So far, it looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars got it right when they passed quarterback Zach Wilson over in 2021’s draft. Besides earning a lower Madden rating, the BYU product missed the start of training camp due to a contract dispute with the New York Jets. Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence has shined through the first two days of training camp.
No process is linear and Lawrence will eventually run into a few speedbumps but the Jaguars’ brass should be pleased with his development so far. On Day 1, the Clemson product made a few jaw-dropping passes but practiced with the second team. That changed Thursday, as he joined the ones. The rookie quarterback proved his performance on Wednesday was no fluke and followed it up with an even better on Day 2.
Lawrence displayed good accuracy and velocity while taking snaps with the first team, per John Oehser of the Jaguars’ official website. The rookie passer completed a series of long passes to Marvin Jones Jr. However, his best throw of the day might have been a 40-yard completion down the right sideline to the veteran wide receiver.
While the Jags haven’t announced Lawrence is the starting quarterback, it will be difficult to see him riding the bench in the season opener against the Houston Texans. Nobody will deny Gardner Minshew II is a grinder but he’s simply not as talented as the former Tiger. Furthermore, he was just alright on the second day of training camp after shining the practice before.
Here are a couple more observations about Day 2 of Jaguars training camp.
Jaguars training camp: James Robinson’s trying to avoid a sophomore slump.
Nobody would have blamed you if you thought that running back James Robinson wasn’t going to cut it in the NFL. After all, the Illinois State product went undrafted and faced a steep high to climb to make the Jaguars’ roster.
Not only did Robinson make the team but he became the starting running back as well. Moreover, he didn’t disappoint, totaling 1,414 yards from scrimmage in 2020, the most by an undrafted rookie in league history. As productive as the former Redbird was last year, the Jaguars’ brass believed their running back room could still use a boost and drafted Travis Etienne with the 25th overall pick in this year’s selection meeting.
After Day 2 of training camp, Robinson had a sitdown with the local media and talked about some of the differences he sees ahead of his second NFL season. The sophomore doesn’t see the addition of the former Tiger to the backfield as a bad thing. In fact, he thinks it will help him become even more productive.
"They always talk about having legs players coming out. I know once the season comes, having those fresh legs are going to help out a lot. A big play happens, get a couple more, then come out and then go back. You can have another big play just by having fresh legs."
Robinson says he feels a lot faster, “I’m able to move a little more and I feel like I’ve gotten stronger. I’m trying to slim down a bit”. Later, he told the media he’s still working hard in spite of the success he had as a rookie.
"You’re always being watched and I think about it like I can lose my job and it’s like I can get cut I can do any of that stuff so I try not to look at it like that and I just go come out and work and do what I have to do every time."
It’s refreshing to hear Robinson is not taking anything for granted and also doing everything he can to avoid a sophomore slump in 2021.
Jaguars training camp: Laviska Shenault is faster and stronger.
Why was Trevor Lawrence’s 40-yard completion to Marvin Jones arguably his best throw on Day 2 of training camp? Because he might’ve had a better one, a 25-yard strike over two defenders to second-year wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.
The 2020 second-round selection also got a shoutout from fellow sophomore James Robinson. During his sitdown with the media, the running back was asked who looks different when compared to the end of last season. He says that looking at Shenault in 2020 and now, he can tell the receiver is stronger and a lot faster.
Lawrence, and Tim Tebow, who is making the transition from quarterback to tight end, might be getting the most attention in training camp but they aren’t the only ones. Viska has also received the spotlight and is a favorite to have a breakout season on both the field and fantasy football in 2021.
Even though the Jaguars have a crowded wide receiver corps, Shenault should be able to find enough opportunities to make plays. In fact, he could find more success in 2021 with DJ Chark and Jones drawing coverages away from him. Last year, an inefficient coaching staff and injuries held him back. He’s poised to have a big role on the Jaguars’ offense under a new regime.
Will Shenault post a 1,000-yard season in 2021? Maybe not but if he doesn’t he will get within distance. One thing is sure, he will have no trouble posting better numbers than the ones he had last year.