LEWIS LOOKING FORWARD
Marcedes Lewis is focused on the future and not the past.
A Pro Bowl tight end in 2010, Lewis returned to Jacksonville last week for the Jaguars' off-season program last week and is participating in the team's voluntary, three-day Veteran Orientation this week at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice field adjacent to EverBank Field.
Lewis said his focus in this camp is the same as many Jaguars players – learning a new offense, and getting acclimated to a new coaching staff.
"It's a new year, and a new energy," Lewis said. "It's good to be back out here. It's good to have most everybody out here in April, because this is where championships are won. I think it's exciting to get out here and put in a new system."
Lewis, who caught 39 passes for 460 yards and no touchdowns last season after catching 58 for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns the previous season, said when it comes to his personal goals, his focus is on 2012 and not last season.
"If I was to say, 'personal motivation,' that would mean I'm thinking about last year,'' Lewis said. "I'm not thinking about last year. I'm just trying to get back to the form."
New Jaguars Head Coach Mike Mularkey said Lewis will be key to an offensive scheme that has a reputation as tight end-friendly.
"His ability to block is a big positive for us," Mularkey said. "The runs that we run are a lot of strong-side runs. This is no secret, this is what we do. And he can block them as well as anybody. I saw it already (Monday), even in just helmets. He's also a guy that has a chance to stretch the field and be a viable receiver.
"He's got a lot of ability in both phases and that's hard to find in tight ends these days. But he, to me, is one of the best blockers right now. That's going to be big for our run game."
Lewis said no question he will be busier in Mularkey's scheme.
"There's going to be a lot expected of us," he said. "We understand that."
PRICE LIKELY OUT FOR OFF-SEASON
Wide receiver Taylor Price sustained a stress fracture in his left foot in practice Wednesday morning, and likely will miss the rest of the off-season, Mularkey said.
Price, a third-year veteran, joined the Jaguars off waivers from New England last December. He played in two games for the Jaguars last season and caught two passes for 39 yards.
He was a third-round selection by New England in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was injured on a running play, Mularkey said.
COACHES CORNER
"There is a right way and a wrong way, and there's kind of an in-between way. The in-between ways and wrong ways get you beat."
--- Jaguars wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan
WHO'S IN
*Linebacker Clint Session and defensive end Austen Lane appeared to practice full Wednesday after being limited at times Tuesday. Offensive tackle Eben Britton, who was thought to be limited before camp, practiced full for a second consecutive day. Cornerback Derek Cox also has worked on a limited basis.
WHO'S OUT
*Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, Kicker Josh Scobee, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, defensive end John Chick, linebacker Stephen Franklin, safety Darcel McBath did not attend practice.
*Cornerback Rashean Mathis, cornerback T.J. Heath, cornerback Ashton Youboty, linebacker Paul Posluszny, defensive end Aaron Kampman and defensive tackle Tyson Alualu attended practice, but did not practice.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"I feel really good. I just have to knock some rust off. It just feels really good to be moving around and hitting stuff. It's about as good as you can ask for your first couple of days back after five months off."
--Jaguars RT Eben Britton on returning after finishing last season on injured reserve (back)
MULARKEY SAYS
"We have gotten a lot done in all areas and all phases. We went in with the intent of not overloading them with information, but giving them enough and then working it and being detailed with it. We're getting better at it in the three times we've been out here."
--- Jaguars Head Coach Mike Mularkey on the first two days of minicamp
WHAT WE'RE SEEING
The Jaguars' wide receivers appeared to have a solid day, with fourth-year veteran Jarett Dillard catching nearly every pass thrown his way, including an acrobatic catch early in drills. He appeared to run the wrong route on a pass from quarterback Blaine Gabbert that was intercepted by nickelback Drew Coleman late in practice. Second-year wide receiver Cecil Shorts had a good practice, catching a long pass late in 7-on-7 drills.
*Newly signed WR Laurent Robinson looked smooth and athletic on short and intermediate routes.
*Shorts had several receptions on intermediate routes, including one on which he caught a short pass and made a quick turn for a 10-to-15-yard gain.
*Newly signed WR Lee Evans – like Robinson – worked with the Jaguars for a second time. He caught several passes, including an intermediate route from Chad Henne just inside the sidelines during 7-on-7 drills.
*Cornerback Kevin Rutland broke up a long pass intended for wide receiver Chastin West in 7-on-7 drills.
TODAY'S TAKE
One thing you get asked a lot as someone covering a team during a mini-camp is how a certain player does or doesn't look. That's difficult, if not impossible, to answer for several reasons. One is obviously the players are not in pads and the hitting is not live, and another is that some players simply perform different in practices rather than games. The main reason, though, is that mini-camp practices and even organized team activities – the practices in the off-season that aren't mini-camps – are as often as not teaching sessions rather than competition sessions. Teams want players to play well this time of year, but typically off-season work is viewed as allowing the players to prepare for training camp and the preseason. Therefore, teams actually do little evaluation based on how a player plays this time of year.
QUICK HITS
*Newly signed cornerback Aaron Ross worked at punt returner during the early practice, with wide receivers Mike Thomas and Dillard also working at the spot.
*Defensive end Jeremy Mincey spoke to the team before practice Wednesday morning. Mularkey plans to have a player address the team before each practice, and while Mularkey originally had someone else in mind Wednesday, Mularkey said he was pleased when Mincey stepped in to speak. "He jumped in there, and I liked that," Mularkey said. "I really liked that."
*Mularkey said Ross has been given permission to miss practice in training camp if necessary to attend the Olympics in London. Ross' wife, Sanya Richards, is an Olympic Gold Medalist and the world's top-ranked female runner in the 400 meters. "It may be a one-time thing in your lifetime," Mularkey said. "You don't want to miss something like that. That was an easy one."
*The Jaguars worked in helmets and shorts in the morning, and had a walkthrough in the afternoon.
