The Jacksonville Jaguars moved on from Doug Pederson after the 2024 season because they didn't think he could turn things around. To replace him, they hired Liam Coen as their head coach.
While it's too early to tell how things will play out with Coen at the helm, the Jags are seemingly headed in the right direction. Moreover, players are seemingly buying in. One in particular, Travon Walker, had nothing but praise for his new head coach.
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Travon Walkers believes Liam is the right guy for the Jaguars
Travon Walker had a sitdown with Kay Adams and said that Coen is the right coach for Jacksonville, noting that he's as involved with the defense and special teams as he is with the offense.
"Liam? Great guy... he's one of those coaches that, as far as he's an offensive-minded coach, but you still see him coming into the defensive meetings," Walker told Adams. "That's something that I'm used to, coming from Georgia. Obviously, I had Kirby, but Liam, he does a great job of interacting with the defense, knowing what the things that we're supposed to be doing, or what we are doing on defense side of the ball, which helps kind of make communication a lot easier amongst players to coach, which a lot of times you get to the NFL, a lot of guys don't like being upstairs talking to the coaches."
Walker continued. "But Liam, he's one of those guys. He's always open to talk to you. Just don't even have to be about football. He's one of those guys you can go to talk to about anything. But when it comes to the football aspect, I feel like he's real dialed in on both sides, even special teams as well. He puts a lot into it, just like we do. So, yeah, great guy overall, I'm really excited to meet your coach."
After posting the clip, Adams said that Walker is in a good place, noting that he's leaner and likes his new head coach, when a Twitter user noted that it's the first time he's seen the first overall pick in the 2022 draft smile.
Liam Coen is putting Travon Walker and the Jaguars in a position to succeed
One of the first things the Jacksonville Jaguars did after Liam Coen and James Gladstone took over was pick up Travon Walker's fifth-year option. The decision was a no-brainer, as the new regime likes the former Georgia Bulldog a lot and sees him as a franchise-building block.
Coen in particular is hyped up about Walker, pointing out that the fourth-year pass rusher is very inquisitive and mature for his age. But leaving aside the coach's approach and his players-friendly attitude, the Thomaston, Georgia native is in a position to break out in 2025.
After posting 10 sacks each of the past two seasons, Walker — as Kay Adams noted — is back at his natural weight after bulking up in 2024. Moreover, Maason Smith and Arik Armstead are supposed to bolster the interior defensive front. Couple that with the arrival of defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, and Walker is poised to post career numbers.
With Liam Coen on his corner, it's most definitely doable.
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