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Tim Tebow has an extended technique to go.
Whereas he did have a powerful catch-and-run throughout Monday’s minicamp session, the previous Broncos and Jets quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner has his work minimize out for him if he’s going to make the Jaguars‘ 53-man roster as a good finish. CBS Sports activities senior NFL author Pete Prisco, who has coated the Jaguars since their inaugural season, took in Tebow’s first minicamp apply in practically a decade.
“He is the smallest tight finish on the sector, by far,” Prisco mentioned of Tebow on CBS Sports activities HQ. “He seems like one of many youngsters who did not develop in his seventh grade 12 months and all people else grew. That is what he seems like on the sector.
“He did catch a cross, [but] he is obtained numerous work to do. He is a mission. He is a child that is making an attempt to transition to a brand new place. That is arduous to do. It is even harder once you’re 33 years previous. I do not anticipate him to make the crew. I would be shocked if he made the crew. And a few individuals will say, ‘Properly, use him as a gimmick. Possibly use him as a backup quarterback.’ Properly, he isn’t an excellent passer, and should you’re taking Trevor Lawrence off the sector, that is a mistake. So I believe he has to make the crew as a good finish. I do not suppose he’ll make the crew.”
The 6-foot-2 Tebow’s competitors at tight finish contains rookie Luke Farrell, Chris Manhertz, James O’Shaughnessy, Tyler Davis and Ben Ellefson. And whereas his dimension, age and lack of expertise on the place are obstacles that he must overcome, Tebow clearly has a believer in his former head coach, City Meyer.
“Oh, Tim has completed an honest job. Everyone knows it is a new place for him,” Meyer mentioned of Tebow throughout OTAs, through Jon Reid of the Florida Instances-Union. “He is an excellent teammate. Within the locker room, I can see all people getting alongside, we now have good chemistry on our crew. However he is picked it up decently.”
Tebow’s reception on Monday got here from the arm of Lawrence, whose arrival in Jacksonville has contributed to the excitement surrounding a crew that gained only one recreation in 2020. Whereas shoulder surgical procedure (performed in February) and lingering hamstring points have restricted his on-field work, Prisco mentioned that Lawrence did take part within the Jaguars’ 7-on-7 drill on Monday.
“His progress is forward of schedule,” Prisco mentioned of Lawrence. “I believe he shall be effective in the beginning of coaching camp.”
Prisco additionally provided an replace on fellow rookie and former Clemson Tiger Travis Etienne, the twenty fifth participant chosen within the 2021 draft. Like Lawrence, Prisco believes that Etienne will make an early influence on a Jaguars’ offense that completed thirtieth in scoring in 2020.
“I believe Etienne goes to be principally out of the backfield,” Prisco mentioned, “however you may cut up him out in some conditions and create some matchup issues. However he is a operating again. He is an excellent runner. He can run between the tackles, he is an excellent receiver. He won’t be nearly as good of a receiver as Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara, however he is shut.”
Lawrence and Etienne are welcome additions to an offense that’s bringing again fellow playmakers DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault and James Robinson. A rookie final season, Shenault has created his personal buzz in Jacksonville this offseason after exhibiting flashes of his potential as a rookie.
“If he can keep wholesome, I believe he will make an enormous leap ahead this season,” Prisco mentioned of Shenault, who missed two video games attributable to harm throughout his rookie season.
Prisco feels that the Jaguars’ protection, led by new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen, shall be considerably higher this 12 months after ending thirty first within the league in factors allowed in 2020. The Jaguars will transfer from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive alignment.
“I believe that performs to the energy of their personnel,” Prisco mentioned. “Josh Allen is not going to put his hand on the bottom on first and second down, and I believe that is the correct method to make use of him. It is a massive 12 months for Okay’Lavon Chaisson. He has to show to those who he can put his hand on the bottom in some conditions but additionally maintain up in opposition to the frenzy as a standup linebacker.”
So far as 2021 expectations, Prisco says that followers ought to do cartwheels if the Jaguars go both 6-11 or 7-10 in Meyer’s first season. Past 2021, Prisco feels that the sky is the restrict for a franchise that’s nonetheless in pursuit of its first Tremendous Bowl start.
“I believe they make the playoffs and possibly even win the division a 12 months from now,” Prisco mentioned. “There’s actually a sense round right here that this crew is on course. If they do not win a Tremendous Bowl within the subsequent ten years, it will likely be a significant disappointment.”
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