Jacksonville Jaguars OTAs: Latest Player Reports and Analysis

Although it's early—very early, in OTAs, there is a lot to discuss when it comes to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookies and veterans alike have had an active offseason so far, and it only gets more intense from here.

Head coach Gus Bradley now gets to take the reins of the team, and while there could be a free-agent signing to come, it's probably unlikely. The team has the players it needs for this season and then some.

The Jaguars aren't perfect, but it's apparent through the weeks following the draft that the team is getting better and that the new crop of rookies are ready to thrive. It's not an easy process, and some will struggle, but it's all a part of getting better as a team.

OTA performance doesn't always translate to results, but this team really seems to be getting better. Despite the loss of Dante Fowler Jr., good news is coming out of the organization, and that's all you can ask for at this point.

Whether the good news will continue through the summer remains to be seen, but it seems like the Jaguars as a whole are off to a good start. Continuing that momentum and maintaining the good atmosphere will be crucial to the 2015 season.

With the intro out of the way, let's look at the Jaguars' player reports.

Rashad Greene Is Getting Situated with the Jaguars

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

Despite a short move from Tallahassee to Jacksonville, it's still a difficult task to move from the college game to the NFL. Fifth-round draft pick Rashad Greene has been learning this the past few weeks, and it seems like he's better for it.

Greene played for one of the top college programs in Florida State, and his success there caused most to expect him to be a second-day pick, but instead, he fell into the fifth round. The Jaguars took advantage of that and may have found their starting slot receiver.

Greene, according to Ken Hornack of Fox Sports Florida, has been ready to get to work since before the draft: "It was difficult, because you're waiting to go ahead and get picked and get started. But the opportunity presented itself. And that's all it takes."

And when asked about working with starting quarterback Blake Bortles, Greene said, "He reached out to me via text and said he's ready to work with me. And that's the same way I feel. I'm ready to learn and try to learn as much as I can."

Greene performed well in OTAs with quarterbacks Stephen Morris and Jake Waters, but it was apparent that he seemed a little nervous or out of sorts. However, he's apparently in the groove now and ready to work.

As for working with Bortles, Greene appears to be in the right mindset. He wants to get better and get comfortable, and the sooner that happens, the better.

It's fantastic to see Greene get in the swing of things and be excited for the future. He may find himself in an important role this season, and he'll need to be ready for a lot of responsibility in his rookie season.

T.J. Yeldon Proving Himself Early

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

T.J. Yeldon in the second round, especially at the 36th overall pick, surprised a lot of fans and members of the national media. The Jaguars were set on their guy, however, and it is looking like they were smart to make that decision.

Yeldon has impressed both the staff and the media alike as of late, and for good reason. General manager Dave Caldwell and the Jaguars stated they wanted the complete, legitimate back, and the former member of the Crimson Tide has been that in OTAs so far.

According to Hays Carlyon of the St. Augustine Record, Yeldon is settling in and finding his way in his new home of Duval County: “It went pretty good. I had to get used to the plays and not get them confused with my old plays at Alabama. It’s a little bit of rust, but once I got the hang of it, I got it going and was back to normal.”

It's good to hear from Yeldon on his personal progress, but his words being backed up by Coach Bradley make it all the more sweeter: “T.J. looked pretty smooth. A lot of the same things that we saw on tape. His ability to make quick decisions, spontaneous decisions, his instincts. One play really jumps out at me and it’s the same thing we saw on tape.”

Yeldon is known for his quick cuts and excellent vision, and it looks like he hasn't lost a beat since leaving Tuscaloosa. There may not have been a more NFL-ready back in the draft, and his good start is proving that.

He obviously has work to do, like all rookies, but Yeldon delivering on the reasons he was drafted is really exciting. He could be the Jaguars' three-down back from the beginning this season, and if he continues to be everything the Jaguars want, he'll be poised for a terrific rookie season.

James Sample Fitting in at Free Safety

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

James Sample has been in the spotlight for his battle at the free safety position, and it seems like he's thriving in it. He's finding his way relatively fast and is looking like he's ready to battle for the free safety starting position.

According to Big Cat Country's Ryan Day's transcription of an interview with Gus Bradley, Sample is quickly adapting to FS: "Sample is a guy I really noticed today as far as picking things up real quick and some of the movement skills that we’re looking for."

And when asked about Sample's adjustment at free safety specifically, Bradley had this to say: 

"

The thing I think he anticipates is that maybe at the safety spot when he was first picturing that he was never down in the box. Our free safety does come down in the box so he has to really have the ability to play down and back. It’s very similar in some traits to a strong safety, but he has that range that we’re looking for as well.

"

It's never easy to move up to the NFL, and it's even harder to switch positions, but Sample seems to really fit the FS role. As Bradley mentions, the free safety will be expected to come into the box, which should be natural for Sample.

Sample is making some good progress early, but he'll still have to beat out contender Sergio Brown for the starting role. However, it seems like the Jaguars' specifications to the position are working in his favor.

There is still a long way to go before a starter is decided on, but Sample's off to a fantastic start.

Neal Sterling Dealing with Nerves and Finding His Game

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

Seventh-round selection Neal Sterling has traded in small-time Monmouth College for the Jaguars, and, as we saw with Rashad Greene, it's not easy. However, Sterling is starting to fit in, according to recent reports. 

Going back to the St. Augustine Record's Hays Carlyon and his OTA report, Sterling seemed to have been dealing with nerves, but a talk with Coach Bradley has helped him greatly.

"What I thought I saw with some of the receivers, I thought initially they had anxiety," Bradley said. "Neal, I talked to him and he said without a doubt he did. What I saw was he kind of eliminated it and things became normal. He started catching the ball like he’s capable of doing."

It's an understood feeling to be anxious, especially for someone like Sterling, who went from a small college in New Jersey to an NFL team in Florida. It must've been a fantastic feeling for Sterling to talk with Bradley and gather himself.

Sterling quickly getting back to his game and playing up to his potential is fantastic to hear. It was never going to be an easy task fighting his way onto an NFL team, and getting back on track is what he and the Jaguars needed.

Where Sterling will end up position-wise is still up for debate, it seems. He's been practicing with the receivers, and Bradley refers to him as a receiver, but Sterling seemed destined for a backup tight end role this offseason.

No matter where he ends up, seeing Sterling getting comfortable with Coach Bradley and the team is definitely a good sign for what he may bring in the future to the Jaguars.

A.J. Cann Learning and Progressing

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

It can be hard to tell how good certain players are before pads are put on, especially an offensive guard like A.J. Cann. However, Coach Bradley has stated that he's showing reasons why the Jaguars selected him in the third round.

Referencing Hays Carlyon of the St. Augustine Record again, Cann is learning what it is like to work with offensive line coach Doug Marrone: “He’s an intense coach,” Cann said. “That’s what I like. That’s what I’m used to, hard and tough coaching. As far as drills, some were different but sort of the same concept.”

For one, it's good to see that Cann isn't just adapting to Marrone's style of coaching, but is also enjoying it. Cann obviously went through some tough training through his years at South Carolina with offensive line coach Shawn Elliott and head coach Steve Spurrier, and it's good to see it paying off in Jacksonville.

In Ryan Day of Big Cat Country's transcribed Bradley press interview, Bradley briefly mentions Cann, saying, "A.J. (Cann) did a nice job until we see him in pads." It's not much, but a sign of approval from the head coach is never a bad thing.

Bradley is right, and it's hard to say how well certain players will perform based on no-pad practice. Nonetheless, the comments from Cann and about Cann are encouraging, and he'll be closely watched as the Jaguars go through the offseason.

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.