Latest news with #AnthonyCampanile
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Travis Hunter spends extra time with Jaguars' defensive coaches
Anthony Campanile isn't new to sharing players. The first-year defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars cited his time coaching on the high school and collegiate level, as well as the pros, when asked about having to share rookie Travis Hunter. Advertisement The Jaguars are planning to play him on both sides of the ball and head coach Liam Coen revealed Hunter practiced with Jacksonville's defense for the first time during the third organized team activity. However, he was back practicing with the offense during OTA No. 4—where he's spent most of his on-field time since being drafted. Jaguars OTAs observations: With no Travis Etienne, can running game survive? 'He's a special guy because he's really, really a bright guy," Campanile told reporters after the conclusion of the practice. "I know you guys have gotten the opportunity to meet him. All the coaches, everybody's been really impressed with his ability to retain the information.' Advertisement According to Coen, the day spent with Jacksonville's defense wasn't to gauge his defensive skills, or his 11-on-11 capabilities or anything like that. It was for teaching him the basics of Campanile's defense and allowing him the opportunity to show what he's learned in the classroom, on the field. Travis Hunter spends extra time meeting with Jaguars' defensive coaches Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) walks to his lane during the first organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Monday, May 19, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. Though Hunter hasn't practiced with the defense during an open to media practice, he's spending time behind-the-scenes in the classroom and in meetings with the defense. Hunter is doing something no other NFL player currently is: He's learning two playbooks at once. Advertisement It's a difficult task, but his coaches have credited him for putting in the proper effort needed to be successful. 'He's done a great job with that,' Campanile said. 'I can't imagine another guy being any better suited to handle that. Travis is certainly suited to do that.' Hunter has seen success at every level while starring on both sides of the ball. In high school, he was the highest ranked player in his college, he won the Heisman and a host of other awards on both sides of the ball. Now, he'll try to find that same level of success on a professional level. "He's done a great job with [Secondary Coach Ron Milus] and [Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Drew Lascari], a couple of the other coaches on staff, just spending time," Campanile said. "He's doing extra every day, so I have a ton of respect for everything he's done to this point.' How much Hunter will actually play on defense will remain to be seen. But the Jaguars have a plan. Advertisement And they're executing it at their own pace. "It's been going very well to this point," Campanile said. "We're excited to keep [the plan] moving throughout the course of the preseason and regular season.' This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Travis Hunter has spent extra time with Jaguars' defensive coaches
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Travis Hunter gaining reps on offense, defense at Jaguars OTAs: ‘He's doing extra every day'
It was a busy weekend for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter between getting married and surprising a young fan. And on Tuesday, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft reported back for the second week of OTAs with his new team. After being seen mostly with the Jaguars' offense during rookie minicamp and the first few OTAs, Hunter's two-way implementation is taking shape. Head coach Liam Coen revealed to the media that Hunter worked with the defense last Wednesday, primarily learning fundamentals. Advertisement 'It was good, he's still learning,' Coen told reporters. 'He's been learning a ton defensively and offensively.' Hunter's two-way prowess helped him earn the Heisman Trophy while he starred on offense and defense at Colorado in 2024. Since then, he has made clear his desire to continue playing both ways in the NFL. 'I think he's pretty good,' defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said with a laugh. 'Fired up to have him out there, and he did a very good job getting out there. 'He's doing extra every day, so I have a ton of respect for everything that he's done to this point.' The Jaguars traded up to select Hunter in April's draft, signaling their belief in him as a rare athlete — he hopes to become the NFL's first two-way starter in six decades — but also as a person. Hunter's energy was the first attribute quarterback Trevor Lawrence mentioned when he spoke with reporters about the rookie after the first day of OTAs last week. 'Got a lot of juice. He can run all day,' Lawrence said. 'He's like a kid, he doesn't get tired it seems like. You can't have enough of that. 'As far as talent, it speaks for itself, ball skills, run after the catch, he's very explosive. I didn't realize how explosive he was in and out of cuts. He's impressive to watch. We've gotten to connect a couple times, it's only going to get better and better.' Lawrence is returning after suffering a concussion and AC joint injury in his left shoulder last year, which required surgery and prematurely ended his 2024 season. As Hunter splits time between offense and defense, there's an added layer of complexity for him and his new quarterback to connect, which Lawrence said is something they are navigating. 'You work around all that, you get as many reps as you can, you talk as much as possible out here after reps, after 7-on-7, team reps,' Lawrence said. 'And then in the building, in the meeting room, watching tape, installing, talking about what I'm looking for, what coaches are looking for on different concepts, just to get him up to speed because he's learning a new system. He's super talented, really smart, but it takes some time to learn the system, so we're trying to just get him up to speed so he can go and play fast and free and not think about it.' Advertisement Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski described the dual-threat installation as a challenge, but one he's enjoyed working with Hunter at. 'You're definitely going for maximum efficiency,' Udinski said. 'It's a unique challenge, but it's a fun challenge, an exciting challenge and he's the type of guy, because of that passion and love for the game, the guy that can do it. 'It's definitely different compared to the rest of the guys and his schedule, but it's a unique skill set, it's a unique person and a unique player, so that's been fun as well.' There's still work to do, and Jaguars OTAs continue this week and next before mandatory minicamp June 10-12. But do the coordinators expect to negotiate for Hunter's skills in game situations? 'That's up to the head guy,' Campanile said. 'We have a plan for Travis, and we're excited to put that in place. It's been going very well to this point, so we're excited to keep it moving through the course of the preseason and regular season.'
