Coen added that “trying too much” may have been a factor Sunday.
“It’s one of those tight ball games,” Coen said. “You’re back and forth, you’re struggling to maybe make some things happen and guys maybe try to go outside of [their normal responsibility]. Some of that stuff starts to happen. It’s natural. But we need to let the game also come to us that way and not try to press and do too much.”
*The Jaguars’ offensive linemen understand the objective. They understand, too, the objective’s urgency.
“They’re very eager for the challenge to step up,” Coen said.
The Jaguars, after allowing five sacks in the first six games, allowed seven to the Seahawks. The Rams are tied for fourth in the NFL with 19 sacks.
Linebacker Byron Young leads the Rams with 7.5 sacks for 49 yards, with linebacker Jared Verse registering three for 22 yards.
“Each week you face an opportunity in this league up front to see some of the best pass rushers – whether it’s individuals, whether it’s accruable, whether it’s scheme,” Coen said. “We’ve seen some good stuff and we have protected at a high level in a lot of ways. Last week was a tough go.
“We all know it takes truly not just those guys up front. We have to help them and have a responsibility as coaches, but also, ‘Hey stepping up to the plate and worrying about us. Let’s go get better at our sets, the way that we slide in pass protection, the way that we protect our fundamentals, our techniques, and worry about those things and not so much the guys that we’re playing against.'”
*Coen on Wednesday also praised rookie Rayuan Lane III, calling the sixth-round selection a “darn good player.” Lane leads the Jaguars with eight special teams tackles five solos.
“Ray has some swagger, man,” Coen said. “He plays the game very violently. He’s obviously a tough kid and he takes a lot of pride in what he does. He knows he’s a darn good player. He has confidence right now.