
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen knows the importance of next week's first-place showdown with the Indianapolis Colts. He knows the home game is one of the biggest in Duval County history and he wants to see the stadium packed.
"We need everybody. We need the city to show up and support us," Coen said after the victory Sunday over the Tennessee Titans. "We want to make them proud. We're continuing to try to put a product on the field that the city and our community can be proud of, and that's something that means a lot to our team. It means a lot to our players. We want to continue to do that.
"As much support as we can get from Duval, that would be huge."
Coen said the players have been good at not looking forward and concentrating on the games in front of them, one at a time. He knows they will have their chance to face the Colts and the practices this week should be rather spirited.
"One week at a time. 1-0 for the rest of the way. We're giving ourselves the opportunity to play meaningful games in November and December," Coen said. "Ultimately, that is all you can ask for in this league. The rest of the way you've got competitive, meaningful football games. I think that is an important thing for us to go through as team in year one.
"To have the opportunity to do those things and to earn that, I think is important for us to be able to continue to move forward as a team."
Coen said he likes the attitude the team has to this point. Against Tennessee, the punter and the long snapper both got unsportsmanlike penalties as they got into a rhubarb on the field with the Titans special teams. Coen said he likes the fire, the passion and the attitude.
"They had an edge for sure. I'd like Logan (Cooke) to be a little smarter there on the one he got hit on, but there were some frustrations that were being built up with them rushing us the way they were with the long snapper issue," Coen said. "We thought maybe we were roughed or potentially roughed at one point. I'm just proud of those guys for competing, but we've got to continue to get smarter."
Coen also heaped praise on his "Swiss Army Knife", offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen. When offensive lineman Walker Little went down with an injury, Van Lanen moved from right guard to left tackle. He has played four of the five offensive line positions this season, not including his role in the jumbo package where he lines up as an H-Back.
"I have not been around an offensive lineman who can do that," Coen said. "When we got here as a staff, everybody spoke about Cole Van Lanen. Everybody spoke about him as a pro and his ability to do this. To have the mindset but also the preparation - I mean, guys that is not easy to go and do for anybody."