Jaguars preparing to face Jalen Ramsey for first time since 2019 trade
In conversations with his staff this week, Urban Meyer has not shied away from expressing his admiration for one particular Los Angeles Rams player that played his first three and a half seasons in Jacksonville.
Meyer loves watching great players, and he considers Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey to be in that category.
It's also likely that if Meyer had been coaching the Jaguars in 2019, Ramsey would probably still be playing in Jacksonville.
''I asked the question, you know that I would like to have him,'' Meyer said. ''When he left here, I was like I didn't follow it that closely but 'what in the world.' I see what I see on videotape that's he's not one but 1A.''
Ramsey will face the Jaguars for the first time this Sunday at SOFI Stadium since he was traded to the Rams for two first-round picks — edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson in 2020 and running back Travis Etienne in 2021 — and a 2021 fourth-round pick, used for defensive end Jordan Smith.
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Rams have edge from trade
There is not much debate that, at this point, the Rams have benefited more from the blockbuster trade deal than the Jaguars.
After 27 career games, Chaisson has registered just two sacks. Etienne has big-play potential, but the Jaguars won't find out until next season because he was lost for the season with a foot injury after the second preseason game.
The Jaguars traded up nine spots to select Smith, but he has yet to draw his first snap in a regular-season game.
Ramsey has totaled 133 tackles with five interceptions and 23 pass breakups in 35 games with the Rams. With Ramsey, the Rams went 9-7 and missed the playoffs in 2019, but they fared 10-6 last season before losing in the divisional playoffs against Green Bay.
Going into Sunday's game against Jacksonville, the Rams are 7-4 and second in the NFC West behind the Arizona Cardinals (9-2). The Jaguars (2-9), with their 10th losing season clinched in 11 years, are on the verge of dropping their 15th consecutive game to an NFC opponent if they lose Sunday.
Meyer: Ramsey a competitor
Despite it all, Meyer said Ramsey's competitive spirit stands out to him. When he played for the Jaguars, Ramsey was one of their notorious trash talkers. He also proved to be an amusing entertainer too.
On his arrival for the 2019 training camp, Ramsey showed up in an armored truck with fake money bags. He even brought his own hype man.
''Number one, he gets really upset when something doesn't go right,'' Meyer said. '''Some people don't like that. (He's) a competitor No. 1 with skillset.''
Ramsey forced Jax exit
Ramsey forced his way out of Jacksonville after complaining of a non-existent back injury that forced him to miss three games, along with persistently making disparaging remarks about the franchise after his trade request.
The fireworks started during a Week 2 game at Houston in 2019 when Ramsey got into a verbal clash with former Jaguars coach Doug Marrone. Ramsey got upset after Marrone chose not to challenge a catch by DeAndre Hopkins.
Ramsey made his trade request through his agent a day after the game after complaining that an unspecified Jaguars team official, which was Tom Coughlin, according to sources, said "disrespectful things" to him.
Existing Jaguars players who were teammates of Ramsey still regard him with admiration and respect.
"Jalen is a great guy and ultimate competitor,'' said starting center Brandon Linder, who has been with the franchise since 2014. ''I have nothing but love for him. I love seeing everyone have success."
Return specialist Jaydon Mickens, who was on the 2017 team that advanced to the AFC Championship game against New England, regards Ramsey as the best cornerback in the league.
''He's the best,'' Mickens said. ''If you say he talks a lot or whatever, he backs it up. So far, I have to go out there and get some receiving reps, hopefully, get some catches on him or maybe a touchdown. I love Jalen, he's a great player and I'm excited."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars preparing to face Jalen Ramsey for first time since 2019 trade
