Jaguars OTAs Day 1 observations: ‘working in direction of taking part in in September’

The Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off day considered one of Organized Staff Actions on Monday, opening the group’s first offense versus protection motion underneath incoming playcalling Head Coach Liam Coen and Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile. Whereas the humid Jacksonville solar got here able to play early on, Coen’s offense began off barely sluggish.

Listed below are our takeaways from OTA day one and Coen’s post-practice media availability.

Takeaways from Day 1 of OTAs:

A younger group is trying, effectively…younger

With the Jacksonville Jaguars opening their inaugural OTAs underneath Coen and GM James Gladstone, this allowed the media (and the gamers themselves) their first alternative to witness Coen’s Jacksonville offense towards an opposing unit. The sixth youngest group within the NFL, with essentially the most undrafted free agent addition,s seemed like a younger group early on, offensively.

Early into the day, the offense appeared to want just a little time getting their toes underneath them, with a number of overthrows, misfires, drops, and one false begin all towards air.

Whether or not it was sophomore WR Brian Thomas Jr or rookie WR/CB Travis Hunter (who additionally had an early drop within the opening drills), the offense started the day barely “off.” Nonetheless, they might choose issues up momentarily within the 7-on-7 interval with a number of fairly clear intervals of effectivity earlier than once more combating turnovers or miscues within the a number of 11-on-11 intervals.

Of the day’s 4 interceptions, one Trevor Lawrence int was the results of a tipped cross off of WR Parker Washington’s fingers, with the opposite Lawrence interception an overthrow of Travis Hunter. Lawrence spoke with the media after apply.

“I actually simply sailed one to Travis over the center. He did a pleasant job. He had a cross route, I had him open and simply sailed it just a little bit. Sav [S Darnell Savage] picked that one off, he was behind him. The opposite one was simply me and Parker [WR Parker Washington] being on the identical web page on a curl route. I attempted to throw it away from a zone defender beneath, and we have been just a bit bit off on what one another was pondering. That is the time of 12 months once you work that stuff out. Clearly, you by no means wish to have interceptions. You by no means wish to have balls on the bottom, you wish to be clear. However alternatively, you wish to see the miscommunication or a few of that so you’ll be able to repair it now and never carry that over afterward. We are going to repair that stuff, and we’ll get it cleaned up.”

That is ideally the time of 12 months to do exactly that, getting any miscues cleaned up. RB Bhayshul Tuten’s fumble within the 11-on-11 interval was an early notable that the employees will have a look at fixing, with Tuten bringing with him 9 complete fumbles over his previous two collegiate seasons. 4 occurred in 2024, although just one was misplaced.

Nonetheless early within the studying section

To Lawrence’s level, the group is at present of their first day of a studying section of the low season, in a brand new offensive scheme with a number of new receivers and a quarterback that’s re-acclimating after an low season surgical procedure and solely lately throwing in his first reps towards protection. The early days of the low season, whereas carrying shorts and helmets, ought to by no means be closely weighed, particularly contemplating the forementioned obstacles.

However, whereas perfection is all the time the tip objective, the method of overcoming obstacles might be rather more necessary to a younger group. In different phrases, the offensive development transferring ahead and the way they bounce again ought to be key early on. Coach Coen, when requested about his ideas on the offense, gave an analogous reply.

“We’re working in direction of taking part in in September, clearly. At this level, it’s strictly how a lot can we truly be taught from on a regular basis. We’re not evaluating possibly among the stuff you would usually consider in a recreation, proper? Or within the season. What number of psychological errors did we have now? How a lot can we proceed to be disciplined with our communication, formations, alignments, assignments? Are we going to catch each ball and throw each ball out right here within the first day of Section 3? I’d assume not. However extra when it comes to the operation, the communication, are we understanding what we’re attempting to get completed out of the calls? It’s a studying section, not essentially a aggressive section. Do you wish to be cleaner? Completely. Would you like it to look good? Sure, all of us do. That’s simply not the truth presently on this section.”

Nonetheless, it wasn’t all dangerous information offensively. Free agent addition WR Dyami Brown most likely had one of many strongest days of any participant on the offense, with 5 or 6 catches on the day in all ranges of the sector. He additionally added a rush that may have possible gone for 30-plus yards, untouched. Moreover, UDFA WR Eli Pancol additionally had a particularly environment friendly day, with 5 to six chain-moving receptions and one longer one.

A tough day for offense means nice information defensively

Spherical one goes to the protection, with Anthony Campanile’s unit displaying as much as capitalize on offensive miscues and infrequently inflicting the errors via nice performs being made above the Xs and Os.

Along with the turnovers, sophomore CB Jaarian Jones had a number of cross breakups (PBUs) in Monday’s 11-on-11 interval, with free agent S Eric Murray additionally accumulating a PBU on the deep seam throw and later ripping out a near-completion to Brenton Unusual from Lawrence.

To not be neglected of this unpadded affair, the line of defense joined the motion, with Josh Hines-Allen scooping and scoring a landing of his personal through the Bhayshul Tuten fumble. Coach Coen raved when discussing the protection’s early efficiency.

“I believed simply from a communication standpoint, punching the ball out. Doing it in the appropriate method, although. We had a few guys attempting to be intentional about getting the ball out and getting their fingers on the soccer, one thing that we’re actively attempting to be intentional about this complete offseason. I believed the defensive employees has accomplished a fantastic job of speaking that within the assembly settings, bringing it out to the apply subject. I believed they did a pleasant job setting the road of scrimmage, taking part in with size on the D line. The ball was out. I imply, the ball was on the bottom too many occasions for us offensively, however hey, on the flipside of it, that’s the primary time as a head coach it’s a must to be very impartial in these moments the place I’m type of ticked off that the ball is on the bottom from an offensive standpoint. However finally, man, the protection did a pleasant job of getting the ball out right this moment for us.”

Joint apply with Miami

Coach Coen additionally confirmed that the group at present has one joint apply scheduled for this season, their pre-season week three opponent, the Miami Dolphins.

“One as of proper now. One as of proper now. Miami.”

That matchup’s date and the accompanying joint apply date(s) are nonetheless TBD. Nonetheless, they’ll possible happen someday across the week of August 18th in Miami.

What are you trying ahead to from the group over the approaching weeks, BigCatCountry? Tell us within the feedback!