The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially opened training camp and they've done so at the recently-inaugurated Miller Electric Center. While it might take the Jags a big of time to get used to practicing at their brand new state-of-the-art facility, there are many things that are carrying over from last year.
As expected, Trevor Lawrence is taking the reins in his third NFL season. Joined by Calvin Ridley, the pair are working on their rapport and timing. But Lawrence isn't the only player returning from 2022. Most of the starters on both offense and defense are also back. This should allow Jacksonville to build on from last year's success and they seem to be off to a good start.
Head coach Doug Pederson began the day by meeting with the local media in the early morning. Here are three takeaways from the exchange:
No. 3 Jaguars players are taking ownership of the team
Having the right coach in place is key to having sustained success. However, there's only so much Doug Pederson can do and the Jaguars wouldn't have been able to make the playoffs and win the AFC South last year if he hadn't had enough playmakers in place.
In fact, one of the things that led to the turnaround last year was letting players be themselves and allowing them to step into leadership roles. During his exchange with the media, Pederson said he expects more of the same in 2023:
"We saw that toward the end of the year last year", Pederson said. "Players really took it upon themselves to lead the football team and that's a good sign of the leadership that you have in the locker room."
"We're not an old football team but for some of the young players to step up in those roles, and we're going to need more of that this year. It's good as a head coach that you can lean on those guys and they can handle lots of situations for you.
Instead of forcing players to fall in line with the program, Pederson knows players aren't robots and trust them to lead the way. That approach should continue to bear fruit in 2023.
No. 2 K'Lavon Chaisson figures to be in the Jaguars' plans for the 2023 season
Public perception doesn't always match a team's assessment of a player and that seems to be the case with outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson. A first-round pick in 2020, Chaisson has failed to live up to expectations, which led the Jags to decline the fifth-year option in his rookie deal. Moreover, he was thought to be on the roster bubble ahead of training camp but head coach Doug Pederson's latest comments might be a sign that the team has plans for him in 2023.
"When we're in base defense, he's a guy that's gonna be a rotational guy", Pederson said. Depth chart-wise, he's probably three behind Josh [Allen] and Travon [Walker] and then KC. But if he continues to improve and work the way he's been working in the offseason, hopefully, this camp is a good camp for him, you can see him in there a little bit more".
Chaisson has only logged three sacks in the last three years and has seen his playing time progressively decrease. The fact that the suffered a meniscus injury last year that forced him to miss time didn't help matters. Now, he'll have a chance to prove he deserves an expanded role in 2023.
While it's unrealistic to expect Chaisson to break out and register 10 sacks next season, the Jags need someone to step up after losing defensive end Arden Key to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. The coaching staff will give Chaisson a chance to fill that void, it's up to him to take advantage of the opportunity.
No. 1 Miller Electric Center will be big for the Jaguars in their preparation
You will be hard-pressed to find any positives that arose from the Urban Meyer debacle but he deserves credit — not a lot — for asking the Jaguars to build a new football facility. Back when he was hired, he said that he wanted to give players the best of the best for them to succeed. Although he failed in practice, he's right you need to give your players the resources to maximize their potential.
Meyer was kicked to the curb less than a year after being hired, so he didn't get to see the inauguration of the facility he requested, Miller Electric Center. The Jaguars now have more space to work out, common areas, and lots of space. While head coach Doug Pederson is grateful for the opportunity Episcopal School provided when they held training camp on their campus last year, he's excited about the team's new practice area.
"I think last year was great from the standpoint of we were at Episcopal and we appreciate everything they did for us", Pederson said. "And we're on buses, transport, and back and forth, so we kind of became a little closer group for a couple of weeks as we did that".
"Now the excitement, enthusiasm of a brand new building, two great fields, and having fans back in practice, which we'll have today and those are all the excitable things that we look forward to".
Later in the exchange, Pederson said that the new facilities should incentivize and motivate the team to be even better.
"You've spent a lot of time in the stadium, and it's been great for the amount of years that the Jaguars have been here. But having this, the windows, the sunlight to see it rain in the afternoon. To be able to walk outside right onto your practice field or walk indoors to your indoor facility and beautiful big weight room that you can now put the team in, it makes it easier", Pederson said.
He continued, "But the message too is let's not get comfortable right now. You still have to put in the hard work and the time but it gives us the resources to now really focus on ball and not worry about a bunch of other things".
Teams are always looking for an edge to give games. Miller Electric gives one to the Jaguars moving forward.