A POSITIVE FEELING
The Jaguars' starters will play about 10-to-12 plays Thursday.
That's head coach Mike Mularkey's plan, but middle linebacker Paul Posluszny said it's not so much the number of plays that's important for the defense's starters.
It's what they do with those plays that matters.
"We want to go out and regardless of how long we play execute our defenses to the best of our ability," Posluszny said as the Jaguars prepared to play the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason finale at EverBank Field Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
"We want to go have that positive feeling going into the regular season."
On Thursday the Jaguars allowed 32 first downs and 571 total yards to the Ravens in a 48-17 preseason loss in Baltimore.
"From a defensive standpoint, we want to come out and play a lot better than we did last week," Posluszny said. "We made some mistakes, and we want to have another opportunity to play together solid as a group before the real thing starts."
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NO PRESSURE**
As Laurent Robinson sees it, it's not time to panic.
Robinson, a wide receiver who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent this past offseason, has caught one pass for seven yards in three preseason games, prompting some to question if he's feeling pressure in his new situation.
"Not at all," he said. "I only have one catch in the preseason and it's pretty obvious to see, but it's still early. We got preseason last game coming up this week and hopefully we can get some catches under my belt and then head into the regular season. I've had a lot of catches during the season so it's not really affecting me at all."
Robinson caught 54 passes for 858 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys last season. Mularkey said Saturday Robinson contributed well as a blocker, and quarterback Blaine Gabbert noted that Robinson had been interfered with twice, resulting in long gains.
"I'm trying to just keep a positive attitude," Robinson said. "Pass interference calls are good but I still want the catch and I got to try to fight through the contact and make the play. So there's still room to grow and I still got to get better."
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POSLUSZNY SAYS**
"We're still progressing and we still have a long way to go, but the foundation is definitely set. We feel like we have a successful foundation. We're going to continue to build off of that."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jaguars will practice Monday then return to practice Tuesday as they prepare for the preseason finale against the Falcons Thursday night at EverBank Field.
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TODAY'S TAKE
Know this about Mike Mularkey: when it comes to getting the Jaguars prepared, he's going to be smart, but he's not going to cheat himself, either. Mularkey put the Jaguars through a physical training camp, one that essentially kept going last week despite camp technically ending on Sunday, August 19. The next day, Mularkey put the team through a three-hour padded practice that players said was as difficult as any since camp had begun, and on Sunday, players were back in pads. The team will practice in pads Monday before going in shorts the two days leading to the preseason finale. Mularkey said there will be a padded practice next Monday, after which the team will settle into the one-padded-practice-a-week for as long as it's allowed under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Mularkey, asked if he's OK with rules limiting padded practices, said, "I have to be." Mularkey is in his first season with the Jaguars, and in future years, with a different team, there may be a time for pulling back in training camp and saving legs. For now, it's pretty clear Mularkey wants this to be a physical, aggressive team, and after this year's training camp and preseason, that message couldn't be clearer.
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QUICK HITS
*Safety Courtney Greene returned to full practice status Sunday after being limited Saturday, while rookie cornerback Mike Harris returned. Harris had missed practice Saturday after the birth of his first daughter, Carter (six pounds, seven ounces).
*Following a rash of injuries at defensive end, the Jaguars moved defensive tackle Corvey Irvin outside this week. "It's an opportunity," Irvin said. "I have to lock in and do my job. I've had a pretty solid camp. I've got one more week of practice to show them what I can do, then just hope for the best." Irvin originally was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round and joined the Jaguars last season as a practice squad player off waivers from the Lions.
*Cornerback Aaron Ross wore No. 20 for what could be the last time for the Jaguars Sunday. The free-agent signee is expected to switch to No. 31 this week. Ross wore No. 31 for the New York Giants and in college at the University of Texas. Ashton Youboty wore No. 31 for the Jaguars until his release on Saturday.
*The Jaguars are expected to make at least seven roster moves Monday, with the team needing to further reduce its roster by that number. One of those moves is expected to be placing tight end Matt Veldman on injured reserve, and there is a possibility other injured players could be placed on the reserve list. The Jaguars have 82 players on the active roster and must be at 75 by 4 p.m. EST Monday.
*Drew Nowak (foot), tight end Zach Miller (calf) and cornerback Derek Cox (hamstring) worked on stationary bikes for a second consecutive day Sunday, while cornerback Leigh Torrence (concussion program), defensive end Austen Lane (foot), defensive end Odrick Ray (concussion program) and fullback Brock Bolen (knee) were out of practice. Center John Estes (knee) and guard Jason Spitz (ankle) also did not practice.
