JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser's four takeaways from Day Seven of Jaguars 2015 Organized Team Activities …
1.Ratcheting it up.The Jaguars inched past the midway point of the on-field portion of the 2015 offseason program Monday. As they did, the workload inched up, too. Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley said the team increased repetitions Monday in Day Seven of 2015 OTAs, which meant practice lasted longer than practices during the first two weeks. The focus was on situational work, "sudden-change"-after-turnover situations as well as red-zone and third-down repetitions. Bradley noted that while the offense was perhaps a bit rusty with "some interceptions in there and some tipped balls," that "it was a good day for the defense." Jaguars veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis said Bradley spoke afterward about working through that sort of adverse situation, adding that a difficult day offensively wasn't unusual in OTAs, especially after a three-day layoff. "Monday's always like that," Lewis said. "Offense is a little different. It's just like being a professional dancer. If you take two days off, you're not going to be as sharp as you were before you took those days off. Our thing is about timing. That's really all it is. We have to continue to hammer away at the details. At the end of last week, we made great growth. We came back today a little rusty, but we're going to come back tomorrow ready to work."
2.Liking the install.Greg Olson, now a little more than two weeks into his first OTAs as Jaguars offensive coordinator, said last week he was pleased with the progress made installing the offense. He said he particularly liked the low number of mental errors, and Lewis on Monday said he agreed that the installation has gone well. "There's a lot of volume and a lot of stuff there – a lot of options," Lewis said. "I was telling someone recently, 'It reminds me of the (NBA's Chicago Bulls') Triangle Offense.' Phil Jackson had one main set, but there were so many options off that set. If we learn all of the concepts and all of the different formations, we'll be able to move anywhere and run those concepts off different formations to get good matchups. Sometimes, you'll see me outside and (tight end) Julius (Thomas) inside; sometimes you'll see me inside and Julius outside. We'll be moving around, jumping around … There's a lot going in. The energy is great and Oley (Olson) has been awesome."
Take a look at images from the Jaguars seventh day of OTAs held on Monday, June 8.
3.Comfort level increasing.The broken right arm sustained by rookie James Sample last Thursday seemingly increased the chances veteran Sergio Brown will open the regular season as the starting free safety. Sample had played well enough to earn first-team reps this week, but his injury likely will keep him out at least the first two weeks of training camp. Brown, a six-year veteran, has worked with the starters at the position early in OTAs, and Bradley on Monday said it seems Brown is getting more comfortable with a new defensive system. "The detail part of the system for him is new and learning all the nuances," Bradley said. "It's not just back there playing middle-third; there are a lot of things that are a part of it and that's what he was learning. But I see him starting to be where he's in his comfort level, at least understanding his alignments and responsibilities."
4."Progressing nicely."Second-year wide receiver Allen Robinson took team repetitions in practice Monday. While his workload was similar to last week, Bradley said the hope is the 2014 second-round selection will increase team repetitions in a three-day mandatory minicamp next week. Robinson missed the last six games of his rookie season last season with a stress fracture in his foot and is considered ahead of schedule in his return. "He's really progressing nicely," Bradley said. Robinson, who caught 48 passes for 548 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games as a rookie, said he feels fine but that the training staff is managing his workload for now. "My goal has been to be able to get into OTAs and the minicamp coming – just get in that period so I can come into camp and hit the ground running. It's been good to get the repetitions in."