JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The grind of training camp is here for the Jaguars, just not for Ryan Nielsen.
After two grueling days of camp practices that felt more physically draining than most, players have mentioned just how rugged the heat and full pads are. Nielsen, the team’s new defensive coordinator, put a hard stop on the dog days of summer talk on Saturday morning.
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He’s got a bounce in his step and he’s soaking it all in.
“Never dog days. Never dog days. It’s awesome to be here. Our guys have a great outlook. Really tough group, tough-minded group,” Nielsen said. “It’s just another opportunity to get better, and we just take one day at a time, one practice at a time, one rep at a time.”
The Jaguars are a week out from their preseason opener against the Chiefs and the intensity is no doubt ramping up. Since full pads went on Tuesday, the offense has seen a steady improvement across the board. The defense was dominant in the opening week of camp and players have raved about Nielsen. Even though the heat has been relentless, Nielsen looks like a coach who is having the time of his life at work.
“Football’s fun. I mean, football is tough, it’s fun. We want to keep it that way. Fly around, have fun, have relationships with the guys,” he said. “It just means more. You have more fun with the guys when you actually know them and you know them as people, not just the players.”
Josh Hines-Allen said during camp that he’s learned quite a bit from Nielsen on footwork. Travon Walker said this week that Nielsen has really helped him with hand movement and placement. Other players have mentioned nuanced things that Nielsen has stressed and worked with them on. Nielsen said that being able to tailor lessons to players is a result of his defensive staff being able to get to know each player on a level outside of football.
“That’s relationships. It’s one of the things you really like about being a coach is relationships with the players,” he said. “You have lunch or you have breakfast or interactions with the guys. You learn a little bit about them — what kind of makes them tick and things like that,” he said.
“Our players have been very receptive, have good conversations with the guys just about anything. One of our favorite things about coaching is that relationship part and being able to talk to the guys about those certain different things.”
The Chiefs are on the horizon for Jacksonville. The Jaguars have four more practices before Kansas City comes to town for the preseason opener.
The team announced after practice that it was closing Sunday and Monday sessions to fans due to the approaching tropical depression. All tickets for those practice dates had been claimed, but the team said fans could try and attend one of the final three open dates (Aug. 7, 8 or 12). The two other practices, joint scrimmages with the Buccaneers on Aug. 14-15 are already filled.
Notebook
- DaVon Hamilton continues to look better and better. Hamilton signed a major contract extension before the 2023 season and then almost disappeared. Hamilton had a serious health issue caused by an infection in his back and never seemed comfortable. He had just 12 tackles and was limited to eight games. Hamilton has been stellar in camp and has showed off his improvement with dominant performances in 1-on-1 battles on both Friday and Saturday.
- The Jaguars made military veterans and service members the featured guests on Saturday. Dream Finders Homes surprised a local homeless veteran, Sgt. David James McLaughlin Jr., by gifting him a new home.
- Rookie defensive lineman Maason Smith had a dominant 1-on-1 win against veteran guard Brandon Scherff.
- Longtime Jaguars offensive lineman Tyler Shatley told 1010 XL’s Ryan Green after practice that this season will be his last. Shatley signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and has been one of the most reliable players in franchise history. Shatley has played in 145 games with 51 starts.
- Guard Ezra Cleveland (leg) and cornerback Greg Junior (knee) both suffered injuries on Saturday. They joined a growing list of banged up players. Tight ends Josh Pederson and Patrick Murtagh, offensive linemen Anton Harrison, Cooper Hodges and Steven Jones, safety Andrew Wingard and linebacker Ventrell Miller were all held out Murtagh suffered a broken ankle in Friday’s practice.
- Rookie kicker Cam Little has been impressive. On Saturday, Little’s first field goal attempt was from 57 yard and he drilled it with plenty of room to spare. He also hit a 46-yarder.