Jaguars Training Camp: Three Things We Learned From Day 1
By David Levin
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone wants the team to continue to build toward the regular season.
As he and the coaching staff approached the first day of Training Camp for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Doug Marrone told the media the idea of to get better each of the next few days before the pads go on and players are able to hit each other for the first time.
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"“We just want to build up. We want to build up and go. Obviously, we are conscious of the players and not being able to go out there and really just turn it on right now and be 110 miles per hour,” Marrone said. “We are going to gradually build it up. That is why the acclimation period that we are having now – it is a good period, so that we can get a chance to go run around, get ourselves going and get used to the way that we want to practice again. Do that and then obviously when the pads come on, it is not a big shock to us.”"
Thursday’s Jaguars practice was the start of another march toward the playoffs following a division title and two playoff wins before losing to the New England Patriots. There were moments during the morning session that caught the fans’ attention.
Rookie wide receiver DJ Chark made a catch down the left sideline over cornerback Tre Herndon on a long ball from quarterback Blake Bortles in 11-on-11 drills. Chark stayed in bounds and extend for the ball while fending off Herndon at the same time.
It was a sign that Bortles’ wrist injury he suffered last season isn’t a bother and the fifth-year signal caller should play better this season.
Here are three other things we learned.
Crowded Wide Receiver Position
Competition is everything in training camp. There are plenty of talented pass catchers with only five or six spots open on the roster. Donte Moncrief looked solid in his first day and could challenge Marqise Lee for the No. 1 spot in the rotation.
Moncrief’s speed will mean another fast wide receiver will be part of this offense, giving Bortles another set of hands to throw to.
Attention To Detail
The Jaguars offensive and defensive linemen were working the sleds and pads on the sidelines. This will be the first time Marrone and his staff will get a chance to see both lines in pads.
While OTAs and minicamp were more of a dress rehearsal, Marrone said until he sees the big guys move around in pads, he cannot fully assess their progress. Regardless, Andrew Norwell looks like a beast and should make this running game even better.
You Can’t Win A Job, But You Can Lose One
It’s a mantra Marrone has preached many times this offseason. While there are plenty of staters penciled in, there are still opportunities for players to impress enough to push an incumbent out of position.
There are still questions about the right guard and outside linebacker. There is plenty of depth on the offensive line for that to shake out. A.J. Cann needs to have a great camp. At linebacker, there are three or four players in the mix to replace the retired Paul Posluszny.