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jaguars' defense ranks near bottom in 2024 tackling grade
The Jacksonville Jaguars' defense ranked near the bottom of the NFL in tackling grade from the 2024 season. NFL Next Gen Stats graded each team's tackling ability, taking into account their tackling efficiency, the number of yards lost to missed tackles, among other factors, and handed out letter grades like on a report card. The Jaguars would receive a solid 'C' for their performance, with a score of 74.6 out of 100. This, however, ranked 23rd out of the 32 teams this past year. 'The Jaguars' 86.9% tackle efficiency was almost perfectly average. Unfortunately, they took a hit by forcing only five fumbles on the season, fewest in the NFL.' By Pro Football Reference's metrics, the Jaguars finished 15th in total missed tackles and surrendered the third-most YAC last season. Under new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, implementing the right type of play-style will be a top priority for him and that even takes priority over the scheme. Harnessing that aggressive play-style and emphasizing the importance of rallying to the football, should help improve the Jaguars' tackling abilities and help create more opportunities to go after the football. 'There's a point in every play where somebody tries to block you, you're passion to not stay blocked, is really what makes plays on defense,' said Campanile. 'Coaching, scheme, all that stuff, that's great, really important, but at the end of the day the players win the game. 'And the violence at the point of attack, the effort, the strain, and the finish it takes to not stay blocked and run to the football, that's what really creates a great defense.' The Green Bay Packers' defense last season with Campanile as the linebackers coach and run game coordinator, ranked 7th in tackling grade and were among the best in both run defense in terms yards per carry allowed and at forcing fumbles.
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Anthony Campanile's top priority for the Jaguars' defense
More than scheme, new Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile cares about the play-style of his defense. 'The most important thing when you talk about defense is your play-style,' said Campanile on Thursday. 'My vision for us defensively, we want to be a tough, fast, physical, violent at the point of attack team. 'What does that mean? That means that you got guys who take pride in not getting blocked. Everybody talks about running to the ball, I don't think there's another person in the world who believes in running to the ball more than I do. But you can't run to the ball if you don't get off blocks, and that is something that's going to be celebrated in our room.' Of course, the scheme is important and one of the cornerstones of Campanile's system is going to be malleability. Building and molding the defense around the players and skill-sets he has on the roster, rather than forcing the defenders to fit specific roles. Having coached under Brian Flores, Vic Fangio, and Jeff Hafley, Campanile has operated in a wide variety defensive schemes, helping him foster his own flexible and adjustable system. However, to Campanile's point, the scheme–regardless of what it is–becomes far less effective when the play-style isn't aggressive and players aren't getting off blocks to go and make and finish plays. 'There's a point in every play where somebody tries to block you, you're passion to not stay blocked, is really what makes plays on defense. Coaching, scheme, all that stuff, that's great, really important, but at the end of the day the players win the game. 'And the violence at the point of attack, the effort, the strain, and the finish it takes to not stay blocked and run to the football, that's what really creates a great defense.' In Campanile's one season with the Packers as the linebackers coach and run game coordinator, Green Bay ranked third in yards per rush allowed and surrendered fewer than 100 rushing yards per game for the first time in a decade plus. The Packers' defense also ranked third in fumble recoveries, while rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the week and third-year linebacker Quay Walker was playing some of his best football during the second half of the season. Although the results for the Jaguars' defense weren't there for this unit in 2024, as Campanile has dove into the tape, he really likes what he sees play-style-wise from this group. 'I watched that on the tape when I watched the guys here, I see a lot of that. I see great effort, great strain, and these guys, we've got a lot of great people in here. Guys that I'm excited to coach.'
USA Today
13-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Highlights from Jaguars' DC Anthony Campanile's first press conference
New Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile met with reporters for the first time on Thursday. Below are the highlights from the introductory press conference. Campanile joins the Jaguars after being the Green Bay Packers linebackers coach and run game coordinator in 2024. Before that, he was the Miami Dolphins linebackers coach from 2020-2023. With the Packers, we saw the emergence of rookie Edgerrin Cooper as the season progressed. This included being named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice and the NFC's Rookie of the Month in December. Green Bay's run defense was also among the best in football, ranking third in yards per rush allowed and holding opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game for the first time in over a decade. This will be Campanile's first time as a defensive coordinator, but he's operated within a variety of defensive schemes. This includes working with Vic Fangio and his two-shell disguise-heavy system. Brian Flores and his aggressive and blitz-heavy scheme. And most recently Jeff Hafley, who's defense in Green Bay was extremely adaptable. This background should result in a Jaguars defense that is versatile and multiple–able to keep opponents off-balanced and guessing. Now, here is everything you need to know from Campanile's press conference: (Please note, this article will be updated as the press conference takes place.) See you tomorrow 👀#DUUUVAL — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) February 12, 2025
