Latest news with #offense
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Trevor Lawrence credits Jacksonville Jaguars' sharp training camp start to extra practice
The Jacksonville Jaguars were back on the grass of the Miller Electric Center for the opening day of training camp on July 23. The team continued the work it began during the offseason, with Trevor Lawrence and the offense looking noticeably cleaner in the first practice of the new season. The fifth-year quarterback delivered on-target passes with accuracy and velocity to wide receivers. It was a stark contrast to the way he opened the offseason practices just a few months removed from a season-ending shoulder surgery. 'It's the best I felt in a long time physically,' Lawrence said at the conclusion of the practice. TRAVIS HUNTER TRACKER: Jaguars rookie plays mostly offense to open training camp While his health is a big reason for the success he saw, there's another reason behind the sharpness of Jacksonville's offense. Lawrence and several other offensive players took time this summer to get extra practice in away from the team's facility while they were on vacation. They took a team trip to the Bahamas, documented in a YouTube video released by wide receiver Dyami Brown. The video featured several offensive players — starters and reserve players alike — working together on football-related things while also building relationships off the field. It seemingly paid dividends toward their chemistry on the field. 'We were able to get a lot of work in this offseason, whether it was in the Bahamas or here, guys being in town to work out,' Lawrence said. 'Guys did a great job of being around, being available, and that stuff carries over.' The growth showed as Lawrence connected with Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter and Brown for first down gains. Hunter had a nice catch where he found the soft spot in Jacksonville's zone and snagged a pass where he was uncovered. Brown had a nice catch along the defensive sideline and Thomas showed off his sure hands, plucking a pass out of the air with a defender draped over his back. 'There were some timing throws that I felt like we were on point that you wouldn't get if you didn't get the reps in the offseason,' Lawrence said. 'Just because they're hard, you've got to throw [the ball] before the guys break. They've got to trust you're going to put it in the right spot, and you got to have that time.' The Jaguars will continue through their training camp schedule as they begin the ramp up period before the regular season. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Why Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence opened training camp sharp
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Jaguars start Travis Hunter at WR, CB reps coming soon
July 23 - On the first day of training camp, the answer to questions regarding whether Travis Hunter would play offense or defense for the Jacksonville Jaguars was unchanged. Both. Hunter was an early arrival on the practice field in a bright teal No. 12 jersey, the color signifying he'd play with the offense on Wednesday. Hunter and wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett drilled hand usage and line-of-scrimmage release technique before team sessions started. "Within the first six practices or so, he will (play defense)," Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said. "You want to give him a couple days offense, a couple days defense and then give him the opportunity to go flip-flop within the same practice. Then that'll kind of become the norm. That will become the norm of how we operate." Hunter and 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. rotated through reps on short comeback routes and in-cutting patterns in the opening portion of group position work. He briefly aligned with defensive backs during a special teams walkthrough without live reps. The offensive-minded Coen said last month defensive coaches already were trying to get more time with Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner at Colorado, where he starred at wide receiver and cornerback. His two-way capability inspired Coen and general manager James Gladstone to move up in the draft to select Hunter second overall. "(Defensive backs coach Ron Milus) Milo came up to me after practice and said, 'Can we have him more?'" Coen told reporters in June. "And so that's a good thing. Just the movement skills. You can definitely see how natural it is for him. When you see him in the actual 7-on and team setting, he doesn't look out of place by any means." --Field Level Media
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears have one big problem in replicating Ben Johnson's offensive success with Lions
The Chicago Bears are facing a big problem. They brought in exciting offensive mind Ben Johnson as their new head coach after he called the shots for the Detroit Lions' explosive offense. On paper, that's wonderful. But in practice, the Bears are missing something: Sonic and Knuckles. Those are the nicknames of Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. They were key cogs in everything Johnson did in Detroit. In Chicago, his running backs aren't Gibbs or Montgomery. "The Bears had one of the least effective run games in 2024, ranking 31st in both rushing yards per game (79.0) and yards per rush (3.7) on designed run plays (excluding scrambles and kneel downs)," writes ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "Chicago didn't add at running back until the seventh round when it drafted Rutgers' Kyle Monangai, and whether the Bears