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'All about teaching': Jaguars complete OTA No. 7, Pederson talks youth development
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- 'All about teaching': Jaguars complete OTA No. 7, Pederson talks youth development
The Jacksonville Jaguars are nearing the finish line for Organized Team Activities , setting the stage for mandatory minicamp, or at least a version of the three-day affair next week.
For Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson , the team's work over the last couple of weeks has been pivotal, not necessarily just on the field, but for teaching.
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"This time of year it's about the teaching, right, and really I think establishing some philosophy, all three phases. I think you kind of as a coach look big picture and kind of have an idea what it looks like and what it could look like," Pederson said Monday when asked about the team's evolving identity.
"I think that stuff evolves, and really evolves as the season progresses, too. As you get into September and October, you're never a finished product and a lot of things can happen early in the season."
The finished product won't be put on display at all until the team gets into the regular season. Before that, the Jaguars are focused on making sure the young players are up to speed and the veterans continue to play their roles, too.
"Developing our young players and seeing what you have and can they handle playing, getting snaps with — let's say it's a young offensive lineman. Can he get the reps with the starters? Or as a D-linemen, can he get the reps with your starters, the secondary guys?" Pederson questioned when asked about any tinkering he's done this year.
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"So, if there is any tinkering that goes on, that's probably where it is right now with the personnel and growth and developing those young players."
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Earlier this year, Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke emphasized a need for younger players to be ready quickly.
"Coach and I have talked a lot about this year's class in particular. The onboarding process of them, getting them up to speed, trusting them. You're in a developmental league now," Baalke said in January, just after the team's 9-8 finish. "You don't have time to say that we can shelf them for a year or shelf them for two years. You got to get them up to speed quick."
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That process begins now, Pederson said, with players such as tight end Brenton Strange , receiver Parker Washington , offensive lineman Cooper Hodges , running back Tank Bigsby , defensive lineman Tyler Lacy and linebacker Ventrell Miller , among those the Jaguars coach listed when asked about standouts.
Pederson made sure to mention rookies, too, including cornerbacks DeAntre Prince and Jarrian Jones .
"That's all part of the development, right? That's all part of this time of year and making sure those guys are in a position to help," he said.
Jaguars not-so-mandatory minicamp to take place next week
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) holds his helmet during an interview after practice during the first day of a mandatory minicamp Monday, June 12, 2023 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. This is the first of a three day camp June 12-14.
Continuing with youth development, Pederson said Monday that the team will likely conduct "mandatory" minicamp next week the same way he has done in the past. The minicamp is set to take place June 10-12.
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During Pederson's first two years in Jacksonville, only select veterans and the majority of rookies, first- and second-year players will be mandated to attend minicamp. The rest of the players will be off until they reconvene in late July for training camp, the unofficial start to the 2024 season.
"I'll be selective with those guys. Again, it's about development and growth, and the more time we can work with young players getting more reps is beneficial for us as a whole," said Pederson.
Jarrian Jones, Parker Washington among standouts at Jaguars OTA No. 7
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) turns with the ball after pulling in a pass during Friday's rookie minicamp. The Jacksonville Jaguars held their first day of rookie minicamp inside the covered field at the Jaguars performance facility in Jacksonville, Florida Friday, May 10, 2024.
It's tough to tell who has a good day at OTAs because of the nature of the watered-down practices.
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So when players do stand out, they really stand out.
Here are a few observations from the Jaguars' OTA practice No. 7:
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Rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones put together another impressive outing. Without much contact allowed, Jones was able to stay glued to his receiver and picked off an errant pass from quarterback Mac Jones during one period of practice. Jones was drafted in the third round this year.
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Second-year receiver Parker Washington also continued an impressive OTA with a few strong-handed catches. The 2023 sixth-round pick has been praised plenty this offseason.
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Rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr . had a solid day, making one of his best snags of the offseason, extending his hands, maintaining control and hitting the open field against cornerback Tyson Campbell .
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Mac Jones went viral Monday with a dance after working through team ball-protection drills.
Jacksonville native, rookie wideout David White Jr. suffers torn ACL, will miss 2024
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver David White Jr. (86) runs a drill around cornerback Erick Hallett II (40) during Friday's rookie minicamp session. The Jacksonville Jaguars held their first day of rookie minicamp inside the covered field at the Jaguars performance facility in Jacksonville, Florida Friday, May 10, 2024.
Jacksonville native David White Jr. will have to wait a bit longer to make his NFL debut. Announced via Instagram on Sunday and confirmed by Pederson on Monday, the undrafted free agent rookie receiver out of Western Carolina tore his ACL during a non-contact portion of practice over the weekend.
"He was having a really good offseason and just wish him well during the recovery," Pederson said.
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White isn't the only UDFA WR to suffer a season-ending injury. During rookie minicamp, Ruby White, undrafted out of Mount Union, also suffered a season-ending injury and was placed on the team's reserve/injured list.
White is likely headed to the same list, Pederson said.
Josh Allen , Darnell Savage among no-shows at voluntary OTA No. 7
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Darnell Savage makes a catch during day one of organized team activities.
Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen, safety Darnell Savage, cornerback Ronald Darby and offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland were not spotted during Monday's practice with defensive linemen Roy Robertson-Harris and Arik Armstead among those working to the side.
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All players aside from Allen, have attended other Jaguars OTAs this spring.
OTAs are completely voluntary, and no player is obligated to show. Allen, for example, is currently working out in Arizona just as he did last season before racking off 17.5 sacks in 2023.
Multiple players are still coming off of injuries from last season, including Cleveland, Savage, Robertson-Harris and Armstead. Receiver Gabe Davis remains limited, but will be a full participant by training camp, Pederson said.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Doug Pederson focused on developing youth, talks OTA No. 7
