Jaguars
Jaguars HC Liam Coen had a heck of a debut season in Jacksonville, winning 13 games and the AFC South. One of the things that drew team brass to him during the interview process was his “Three Better/Three Best” philosophy of development. Coaches look at three things for every player that they want them to do better and three things that the player does well. Then they create a plan to improve the weaknesses and build on the strengths. A lot of people inside the building believe that was crucial to their success in 2025.
“It’s a perfect system for getting a guy’s attention by saying to them, ‘This is what you want to be. These are the things you’re not going well. I will help you,’” Jaguars LB coach Tem Lukabu said via Jacksonville.com’s Ryan O’Halloran.
“The reality is, a lot of people don’t want to be criticized,” Lukabu added. “But the ones who really want to be better, failure is feedback. As human beings, sometimes we skip over things we don’t know are an issue. If it’s pointed out to you, it’s easier to fix.”
Position coaches generally handle most of the programs for players, but Coen is also involved and hands-on in the process.
“I’ll bop in randomly and all three phases,” he said. “Obviously with Trevor [Lawrence] and some of the key contributors on the offensive side and guys that I may need to go have a talk with to get them moving forward or just to piggyback off some of the (coaches).”
As the Jaguars look to build on Coen’s impressive debut and sustain success, they believe the Three Better/Three Best framework will be an integral piece of their program.
“As a player, I would have loved ‘Three Better/Three Best,’ because it’s focused on the things you do really well and, ‘Let’s continue to excel there,’ but then it’s, ‘Here are the areas you need to do better,’” Jaguars EVP Tony Boselli said. “I think any player worth their salt wants to be coached hard. Wants to be told the truth. Wants direct communication. Tell me where I can get better and then help me and show me what that looks like. Coach me. Teach me.”
Texans
Veteran Texans backup QB Davis Mills was asked what advice he would give to the rookies coming in this season and how he feels heading into his second season under OC Nick Caley.
“Take in as much as you can,” Mills said, via the team website. “You’re going to be swimming in information and doing a lot of things that maybe you’ve never done before, but you’ve got to kind of step into the fire. Really come in, try to get as comfortable as you can as fast as possible.”
“Light years ahead of where we were last year,” Mills said on Caley. “It’s always nice going into year two of an offense instead of having to fully install the entire thing for the first time. Coach Caley’s done a great job really taking the insight of all of his players, especially us in the QB room, really building the offense around us and around C.J.”
Texans
In a recent ESPN survey of NFL executives and evaluators, Texans DB Jalen Pitre received some love as an honorable mention for the top 10 safeties. Pitre technically plays nickel, where his physicality can be weaponized for a hard-hitting Texans defense. It’s a trait Pitre takes a lot of pride in.
“You’d rather be the hammer,” Pitre said via KPRC’s Aaron Wilson. “It don’t hurt when you go make the hit. I think the biggest thing is want-to. I look forward to those hits in those moments. Obviously, just being taught the right things throughout my life and just trying to use my leverage to hit as hard as I can. ..
“Just a determination to want to hit somebody and just bringing everything you got and not slowing down. I think that’s the biggest thing. And then, obviously, our coaches do a good job at teaching the proper ways to tackle, the proper angles to hit from, and the legal way to do it.”
Still, there’s a toll on Pitre from all that physicality. He hasn’t played a full 17-game season since his rookie year, and he missed some time with a concussion in 2025. That prompted him to start wearing the NFL-approved Guardian cap, a soft cover with built-in cushioning players can wear over their hardshell helmets. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing, but long-term brain health takes precedence for some players.
“Obviously, I do take my health very seriously,” Pitre said. “I’m going to continue to have the Guardian cap on. It was ultimately a family decision. After my concussion, it was a bit tough for me coming back. It was probably the longest time I’ve been out for the concussion. So, after speaking with some family members, we all thought it would be best for me to keep that on and have my safety at the utmost importance.”
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