JACKSONVILLE – The heat stayed hot, and the intensity got hotter.
Those were primary storylines of Jaguars 2016 Training Camp Day 3, with the temperature staying high as the team's move into shoulder pads brought more intense work compared to Days 1 and 2.
Yes, on Saturday, camp got a bit more real.
"It was much different," Head Coach Gus Bradley said early Saturday afternoon after the Jaguars worked for about two-and-a-half hours in 89-degree temperatures that felt like 98 at the practice fields adjacent to EverBank Field.
"You saw it out there …we had some matchups. We really want to have those good matchups and challenge each other. We talk about having good matchups within our team. We want to utilize that good competition in those matchups."
Bradley called it a "really good day," with wide receiver Allen Robinson standing out in red-zone drills. Bradley said the Jaguars' offense improved from a Friday practice in which eight or nine balls were stripped or hit the ground.
"It's a big emphasis to say, 'Hey, this is our standard,''' Bradley said. "What we saw [Friday] … I don't know what that was. It was a really good day today. We started fast. Those things are emphases in training camp that we're really pounding into our guys."
The team's worked in shoulder pads Saturday was the first such work of camp, with the first two days having been in shorts. The first day of full pads is expected to be Tuesday.
Saturday's practice featured one-on-one pass blocking drills, with offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum not participating while the team remains cautious in his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained while with Pittsburgh last season. Beachum worked in team drills at both left guard and tackle, continuing to rotate at those positions with Luke Joeckel.
Center Brandon Linder was perhaps the most impressive offensive lineman during the one-on-one pass-rushing period, while Otto linebacker Dan Skuta beat Joeckel for a sack around the outside. Joeckel, the starter at left tackle the past two seasons, is competing with Beachum for the starting role there this season.
Also standing out during one-on-one pass rush were defensive tackle Malik Jackson, defensive tackle Michael Bennett, defensive ends Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue and defensive tackle Sheldon Day.
Sunday's practice, like Saturday's, is free and open to the public. The Jaguars moved Sunday's practice from 10 a.m. to 6:45.
"The biggest part is we added eight-and-a-half hours of recovery," Bradley said.
INJURY WATCH
Wide receiver Marqise Lee and running back T.J. Yeldon both sat out practice for a second consecutive day Saturday.
Lee missed with what Bradley said was a mild hamstring injury and Bradley said Yeldon is day to day with an ankle injury. Both players missed Friday's practice.
Offensive lineman Luke Bowanko (ankle) and defensive end Jonathan Woodard remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
PLAY OF THE DAY
This wasn't the most highlight-filled day of camp. Perhaps the biggest play came when veteran linebacker Hayes Pullard III cut in front of a pass to the flat by rookie quarterback Max Wittek. Pullard caught the pass and returned it for what would have been an interception return for a touchdown.
HIGHLIGHTS
*Fowler delivered the first big hit of camp when he leveled unrestricted free agent running back Chris Ivory on a running play midway through practice. …
*Tight end Marcedes Lewis had a long touchdown reception from quarterback Blake Bortles midway through practice. …
*Wide receiver Rashad Greene continued a strong first three days of camp with a short reception that he turned into a 20-yard gain in team drills. …
*Day showed good quickness as an interior rusher in pass-rushing drills, getting consistent penetration on his rushes. …
*Jackson showed good quickness around the edge and good power in pass-rushing drills. …
*Otto linebacker Ryan Davis registered an impressive, powerful sack in pass-rushing drills. …
