JACKSONVILLE – All the new finally makes an official debut.
Maybe you have seen the updated US Assure Clubs at EverBank Field during a tour or on a jaguars.com video,
or even during the Florida Blue Family Night Scrimmage. You might have even attended a training camp
practice or two to get a glimpse of a revamped defense and playmakers on the offensive side.
But for the first time in front of paying customers, it all comes together inside EverBank Field as the Jaguars
host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Preseason Week 2.
jaguars optimistic
Even though the Jaguars opened the
preseason with a 17-13 loss to the New York
Jets, there is plenty of optimism around the
starting offensive and defensive units.
After scoring only 35 first-quarter points in
the 2015 regular season, the Jaguars have
seen a training camp emphasis on “starting
fast” on offense.
It paid off early in New York, with the starting
offense opening with two scoring drives.
“I think you really pay close attention to
tempo and how fast we’re getting up to
the line of scrimmage, (it) is so important
because it gives Blake (Bortles) more time to
recognize defenses and get us in the right
call,” Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley said.
“I thought from the scrimmage we had in
our stadium to tonight, the tempo was much
better, much faster. And I think the players
felt that. That helped them execute and
allowed us to start fast.”
The 12-play, 55-yard opening drive ended
with a Jason Myers 33-yard field goal, but
only after quarterback Blake Bortles and
tight end Julius Thomas failed to connect
on a second-down pass for what likely would
have been a touchdown. On the next Jaguars
posession, Bortles found wide receiver Allen
Robinson for completions of 16 and 45 yards
before running back Chris Ivory powered into
the end zone from one yard out to open a 10-0
lead.
Bortles finished the night 6-of-7 passing
for 105 yards, while Robinson made three
receptions for 80 yards.
“We wanted to come out, we’ve been talking
about starting fast all preseason, all camp,
and I thought we did it,” Bortles said after the
game. “We wanted to come out and protect
the ball, be sharp in and out of the huddle…
and take care of the ball and get after it in
the run game.”
Ivory and second-year running back T.J.
Yeldon ran effectively behind an offensive line
still missing some potential starting pieces.
Center Brandon Linder missed the game with a
groin strain, while left tackle Kelvin Beachum
continues to rehab his anterior cruciate
ligament injury that cut his 2015 season short
with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fourth-year
offensive lineman Luke Joeckel, who had seen
most of his practice repetitions the past week
at the left guard position, started the game
at left tackle. First-year lineman Chris Reed
started at left guard.
Ivory finished with six carries for 26 yards
and a touchdown against his former team.
In addition, wide receiver Marqise Lee made
four receptions for 49 yards, after missing a
number of practices with hamstring tightness.
“WE WANTED TO COME OUT, WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT STARTING
FAST ALL PRESEASON, ALL CAMP, AND I THOUGHT WE DID IT,”
— Blake Bortles