JACKSONVILLE – Todd Wash doesn't expect focus to be an issue.
"We're are all professionals in that room," he said.
The Jaguars' defensive coordinator said that's true of not only cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but the rest of a defense that must concentrate on the Tennessee Titans this week rather than reports that Ramsey – a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback – has asked for a trade.
"That [Thursday's game] is the only thing that matters," Wash said Tuesday as the Jaguars (0-2) prepared to play the Titans (1-1) in an AFC South game at TIAA Bank Field Thursday at 8:20 p.m.
Wash discussed multiple topics Tuesday, with many questions focused on Ramsey and others focused on a Titans offense that has run too effectively against the Jaguars in recent meetings. Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo also met with the media Tuesday.
Wash said the Titans game is important enough to keep players' attention from the Ramsey situation.
"The team knows what is out there in the media," Wash said. "They follow it, obviously more than I do. … Whatever happens with Jalen, they understand the business side of things, but it's our job as coaches and their job as players to get ready for Thursday night versus a heck of a ball club.
"We've got a game coming up. We only have 16 of them. This is a big one, a divisional opponent. They know all of our focus is on getting ready for them and our players. … We are focused on Tennessee, not the situation."
Also around the Jaguars:
*DeFilippo said rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II showed better awareness in his first NFL start this past week – a 13-12 loss to the Houston Texans – than in three quarters filling in for injured Nick Foles in Week 1. He said the Jaguars got their plays off quicker against Houston, and that Minshew showed better feel for when to run this past week. "You're starting to see Gardner much more comfortable in the offense," DeFilippo said. "I think he was much more situationally aware, running for a couple of first downs there, knowing where the sticks were. As you see him play more, I think you'll see him become even more situationally aware, which will be great for our team." …
*Wash was asked about the idea that Ramsey doesn't like the Jaguars' defensive scheme. Reports on Monday were that one reason Ramsey wants to be traded is he doesn't like how he is used and wants to play more man coverage. "There ain't nothing personal in this business if you ask me," Wash said. "People are going to be unhappy, fans are going to be unhappy. We're just trying to do the best we can to try and put the Jaguars in position to be successful. That's the only thing that matters to me – this organization and winning football games." …
*Wash also discussed Titans running back Derrick Henry, who rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns in a 30-9 victory over the Jaguars last December. That performance included a 99-yard touchdown run. "Derrick Henry is something to deal with," Wash said. "He's a big, big man. We have to have a tackling plan. That was a lot of our conversation today and we all know about the 99-yard run and the missed tackles and that play. … They get his big body on some of our smaller guys, corners and safeties and stuff like that. We have to do what we can scheme-wise to try and keep him between the tackles." Wash said he won't show the 99-yard run in film study this week. "We don't need to watch that again," he said. "I see it on NFL Network all the time. My wife always brings it up. [She says] that wasn't a very good play, so I'm like, 'Mr. Obvious, right?''' …
