Brian Sexton

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 28-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday

Jaguars Media members John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick, Kainani Stevens and Bucky Brooks share thoughts on the Jaguars and Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft …

Jaguars Media members John Oehser, Brian Sexton and Kainani Stevens share thoughts on the Jaguars and Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft …

The Jaguars PREP Flag Football initiative is checking a new box this weekend, the NFL Flag Championships which are being held at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio.

Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton, senior reporter/editor J.P. Shadrick and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer their observations from Day 1 of 2024 Jaguars Training Camp Wednesday at the Miller Electric Center

JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars rookie De'Antre Prince wasn't thrilled to be the Jaguars'fifth-round draft choice last April. The former Ole Miss corner wasn't unhappy about Jacksonville - he's genuinely happy to compete for a shot to be the NFL cornerback he knows he can be. But he wasn't good with lasting until Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he carries that chip daily onto the practice field at the Miller Electric Center. To listen to Prince is to understand that he always has felt the need to play with an edge. Growing up in tiny Charleston, Miss., he wasn't on anyone's map. That fits because you really must look for the town of fewer than 1,900 residents nowhere near anywhere you've heard of.

JACKSONVILLE – Myles Cole is the Jaguars' attempt to catch lightning in a bottle. The rookie defensive end from Texas Tech is a tantalizing blend of height, weight and length and looks exactly how you would imagine a pass rusher should look. The Jaguars are betting that defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and his staff will be able to take his significant physical abilities and help Cole develop into a guy who can make an impact on Sundays. The first step, as it is for many players new to summer in North Florida, is to get acclimated and Cole says that has not been too big a deal for him.

JACKSONVILLE – Keilan Robinson isn't fazed by all this. The Jaguars' fifth-round 2024 draft pick began his college career at Alabama, and then used the transfer portal to find new opportunities at Texas. He's used to the big stage and expectations that come with every practice – let alone game days. Robinson is powerfully built on a compact frame, and in some ways resembles former Jaguars great Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew was a Swiss Army knife of an offensive weapon as a rookie in 2006 and you can see where Robinson might be the same as a runner, receiver and – probably most similar to Jones-Drew – kick returner. He brings with him an electric smile and the energy of a guy who knows the opportunities ahead.

JACKSONVILLE – Jarrian Jones, a rookie cornerback from Florida State, grew up a Jaguars fan. So when offered the chance to spend some time in town during the pre-draft process, he made his way from Tallahassee and soaked up the experience with his childhood team. But he isn't just a fan. He's a talented defensive back who can play inside at nickel or outside on the edge – and he has been prepared for his professional career by some of the best defensive backs to play in the state of Florida. His natural energy and enthusiasm are prerequisites to play cornerback in the NFL, where being on an island against talented receivers requires great passion to play.

Same story, different day. The Jaguars on Sunday not only lost for a seventh time in eight games – they lost remarkably similarly to how they have lost too often this season. They had a chance late, but couldn't hold a fourth-quarter lead and couldn't make a clutch play late when such a play could have won the game. The result: A ninth loss of the season by a touchdown or less – and while that means the Jaguars have been close, the truth is the NFL is a league of close games and when you can't win them, it means you're not good enough. Head Coach Doug Pederson's disappointment and frustration was evident as he spoke to the media following the game, and he was asked about the difficulty of enduring losses – and the mistakes that lead to the losses – in repetitive fashion as the end of a disappointing season approaches. "I'm sure there's some [self-doubt],'' Pederson said."When a bad play happens or a penalty, with where we are in our season, I'm sure that creeps in. Guys are human. They're going to feel that emotion. It's the mental toughness. It's the grind. It's the grit and determination. The guys show it and they have shown it, but we just haven't been able to overcome some of those setbacks."He added,"It's that mental toughness we talk about." The Jaguars indeed have lacked mental toughness this season. But mostly they have lacked the ability to make big plays at big times. Maybe it's the same thing. Either way, that too-familiar refrain has defined the season and it was heard yet again Sunday. This was late-season, out-of-the-playoff-chase football. Unlike last Sunday's loss to the New York Jets, Sunday's Jaguars loss had an end-of-season feel. Not that the Jaguars didn't give effort, but there was a sloppiness that had the feel of both teams playing without postseason implications. It also for the Jaguars had the feel of a game played with a backup quarterback and a slew of skill position players out. After the Jaguars turned in an impressive early drive to take a 7-0 first-quarter lead, quarterback Mac Jones – starting for a fifth time in six games for injured starter Trevor Lawrence – struggled to find consistency. The Raiders took advantage of the lull to push into 13-7 halftime lead – and aside from a 62-yard touchdown pass from Jones to wide receiver Brian Thomas on which a coverage breakdown left Thomas unbelievably open – the Jaguars never seriously threatened offensively again. Credit to the Raiders: They played with the passion and want-to the Jaguars had been displaying in recent weeks. And on we go.