Josh Scobee has had but one goal all season.
Scobee, the Jaguars' eight-year veteran kicker, said while the goal may be a cliché, and not particularly exciting, it doesn't mean it's not a big reason for his success.
His goal: stay in the moment, take one kick at a time.
"That's a thought that goes through my head all week, all game – focus, focus, focus," Scobee said Wednesday as the Jaguars (2-5) prepared to play the Houston Texans (4-3) at Reliant Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. "It's a big thing to be able to stay that focused the entire season."
Whatever the method, it has produced results.
Scobee, long one of the NFL's best players at his position, has made his first 14 field-goal attempts for a second consecutive season, and included in those 14 attempts have been nine from more than 40 yards and four from more than 50. He made three field goals from more than 50 yards against Baltimore Monday in a 12-7 Jaguars victory, tying an NFL record.
On Wednesday, he was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
"He's been playing well for us," Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio said. "He's been giving us deep kicks on kickoffs. He's been really strong with kicks in big situations. That's obviously a lift for our football team."
Scobee, after starting 14 of 14 last season, struggled at times thereafter. He missed six field goals in the second half of last season, and said he worked in the off-season to improve his mental and physical approach.
Scobee said he studied his six misses last season extensively, and that they broke down as three poor kicks, a block and another was a kick that drifted in the wind.
"This is the best I've ever kicked, not only in games, but in practice also," Scobee said. "I'm hitting the ball really well. I've worked hard this off-season. It's bearing the fruits now. I just have to sustain it. I have a different mental approach this year, taking one kick at a time and one day at a time."
The Jaguars this season have struggled offensively, averaging 12 points a game. Scobee said that actually has helped him.
While sometimes the mind can wander in a one-sided game, Scobee said in close games such as the Jaguars have played – particularly low-scoring games – that's not a problem.
"It makes me a little more excited for my job, because it makes it a little more important for each field goal that I attempt to be made," Scobee said. "This year, obviously we've had some struggles putting the ball in the end zone. It makes me have to focus more. It doesn't let me relax. It allows me to stay focused the entire game. Sometimes, that's tough, but to have that kind of mental focus for 60-plus minutes is important."
Scobee said among his goals for the season is leading the league in touchbacks, as well as being 90 percent or better on field goals.
"That's something Jack had mentioned in the preseason to me," he said. "Every kicker is trying to make every single kick."
Although Scobee is in the final year of his contract, he said that issue isn't on his mind, and he has told his agent that he does not want to negotiate during the season.
"I told him if the Jaguars were to come to us during the season we would respectfully say, 'Let's wait until after the season," Scobee said, adding that he loves Jacksonville and doesn't want to play elsewhere.
"I'm hoping they appreciate that in the sense they won't have to worry about it, too, and it's more along the lines of me wanting to be worried about the season and my performance and not so worried about a contract."
Also on Wednesday:
*Del Rio wore a sleeve on his left leg after a sideline collision on Monday night. He downplayed the injury and said he didn't undergo an MRI. "I got a bag of ice and a couple of Tylenol," he said.
*Jaguars defensive tackle Terrance Knighton said although there has been more criticism of the Ravens than credit to the Jaguars in the wake of a 12-7 victory Monday, "Once we put a few wins together, people will start to realize how good we are."
*Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert said teams increasingly have focused their defenses on tight end Marcedes Lewis this season. Lewis, after making the Pro Bowl last season, has struggled at times, catching 11 passes for 129 yards after a 58-reception, 700-yard, 10-touchdown season last season. "I take it as respect, but at the same time our design is good and I believe in what we're doing," Lewis said. "As I've said before, we're going to start coming down with the plays. There's a lot of season left. Every day, me and Blaine are getting on the same page. Pretty soon, it's going to be nice. That's something I can't worry about. Blaine's not worried about it. We're just going to go out and there and do what we've been doing, which is keep working."
*Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said any transition that may have been going on with the Jaguars' defense is long since past. The Jaguars signed middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, outside linebacker Clint Session, safety Dawan Landry, defensive end Matt Roth and nickelback Drew Coleman as free agents shortly before the season and acquired Dwight Lowery a trade from the Jets. A defense that ranked 28th in the NFL a year ago currently ranks sixth. "The (new) guys are no longer new," Mathis said. "They're a part of this Jaguars organization. They're part of our culture. When I see Drew, when I see Landry or Dwight, I don't look at them as new guys. We're family now. We play like family. We talk like family. We act like family."
*Mathis on Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, "I've never discredited 'Dre. I've always said he's one of the best in the league. He's one of the guys I give kudos to and tip my hat to. Year after year he does it, so there's no surprise. You have to have your armor ready when you're playing him." Johnson has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and was limited Wednesday.
*Jaguars fullback Brock Bolen (calf), offensive tackle/guard Eben Britton (back) and safety Courtney Greene (hamstring) did not participate in practice Wednesday. Britton has missed the last two games with a back issue that reoccurred before a loss to Pittsburgh October 16. Greene missed this past week's victory over Baltimore. Of Britton, Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio said, "We're taking it day by day and hoping for the best."
*Defensive tackle Tyson Alualu was among five players who were limited on Wednesday for non-injury reasons. The others were fullback Greg Jones, running back Maurice Jones-Drew , defensive end Aaron Kampman and cornerback Rashean Mathis.
*Linebacker Clint Session was limited with an elbow injury and guard/center Jason Spitz was limited with a quadriceps.
