JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone met the media Wednesday.
This was 2017 Training Camp Reporting Day, and if there is an official kickoff to the NFL season – a time when the offseason is officially over and the real stuff begins – this is it.
Marrone told the media that all 90 Jaguars players reported to camp by Wednesday, and also discussed topics including injured cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Colvin, the recent off-field issues concerning defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. and the offensive line.
A look at Marrone's Wednesday presser:
*Marrone said he hadn't spoken to players as a team as of early Wednesday afternoon. The first team meeting was planned for Wednesday evening. "We're going to talk to the team about winning," he said. Marrone at this point jokingly referred to Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin saying during his January introductory press conference that the Jaguars "were trying to win lunch," adding that the focus on winning was serious. "I want to make sure everyone understands. I think clear communication is very important. When you are in a position of leadership and you're talking to the group, you need to make sure you communicate clearly. … It's the first message because to me it's the most important message." …
*Marrone also said rookie Cam Robinson will start camp at left tackle, where he started three seasons at Alabama and where he worked during the offseason program. Robinson is expected to compete at left tackle with two-time Pro Bowl selection Branden Albert, who missed organized team activities after being acquired in a March trade with Miami. Albert attended the team's mandatory minicamp in June. …
*Marrone said he expects to know a lot about the offensive line in the next week and a half. Not only are Robinson and Albert competing, but the team worked Linder, A.J. Cann, Earl Watford, Patrick Omameh, Chris Reed and Luke Bowanko at various positions on the interior during the offseason. "We're going to play the best five," Marrone said, adding that a five-day stretch of padded practices next week will be important in that area: "We should have a very good feel where we are to practice against New England." The Jaguars will hold joint practices against the Patriots August 7-8. …
*Marrone discussed the five-year contract extension signed by center Brandon Linder Tuesday, saying that "Brandon has been a good player for us, but when a player is rewarded for performance we're looking for the challenge of results. We want to reward our good football players, but we want to reward ourselves and our fans by winning football games." Linder played center last season after playing guard in his first two NFL seasons. He worked at both positions during the on-field portion of the 2017 offseason program and Marrone said Wednesday he will start training camp at center. …
*Marrone said safety Tashaun Gipson, safety Barry Church and running back T.J. Yeldon will work in practice on Day 1 of camp Thursday. All three players did not practice during the team's offseason program. Ramsey, Colvin and fullback Marquez Williams will begin training camp in the physically unable to perform list. …
*Marrone on quarterback Blake Bortles: "I think it's just like everyone else: I want to see him go out there, and I want to start seeing results. I want to see him throw the ball well. I want to see him take control. I want to see him show confidence. I want to do that with every player. I don't treat them [quarterbacks] much differently than I treat everyone else. If he makes a mistake, just like if our right tackle made a mistake, I'm going to say something." …
