EAGAN, Minn. – Another day, another dual practice.
For Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone, that made Thursday afternoon about a second consecutive day of good practice against a good team – with a very, very good defense.
"We look forward to having another good day," Marrone said Thursday afternoon before the Jaguars and the defending NFC North Champion Minnesota Vikings held a second dual practice in as many days at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center.
Marrone on Thursday said the emphasis in this week's dual practices was the same as in training camp practices – not to scheme or game plan, but to focus on executing drills in practice.
Marrone emphasized that early in his Thursday pre-practice media availability when asked about what was reported as a difficult practice Wednesday for the Jaguars' passing offense and for starting quarterback Blake Bortles against a Vikings defense that ranked No. 1 in the NFL last season.
"We're running plays, so there's nothing schematically that we're trying to scheme against each other," Marrone said. "We're still in the evaluation process. I don't want to take anything away from the job those guys (the Vikings) did in the secondary, and obviously I think that we as a whole – not just one person – will do a better job."
Marrone also mentioned the Jaguars' receivers needing to get open better against one of the NFL's top secondaries.
"A lot of times you can turn it around the other way, and I think it's really a little bit of both where you say, 'We've got to get more separation,''' Marrone said. "You're talking about the No. 1 defense in the NFL and it shows out there on the field. It's a great test for us. …
"When people say, 'sub-par practices…' it's easy when it's an individual thing you're doing, but when it involves a lot of other people, a lot of other moving parts, you just know where it should be and where it shouldn't be. If people are open and we're not getting him the ball, then that's an issue. If there are people aren't open and we're not getting them the ball … well, what do we do?
"I don't want to say it was just the receivers or anything like that. We've just got to keep working and do a better job. That's why we're here."
Also:
*Marrone said tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins is expected to try to practice after leaving practice Wednesday. He left after landing on the football while making a reception. …
*Marrone also said rookie first-round defensive tackle TavenBryan could return to practice Thursday. He has been working on the side after missing last Thursday's preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints in Jacksonville with an abdominal injury. …
*Nose tackle Eli Ankou (knee) and defensive end DawuaneSmoot (ankle) missed practice. They did not make the trip from Jacksonville to Minneapolis for the week. …
*Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. and cornerback Jalen Ramsey will miss practice while serving a one-week suspension. They are expected to return to the team Monday. …
