http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27506...=editorial

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maybe next time a bit of a summary

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Jaguars | Pacers | Purdue | Team USA

 

 

 

Great read.  

A few good quotes here - but there are plenty more in the article:

"You," Yannick Ngakoue says, "are in Sacksonville right now."

Sacksonville?

It's a place where you find "11 savages, 11 dogs hunting every Sunday," the defensive end says.

Safety Barry Church calls Sacksonville "a melting pot," with six starters having begun their NFL lives elsewhere. Church came from Dallas. Defensive end Calais Campbell, from Arizona. Defensive tackle Malik Jackson, from Denver. Middle linebacker Paul Posluzny, from Buffalo. Safety Tashaun Gipson, from Cleveland. And cornerback A.J. Bouye, from Houston.

Sometimes mixing cultures like this doesn't work. It does in Sacksonville. The newcomers—Church, Campbell and Bouye—have only made it more vibrant.
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"Last year, I don't think we had a good mix," Malik Jackson says. "We didn't have the stability and wherewithal. We had a young DB core last year. This year, we have A.J. and Church, two guys everybody in this room should want to be like. And then with Calais, we have more examples of guys who are professionals who know how to do the right thing day in and day out."
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Church finds it "astonishing" the way hired hands have come together. Even their coach, the grizzled Doug Marrone, has taken note. "There is excellent communication between all three levels of the defense," Marrone says. "It's kind of hard to get that, especially when you are acquiring free agents like we have."

On Thursdays, the defensive backs get together to watch a game, bowl or take a few swings at Top Golf. The night before road games, they dine as a group at a restaurant in the town they are visiting. They also gather for one or two chapel services every week.

"That's what's helping us," Gipson says. "We have a brotherhood on the back end. That bond we share off the field helps on the field. These are the type of guys who will be at my wedding. I'm fortunate to have met them, not only as far as my career, but personally. We'll be friends for lifetime."
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Every Friday, the defensive players meet for about 20 minutes after practice without coaches.

"We go around the room and talk about what we need to do," Ngakoue says. "For example, Calais may speak about the intensity we need. Malik speaks. Everybody has input."

When training camp began in July, the Jaguars defense was loaded. Since then, attrition has diminished every unit in the league except this one. The Jags, incredibly, have had only two missed starts to injury—when Smith had a concussion. And now he's back, playing his position as well as anyone.

The Jaguars defense actually has more talent now than when it began its journey, as the team traded for Dareus in October. The former Pro Bowler gave a lift to a defense that already was above the crowd.

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A huge difference in this team is that they are truly playing as a team and for one another. That's what separates playoff teams from non-playoff teams.

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Good read...

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I read this the other day, great well.written article.

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Jags 4 Life

Great read

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Bleacher Report <fart noise>

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You could even see it when Jalen gave up the meaningless TD in the 2nd Houston game. He felt like he let the boys down and they were up 30. These guys want to be perfect every week.

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“Motivation alone is not enough.  If you have an idiot and you motivate him,now you have a motivated idiot.” Jim Rohn

 

You could even see it when Jalen gave up the meaningless TD in the 2nd Houston game. He felt like he let the boys down and they were up 30. These guys want to be perfect every week.

If there's one thing we know about this defense, they get up for big games. Opening weekend Texans, Steelers and Seahawks. These guys are going to be out here balling.

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This was a fun article to read. Thanks for posting!

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A huge difference in this team is that they are truly playing as a team and for one another. That's what separates playoff teams from non-playoff teams.

lol ... I think the playoff teams are the ones with the better players and coaches. I've known of some very good teams with players who have hated each other.

But it's good that these guys like each other. Can't hurt.

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The sun's not yellow, it's chicken.

A huge difference in this team is that they are truly playing as a team and for one another. That's what separates playoff teams from non-playoff teams.

lol ... I think the playoff teams are the ones with the better players and coaches. I've known of some very good teams with players who have hated each other.

But it's good that these guys like each other. Can't hurt.

Well since the talent on this roster is of the charts and we have a real NFL coaching staff we should be GTG.

But otherwise, these guys have bonded and it's boded very well for this team.

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I like these 2 parts...

I really hope this part pays off

And after giving up 44 points against the 49ers in the penultimate game of the season, Jaguars defenders say they are more focused than ever. "That game truly opened our eyes," Jackson says. "It showed us we weren't as prepared as we thought. So I think it was a blessing in disguise."


This part made me laugh

Last year with [Jonathan] Cyprien here, I was predominantly in the middle of the field," Gipson says. "I had to be. It was frustrating to say the least.

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The Khan Years

Patience, Persistence, and Piss Poor General Managers.

I like these 2 parts...

I really hope this part pays off

And after giving up 44 points against the 49ers in the penultimate game of the season, Jaguars defenders say they are more focused than ever. "That game truly opened our eyes," Jackson says. "It showed us we weren't as prepared as we thought. So I think it was a blessing in disguise."


This part made me laugh

Last year with [Jonathan] Cyprien here, I was predominantly in the middle of the field," Gipson says. "I had to be. It was frustrating to say the least.

So Gip and Lewis didn't like Cyp...

I wonder if anyone did outside of Gus

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