentially to make a run in the playoffs.
• 12:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's patently false and I think a big part of that is the potential for Brian Thomas Jr. playing better football.