JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars 2022 Training Camp continued Saturday.
It was the fifth day of the first training camp under Head Coach Doug Pederson, featuring a shoulder-pads-only practice at Episcopal School of Jacksonville Knight Sports Campus. Each day throughout camp, members of Jaguars Media – senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and senior reporter/editor J.P. Shadrick – will share an observation.
Here are Saturday's "campservations:"
John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…
If the five-day "acclimation" period to start NFL training camps is the preliminary, the first day in pads is the main event – or at least a major step up in intensity. That step up comes Sunday for the Jaguars – and when accompanying pass-rush drills begin, a major focus figures to be fourth-year outside linebacker Josh Allen. The No. 7 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Allen has been candid since the end of the 2021 season about his belief that he should be considered an elite player by season's end. "I feel like, 'OK, nobody's stopping me,''' he said early this week. "I feel like I'm going to be the best player in the National Football League." Allen, the Jaguars' sacks leader in 2019 and 2021, spent the offseason first working with former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Bertrand Berry. He also attended Von Miller's Pass Rush Summit and worked along with other Jaguars pass rushers with former Indianapolis Colts All-Pro pass rusher Robert Mathis. Sunday's first practice in pads won't define Allen's season. But it will be the first chance for Allen to use the skills he honed all offseason. "When we first met, he asked me what do I want out of him," Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said Saturday. "I said, 'You need to be the best in the league.' That's the thing. He has the talent. That should be his expectation. Nothing less. He has been working. He's committed to it. We're just going to continue to push him and let him be the best he can be."
Brian Sexton, Jaguars Senior Correspondent…
Thursday was in the rearview mirror when the Jaguars practiced Saturday morning, but the offense clearly was on a mission to show better of itself after a day off. You couldn't miss the intensity on the part of the receivers, who seemingly ran perfect routes for quarterback Trevor Lawrence – who fearlessly slung the ball through traffic into the arms of receivers Marvin Jones Jr and Christian Kirk and tight end Evan Engram during team periods. The chemistry with Jones stood out in particular – both in the middle of the field and on a long go route down the sideline. The two men who have worked together the longest just clicked; both walked off the field after practice with smiles on their faces. You have to imagine that Head Coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor challenged the offense, maybe even pointed out a few headlines about how well the defense played on Thursday. My guess is they won't have to do that again. Not that the offense will be perfect, but players likely will be motivated every day to bring their best. On Saturday, it was pretty sharp.
J.P. Shadrick, Jaguars Senior Reporter/Editor …
The Jaguars put shoulder pads on for the first time (uppers only) Saturday morning and focused on special teams, 11-on-11 moving-the-ball periods and two-minute drills. Lawrence led a two-minute drive into the red zone, and threw a perfect ball to Engram – who could not bring it in as he fell to the turf. Jones caught a deep ball from Lawrence down the left sideline for about a 55-yard touchdown. Sunday is the first "full pads" day of '22 camp, and should be our first look at one-on-one o-line versus d-line drills – a highlight of every NFL training camp.
