Nathan Rourke's progress, other observations from Jaguars OC Press Taylor's presser on Day 5 of training camp

The Jacksonville Jaguars will benefit from continuity on offense next season. Not having to install a new system will allow players to build on last year's performance and play more instinctively without having to think about the route their running or the kind of protection they're use.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor met with the local media on Day 5 of training camp and talked about how carryover is helping their players.

People talk a lot about Year 1, Year 2, really within a system", Taylor said. "So even our guys that are kind of third, fourth-year players, it's Year 1, Year 2 in a system. So you're seeing in the spring, these guys are very comfortable with what we're asking them to do. They understand the concepts. There's not as much thinking but you're playing the huddle. They know where to line up and know what they're gonna do, they know the adjustments if need be."

Here are other takeaways from Taylor's exchange with the media.

4. Nathan Rourke has a favorable chance of making the Jaguars 53-man roster:

Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard are quarterbacks Nos. 1 and 2 on the depth chart, respectively, but Nathan Rourke is making a case for the Jags to carry three signal-callers into the regular season. An Ontario native, Rourke played two seasons in the CFL before signing with Jacksonville.

Throughout the offseason, Rourke has gotten praise from the Jaguars' coaching staff and Day 4 of training camp was no different, with Press Taylor talking about the progress he's made.

"He's done a great job in terms of growing from the spring through the summer into now training camp," Taylor told the media. "He's somebody that he and coach [Mike] McCoy spend a lot of time together. He's done a great job in that room with those guys. And he's somebody that's gonna get a lot of opportunities as well coming up these preseason games that we have high hopes for leading our offense."

Taylor goes on to say that the coaching staff isn't focused on their quarterbacks' stats but rather their ability to go through their progression and understanding the process within each play.

"The big thing with those guys is understanding what we're trying to do on each play and where to go with the ball playing on time. Throughout this training camp, we're really evaluating the quarterback process, not as concerned with what the stats may look like," Taylor said.

Taylor continued, "Because again, we're not scheming our defense, we're putting on plays but we want to understand we want them to understand the process within each play and how we get through our progression when we may through a certain guy in a certain times, but certainly the accuracy has been impressive".

The NFL changed the rules earlier this year, so teams can carry three quarterbacks without using a roster spot on Game Day. Given the progress Rourke has made, it looks like he's got a favorable shot of getting the nod for the 2023 season.

3. The Jaguars want their offensive linemen to play multiple spots

Third-year pro Walker Little is set to step in at left tackle for the first four games of the 2023 season while Cam Robinson serves a suspension for violations to the PED policy. However, Little has also gotten reps on the interior offensive line during training camp.

This doesn't mean that he'll switch to guard once Robinson returns but the coaching staff is preparing for any potential contingencies and wants their big hog mollies to play different positions. During his exchange with the media, Taylor outlined what he expects from the offensive linemen.

"I think the best thing with that group is the versatility and you'll see guys throughout this thing shuffle around, whether it be playing the right side, the left side, inside, outside", Taylor said. "We're gonna have to see some guys snap at some point because we continue to see how could you contribute on Game Day if you're not a starter? You have to be able to play more than one spot really on the offensive line where you kind of pigeonhole us or you force us to move multiple people if something were to happen."

"So we'll continue to see that as we go, the biggest thing is when the pads come on, what happens still not live [contact] or anything like that. But there's like we said, there's an increased physicality as we move forward and it's probably not that one but yeah," Taylor said.

Tyler Shatley has the versatility to line up anywhere on the interior offensive line, having made 30 starts at all three positions over the last 30 years. Veteran Josh Wells can also play either tackle spot. Now, the Jaguars want some of their other linemen to be ready to switch positions in case injuries strike in 2023.

2. Nick Holz and his influence on the Jaguars offense for the 2023 season

Something that hasn't been brought nearly enough is that most of the Jaguars' offensive staff from last year is back for the 2023 season. Wide receivers coach Chris Jackson took the same position at Texas, so the Jaguars brought in Chad Hall to take his place. Hall is highly regarded around the league and well-liked by all his players, so receiver corps shouldn't miss a beat.

Also, passing game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter left to become Shane Steichen's offensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts. To replace Bob Cooter, Jacksonville hired Nick Holz, who the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNLV last year.

Before that, Holz was an assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders from 2012-2021. Having learned from Todd Downing, Bill Musgrave, Greg Olson and Jon Gruden, Holz has a wide array of influences and Press Taylor talked about what he brings to the table.

"I think the biggest thing with Nick is taken us now in Year 1 to Year 2 and Nick's experience with different systems during his time with the Raiders. He's been with a lot of those different guys. Whether it be coach Gruden, coach Olson, a bunch of different people that we think bring different ideas and experience to us".

"Whether it be spread systems, West Coast systems, no huddle stuff, his experience. The way he meshes with our coaching staff, having known a couple of guys through. I think it will continue to elevate us from Year 1 to Year 2 like we've been talking about," Taylor said.

Coaches need to consistently reinvent thelseves if they don't want to become obsolete. Bringing in other voices from other coaching backgrounds shows Doug Pederson's willingness to adapt and adjust.

1. Press Taylor talks about his attire choice for Day 2 of Jaguars training camp

The offensive line overall did a good job of protecting Trevor Lawrence throughout most of the 2022 season but ESPN ranked them 31 in pass sets. Press Taylor made it known he was aware of the ranking by wearing a sweatshirt with the stat printed on it on Day 2 of training camp. During his latest exchange with the media, he talked about choice of gear for practice.

"It's all kind of in jest; we understand that", Taylor said. People say things, whatever, we don't care. We show up and we want to be the best team. And we want to pay the best for those three hours on Sunday. If somebody wants to say we're the best line, the worst line, we don't really care."

"That has nothing to do with anything that goes on in the field, so it's just making light of it. I don't know that it adds a chip neccesarily to our guys other than it's something to have fun with as we go", Taylor continued.

All things considered, Taylor is taking the right approach. You can't never settle in the NFL and must continually look for ways to get better. On the other hand, you can't get too riled up about it. By wearing the sweater, Taylor is acknowledging what others are saying but he's focused on ways to improved instead of the outside noise.

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