Jaguars secondary coach and coach of the safeties for the Jaguars defense. Joe Dana joining us now and Joe's good to see it. Thanks for your time. First of all, let's start with last week, a fairly rare opportunity actually to jump in and call plays in an actual regular season of the NFL game on defense. How was the week? I know it had to be a little hectic with all the changes on the coaching staff. The whole year has been that way, really, you know, I think it's
it's been a year of improvised and adjust Um. It seems like every week, whether it's a new protocol, new schedule, whatever it may be. I think we're kind of been prepared for this and that anything and everything is possible. You know. I just think as a as a staff, you know, with leadership with coach Marone, Um, I think we we handled it about as good as we could. How about the the actual colleague of plays during game? For you? That had to be I'm sure at some
point you'd like to be a coordinator in your future. Yeah, absolutely, I I enjoyed it. Um. You know, we game plan like we normally do throughout the week, so coach Wash and I. We were we were talking throughout the throughout the week, and um, I felt very prepared going into it. Thought we had a good plan as a staff, and UM I thought we uh you know, I thought we operated on game day as good as we could. Joe Dana was a secondary coach of the safeties. Let's get
into the safeties now and start with Jared Wilson. He was banged up early in the season. He's been back now, he's nominated for the Bart Star Award. He's been around here for a long time now here in Jacksonville. How good has this guy to work with on a day to day basis, maybe not just on the field, but inside the building as well. Ye, easily easy to talk about one of the best pros I've ever been around.
This is my thirteenth year in the league, and um, you know, we've been together for four years now and talked about a guy that takes his job extremely serious. He prepares, he asked the right questions. He's like a coach on the field. Um he's really everything you want and a player, and um, you know, he makes my job a whole lot easier, that's for sure. Josh Jones
could be act this week a chest injury. But you know, his story is pretty remarkable to the guy about a year ago didn't know if he's gonna play football again. The Jacks claimed him off waivers at the end of last season. I don't think he's gonna take anything for granted. That's not his personality. He knows how how valuable this opportunity is for him, and he comes and brings the effort. I think every time he's out there. Josh Jones. Yeah, you know, he's a guy throughout his career. You know,
he's experienced some ups and downs. You know, he's just a hungry player. Like you mentioned, he's uh, he doesn't take anything for granted. Um, he knows how valuable and and and how special it is to be a part of the NFL. And he goes about his business and it goes about his play kind of with that in mind. And again another another good guy to coach. Um gives us everything he's got every time he's out there. They
can bring the lumber to now right. Yeah, he's big safety, He's he's what you want and defending the run game, that's for sure. Joe Danna with a second safeties coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now to the young guys. You know, Daniel Thomas was starting to show a little something on defense. It was kind of tough to get him on the on the field on defense earlier in the season. Then on special teams he started a flash the punt block.
And then some injuries happened, and and actually Josh Jones got ejected from the game, and he plays the whole second half and leads the team and tackles and you have to be excited about what he could be in the future. Here. Yeah, absolutely good young player. Um. Another guy he's he's benefited from having some good veteran leadership in the room, some good guys to learn from, learning how to study, how to prepare guys. Having guys like a Jared Wilson in the room has been valuable for him.
And another guy when he had opportunities, took advantage of it. And you know, unfortunately had the injury. Really thought he had some momentum going. You know, look forward to what he can he can have, you know, what the future holds for him. Andrew wingered the flowing locks of blonde hair flying around on the back end of your defense. It's his second year, now, how has he grown? It's really played well. Um, he's a guy that maybe never had a consistent role, but as always ready to go
for whatever injury. He could play any position you want. You know, really smart guy. But this guy is aggressive, he's fearless. You know, has some playmaking and instincts to his game. Maybe a little bit underrated, but you know, when you really look at it, he's played some good football this year. Alright, Joe, final thought here going up to Minnesota against the Vikings offense that is hot right now. Cousins is playing well. Obviously, the receivers are are back
to full strength. That got a running game, great challenge, but a great opportunity for the secondary this week as well. Yeah, no doubt they. I mean they got good players, a good quarterback, they can run it, got two guys on the outside, got a good group of tight end. So we've got our hands full. But you know, I think that's the case every week in the NFL, you know, and we look forward to that challenge. Our guys are ready to roll, ready to go up there and get
a win. Good luck to you, appreciate your time. Thanks JP.