JACKSONVILLE – Team reporter Kainani Stevens each week during the 2025 regular season will speak with a media member covering the Jaguars' opponent.
Up this week:
SNY's New York Jets reporter Jeané Coakley on the Jets as they enter the Week 15 matchup against the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium.
Question: A Rough game for the Jets last week against the Miami Dolphins, especially since it looked like the Jets had been able to get a little something going. How has the team been the past few weeks?
Answer: Last week against the Dolphins was tough. Before that, the last two games, they seemed to be catching their groove. The defense was playing well. and it looked like they were finding who they were. They're a young team. They have a new head coach, Aaron Glenn, obviously, but the guys still play to the to the end. They're trying to finish, and they have to learn how to finish. It seems like these guys are buying in. They are believing in what the coaches are saying.
Q: It sounds like there is still good buy-in with Glenn.
A: Yeah, l mean, they started 0-7. Then they won three of their last five before laying an egg against Miami. Glenn was one of them. Glenn understands. Glenn doesn't pretend it's going to be easy, and I think he truly is getting through to these guys in the locker room. Just believing in what they're supposed to be doing and it will get better.
Q: What do you know about quarterback Brady Cook? What's up with the young guy?
A: He's young. No one really knows who is starting this week, which is going to be really interesting. If I was a betting woman, I'd probably say if Justin Fields is ready, then he'll go. Brady is undrafted, he did well in college and the locker room likes him. They understand he was thrown into a real tough situation. He admitted he was nervous, but now that he's getting those first-team reps in practice, it makes a huge difference. He knows he has a good running back and a good offensive line. If he does what he needs to do per the gameplan, then he'll be fine.
Q: With so many quarterback changes, it seems like everything still runs through running back Breece Hall. Does he remain the heart of the offense?
A: One hundred percent. They need to hand Hall the ball at least 20-to-30 times a game. He has to be the centerpiece to this offense. Even if he doesn't get going at first, you just let him keep going because there's always a chance that he can break one. They have to start using him to catch the ball out of the backfield, too.
Q: What have you seen from the defense? They traded away defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline, so obviously that shakes a lot of things up. Are there any young guys that have stood out to you?
A: AZ Thomas, the rookie cornerback, had to step up once they traded Sauce Gardner. I love what they're doing with defensive tackles Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs. It's a young defense that lost two crucial parts at the trade deadline. A lot of young guys are stepping in and I like what they're doing. I love linebacker Quincy Williams. He was benched in the middle of the season, but has come out and been their best defender since then. Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes take pride in a lot of things, and I think there's some frustration with the lack of takeaways. They have had no interceptions. So, at times the players might be overthinking it too much, but they're still a defensive-minded team coming out with something to prove.
Q: Do you have any X-factor players that need to have a good game if the Jets want to get a win in Jacksonville?
A: Of course I want to see a lot of Breece Hall. I need to see more of Mason Taylor. I think he's going to be a good young tight end, but he hasn't had a ton of opportunity to show that. Defensively, ends Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson need to come back to themselves. I don't know where they've been, but they need to get to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. You've got to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and those two have struggled for the last month. I want to see those guys do what I know they can do and what we have seen from them before in the past.
