JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash says he has no hard feelings toward defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Tashaun Gipson, both of whom were critical of him and the defense at the end of last season.

Wash said he met with Ramsey and Gipson when the players reported for the start of the offseason conditioning program in mid-April and the group had a productive conversation -- and he got his point across that those kind of complaints shouldn’t be aired publicly.

“As soon as we were able to with the new agreement, the CBA, we were able to sit down and talk about it,” Wash said. “Both of us were frustrated by the comments. We understand where they came from [and] had a great conversation. We understand that all of that stuff needs to stay in-house.

“Once again, they can say what they want. They’re grown men. We’ll talk about that stuff when it happens, one-on-one.”

Ramsey and Gipson -- along with cornerback Davon House, who was cut in February -- were not happy with the way they were used this past season and didn’t hide those feelings after the season finale against Indianapolis. Ramsey and Gipson complained of being limited by the scheme and Ramsey also advocated a clean sweep of the defensive coaching staff.

Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash drew some criticism from his players in 2016. John Rivera/Icon Sportswire

“I learned a lot from this season,” Ramsey said after the Jaguars’ 24-20 loss on Jan. 1. “I learned a lot from these coaches, but I think a new beginning will serve us great here. There’s a lot of guys, a lot of talent on this team, that’s, I guess, hidden right now [and] not showing.

“It’s frustrating for all of us but hopefully it’s complete, complete change. [A] complete flip will serve us good.”

Ramsey also said he could have made more of an impact had he been able to be flexible to play different techniques, blitz more, and play multiple positions, the way he did in college at Florida State. Ramsey said he spoke with the coaches about doing some of those things but was denied.

“Every week we ran the same defense,” said Ramsey, who finished his rookie season with 55 tackles, 14 pass breakups, and two interceptions. “We never changed defenses. We never changed plays. What we were running on first down at the beginning of the season we were running on first down at the end of the season. What we were running on second down, third down, same. Nothing ever changed.”

Gipson wasn’t happy with his role, either. He said he felt misused playing as a single high safety, even though the Jaguars signed him with the intention of doing that. Gipson had 13 interceptions from 2013-15 but had just one and broke up just two passes this season. He made 39 tackles, the fewest he’s made in a season since his rookie year in 2012 (29).

“I called myself 'the babysitter,' man,” Gipson said. “I saved touchdowns [with tackles on run plays]. I’m blamed when I don’t catch six picks but what can you do? Rush and cover go together. … I’ll never make an excuse. There’s plays that I left out there, 100 percent, but there’s only so much you can do when you’re plus-one, 15 yards in the middle of the field 98 percent of the time. Like I said, if you go back I’ve never been that type of player in my career. This was definitely new to me.”

The Jaguars will be playing the same defensive scheme in 2017 that they did over the past four seasons and Wash said he will still employ a lot of single-high safety but is going to mix things up more than he did last season. He even said not to be surprised to see both Ramsey and cornerback A.J. Bouye lining up as safeties and Gipson and strong safety Barry Church at corner as a twist.

Ramsey did not meet with the media during organized team activities or minicamp and Gipson missed all of those workouts with an injury, so neither has yet commented on the meeting with Wash. Wash said he believed their comments were made partly because of frustration.

“Any time that you’re 3-13, you tend to be a little pissed off about it,” Wash said. “He was frustrated, I was frustrated. We were all frustrated of losing. We’re sick and tired of it.

“Hopefully we can change things around and win some football games.”