JACKSONVILLE – Carlos Hyde is a new man, at least in terms of the Jaguars.
Hyde, an eight-year veteran running back who played with the Jaguars in 2018, began a second stint in Jacksonville last March when new head coach Urban Meyer made him one of the first free-agent signings of his tenure.
Hyde was all smiles at the podium before the media Tuesday after perhaps the most spirited session of Training Camp 2021, with the offense and defense going at each other throughout practice.
Hyde after practice discussed the change around the organization.
"It's way different," he said with a tone in his voice that meant, way, way, way different. "The players are different, the energy is different, the coaches are different. Everything is different except the building. It feels good."
Hyde arrived in 2018 with the expectation he could be the power back that Leonard Fournette was unable to be with a hamstring injury. He's part of a rotation this time around with James Robinson, who proved to be a worthy replacement for Fournette last season averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and highly regarded first-round pick Travis Etienne Jr.
Hyde, who played collegiately for Meyer at Ohio State University, said is comfortable with whatever his new and former head coach asks of him.
"I think it's an advantage to keeping everyone healthy," he said. "It's a long season and you want to keep your running backs fresh and ready to play. You can wear a defense down by keeping your running backs fresh. We all bring something different to the table, we've got a good group."
Hyde said some things with Meyer have changed but some things are still very much the same.
"Every day is a grind, but I expected that," Hyde said. "Every day is a grind with Coach Meyer. He's still learning the game in the NFL, how you handle practice, the meetings, but he's still Coach Meyer the way he carries himself. He's more professional at the pro level, a different level of football, the highest level you can get, and you can't have the same approach as you have in college. There's some things you can get away with in college that you can't get away with in the NFL."
NOTABLE I
Hyde couldn't hide his feelings about the quarterback Tuesday. "He throws a pretty deep ball, don't know if you guys can see that," Hyde deadpanned when discussing rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence. "Trevor is getting better every day. He's coming into his own even though he's still learning the plays. We're all still learning the playbook but he's coming out here every day and getting better."
NOTABLE II
Rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell is learning every day also. He made a nice play on the ball to break up a pass in the end zone on Saturday night in the Preseason Week 1 loss to Cleveland, but he also gave up a touchdown at the end of the first half. He watched the tape – and when speaking with the media Tuesday, he shared his coach's evaluation of the play. "When I look back make sure I continue to lean," Campbell said. "And when I look up make sure I don't create my own separation, continue leaning into the guy. At my position those things are going to happen, but I want to make sure they don't happen on a consistent basis so I'm working, (watching) the film and getting reps on the field to get better at that."
