Jacksonville Jaguars Training Camp: 5 Early Storylines to Watch

The Jacksonville Jaguars will begin  training camp in just about a week, and it's exciting to see that the season is getting that much closer. However, what's more exciting is what training camp itself will hold.

One of the most important moments of the season, training camp will mold this team and determine a lot about it. Whether it's deciding which undrafted free agents will make the roster or who will get their first NFL start, training camp holds a tremendous weight.

There are obviously the various position battles, but training camp is also a chance for players to just solidify their role with the team. Every player knows they'll have to come at 100 percent for training camp, and meeting raised standards will be tough.

The team has already gone through a lot this offseason, and training camp will be considered another step in the process. At this point, it's no longer about plainly getting better, it's about closing down on goals and preparing for an important season.

LaRoy Reynolds Is Ready to Break Training Camp (and the League) Wide Open

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Ask LaRoy Reynolds whether he thinks special teams is a joke. While it may be a minor part of the game to the average observer, Reynolds and plenty of others know games can be won and lost in special teams, and he's looking to dominate it in 2015. 

Recently, Reynolds talked to Jaguars.com about this ambition:

"

I’m going to be the bell cow, and I’m going to be the best special teams player in the league...Every (special teams) phase I’m going to give everything I’ve got, whether it’s punt, kickoff, kickoff return, punt return – I’m going to set the tone. When they turn on the film, they will say, ‘All right, this is how you do it. This is how you’re supposed to do it.’

"

Reynolds has got the right mentality in every aspect here, and that kind of mentality is what you want to see more of in the NFL. The outside linebacker sits behind energetic and consistent Dan Skuta, and he might as well make the biggest impact he can elsewhere.

This can hopefully inspire other players to step up on special teams and take the initiative of being a leader. Having that mentality is the first step to winning consistently, and Reynolds is doing a fine job of displaying that.

UDFAs Entering One of the Final Chances for Roster Spots

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

As sad as it may be, not every player—no matter the promise or potential—can make the team. However, for the top of the UDFA crop, the battle is still alive and well, and training camp will be their next major chance to prove they deserve to play with the best. 

Standouts linebacker Thurston Armbrister and running back Corey Grant are at the head of that battle, and understandably so. They came into the roster battle with exceptional college careers and do have the potential and ability to play for the Jaguars.

While there are others, Armbrister and Grant definitely have the most raw talent and are the two who, in my opinion, should be the biggest gains from training camp. It's slowly getting close to the real deal, and making a smooth transition in this time period is crucial.

Armbrister will be looking to compete with Khairi Fortt for a potential spot as a flexible third-string linebacker that would see more time on special teams than anywhere else. However, a spot is a spot, and he can have no complaints should he obtain that job.

For Grant, training camp just got blown wide open. Due to news that will be discussed later in the slides, Grant has more than just light at the end of the tunnel, it's almost like there is no tunnel at all. Training camp is his oyster, and all he has to do is perform.

Offensive Line Will Be the Hottest Battleground in Training Camp

John Raoux/Associated Press

The Jaguars will see plenty of positional battles on both sides of the ball, but the offensive line will see a couple of major battles and another minor battle or two for roster spots. It's an offseason of change on the OL, and training camp could be where some or all these battles end.

The battles at guard and center are the two that matter the most. They will determine the starters for the preseason and the start of the season and could shape how this team will act offensively.

At guard, the more intense of the two battles will be decided. Any positional battle will be intense when it involves a Pro Bowler like Zane Beadles and a promising rookie like A.J. Cann. It'll be a battle to the end to see if the Jaguars go with veteran experience or exciting talent like Cann.

At center, it's a similar battle, this time between sophomore Luke Bowanko and veteran free-agent signing Stefen Wisniewski. Wisniewski has skill and familiarity with new offensive coordinator Greg Olson, but Bowanko held his own as a rookie last season and hasn't done anything to properly lose the job.

Finally, Austin Pasztor's new flex role could mean that either guard Tyler Shatley or tackles Josh Wells and Cody Booth could be out of a job. It's hard to imagine that they'll keep three players at either guard or tackle, and so the three will have training camp to prove they belong.

Ace Sanders' Release Creates More Competition for Roster Spots

John Raoux/Associated Press

After a rough sophomore season in 2014, it was going to be an uphill climb for Ace Sanders. Suspended and buried by depth, Sanders was going to have to prove himself again to make sure he was on the team in 2015.

It seemed like Sanders' offensive versatility and ability to return on special teams would make him a strong asset in 2015, but the Jaguars released him instead. It may seem too early for a release, but it's a sign of professional courtesy. 

Sanders will now look elsewhere for a roster spot before the 2015 season starts, and cutting him this early will allow him that chance. And while it may be sad for some to see him go, it opens up a lot for training camp.

As mentioned earlier, UDFA RB Grant will have a plethora of chances as a returner to prove his worth, and his offensive speed offers a similar weapon to Sanders. Grant showed at Auburn exactly what his speed is capable of, and the Jaguars may want a piece of that. 

At the wide receiver position, there is now a bit more hope for players like Damian Copeland, Tony Washington and Neal Sterling. None are the same player as Sanders, but that roster spot needs to be filled, and they'll all look to step into it with a strong training camp performance.

Raised Standards and the Vibe of Training Camp

John Raoux/Associated Press

Recently in the comments of my pieces as well as on Twitter and other social media sites, the attitude of the Jaguars and their fans has been positive and almost mature. In recent years, the team has developed hope and positivity, but never raised expectations.

Everyone is expecting to win at least a couple more games in 2015, and it's interesting to watch the transition from hope to ambition. It's most definitely a positive thing, and training camp will be an important measuring tool for where the Jaguars will look to finish in 2015.

Most people don't expect an AFC South title, and that's most likely true. There is still work ahead of the Jaguars, and it's not fair to expect a jump as big as that in the coming year.

However, the competition and depth the Jaguars have acquired have made training camp understandably more important. It's no longer a competition to find a pecking order of players, it's an all-out battle for starting spots.

The Jaguars are progressing, and the changed attitude regarding training camp from the team and fans is proof of that. This isn't the same team we've seen the past two years, it's now got the spirit of the past and fresh, legitimate talent to be respected in the NFL.

All stats were provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.