JACKSONVILLE – Nothing will be made easy for Cam Robinson.
Head coach Doug Marrone made that clear Wednesday, two days after veteran Branden Albert's sudden retirement made Robinson the Jaguars' likely starting left tackle.
The Jaguars went through their sixth practice of 2017 Training Camp Wednesday, working for two-and-a-half hours in 84-degree temperatures on the practice fields adjacent to EverBank Field. It was the third of what is expected to be five consecutive days in full pads this week.
Marrone spoke to the media afterward, discussing the team's five padded practices this week, safety Tashaun Gipson and how he wants Robinson – a rookie from the University of Alabama – to earn a starting position.
"The problem I've had with teams and being the head coach, if you put someone out there that really doesn't deserve to be out there, it's just not the right way to do it for your team," Marrone said. "When we put the players out on the field, everyone out on this field should know why he's out there. That's one of the things that we've made sure he understands, that he's going to have to earn."
Albert, a two-time Pro Bowl selection acquired in a trade with Miami in March, retired on Monday after three training camp practices. Robinson, originally expected to compete with Albert at left tackle, worked mostly with the second team Monday and Tuesday. Veteran Josh Wells worked with the first team at tackle on those days.
Robinson worked extensively at left tackle with the first unit Wednesday.
"He's got a lot of work in front of him to get up there and play left tackle in this league," Marrone said. "We all know that. He's giving the effort, but like everything else, in order to play a position in this league you have to show consistency day-in and day-out, the focus and things of that nature. I'm on him quite a bit. I know [offensive line] Coach [Pat] Flaherty is on him a lot, but that's what we're looking to get out of him and being able to compete."
Notes and observations from Day 6 of Jaguars 2017 Training Camp practice:
*Marrone made a point to discuss Gipson, who signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Cleveland Browns before the 2016 season. Gipson, a 2014 Pro Bowl selection, had one interception last season. "I played against Gippy my first year I was a head coach in the league, and I was really impressed with what I was able to watch on film," Marrone said. "I told this to Gip: I really haven't seen that out of him. To see the way he's playing now, I told him: 'I am truly excited for you.' He feels the same way. I'm excited for him to get out there.'' …
*Marrone, too, said he likes the communication between Gipson and strong safety Barry Church, the latter of whom signed this past offseason as an unrestricted free agent from Dallas. "It's extremely high – as good as it has been wherever I've been," Marrone said. "That's critical to any team. The way they talk, the way they feel, the way they're playing off each other … I feel really good about where they are and the direction they're headed.'' …
*Marrone also praised defensive tackle Malik Jackson, saying "I see someone who this offseason has put a lot of time and a lot of work in. He's much stronger than he has been, so he's able to be available and he's out there and he's playing very well for us right now.'' …
*Marrone has talked extensively about the physical strain on players this week because the Jaguars are working in pads five consecutive days. He said on Wednesday that this period of training camp also is draining mentally, particularly for rookies. "We're into a phase where it's the most difficult time, in my opinion as a former player and with the coaching aspect, for the younger players," Marrone said. "You're at the end of your installation. It's much more difficult than a game plan for the players. From a mental toughness standpoint or from a mental standpoint, it is exhausting. You can see times when you look at them you can see they're exhausted with all the different things that are going on.'' …
