JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a full week of training camp in the books, the Jacksonville action and intensity ramps up.
The Jaguars concluded their sixth day of training camp on Sunday, which saw the players put on the full pads for the first time.
Head coach Doug Pederson spoke before practice on Sunday and offered his comments on the first week. He said he would like his team to reacquaint themselves with the pads.
“The most important thing is the safety of the players and protecting each other. We practice hard and fast, and we just want to be smart,” Pederson said. “Physicality is increasing and we want the boys to get used to wearing pads again.”
News4JAG’s Camp Coverage ’22
Are you missing anything this week? No problem. Jaguar training camp coverage is fine here. (note: The team had Friday off, so there was no camp notebook).
Sunday Notebook: Pederson likes new approaches
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Notebook for Saturday: The intensity is increasing
Thursday Notebook: Defense shines
Wednesday Notebook: Offensive click
Tuesday Notebook: Coaches treat players like ‘grown men’
Monday Notebook: All eyes on Trevor
Travon Walker learns patience at the first camp
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Trevor Lawrence doesn’t plan on having a bad year
Ticket revenue, attendance decrease for Jags in 2021
Bolles graduate Tee Mitchell uses his coaching opportunity with the Jaguars
Pederson takes the reins for Jaguars early in camp
Recent QB signer Kyle Sloter takes on the underdog role
What to expect at the Jaguars’ Episcopal training camp
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Jaguar Position Breakdown: Linebacker
Jaguars Position Breakdown: Defensive Backs
Jaguars Position Breakdown: Line of Defence
On Saturday, the team was only equipped with the upper pads. Pederson said it was an excellent first step in preparing the team for Thursday’s upcoming preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“The tension between offense and defense is starting to build up again and that’s the energy that we’re keen to watch,” Pederson said. “We need to make sure we have intelligent heads-up play and are in full control before Thursday.”
After six days of camp so far, the coaches feel more comfortable and more familiar with their players, especially the rookies.
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As various mandatory camps and OTAs took place in June, the coaches, with pads on, began to learn more from their team.
“We’ve learned more about our football team and our boys’ physicality,” Pederson said. “These guys have been doing this since high school and stuff like that. They’re getting into situations at the NFL level now.”
It’s not just rookies who get up to NFL speed while veterans start to shake off their rust from the summer. New tight end signing Evan Engram has had a shaky start to training camp.
Engram has had some notable declines during the first week that have attracted attention. Most notably, he dropped an open pass during a two-minute attacking practice in the red zone.
11 v 11 (2 minute penalty)
Trevor Lawrence to Evan Engram
On the 2 yard line and he dropped it.
— Jamal St Cyr (@JStCyrTV) July 30, 2022
“I think that would have been a difficult catch anyway. He’ll make that catch next time,” Pederson said. “Better now than week 1.”
Despite the slow start, Pederson said Engram would be a big part of the offense.
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“He’s been good so far and I like where he’s mentally always picking things up,” said Pederson. “I really enjoyed the connection and communication between him and Trevor [Lawrence]. Excited to see these two this year.”
Speaking about engram and the tight ends he mentioned Dan Arnold who is in a perfect position.
“He’s a veteran who’s a sneaky athlete on the football field,” Pederson said. “He’ll end up having a good year for us.”
The kicking situation for the team was one of the topics of conversation during the first week of camp.
Jacksonville signed undrafted free agent Andrew Mevis in late April and stepped in to compete with Ryan Santoso, who signed in March.
Mevis did well against OTAs in June but struggled in the first week of camp.
On Thursday, Mevis went 1 for 3 on field goals, one of which hit former Dallas Cowboys head coach Dave Campo, who was on the sidelines in the media viewing area.
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The Jaguars then waived Mevis Friday and signed Elliot Fry.
That @jaguars have signed K Elliott Fry, the club announced today. The team also did without K Andrew Mevis.
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) July 29, 2022
“Young guys sometimes put too much pressure on themselves, and that’s what happened with Mevis,” Pederson said. “You just have to learn to relax and just play.”
Pederson ended his time on Sunday with a speech about Travon Walker, who has been impressive in his first week in training camp.
During Saturday’s team practice, Walker kept going past the line into the backfield.
Pederson said the most important thing for young people like Walker is to see how they handle intensity volume.
“He’s a real student of the game. He’s a very good learner and if he makes a mistake you don’t see him again,” said Pederson. “A lot of information has been thrown at him and we want to make sure he can respond well to that.”
That intensity continued on Sunday as Walker once again dominated the 1v1 and team practice sessions.
The Jaguars have two more days of camp before heading out to take on the Raiders in the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
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