The Jacksonville Jaguars have been through quite the whirlwind over the past few seasons, and this offseason has been no different. A carousel of changes has left them without much in the way of continuity – a challenge that Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile knows all too well.
He's zeroed in on building strong relationships with his players, pushing them to become the best they can be amid all this change. Campanile acknowledges the difficulty, saying, "A lot of transition, never easy.
My experience has been unbelievable. The guys have been total pros, coming in hungry every day, both in the meeting room and on the field."
On the player side, star linebacker Travon Walker echoes a desire for more stability. Walker’s been under the guidance of three different defensive coordinators since being the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Yet, excuses aren't in his playbook. As Walker puts it, "I feel like everybody would be a lot more comfortable that way if we were all solid, no weak links.
If you lose one link you try to piece things together, but once you get it jelled in, and everything is clicking it will flow a lot better."
Walker is focused on making the upcoming season count under Campanile’s guidance, driven by his mantra to improve by one percent every day. "I haven’t set out any personal goals yet.
I tell myself just to get one percent better every day," he explains. "Today we had practice, and I'll go in, watch some film, and look at fine details to get better at something for the next day."
And while double-digit sacks might be the dream for many pass rushers, Walker is taking a more holistic approach. "For me, I just want to be a total and complete football player.
I want to be able to stop the run because we aren’t able to rush the passer without stopping the run. Once we do that, it allows us to get after the quarterback.
I just want to come out here and be the best overall player I can be every day."
There's no doubt the Jaguars have been on a rollercoaster, but with a focus on growth and resilience, Walker and the team aim to solidify their place and bring their best game yet.
