Jaguars' Travon Walker Credits Comfortability in Offseason Growth
2022 was a whirlwind for Travon Walker.
Fresh off the heels of a national championship run with Georgia, Walker plugged headfirst into the NFL Draft process before being selected No. 1 overall. Then, Walker went right into getting to work with the Jacksonville Jaguars, eventually starting 15 regular-season games and two playoff games less than a year after leaving college.
In many ways, he never got a chance to slow things down. This year, however, Walker's first-ever offseason is a big reason he is feeling confident in training camp.
“It was important to me because I had never had an offseason before. It was a time for me to grow physically and mentally and just get away from the game for a little bit," Walker said after practice on Thursday.
"Throughout college, I never really had a break. Once I got that space away from football that I felt like I needed, it was probably only a few days before I was like, ‘Man, I need to get back working and get ready for this next season.’ So, it helped out a lot.”
Walker was leaned on immediately as a rookie, but all rookies have their heads spinning with new information in one way or another. It was especially true for Walker, who was playing not only in a new defensive scheme, but a new position as well.
Now, though, Walker knows what to expect. He knows what the expectations are for not just him, but for the Jaguars in general. He knows what his role in the scheme will be, and he knows exactly what he has to do to produce.
“It’s a growth from my mentality last year. I like to say I’ve always had a dog mentality. It’s just the little things that I had to learn from last year, being a rookie. Just coming into the league, understanding a lot of different scheme things, mental things, how to switch up my game within the game, and how elevate as a player. It’s still the same mentality it’s just time to take it to a new level," Walker said.
"It’s a lot easier now. I’m not really stressing about work or learning the plays. I know the plays. Basically, I’m just taking it to a new level. Like algebra to pre-calculus, just add on to my game at this point. I know the scheme and I know the things I need to work on. Coming in from the offseason, just trying to take what I learned and complementing it to my game now.”
Ultimately, Walker finished his rookie season with 3.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one interception, two pass deflections, 49 tackles, and 43 pressures. Walker's 43 pressures ranked fourth among all rookie edge rushers, per Pro Football Focus.
Now, the hope is Walker's increased comfort and confidence in his role and the scheme can help his game take a natural leap from his rookie season to Year 2.
“I’d have to say hand-eye coordination, placement and from a mental standpoint I know how I can adjust my rush depending on whatever the play call is," Walker said when asked what part of his game he feels like has improved. "Like, if I could take a wide angle or tighten my angle down. Just things of that nature that makes the game easier and helps me play a lot faster.”
"When you look at it, the last couple of days in practice like the other day he was playing an outside zone. He walked an offensive tackle back, slid inside and made the play," Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said earlier this week.
"You love to see the continual improvement in the run game which was strong last year, we just need him to step that up. Then in the pass game, you see the rushes. At times, he’s winning on the edge. He’s powering and he’s countering now. His toolbox is expanding and you see the progress going on.”
