Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Telvin Smith was a lot less than pleased. Smith, the Jaguars’ fourth-year veteran outside linebacker, first let his Jaguars defensive teammates know as much following the fourth 2017 organized team activities practice Tuesday. He shared his feelings with the media minutes later. “That’s why I said I’m heated,” Smith said shortly after the Jaguars’ fourth OTA practice at EverBank Field Tuesday. “It’s not because of the sun, not because of the weather. It’s just because where we’re at as a team. With the players that we have, I just think, as a team, we should be further than where we are. “As players, we have to do our part in the sense that, it’s not scheme, it’s none of that. What do we want? What do we want our mentality to be?” Head Coach Doug Marrone on Friday had expressed a similar feeling, telling media following the first week of OTAs that the Jaguars “have a long way to go.”Smith was asked Tuesday if he appreciates Marrone’s approach. “Most definitely,” Smith said. “I think that’s something that still has to grow. I think that’s something that’s definitely appreciated and needed. Most definitely needed.” Smith said he spoke to the defense shortly after a practice that lasted approximately an hour and 45 minutes. “That’s where it gets started because defense wins championships,” Smith said. Smith was asked specifics areas the team is lacking. “Just our mentality,” he said. “The mindset of this team … the things that we should be using to beat opponents are beating us.” Smith, was asked twice to elaborate and said each time, “I’ll just leave it right there.”He also was asked if the execution was lacking. “I would say that we’re still working on the execution part,” he said. Smith, a fifth-round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, emerged as a starter that season and has assumed more of a leadership role with each season. He has expressed several times this offseason the need for the Jaguars to improve significantly from last year’s 3-13 season – and the need for that process to start immediately. “The biggest thing that I’m trying to get out of these next couple of months mostly is out of this team because I understand that right now, we’re making this team,” Smith said. “It’s not going to be in training camp when we say, ‘Oh, turn it on.’ We’re going to say where this team goes and the mentality of the team right now.” Smith said while Marrone – who spent two games as interim head coach last season before having the interim tag removed in January – and the coaching staff are doing a “great job,” he added, “They can only do so much.” “I like the analogy that they’re just the wardens of the prison, but we’re the officers in the prison that run the day-to-day,” Smith said. “They just oversee what’s going on. We have to take the things that we go through in the locker room and outside of this building and we have to grow and come together. We have to do that at a faster pace at this point. …“As a team, we are wanting to play well and that’s something that every team is doing. That’s nothing. That’s what we’re doing well. It’s guys accepting the system and wanting to be a part of it and wanting to grow in it. Again, every team is doing that, at least the great ones are, so that’s not enough.” Also at Jaguars 2017 OTA 4 Tuesday: Wide receiver Marqise Lee did not practice Tuesday along with safety Barry Church, safety Tashaun Gipson, cornerback Aaron Colvin, cornerback A.J. Bouye, running back T.J. Yeldon, tight end Neal Sterling, defensive tackle Stefan Charles and cornerback Tyler Patmon. Rookie running back Tim Cook and rookie wide receiver Kenneth Walker are not in attendance because of NCAA rules prohibiting players from participating in offseason programs until their schools finish spring classes. Guard A.J. Cann returned to practice Tuesday after missing last Friday’s practice for personal reasons. *Left tackle Branden Albert continued to remain away from OTAs. The Jaguars acquired Albert in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in March and he has yet to participate in the team’s offseason program. Offseason activities are voluntary until the team’s mandatory June 13-15 minicamp.

Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

OTA 4: "Heated" Smith speaks out