Jaguars' Doug Pederson 'Thrilled' With Offseason Workout Attendance

Doug Pederson was emphatic in his praise for the team's veterans when it came to the offseason workout program.

Doug Pederson is a happy man. 

Like most NFL teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off the first phase of voluntary offseason workouts this week. And for a young team that is hungry to take an even further leap in 2023 than they did last year, Pederson is impressed by the overall attendance. 

“I’m thrilled. I’m thrilled. We understand this is a voluntary program, and these guys don’t have to be here," Pederson said on Thursday. 

"These are veteran guys, so they don’t have to be here. To have the atendance that we have, it’s thrilling. It makes you excited to know that they’re excited, obviously coming off the season we had. They’re looking forward to what’s ahead and what the possibilities are. To see this number of guys here is encouraging, and we coach the ones that are here."

The first two weeks of the workout program aren't exactly a major piece of the puzzle, but a high attendance does show buy-in from the Jaguars after their first year under Pederson. 

"Voluntary offseason workout programs are intended to provide training, teaching and physical conditioning for players ... As per Article 21 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each club’s official, voluntary nine-week offseason program is conducted in three phases," the NFL said in a release in March.

"Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only. Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as “perfect play drills,” and drills and plays with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, conducted at a walk-through pace. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.

"Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs”. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted."

In short, the Jaguars are more or less just working out right now. But the fact that so many players are willing to be in the building as soon as possible after last year's AFC South title speaks volumes to Pederson.

“This first week has been good that way. I want them to believe that, I want them to feel that coming off of last season. But we also understand that we’re not going to be able to just walk out there and repeat what we did. We still got to put in the hard work, the preparation, the time has got to be spent in the weight room, the classroom, and on the practice field," Pederson said. 

"I think that’s what the guys understand, but yet, I still want them to remember the ups and downs of last year of what we’ve been through. The energy is great, last year I think they were looking at me at this time going, ‘Who is this guy? How are we going to trust this guy?’ Trying to build that trust with the team. They know who I am, how I operate. The energy level is extremely high right now and we got to continue that through the rest of the offseason and on into camp.”