JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There's no feeling like the last day of school. Thursday represented the Jaguars final organized team activity of the offseason. The team held nine voluntary organized team practices in late May and June. They followed that up with three minicamp practices this week. Now the players are on their own until training camp starts in late July.
"It was a good OTA's and minicamp," said offensive tackle Luke Joeckel. "You don't really call it a break. When we come back, we're training and getting in shape for a big training camp and a big season."
The overwhelming feeling in the locker room is that this team is much improved and they feel very confident headed into the grind of training camp.
"We all have a lot more confidence in ourselves and what we can do as a group," said linebacker Paul Posluszny. "We're starting to eliminate doubt. We're doing things on the field. We're doing things well. We're doing things fast. It's showing up in film day after day. We know we have the ability to do things really well."
Most players have been given individual assignments to work on over the next month and half. Wide receiver Allen Robinson has been challenged to be more violent when competing for 50/50 balls in the air.
"After I watched tape of last season during this off-season, I thought the same thing," said Robinson. "Some of those balls I definitely have to be more aggressive to. Whether it's make the catch or not let the cornerback intercept the ball."
Off the field head coach Gus Bradley has stressed the importance of "protecting the team," over the next six weeks.
"You have to stay focused on the task at hand and that's becoming a better football player," said defensive end Jared O'Drick. "There's a lot of time in the offseason in which you can involve yourself in other things. But coming down the stretch, especially as we get into late July it's time to focus on football."
The Jaguars wrapped their final off-season session by welcoming nearly 1200 fans to an open practice. Not only were fans able to get to witness a practice but players made sure to sign as many autographs as possible. Fans were certainly not scared off by the 90 degree temperature.
"It's amazing this group of fans we have, said Bradley. "I told our players we want them to connect. It's important that they understand that we're all in this journey together. We're with them and they're with us. That's the only motive."