JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Tom Coughlin wants the Jacksonville Jaguars to get in touch with their inner football player.

Never known as a real touchy-feely guy, Coughlin has hired a sports psychologist to help his players absorb the long grind of a difficult football season.

Sports psychologists aren't a totally unheard-of notion -- some golf and tennis players have one or two on call at all times.

But this sport? This team? This coach?

"It's surprising, because Tom is a little old-school,'' quarterback Mark Brunell said.

Coughlin said he hired psychologists Chad Bohling and Trevor Moawad from IMG Academies in Bradenton because he heard they've had a positive impact on other athletes. The Jaguars are the only NFL team Bohling and Moawad work with.

"There can be some real progress made, particularly if you have a young team and a team you'd like to get started in the right phase,'' Coughlin said.

Coughlin said the Jaguars psychologists have spoken to the team in a group setting a handful of times. Individual players can schedule time with the psychologists, as well.

Fred Taylor is among those taking biggest advantage of the service.

"I thought I was fine,'' he said. "I didn't think I needed a shrink. I'm not a nut case. But I told them, I'll do it any way. If it's free, it's me.''

Actually, Taylor had some experience with this kind of thing when he played at Florida, where he did a lot of visualization exercises before games.

The fifth-year pro, who has struggled to stay healthy through his short career, said this might have helped him get through last season's long ordeal with a groin injury.

"You get rid of everything negative, and just try to get your focus on something that's positive,'' Taylor said.

Through a series of videos and lectures, Coughlin wants the psychologists to help players set individual and team goals, then teach them how to achieve them.

The coach, not always known for being deft in his relationships with players, said it's all part of trying to deal with a young team.

"I just think it's an important thing for our football team, and probably for all young people, to be able to deal with all the things that go on around the professional athlete today,'' Coughlin said.

Does the coach ever go in for any one-on-one with the psychologist?

"For myself, no,'' he said. "A psychiatrist, but not a psychologist.''