JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser's notes and observations from Friday's Day 3 of Jaguars 2018 Organized Team Activities at the Dream Finders Homes Practice Complex …
1. Friday's OTA focus: offensive line, with line coach Pat Flaherty discussing several offseason topics. The day's highlight may have been Flaherty's thoughts on the right side of the line, where eight-year veteran Jermey Parnell started 13 games at tackle last season and fourth-year veteran A.J. Cann started at 15 games at guard. Flaherty on Friday lauded Parnell, saying "He played well enough for us to win; I really see a better year for him this year." Flaherty said right guard "will work itself out," and was asked if that was a position where there could be movement in terms of a starter. "That will tell," Flaherty said. "A.J. Cann did some things better in 2017 than what he's done. I wasn't with him those first couple of years. He has improved in a lot of areas." Cann was one of several players not working this week because of an unidentified injury situation. "When he was on the field in Phase 1 and 2, he was really working," Flaherty said. "I have confidence in A.J. Cann. I know what people are looking at and talking about. I'm not going to kick him to the curb because I think he can be too good a football player, in my opinion. I have confidence in him." …
2. Guard Andrew Norwell also spoke to the media after Friday's practice, discussing his transition after signing as an unrestricted free agent from Carolina in March. "I come into work every day, stay grinding," Norwell said. "I'm like a sponge, learning everything new. It's been pretty good." Flaherty discussed Norwell extensively Friday, saying the Jaguars' consensus was Norwell was the best blocker available in free agency. "I'm very happy management decided to go after him, because he's really going to help us," Flaherty said. Flaherty added of Norwell, an Associated Press first-team All-Pro selection last season who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2014, "He's a worker. I really believe that's why he is where he is in his career. From Day One, he had something to prove. He'll continue to take an approach like that. In our offensive line room, he fits in very well." …
3. Flaherty on Friday also discussed the potential impact on the offensive line of the league's new rule regarding using the helmet to initiate contact. Flaherty was among the offensive line coaches who met with the NFL's Competition Committee before the rule was recommended to ownership. "I've always believed that you have to play with your head up and your eyes open," Flaherty said. "You have to keep your neck bowed. You don't want to duck your head, whether you're playing offense or defense. Maybe the reason is I'm the son of a high school coach. We as coaches have to do a better job of teaching players to keep their heads up and their eyes open. As [Jaguars Head Coach] Doug Marrone told me the other day, it goes back to the old saying of, 'See what you hit.' Your helmet is protection, not a weapon. When a player lowers his head, I stop the film and say, 'Don't do that.' … It's an attention-getter right now until they figure out how they're going to referee it, but we as coaches – my belief is – we have to continue to do a good job teaching the safety of the game.'' …
4.Among the Jaguars' more intriguing veterans entering OTAs: fourth-year wide receiver Rashad Greene Sr. A fifth-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, Greene flashed early in his career, particularly on special teams, and appeared headed for a key role as a punt returner/slot receiver. But injuries limited him to 17 games in three seasons and he missed last season after being placed on injured reserve. "When Rashad first came in here, he did a lot of great things," Marrone said Friday. "Then, all of a sudden the injuries started to come into play and people stepped up. A lot of times when you are injured, you do not have that ability to showcase what you can do. I think he went through that last year and right now he is healthy, performing well and looking – and I always hate going back – but looking a lot like the player that I first saw when he came here, making plays and doing things. I think that if he keeps continuing the way he does and continues to play this way during training camp and the preseason, he will be heavily involved in the mix of making this team."…
