JACKSONVILLE – In a 2018 offseason jaguars.com series featuring 11 former players talking about 11 current players, former Jaguars kicker Mike Hollis talks with digital reporter and host Ashlyn Sullivan about the Jaguars' '17 success, the current state of the special teams unit and the team as it moves forward….
Question: As someone who played for the Jaguars from 1995-2001 and experienced the team's past success, what did it mean for you to see the Jaguars make it to the AFC Championship game last season?
Answer: As the season began, and after the first six games exchanging wins and losses with our opponents, I began to feel that the 2017 season was going to be similar to the recent past seasons: finishing off as another average NFL team. However, things changed after Week 7 and my Jaguars found their groove and started a nice winning streak. It became a very exciting season, reminding me of our 1996 season when we made a big run for the playoffs in the second half of the season. It was also very refreshing to see the Jaguars on major television networks, with positive support from the hosts.
Q: The Jaguars picked up free-agent kicker Josh Lambo early last season. He immediately made a positive impact with the team. How do you think he handled himself?
A. Josh Lambo has had a great start to what could be a very long career for him. He has showed a lot of confidence in himself and his abilities, and seems to be a great fit as a Jaguar.
Q: The Jaguars have made a commitment to improving their special teams unit during the 2018 NFL Draft and free agency. How do you think special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has improved the unit so far?
A. I've had the pleasure of being associated with Coach Joe DeCamillis dating back to 1994 when he was with the [New York] Giants and came to the University of Idaho to work me out. I've always been very impressed with Coach "Joe-D's" abilities as a special teams coordinator, as I've played against him many times throughout my nine years in the NFL. I think with [Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Tom Coughlin back with the organization, our special teams will be a priority and will be one of the best in the NFL.
Question: Lambo has said yoga and pilates help improve his kicking game on the field. Was there an off-the-field workout you did during your career that helped you?
A. I have found that yoga and pilates were excellent workouts that positively affected my kicking abilities. They are both very good for core strength, as well as flexibility… both of which are extremely important to the kicking and punting positions. I've also been a huge fan of plyometric types of movements like sprinting, stadium steps (sprinting up), box jumps and field-ladder types of workouts.
Q. Besides watching the Jaguars during the fall, what has been keeping you busy?
A. I am still running my local kicking academy (ProForm Kicking Academy), going on 11 years now. I travel to different parts of the country hosting summer kicking camps, but we focus primarily on local private training here in the Jacksonville area. I'm also a managing partner in a company called HMH Corporation. We specialize in creating and designing specific business management software applications and websites for companies in meal prep, mixed martial arts clubs and extreme sports equipment industries, among others.
Q. The Jaguars are coming off an exciting and successful 2017 season. Do you think the momentum can keep going in the right direction?
A. I think the Jaguars are right on track to another playoff run. Tom Coughlin is extremely good at finding humble, team-player types of highly skilled athletes. I am very excited about the future of the Jaguars and am extremely happy for the city and the continued support of our amazing fans.
