Jaguars coach Urban Meyer says he was not a fan of DJ Chark’s size when he first got to watch the receiver on film.
“I just didn’t like his size. His strength, I just thought, was way below average, way below what we expect from our receivers, and he was told that,” Meyer said, via ESPN. “He’s a big guy that played little last year, and that can’t happen. Guys like [Saints WR] Mike Thomas and [former Florida and NFL WR] Louis Murphy are those big, strong, fast receivers, and he’s got to play big and strong.”
Meyer’s message was simple: Get in the weight room. Get bigger and stronger because if you don’t, you won’t be able to help us.
Chark says he took the challenge and went to work. He has put on seven pounds since the end of the season and says he feels better.
“I love the challenge,” Chark said. “I love talking to Coach Meyer. He’s a competitor. He’s going to push me.”
Chark caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019, and made it to the Pro Bowl. His numbers tanked last season to 53 catches for 706 yards.
“I definitely think I could be way better than what I was last year,” Chark said. “That’s definitely the floor for me the rest of my career. I won’t be going back there.”
Chark will have a new-look offense around him this season after the team signed receiver Marvin Jones, and drafted quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne in the first round.
The former second-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He’s set to earn a base salary of $2,183,000 in 2021.
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