Four days into training camp and the Jaguars offensive line is already four-fifths changed from the group that finished spring OTAs.
Vince Manuwai was at left guard for the second consecutive day, Mo Williams has been moved from left guard back to right guard, Khalif Barnes had replaced Richard Collier with the ones on Tuesday, and center Brad Meester is out indefinitely with a biceps injury.
Hmmm. What does it all mean?
"You'd love to have five guys in five spots for 10 years, but that doesn't occur. We try to cross-train guys … become as interchangeable as possible," offensive line coach Andy Heck said.
Meester's injury is the real blow. Coach Jack Del Rio does not yet know the extent of Meester's injury and how long he'll be out of action. You might say the Jaguars are collectively holding their breath.
"I hate for Brad's sake that he got hurt. I feel for him. In terms of the offensive line, injuries are a part of the game," Heck said.
Injuries have become all too much a part of the game for Meester, who missed all of the preseason and the first four games of last season due to a broken bone in his ankle. In 2005, he missed the final four games of the regular season and one playoff game after tearing the biceps tendon in his left arm. This most recent biceps injury is in his right arm.
Dennis Norman replaces Meester, as Norman had twice previously. After Norman, however, it gets a little dicey.
Manuwai is somewhat of a concern. Coming off his best pro season, Manuwai hasn't been his old self early in this camp. He was moved back to his old left guard spot with the hope that it would help him regain his form.
"We've had a good chance to take a look at him on the right. I think there's a comfort level for him on the left. Sometimes it's good to have as few guys changing as possible," Heck said of Manuwai in particular and of his line in general, as it attempts to overcome the loss of its leader, Meester.
Williams was the Jaguars' starting right tackle for six years but was moved out by Tony Pashos last year. At midseason, however, Williams moved in at right guard after Chris Naeole was lost for the season.
"Mo's a good football player and one of his greatest values is his versatility," Heck said.
Norman can play guard as well as center, and guard Uche Nwaneri will get more time at center now that Meester is out of action.
"Uche's a guy we need to cross-train. He's got to make himself serviceable as a center as well," Heck said.
Rookie center Drew Miller, an undrafted free agent from Florida, has quickly made a name for himself in this training camp. Miller was one of the stars of Monday evening's Oklahoma drill.
"He's tough and smart. Football is important to him. I really like Drew and he's doing a nice job," Heck said.
The competition between Barnes and Richard Collier continues at left tackle. Collier held the job coming out of OTAs but appears to have lost his hold in the early part of camp.
"That's a good competition. We should get out of the competition our best left tackle. Both guys are extremely athletic," Heck added of Barnes and Collier.
Meester, of course, would seem to hold the key to what happens up front for the Jaguars. How serious is his biceps injury? It's the number one question of this training camp.
In other news, wide receiver Reggie Williams has been removed from the physically unable to perform list and practiced with the team on Tuesday morning.
