JACKSONVILLE – Gus Bradley wasn't overly concerned about the score.
Not that the Jaguars' head coach wanted a 27-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins to be his first result as an NFL head coach, preseason game or otherwise, but Bradley said the result wasn't as important as other things he saw Friday night.
He saw a team that competed, and because that was his objective, that was a positive to discuss even following four turnovers and no touchdowns in the preseason opener.
"Our main approach was to really concentrate on the fundamentals," Bradley said.
Bradley said a primary objective early was to evaluate the four-man rush defensively. The Jaguars blitzed just twice Friday, with one coming when a blitz by cornerback Marcus Trufant helped defensive tackle D'Anthony Smith get one of two Jaguars sacks in the game.
Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks also had a first-half sack in a three-series span early in which the Jaguars got good pressure.
"I thought it showed up right away with the first group on defense," Bradley said.
The offense was less efficient early, with quarterback Blaine Gabbert starting and finishing 5 of 10 for 19 yards and an interception that bounced off the hands of fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou and set up Miami's second touchdown.
"The timing and the issues, we have to clean those things up," Bradley said.
Chad Henne, competing with Gabbert for the starting position, completed 8 of 11 passes for 87 yards and led the Jaguars' lone scoring drive. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 39 yards on the possession, which ended with a 23-yard field goal by kicker Josh Scobee.
Bradley said Henne and Gabbert each had good drives.
"We need to learn as a team to finish," Bradley said.
The Jaguars' four turnovers led to 17 Miami points, with Gabbert and reserve Mike Kafka each throwing interceptions and rookies Tobais Palmer and Jamal Miles each fumbling punts. The Jaguars also committed seven penalties for 43 yards.
"We have to clean those things up," Bradley said. "Those are the things that are under our control that we have to take out of our game. That will be the challenge for our team. We can talk it, but the best way to demonstrate it is on the field."
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"NOT WHO WE ARE"**
Bradley met with Jaguars second-year wide receiver Justin Blackmon after the game to discuss an incident that occurred on the sideline.
Blackmon, who is starting the preseason on the Physically Unable to Perform List, appeared to argue with Miami defensive back Nolan Carroll in the first half, after which running back Maurice Jones-Drew led Blackmon to the sideline.
"You know how it is – in preseason, sometimes a player talks on the sidelines," Bradley said. "It started off as banter. I told him, 'There's no place. I'd rather have you use your energy to encourage our guys than get caught up in that."
Bradley and Blackmon hugged on the sideline prior to the second half, and Bradley said Blackmon came to his office immediately after the game.
"We talked about it," Bradley said.
There were also reports that Blackmon had words with Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin. Bradley said he wasn't aware of that immediately after the game.
"It wasn't approached to me that way," Bradley said, adding, "I just told (Blackmon), 'Spend time encouraging our guys. Why add that to the game already." That's not who we are on the sidelines. He understands, but it still happened.
"We'll talk about it as a team and say, 'That's not who we are or what we want to become, so let's take it out of our game.'''
INJURY UPDATE
Linebacker Russell Allen sustained an ankle injury in the first half and did not return. He likely wouldn't have returned had he not been injured, with first-team players not playing in the second half.
Also, center Brad Meester did not play. The 14-year veteran was given the night off, with second-year veteran Mike Brewster starting in his place.
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MOJO SEZ
Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars' three-time Pro Bowl running back, didn't play Friday, but he liked what he saw from the running back who started in his place.
Jones-Drew, who spent the offseason rehabilitating a sprained foot, missed the preseason opener for precautionary reasons. With backup Justin Forsett out with a sprained toe, Jordan Todman started and rushed for 45 yards on six carries.
"We saw a lot of him last year, but to see him run the ball the way he has and do the things he has, a lot of hard work is going into it," Jones-Drew said. "All the hard work he's doing in practice is starting to show. We just have to wait and see how he does throughout the preseason.
"He's pushing myself and Justin Forsett, and when you add Denard (Robinson) in there, it's a great running mix."
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QUOTABLE
- Gabbert: "Once we got into a rhythm, we had a nice drive going and we had an unforced error, a turnover down in the red zone. You can't have that in that situation. When you're down there you need to come away with points, field goal or a touchdown. . . . It was things that we can correct and get better from."
- Gabbert on the quarterback competition: "I have the same mindset that I had before; just take it day-by-day and go out there and put my best foot forward."
- Henne: "Hopefully I'm in gear right now. I'm trying to push myself each and every day, and that's all I can ask for. If I'm trying to improve every day, then I'm happy where I'm at."
- Tight end Marcedes Lewis: "We did some good things out there but then shot ourselves in the foot when we were driving. We had some plays that we want to take back that they turned into points."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jaguars will visit the New York Jets Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at MetLife Stadium.
