ST. AUGUSTINE – The lights were on, and the mood was right.
And although the temperatures weren't exactly chilly as afternoon faded into early evening in St. Johns County, the Jaguars' Monday night practice at Bartram Trail High School …
Head Coach Gus Bradley thought that was plenty cool.
"We're going to do this again – I can tell you that," Bradley told the crowd after the two-hour, 15-minute session on Day Four of Jaguars 2014 Training Camp.
It was the first time in franchise history the Jaguars had practiced at a local school during training camp, with the idea being to reach into the community. Bradley likes to talk about the team bringing fans along for the journey, and he said Monday was an example of that.
A total of 3,329 fans attended the event.
"When we get excited, we want our fans to get excited," Bradley said.
Veteran guard Zane Beadles agreed.
"Anytime in training camp you can get away from your home facility and kind of simulate a game day, it's going to be good for you," Beadles said. "Obviously, the fan support out here was awesome. We got to see some new people and practice under the lights. I think it went pretty well."
Veteran tight end Clay Harbor sustained a strained calf during the session, and is expected to miss time. That was the only reported injury on a night when the defense generally outplayed the offense.
"I thought the defense played really well," Bradley said. "It was really crisp. I saw a lot of our fundamentals coming through at all positions. I thought the defensive line did a good job, the secondary, the linebackers … That's how it felt on defense."
Wide receiver Cecil Shorts III missed practice with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss at least two weeks. Defensive tackle Roy Miller returned after sitting out Sunday with a veteran's day off.
Also, rookie guard Brandon Linder got extensive first-team repetitions, with tight end Marcel Jensen and defensive end Chris Smith also working with the first-team at times. Linder is competing with veteran Jacques McClendon at the right guard spot.
"We're going to get those young guys in there and get them opportunities," Bradley said.
Bradley said he was impressed with the team's ability to focus in a unique situation. He added that the team had fun with the idea, showing high school pictures of various players in a team meeting early in the day.
"I thought it was really good for our team," he said. "They had fun with it, then embraced it. It was exciting."
The Jaguars will be off Tuesday, and then return to their training-camp routine Wednesday with a 9:55 a.m. practice at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice Fields. That practice will be the Jaguars' first in full pads in this year's training camp.
INJURY WATCH
Cornerback Alan Ball (ankle) and linebacker Dekoda Watson (sports hernia) remain on the physically unable to perform list, with cornerback Aaron Colvin (knee) and linebacker John Lotulelei (hamstring) remaining on the non-football injury list. Safety Josh Evans (foot) practiced on a limited basis, and Shorts (hamstring) and linebacker J.T. Thomas (hamstring) missed practice. Bradley said Ball is progressing well and the team is optimistic he can return this week.
HC Bradley addressed the crowd after today's #JagsCamp and called the atmosphere "unbelievable." pic.twitter.com/6QmAcTRWXE — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) July 29, 2014
BRADLEY SAYS
"It was really good for our team. We're a younger team, but to be able to leave the facility, come to a different place and try to perform at a high level – I thought they did a good job."
--- Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley
PLAY OF THE DAY
*This came during a late 11-on-11 period, with quarterback Chad Henne passing deep to wide receiver Allen Robinson, who continues to play consistently well early in camp. Robinson got open deep and Henne dropped the ball into Robinson over a defender, but safety Johnathan Cyprien separated Robinson from the ball with a hard hit.
The Jaguars held a night practice at Bartram Trail High School in St. John's County.
HIGHLIGHTS
*Linebacker LaRoy Reynolds had a play that nearly qualified as the play of the night, slicing through the blocking on a run by Jordan Todman to the right side of the offense. Reynolds stopped Todman with a loud, hard hit. …
*Rookie quarterback Stephen Morris had an accurate deep pass to wide receiver Nathan Slaughter in 11-on-11 work, a pass dropped by Slaughter…
*Rookie cornerback Rashaad Reynolds had an interception off an errant throw late in practice. …
*Todman, and running backs Terrance Cobb and Denard Robinson all found room to run around the right side in 9-on-7 work. Cobb added a long run in 11-on-11 a few minutes later. …
*Rookie running back Storm Johnson and Todman both had long runs in 11-on-11 late in practice. …
*Defensive tackle Roy Miller had an interception off a tipped pass on first play of an 11-on-11 drill. Defensive end Chris Clemons had the deflection. …
*Veteran defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks also had a pass deflection in 11-on-11 drills.
Cool night at Bartram Trail HS. Thanks everyone for coming out to watch #jaguars #JagsCamp — J.P. Shadrick (@jpshadrick) July 29, 2014
