Moeller: Jags' Mini-Camp Helps Set Early Tone For The Upcoming Season
By Jeff Moeller
There was a quiet sense of optimism and anticipation in the air around EverBank Stadium.
No, it wasn’t the Jumbo Shrimp, who are in the hunt for the International East title.
It was the Jaguars’ mini-camp.
The Jags concluded their mini-camp with raised expectations for the defending AFC South Champs. They are still one of the least recognized 13-4 teams in the past several years. However, teams in the division have their target scopes already on them.
They were arguably the league’s hottest team in the second half last year until they ran into Josh Allen in the playoffs.
However, that sudden deflation has been pumped back up to full capacity. The Jags want to have everything aligned pretty quickly.
Head coach Liam Coen believed his team was on all cylinders, ready to take the first step to regain respectability in their hunt to defend their crown.
His players have gone the extra mile with an added boost. Coen brought in a host of ex-players like legendary running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew along with Hall of Fame pass rusher De’Marcus Ware to lend their perspective.
Coen saw it as an all-hands-on-deck situation. A bit different, but the Jags are obviously already starting the engine.
"It has become a standard," Coen said. "It has become something that we don't have to ask them to do anymore. We don't have to necessarily encourage it. They're doing it and they're taking the time out of there, rest and recovery, to go get some extra reps. That's important."
Pleasing especially to the former Bucs’ offensive coordinator was the fact that his passing game. Trevor Lawrence looked crisp, sharp, and confident. He appears anxious for training camp.
This is a pivotal year for Lawrence, who is coming off a career-high 29 touchdowns for a season with 12 interceptions, his second-lowest total. He hit 4,000-plus (4,007) for the third time in his career.
The Jags are stacked in the wide receiver/ tight end rooms, notably with rookie receivers Josh Cameron and C.J. Williams both having a good preseason.
Brian Thomas Jr. looked like his rookie form, and Jakobi Meyers showed that he will have an enhanced role this fall. Parker Washington had a good camp, and he appears ready to take his game to another level.
Coen has seen his passing game rise, and he is likely playing his strongest hand with a revamped running game.
On the other side of the ball, Josh Hines-Allen was a one-man wrecking crew, and many believe he can have his first double-digit sack since he led the league with 17.5 in 2023.
Second-year cornerbacks Jabbar Muhammed and Caleb Renshaw received high marks, and that's a huge plus for the secondary that regained its stature last season.
Were there some disappointments? Sure. It wasn’t a perfect offseason and mini-camp. No team truly had one.
The Jags are already excited about 2026. And that's a good thing.
Yes, it’s mid-June.
But it’s never too early to think about ways to defend your AFC South title.
