JACKSONVILLE – For the Jaguars' offense, versatility is key.
As Press Taylor sees it, that's a positive. That's because the Jaguars' offensive coordinator believes the team's offensive personnel lends itself to a lot of options – and a lot of looks.
And that could lead to a lot of production.
"That's certainly something we want to continue to take advantage of," Taylor said Sunday before Day 10 practice, the longest to date of Jaguars 2023 Training Camp.
Taylor, speaking before a two-hour, twenty-minute practice at the Miller Electric Center, echoed the thoughts Saturday of Head Coach Doug Pederson – that the Jaguars' offense entering 2023 will emphasize being "multiple." That means different packages utilizing multiple players at all position groups.
"Our offense needs to be fluid," Pederson said Saturday.
The Jaguars enter '23 camp with at least three new, front-line players who figure to add to that versatility:
- Veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley
- Rookie running back Tank Bigsby
- Rookie tight end Brenton Strange
The Jaguars acquired Ridley in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons last November and he has yet to play a game for the team. They selected Bigsby and Strange on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
"Especially when you look at the tight end room and the running back room, what those guys provide [is important]," Taylor said. "Our 13 personnel (three wide receivers) could potentially be three really good receivers (Ridley, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones). Then, three really good receiving tight ends (Gerrit Prince, Evan Engram and Strange) – whether we want to attach to the formation, open from the formation, whatever that may be.
"The running back room provides a lot of versatility. We kind of have slashers, power backs, smaller backs – and then even the receiver room, a guy like [fourth receiver] Jamal Agnew just provides a weapon."
The Jaguars ranked ninth in the NFL in yards and 10th in points last season, ranking 10th in passing yards and 14th in rushing yards. Taylor on Sunday said statistics aren't as important as functioning effectively in various ways when needed.
"We want to be able to do whatever we need to do each week to win," he said. "We've talked about that: If we need to throw it 60 times, if we need to run it 60 times, if we need to win a shootout, if we need to win a slugfest. Whatever that is, our guys understand our goal is to go win the game.
"At the end of the year, we're not really concerned with what our stats are other than wins and losses. That's the biggest thing for us."
PLAY OF THE DAY
- There was no shortage of plays Sunday on '23 camp's longest practice yet. Strange made multiple notable plays, and left tackle Walker Little continued to impress during a twenty-minute one-on-one pass rush period. The play of the day came in a late-practice 11-on-11 drill, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence throwing a perfect fade pass to Zay Jones. The veteran caught the pass in the back corner of the end zone and got both feet solidly in bounds in stride for a five-yard touchdown that drew cheers from the fans at the MEC.
STANDING OUT
- Strange made a nice diving catch in a mid-practice session, then had the longest touchdown of the day when he caught a long touch pass from Lawrence and ran the final 30 yards untouched…
- Engram had a nice reception for 15 yards on a rollout play by Lawrence, with Lawrence scoring a touchdown on a rollout in the same late-practice drill…
- Ridley continued a strong camp, catching multiple passes from Lawrence – including a 35-yarder down the right sideline in 11-on-11 work. He also had a highlight catch in 7-on-7 work…
- Wide receiver Elijah Cooks had a diving, 15-yard reception on a pass from backup quarterback C.J. Beathard in an 11-on-11 drill…
- Cornerback Tevaughn Campbell had a pass breakup on a pass from Beathard to Strange in 11-on-11 work, with cornerback Montaric Brown and safety Andrew Wingard breaking up long passes later in the same drill…
- Running back Snoop Conner had two strong runs in an early 11-on-11 drill…
- Tight end Luke Farrell had a strong repetition in one-on-one pass rush against outside linebacker Travon Walker, who later had a strong repetition against Little in the same period…
- Outside linebacker DJ Coleman had a strong repetition against right guard Brandon Scherff in one-on-one pass rush…
INJURY WATCH
- Cornerback Tyson Campbell remained in the concussion protocol after sustaining a concussion Saturday. Guard Tyler Shatley worked on the side for a second consecutive day after going into atrial fibrillation after practice Wednesday. Rookie right tackle Anton Harrison (shoulder) practiced limited, though he worked in some 11-on-11 drills. Left guard Ben Bartch (knee) and defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot (Achilles) remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start camp.
