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Moeller: New HC Wants to be an Immediate Part of the Jaguars’ Fabric

By JEFF MOELLER, NFL Writer

JACKSONVILLE  – It was awkward, but it was genuine.

New Jaguars’ head coach Liam Coen’s version of “Duvaaal..” at his recent inaugural press conference won’t be recorded anytime soon.

But Coen made his point. And it proved to help to begin to soothe the franchise’s recent turmoil and restore some dignity.

Yet, this time around, Jags’ owner Shad Khan has shifted gears to begin a new youthful regime under Coen.

Coen wants to be an immediate part of the Jaguars’ fabric. His exit as Tampa’s offensive coordinator was also awkward and questionable, and Coen has been anxious to land on another set of solid ground.

Khan had an impromptu greeting at the Everbank Stadium’s Gallagher Club a few days for fans to welcome Coen with various activities.

Khan also had a clumsy ending to the tenure of former GM Trent Baalke after Lions’ new boss Ben Johnson and Jets’ new general Aaron Glenn apparently were dissuaded by Baalke’s presence.

Coen’s welcome signaled the sign of a new era for Jaguars’ fans, who needed to find another direction with the dismissals of Baalke and former head coach Doug Pederson as well as two consecutive disappointing seasons.

The new head coach has added 42-year-old former Packers’ defensive assistant Anthony Campanile, who is a hard-nosed Jersey bred and was respected in Green Bay circles.

Campanile can also be a link to nine potential Packers’ free agents who may make the move South.

Former Raiders’ and Giants’ DC Patrick Graham loomed as the favorite, but there was a breakdown somewhere along the way. It is now in Campanile’s hands.

Vikings’ assistant quarterback coach and chief of special projects coordinator 28-year-old Grant Udinski has risen to the top of the list of offensive coordinator candidates. The Jags have interviewed Commander quarterback coach 37-year-old Tavita Pritchard and Rams offensive assistant and passing game specialist 34-year-old Nate Scheelhaase for the role.

Next for the Jags will be to fill Baalke’s role, and former Titans GM John Robinson along with Tampa assistant GM Nate Greenberg, and Chicago’s Ian Cunningham and the Giants’ Brandon Brown also in the same role are rumored to be in the mix.

It is not known whether Coen will have a major say in the hiring.

One factor is for certain – the Jags are turning the corner in a different direction.

Over the next few weeks, Coen will be piecing his staff together, and Khan will be moving toward a new GM even sooner. NFL free agency is just around the corner followed by the draft.

Coen will continue to work on his version of “Duvaaal” in a new direction.

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