Jaguars Training Camp: Coaches See Game Slowing Down For Devin Lloyd
The Jacksonville Jaguars had one clear goal for Devin Lloyd entering the 2023 offseason: breathe.
Lloyd had been going non-stop the previous year. From a long senior season to a grueling draft process to the 19-game grind that was Lloyd's rookie year, Lloyd never had a chance to simply breathe and let his game calm down. On top of all of that, a hamstring injury that held him out for most of training camp set him behind the curve from the start.
It showed, too. Lloyd flashed the tremendous talent that made him a first-round pick in 2022 throughout his rookie year, but he also had lapses in execution that left himself out to dry.
Now, though, a healthy offseason and first two weeks of training camp has allowed Lloyd to hone in on his game, with the noise and fatigue of his rookie year now firmly behind him.
“I think you can just watch it on the film. Last year, you might see a false step here, you might see a bad eye discipline, but now, it’s starting to be more consistent," Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said earlier in training camp.
"Still not there and as consistent as we want it to be, but it was a play the other day, they ran a bootleg and Devin’s eyes were in the right spot and the play was really a nonfactor because his eyes were in the right spot. That’s the progression you see, that he’s more comfortable here, he understands where he’s supposed to look, able to do it, and that just enables him to make plays for us.”
Lloyd’s rookie season experienced all kinds of dips and curves. After starting the 2022 season strong with six passes defended and two interceptions in his first three games, earning Defensive Rookie of the Month honors, the 24 year-old hit a rookie wall, struggling in coverage and eventually paving the way for a timeshare with fellow rookie linebacker Chad Muma.
Overall for the season, Lloyd recorded 115 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and eight passes defended.
"Things have slowed down," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Wednesday. "He played last year, we sat him on the bench a couple of weeks, and he went back out there. Now, the positive reinforcement of watching yourself this offseason, going back and watching last year to just see, ‘Man, I did that?’ We’re like, ‘Yeah, you did that.’ It just resonates with the players, when you can show him, you can correct him, this is what you should’ve done, this is what you did type of thing.
"Then, the game slows down. That’s where he is right now. You’re seeing that out there. We really like where he's at mentally, and again, in college he was more of an on-the-ball outside type of backer and rusher, all that kind of stuff. He’s been off the ball, a stack backer and whatnot. It’s a new position a little bit for him. He’s really done a nice job.”
