JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – “The first week was a little bumpy for us.”
It is the countdown to the preseason at this point for the Jaguars. It is the third week of training camp practice and the Jags have that opening game of the preseason on Saturday night against the Chiefs. That will be the moment that many of the players on the Jaguars see “all your childhood dreams come true instantly,” said Christian Kirk as he thought back to his first preseason game.
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For a guy like Kirk, the preseason games don’t mean a ton at this point in his career. But for some of the young players fighting for roster spots and playing time preseason games are everything. His biggest tip for them is to be in the moment, and “if you mess up mess up fast.”
That same statement could be applied to the Jags offense in its start to training camp. Early in camp, they messed up but those mistakes were fast and seem like a distant memory now.
“I thought once the pads came on we’ve really taking advantage of that,” Kirk said.
That is as true of a statement as can be said. The Jaguars offense flipped the switch once they put the pads back on. That defense has had its moments but the offense has looked much better in pads. That seems like a strange qualifier but if that means the Jags offense plays better when the game is physical, I like it.
Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, Travis Etienne are names that have been on the Jags offense for a few years now but things will still look a little different this year.
“From basics and a foundational standpoint, we are doing a lot more,” Kirk said.
More could be good. Christian explained that they are moving guys around a little more than before.
📓 Notebook 📓
- Jaguars injury update: Not practicing, Patrick Murtagh (ankle) Anton Harrison (concussion protocol), Andrew Wingard (knee) and De’Shaan Dixon (knee). Individual work: Steven Jones (calf), Cooper Hodges (back), Ezra Cleveland (leg), Keilan Robinson (toe) and Jordan Jefferson (ankle).
- Doug Pederson shook up the Jags locker room. Players previously were grouped by position now they are scattered all over. “When adversity strikes you got to learn on one another,” said Kirk.
- It was a good day for Gabe Davis. It is clear he and Trevor are getting more and more comfortable and confident with one another.
- Just ignore the early depth chart. Ryan Nielsen said, “It is written in sand.” I think sand might even be a little too durable for this depth chart. I’d expect some major changes by next week.
- Brian Thomas Jr. had a solid day. The highlight of the day was a bomb that he brought in with Ronald Darby in coverage.
- Parker Washington continues to be a bright spot on the Jags offense he has been peppered with targets and creating space with his route running. That hype was high going into camp and he is living up to it.
- DJ Coleman came up with a sack during team drills. Coleman is a guy I was told to keep an eye on to have a real chance to crack the roster.