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Jaguars Notebook: Jason Babin watches final OTA workout
Posted: June 7, 2013 - 8:44pm
By Ryan O'Halloran
Three days after surgery for a sports hernia, Jaguars defensive end Jason Babin returned to EverBank Field Friday to watch the team’s final organized team activity workout.
Babin’s availability for the opening of training camp in late July remains uncertain until he is further along in his rehabilitation.
“I’ll take it one day at a time and do my rehab as I’m supposed to do,” he said.
Babin was on and off the field throughout the spring, but the nagging discomfort forced him and the Jaguars to seek a medical opinion last week.
“It was one of those things, it just wasn’t getting better,” he said. “The specialist saw it and said, ‘This is what we need to do,’ so whatever it takes is what we do.”
Babin will rely on his nine years and 114 games of NFL experience to get ready for the season even if he is limited at the start of camp.
“For me, the mental reps, I can take full advantage of those and at this point of my career, you know how to play or you don’t,” Babin said. “I don’t think missing a little time will affect me in the grand scheme of things.”
Said defensive line coach Todd Wash: “He’s been in the league long enough and studies the defense as much as anybody on our team so he’ll be ready to go. It’s good that he got it taken care of now.”
Changing it up
The Jaguars wrapped up their OTA schedule with a softball home run derby. One player from each position group was chosen to take hacks on the practice field.
Among those who stepped to the plate were quarterback Chad Henne, receiver Taylor Price, linebacker Brandon Marshall, fullback Will Ta’ufo’ou and tight end Isaiah Stanback.
But it was offensive guard Drew Nowak, batting left-handed, who clubbed several home runs into the practice field bleachers.
“It was good to see their spirit and see them compete in that situation,” coach Gus Bradley said.
Afterward, players and coaches ate lunch with invited family and friends.
Wrapping up the OTA sessions, Bradley said: “They kind of went back and forth. The offense a couple of days ago had a really good day and [Thursday], the defense had a really good day. That’s what happens when you start seeing both sides of the ball improve.”
All-OTA team
Without divulging specifics and realizing the evaluation doesn’t kick into high gear until the pads are put on in training camp, our Jaguars’ all-OTA team (not including linemen):
Offense: Receiver Cecil Shorts picked up where he left off last year, running back Justin Forsett looked comfortable catching passes out of the backfield and rookie receiver Ace Sanders made a big impression in his first full week of work.
Defense: Safety Johnathan Cyprien and cornerback Dwayne Gratz looked completely in place working with the veterans and they are expected to be Week 1 starters.
When the contact practices start in early August, among the big things to watch is how right tackle Luke Joeckel handles himself in the one-on-one pass-rushing drills and how the young cornerbacks fare against Shorts and Justin Blackmon in press coverage.
Open practice Thursday
The Jaguars wrap up the off-season next Tuesday-Thursday with three mandatory mini-camp practices. The final workout, which starts at 11 a.m., will be open to the public.
Read more at Jacksonville.com:
http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2013-06-07/story/jaguars-notebook-jason-babin-watches-final-ota-workout#ixzz2VhSqSedt