JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After closing their practice to the public in anticipation of the tropical system this week, the Jacksonville Jaguars still hosted a short practice.
We're less than a week from the first preseason game of the season against the Kansas City, Chiefs and practice is ramping up. Although there's no confirmation on starters playing against the Chiefs, Jaguars Offensive Coordinator, Press Taylor said training camp through preseason is meant for a slow progression.
At training camp, Press said the offense is working towards deep passes from short and intermediate routes.
“I think there's an element to that. I think part of that too is just Coach's vision for how to start training camp. I think just the experience of him planning training camp schedules and things like that, you want to think guys are ready to come play football the day they get here. Well, that's not necessarily the case. I think part of it's the way that the NFL's adapted with the acclimation period as we go," said Taylor.
He said, a football season is a marathon and not a sprint, starting from training camp, so deep pass practice is a slow incline and not something to rush into. This way, you can avoid injuries. That is the hope.
"These guys haven't played football in three months. To come out, and a normal install, and ask guys to run 45 yards downfield, I don't know that their bodies are ready for that. Then you start getting the soft-tissue injuries that set you back throughout the course of camp," Taylor added.
With a handful of open training camps left, he is focused on winning the day at hand.
"Camp is really just a ramp-up to Week 1. That's how we view it. And yes, we'd love to win every single day, including day one, but ultimately, we want to be ready to play Week 1,” said Taylor.
