JACKSONVILLE – Darrell Bevell continues to like what he sees.
Jaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence has improved by the week, with Bevell – the Jaguars' offensive coordinator – saying Thursday that improvement can be seen in dramatically reduced mistakes by the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Lawrence, after throwing seven interceptions with two lost fumbles in Weeks 1-3, has committed one turnover in the last two games – an interception that came on the final play of a loss to the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday with the outcome long since decided.
"The last few weeks he has continued to progress," Bevell said Thursday as the Jaguars (0-5) prepared to play the Miami Dolphins (1-4) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Bevell on Friday also clarified a situation from last Sunday, with Head Coach Urban Meyer saying after the Titans loss Lawrence was not comfortable running a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in the fourth quarter.
Lawrence shortly thereafter said he was comfortable with a sneak, and Meyer said Monday the Jaguars didn't run the sneak because they hadn't practiced the play live.
"First of all, Trevor Lawrence is capable of doing anything that we ask," Bevell said. "The second thing is there are a lot of nuances to a quarterback sneak and then obviously the first and foremost one is even getting the snap. Having never put the guy in a live situation, for me, I was not comfortable putting him in that situation without having enough reps built up.
"My job every week is to put a game plan in and practice the game plan. There are times during the week where you're like, 'That play's not game-ready. I can't put that in this game. We'll continue to practice it maybe for the next week.' There's always a point where I have to decide is a play game ready. I didn't feel that play was game ready. We'll continue to work on that.
"I'm not trying to make too big of a deal of it. But it is taken for granted a little bit: 'Oh, yeah. It's a quarterback sneak. Just get the ball and go.' It's something that really needs to be worked.''
QUOTABLE I
Bevell on wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., whose 58-yard, career-long reception was his lone reception Sunday in his first game moving from slot receiver to outside receiver for injured veteran DJ Chark Jr.: "One of the learning experiences was just the load – how many extra plays he was playing. I think that affected him a little bit. I have to do a better job getting him involved; there's no question. It is different he's on the outside. We've talked about it. We want to get the ball in his hands. We have to continue to find ways to get him the ball. He has great ability. He is a really physical presence – probably one of the more physical receivers in the league. He has great size, has great strength. He has a good knack for when he has the ball in his hands, that run after the catch. We have to find ways to keep him involved."
QUOTABLE II
Defensive coordinator Joe Cullen: "Big plays continue to hurt us. It's just big plays at the most inopportune time. We've got to clean that up. It's communication. It's guys knowing who they have, guys taking their guys. We've just got to finish better and we're going to do that this week over in London."
NOTABLE II
Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack missed practice for a second consecutive day Thursday with a back injury sustained Sunday against Tennessee and will not travel to London, with offensive lineman
QUOTABLE II
Defensive coordinator Joe Cullen: "Big plays continue to hurt us. It's just big plays at the most inopportune time. We've got to clean that up. It's communication. It's guys knowing who they have, guys taking their guys. We've just got to finish better and we're going to do that this week over in London."
NOTABLE II
Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack missed practice for a second consecutive day Thursday with a back injury sustained Sunday against Tennessee and will not travel to London, with offensive lineman Rashaan Coward – who missed practice Thursday with an ankle injury – also not traveling to London. Four players – offensive guard Ben Bartch (groin), cornerback Tyson Campbell (toe), defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (ankle) and center Tyler Shatley (groin) – practiced limited Thursday for a second consecutive day. Linebacker Dakota Allen (shoulder) and defensive end/linebacker Lerentee McCray (hamstring) practiced full for a second consecutive day, with wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. practicing full after missing practice Wednesday for personal reasons. Defensive lineman Adam Gotsis did not practice for a rest day.
LOOKING BACK
Bevell on Thursday discussed running back Carlos Hyde being tackled for a four-yard loss on the fourth-quarter fourth-and-1 play. Observers have questioned why Hyde carried rather than starter James Robinson, who rushed for a career-high 149 yards in the game. "The bottom line is we have to execute what's called," Bevell said. "We didn't do a good enough job executing the play; I don't think it was going to matter who was in there. I have a lot of respect for Carlos and his ability to run. I trust both those backs. I think both of them have the ability to get the ball in. I have to get us into a better situation; I think that's really the bottom line." …
