Jacksonville Jaguars: What We've Learned Through Week 1 of Training Camp

The first full week of training camp has concluded for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it's fair to say that it has been exciting and promising. Players on both sides have stood out, and it seems the team is getting closer to where they want to be before the season starts.

So far, the team has seen improvement, competition, and some injuries. It's all part of the hectic and important event that is training camp, and the Jaguars are trying to take all of it in full stride.

And let's be thankful padded practices are finally happening. Nothing is more monotonous than daily drills. Finally letting the team hit and practice with an intensity that is somewhat similar to game situations is awesome.

It's the beginning of the next phase for the Jaguars, and the first week has already shown promise. Positive news is pumping out of Jacksonville, and that can only raise the team's and the fans' enthusiasm before the season gets going.

T. J. Yeldon Continues to Show Promise

John Raoux/Associated Press

Running back T.J. Yeldon has been building a lot of hype this offseason, but training camp was going to be the true proving ground for the 2015 NFL draft second-round selection. He hasn't disappointed in the first week, and he looks ready to continue establishing himself in the Jaguars offense.

According to John Oehser of Jaguars.com, Yeldon's praise hasn't gone unnoticed. New offensive coordinator Greg Olson had this to say about his first week of training camp:

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We liked what we saw there. That was not a question mark for us, but I think people outside questioned whether or not he would be able to step into the National Football League and be good enough as a pass protector. We liked what he brought physically and I thought he attacked the linebackers. We’re excited about him. He’s made a couple of very nice runs in the open field and made some people miss. We’ve been excited about what we’ve seen so far.

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When Yeldon, who attended the University of Alabama, came out of college, it was undeniable that he had lots of polish and could be a back who could start as a rookie for an NFL team. As he answers the aforementioned questions, it's becoming apparent that he can start for the Jaguars.

However, he hasn't outright won the job yet. Players such as Toby Gerhart and Denard Robinson aren't going to give up the starting job that easily. The battle between Yeldon and those two backs should be one of the most exciting in training camp.

Like OTAs, Chris Clemons Has Been Absent from Training Camp

John Raoux/Associated Press

Defensive end Chris Clemons was a force of nature for the Jaguars last season. Eight sacks and four forced fumbles highlight a great first season in Jacksonville, but it seems like his second year won't be getting off to a good start.

Clemons has missed the first seven days of training camp, and while head coach Gus Bradley doesn't seem too concerned, it's hard not to wonder on the outside looking in. According to the Florida Times-Union's Hays Carlyon, Bradley believes that Clemons is making good progress all the same:

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Clemons is doing good. Each day I think he's making very good progress. I can't say when it's going to be. I think we will wait to hear from [strength and conditioning coordinator Tom Myslinski] and [head athletic trainer Scott Trulock] and see how he's doing, but he's making really good progress.

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While there is obviously a valid reason for Clemons' absence, it's concerning all the same. Bradley also said that he expects Clemons to miss the first preseason game. One has to wonder what's wrong with him.

Clemons is on the active/non-football injury list, but it's for an undisclosed reason. It's understandable to not disclose information if it's only for a day or two, but it's been a week, and he doesn't seem to be coming back anytime soon. Some type of information would be nice.

Greg Olson Impressed with Team Intelligence, Blake Bortles' Improvement

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Olson's work with the Jaguars has apparently been going well, and it's good to see that the switch from the young Jedd Fisch to the experienced Olson has worked out so far. According to John Oehser of Jaguars.com, Olson's success has been helped by the "intelligent" Jaguars personnel:

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I like the growth right now. I mentioned to (Jaguars Head Coach) Gus (Bradley) the other day, ‘I think we have an extremely intelligent football team from position to position.’ That’s been really encouraging. We haven’t had to cut back at any point during training camp or even during the minicamps we had in June. That’s been really an encouraging thing in the staff’s mind, that we have an intelligent team and we’ve been able to push them to the limits mentally.

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While you hear various compliments given to individuals, it's not often that you get a team-wide specific shoutout like this. Sure, "they're really improving" is nice, but a compliment to the Jaguars' team intelligence is something you don't see a lot.

And for Bortles specifically, Olson also went on to say, "When we got here we said, ‘It’s important that we eliminate the dips as far as your progression'... I think he has kept the arrow going up and gotten better every day.”

Continued progress is all that the Jaguars and fans have hoped to see from Bortles, and Olson pretty much confirms it. Whether that translates to actual in-game success, we'll have to wait and see.

Marqise Lee Continues to Struggle with Injury

John Raoux/Associated Press

When the injury bug hits a player, it can be a very difficult road back to full health. No other Jaguars player seems to understand that better than wide receiver Marqise Lee right now.

According to Jaguars.com's John Oehser, Lee went down with a hamstring injury on Thursday and is now "week-to-week". With that in mind, it seems unlikely that Lee will practice this upcoming week or play in the first preseason game of the year next Friday.

However, there is a small silver lining to this lingering cloud: It could've been worse. That's a general statement, but it's true in this situation. Hamstrings are typically random in their timing, and that means that this injury isn't necessarily associated with his previous problems.

It does raise concern all the same. At this point, it's pretty much a given that fellow WR Allen Hurns will take the No. 2 spot, and you have to hope that Lee doesn't fall much farther on the totem pole given his incredible potential.

The 2014 NFL draft second-round pick has had a tough time in Jacksonville so far, but the future isn't necessarily precedented by the past. WR Allen Robinson has made an incredible recovery from a broken foot, and the Jaguars can only hope that Lee can recover and put his injuries behind him like Robinson.

The Jaguars Are Still Working

John Raoux/Associated Press

As the daily reports come in and everyone evaluates the Jaguars on an individual level, it's important to remember that it is still a full month or so from the season's first game. It's easy to single out individuals, but it's important to look at the team as a whole.

Olson's positive comments provide insight on how he feels about the offense and how quickly the players are picking it up. Bortles or other members of line may have a bad day, but there is improvement and lessons to learn in bad days.

While the news regarding defense has been a bit more quiet, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It most likely means that it's handling business as the Jaguars expect it to, and if not, there's still time to work out the kinks.

It will be exciting to get the first preseason game underway and see, at least in a general sense, how the Jaguars have changed from 2014. The offseason is the time NFL teams tend to go through drastic changes, and it's time to see just how drastic the Jaguars' change will be.

Practice updates are typically helpful to understanding how the team is doing, and training camp is definitely better than the dull, quiet weeks coming up to it, but it's still a good idea to view the team in a wide spectrum.

Once you look at the big picture, it's apparent that this team has improved a lot from last year, but it's also obvious that there is still work to be done. As mentioned, the first preseason game should be the proper gauge for the Jaguars after the first two weeks of training camp.

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 @evanreier.