Before a crowd of season-ticket holders who cheered for each completion and pass break-up, the Jacksonville Jaguars wrapped up their third practice of training camp on Friday, July 31.
Here is a recap:
Player Attendance
Did not practice: LT Cole Van Lanen (right knee) and OT Garrett DiGiorgio (foot) remain on the physically unable to perform list. LB Jack Kiser (right knee, second consecutive missed practice), DT Arik Armstead (day off) and RG Patrick Mekari (load management) did not practice.
Limited practice work: RB Chris Rodriguez (foot) and CB Christian Braswell (lower body) did individual work only. TE Brenton Strange (lower body) was held out of team work as a precaution until the final period of practice.
Asked about Mekari post-practice, coach Liam Coen
said: “We’re trying to be smart. It’s a long year. It’s a long camp. He’s a pro’s pro. He’s not going to miss a beat in terms of knowing what he has to do with the schemes and the concepts. Love to get him more (reps), but it’s the right thing to do and I’m not worried about him.”
Top plays
- In 7-on-7 red zone, CB Jarrian Jones intercepted a Trevor Lawrence pass intended for WR Parker Washington at the goal-line. “They sent me in motion and I felt the pace of it and in certain motions, (the receiver’s) momentum will let me cross his face,” Jones said. “And then my instincts took over.”
- Hey, a screen pass that worked! An area the Jaguars struggled at last year got off to a quality start when RB J’Mari Taylor caught a screen and found open field.
- Lawrence’s best pass was an over-the-middle dart that was nabbed by WR Brian Thomas, Jr., on a post route in the back of the end zone.
Thumbs up
CB Jarrian Jones: He had two interceptions (one apiece against QBs Trevor Lawrence and Nick Mullens) in red zone work. “I have a lot of belief in myself and know the type of player I can be,” Jones said. “I’ve probably this numerous times, but if I’m at my best, I don’t think there’s anybody who can do anything against me.”
Said Coen: “When Jarrian plays with anticipation and just plays free and isn’t overthinking it and we’re not putting him in position to overthink, he’s able to play. He likes to be up front and challenge people in their faces. We have to continue to put in positions to be successful.”
WR Parker Washington: Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Another terrific practice.
Thumbs down
QB Nick Mullens: He threw two interceptions, picked off by LB Branson Combs in 7-on-7 and CB Jarrian Jones in 11-on-11.
Odds and ends
- The Jaguars ran 52 plays of 11-on-11 and nine plays of 7-on-7.
- RT Anton Harrison flipped over to left tackle for the first time in camp as the Jaguars experiment with contingency plans. Walker Little played right tackle.
- DE B.J. Green is certainly flashing as a pass rusher (at least one sack) and has impressed coach Liam Coen with how he’s playing the run. “B.J. has done a great job,” Coen said. “He said, ‘What does it take to get thrown out of practice?’ and I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ and he said, ‘Not in a bad way. In a way that I’m disrupting the point (you have to take me out of the game).’ It was a cool moment and we were laughing about it.”
- RG Wyatt Milum is the beneficiary of the Jaguars’ decision to manage the work of Patrick Mekari. “It’s a great opportunity for Wyatt and some of those other guys to get more reps with the first group,” Coen said. “That’s just different when Trevor (Lawrence) is talking to you and you’re protecting Trevor. There is a more heightened sense of urgency. I’m pleased with the way Wyatt has performed so far.”
- Touchdown catches in 7-on-7: WR Austin Trammell and RB J’Mari Taylor.
- Touchdown catches in 11-on-11: Trammell, WR Jakobi Meyers, WR Brian Thomas, Jr. (two), WR Parker Washington and TE Tanner Koziol.
- In a move-the-ball period led by QB Nick Mullens, a final snap could not be played because the clock ran out. The offense was calling for a delay-of-game penalty on the defense, but to no avail.
- The Jaguars ramp things up on Aug. 1 with a practice in shells before going full pads on Aug. 2. Might we see a heavier emphasis on the run game? “Definitely,” Coen said. “In all three practices so far, there’s been a 3-to-1 (ratio) of run-to-pass and we’ll continue do that as the pads come on and especially later (in a practice), which is (usually) 50-50 (run-pass), we may mix in more of a 3-to-1 (run-pass ratio.)”
Upcoming schedule
The Jaguars have Aug. 1 off. They practice on Aug. 2 at 8:30 a.m.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays (4-6 p.m. on "The Lead").
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: CB Jarrian Jones shines with two INTs on Day 3 of Jaguars camp
