Jacksonville Jaguars: What We've Learned Through Week 2 of Training Camp
It's an exciting time for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the NFL. The preseason has already kicked off, and the Jaguars get to play in their first preseason game this Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nearly two weeks of training camp has passed, and it's fair to say it's been an educational experience. The team's major questions are being addressed, and the results and answers will continue with preseason games and more practice.
It's the final part of the Jaguars build-up to the season. This final stretch is where positional battles are decided, the players reach peak fitness and the finishing touches are made.
The game against the Steelers will be a point to measure and analyze, but before that even happens, it's time to review training camp and see what we've learned.
The Defensive Line Has Talent and Depth This Year
1 of 5
Last year, the Jaguars' defensive line was undoubtedly the top performing group of the team. The front four seemed to enjoy forcing fumbles, disrupting passes and causing chaos in nearly every game.
We saw hints at the depth, with defensive ends Ryan Davis and Chris Smith having solid years off the bench and defensive tackle Abry Jones also making a name for himself. However, it seems like it's even better this year.
The additions of Jared Odrick and rookie Mike Bennett specifically come to mind, but other players are stepping up. According to Jaguars.com, DE Tyson Alualu is impressing, Davis and Smith seem to be building off their 2014 seasons and Bennett is showing real promise at the three-tech spot.
The Jaguars are at least two deep at every position on the defensive line, and training camp seems to be showcasing exactly how much depth the Jaguars have, as well as how intense the competition is.
With starters like Sen'Derrick Marks, Roy Miller, Chris Clemons and Odrick, the Jaguars are once again set up for success with the front four. However, the players behind them are all working hard to make the biggest impact they can for the Jaguars.
The Wide Receiver Picture Is Changing with Training Camp
2 of 5
The wide receiver group is seeing a lot of progress, competition and change. Some receivers are stepping up, like Arrelious Benn, while the absence of others, like Marqise Lee, is transforming the order of the group.
As Jaguars.com's John Oehser mentions, Benn has done well in training camp, and that found him higher on the depth chart than rookie Rashad Greene. That doesn't necessarily mean Greene's underperforming, but it's apparent Benn has timed his offseason push nicely.
Lee has been out with a hamstring issue and was declared week-to-week by the Jaguars, and that has all but confirmed Allen Hurns will star in the No. 2 WR role at least for the start of the season.
The battle for the fourth, fifth and potentially sixth receiver spot has been heated since OTAs, but it's really starting to reach it's height. Benn and Greene look like front-runners for the guaranteed fourth/fifth spot, but there is still a good amount of time left in the preseason.
The Jaguars' receiver group looks stronger than last year, at least in consistency from top to bottom. Allen Robinson is delivering up top, and if Greene in the slot or Benn as an extra option is the Jaguars' worst option, then they can be happy going into the season.
Blake Bortles Doing Everything He Needs to Coming into the Preseason
3 of 5
Quarterback Blake Bortles needed a training camp and entire offseason of training improvement, and all signs seem to be saying everything is going according to plan. He worked in the offseason, showed up at OTAs and is now continuing to improve and work with the team in training camp.
The past few days have been quiet in terms of Bortles' news, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Nearly everything published about Bortles' training camp performance has been positive, an example being NFL.com's Jeff Darlington's report when he visited the Jaguars' training camp recently.
It's been fantastic to see Bortles improve and take steps to being a QB who can lead the offense, but his 2015 impact will likely rest on offensive coordinator Greg Olson's game plan.
In the meantime, Bortles can show his technical and mental improvement to Jacksonville and the rest of the NFL this Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He may only see a few series, possibly less, but it'll be the first time we see the sophomore version of Bortles take on an NFL defense.
It will be a tough season for Bortles, no matter the result. He's still got a lot to learn, and those lessons don't typically come in an easy fashion. But the improvement is there, and the Jaguars will hope his offseason performance will translate to success this season.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
The Running Back Race Is Tight and Layered
4 of 5
The recently released depth chart had plenty of interesting information, but possibly the most interesting one was the fact running backs T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson were listed as co-starters.
Robinson was the feature back last year, and he showed signs of improvement and consistency. However, the Jaguars drafted Yeldon in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, and now the two are in a head-to-head battle for the starting spot.
Yeldon seems to be the general front-runner, but Robinson's quickness and vision, as well as the aforementioned improvement, are keeping him in it. Both are early in their RB careers and have a high ceiling; it's just a matter of deciding who is the best at the moment.
Elsewhere, Toby Gerhart is trying to solidify his third-string role as well as trying to embrace a new responsibility of being a halfback, fullback and more, according to Jaguars.com's John Oehser.
This is not mentioning names like Bernard Pierce, Corey Grant and Storm Johnson all fighting for a fourth possible RB spot on the final roster. All three offer different skills, and the upcoming preseason games should be their battleground.
Two Tight End Sets Will Play a Heavy Role in the Jaguars Offense
5 of 5
The aforementioned depth chart had the Jaguars lining up with a lot of the expected. Obviously, there would be five linemen, a quarterback, a running back and some receivers, but the real surprise was the fact it contained two tight ends.
It had been mentioned that Olson likes to work with two TEs, and with free-agent signing Julius Thomas and veteran Marcedes Lewis, it does make sense both of them would be on the same field a lot, but few expected it would be the base offense for the depth chart.
It may not be the offensive scheme the Jaguars actually go with once the season starts, but it's apparent now the formation will play a huge role in the offense. Why not? As mentioned, the Jaguars have the TEs to make it work.
Thomas' 24 touchdowns in the past two years with the Denver Broncos has solidified him as one of the most prolific TEs in the game, and Lewis may have hit his prime already, but he's a consistent blocker and is still a legitimate receiving threat.
The two ought to have great years considering Bortles' improvement and consistent time on the field. It's certainly unorthodox, but the Jaguars have one of the few offenses in the NFL that can make this work.
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.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