have enough firepower in the backfield to emulate the success of the Lions' top-6 rushing attack depends on the roles D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson carve out." MORE: Micah Parsons risks temporary retirement, frozen contract if he leaves training camp Swift is 26 years old and coming off his worst NFL season. He averaged only 3.8 yards per carry. He did overlap with Johnson in his past with the Lions, so maybe that'll help. Johnson is entering his third NFL season. As a rookie, he put up 4.3 yards per carry. But in his second year, that dropped to an abysmal 2.7 yards per attempt. The Bears will need bouncebacks, for sure. Johnson won't be able to maximize this offense without the RBs stepping up. MORE NFL NEWS: Chiefs enter training camp with a big Travis Kelce worry Jaguars' Travis Hunter plans begin to take shape Trey Hendrickson explains why he's in Florida and not Cincinnati Raiders' 325-pound rookie is the scariest Wildcat quarterback ever Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders could be subject to a 'second draft' Jason Kelce teases a historic NFL comeback
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears $24 million playmaker could lose job during training camp
The 2025 Chicago Bears will be about how the offense handles new head coach Ben Johnson with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Last season, the Bears' offense had a lot of ups and downs, which is why the team went out and hired Johnson to ensure Williams can improve in Year 2. One way Williams can have a better season than last year is if he gets support from the running game, but the team failed to upgrade the position this offseason. The Bears only brought in Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai, who was drafted in the seventh round to go along with Roschon Johnson, D'Andre Swift, and Travis Homer. As of right now, Swift is No. 1 running back on the depth chart, but Bryan Perez from Bears On SI thinks Swift could lose his job if he doesn't have a strong training camp."This one's obvious. The Bears inked Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract last offseason, but that doesn't matter now. Maybe they wouldn't have if Johnson were the head coach. And now that Johnson is in town, he'll decide what Swift's future with the team is," Perez wrote. "That future could very well be a bell cow running back who vaults into the top-10 running backs in the NFL. Swift certainly has the explosive skill set to be that guy, but if 2024's production was an indication of the kind of player he'll be in Chicago, it won't be long before Roschon Johnson or rookie Kyle Monangai replaces him." In one season in Chicago, Swift rushed for 959 yards and six scores, but those numbers will have to improve if he wants to be the lead back all season in the Windy City.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Guardians could trade Emmanuel Clase, Cade Smith for much-needed upgrade
While the Cleveland Guardians aren't likely to move on from Emmanuel Clase or Cade Smith at the MLB trade deadline, there is a scenario in which either could be moved. Jim Bowden of The Athletic proposed that the Guardians could move Clase or Smith to bolster their struggling offense, which has been the third-worst in baseball this season. "The Guardians need to rebuild their offense around future Hall of Famer Jose Ramirez," Bowden writes, "and they could use the back of their bullpen - either Emmanuel Clase or Cade Smith - to make it happen." Moving on from either reliever would take a lot for the Guardians to make such a decision. If Cleveland receives a strong offer, including a massive offensive piece, then the Guardians may consider moving on from one of their relievers. While not a perfect fit, since the Boston Red Sox don't need a reliever as much as they do a starter, a player like Jarren Duran could be enough for Cleveland to move one of their top relievers. MORE: Guardians trade negotiations 'frustrating' MLB teams ahead of deadline Adding offense is a massive priority, since their team's OPS is just .665, better than only the Chicago White Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates. For a team which was supposed to compete for a postseason spot, it's been a major letdown. Instead of holding onto their two relievers, who are drawing significant interest around baseball, they could move them to land massive offensive upgrades. They could also just move one, and the other could stay as the team's closer. That way, the Guardians would still have at least one dominant closer on the roster, while also tapping into their highly valued bullpen to begin addressing their issues offensively. But, no matter what the Guardians do, whether Clase or Smith are traded or stay, the team desperately needs to add more firepower to the offense. Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez, and Kyle Manzardo are the only Guardians players with an OPS above .700. Bowden mentioned that the Guardians could move either Clase or Smith for offensive upgrades. It would be a bold move, but with plenty of interest, there would surely be a solid offensive player the team could add if they pulled off such a trade. MORE MLB NEWS: Padres' A.J. Preller predicted to 'aim high' at MLB trade deadline Padres linked to MLB insiders' 'least valuable player' at trade deadline Tigers 'likely' to add a high-leverage reliever at trade deadline Trio of Cardinals relievers most likely to be moved at MLB trade deadline Astros writer reveals 'ideal outcome' at MLB trade deadline Tigers 'strongly interested' in pair of Twins righty relievers
