Jacksonville Jaguars

New Jags OT Parnell feeling the heat to keep Bortles protected

Published Jun. 10, 2015 11:00 a.m. ET

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Reducing the heat applied to Blake Bortles by opposing pass-rushers will be a top priority all season for Jermey Parnell.

For now, trying to endure the heat of Florida this time of year is enough of a challenge for one of the newest members of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Not even the four years he spent with the Dallas Cowboys adequately prepared the 6-foot-6, 310-pound tackle for the sweltering conditions of the Jaguars' organized team activities. When asked what the biggest adjustment has been in coming to a new team, Parnell made it clear that it had nothing to do with the differences between Bortles and Tony Romo or anything else of an X's and O's matter.

"I keep saying it -- the weather," he said in a tone of voice barely above a whisper.

The offensive line of the Jaguars last season was worn down on a repeated basis, giving up an NFL-worst 71 sacks. So their front office didn't hesitate in March to bestow a five-year, $32 million contract on someone who made seven starts at right tackle in place of the injured Doug Free for the Cowboys, including both of their playoff games, but had started only twice in his career prior to 2014.

Parnell did not allow a single sack in Free's absence and was more than serviceable as a run blocker. The release of Cameron Bradfield after Chad Henne was sacked 10 times in a Week 2 loss at Washington was by no means the solution to all of the Jaguars' protection problems as both Austin Pasztor and Sam Young struggled over the remaining 14 games.

They drafted guard A.J. Cann in the third round and signed center Stefen Wisniewski after he spent the last four seasons as a starter for the Oakland Raiders. But Parnell, barring an injury, will likely be the only newcomer to the starting group of Luke Joeckel, Zane Beadles and two players who were rookies a year ago in Brandon Linder and Luke Bowanko.

"As a unit, we're getting better every day," Parnell said. "Some mishaps here and there, but we're in the right direction."

Linder, a third-round pick out of Miami, started every game at right guard except the loss to the Cowboys, which he missed because of a shoulder injury.

"We've been jelling real nice," he said of himself and Parnell. "And I'm excited to be able to work with him. He's a great talent."

Bortles finished last season ranked 28th among all quarterbacks in completion percentage and 33rd in ratings, two categories where Romo ended up first. That doesn't matter to Parnell, who turns 29 next month.

"I'm not getting into those games. I'm just here to do my job," he said. "Blake is doing fine. We're all growing as a unit. There's a lot of new things happening around here, and the sky is the limit for us."

Bortles spoke highly of the group now under the direction of Doug Marrone, who was hired to run the offensive line after being the head coach of the Buffalo Bills the previous two seasons.

"They've done an awesome job," Bortles said. "They've battled. They've competed. And they've worked their tails off. They're smart -- they're learning a new offense just like the receivers are, different protections and schemes and all that."

"Doug's really going to help us out," Linder said. "I really like his mentality and what he brings every day to us."

Not since Maurice Williams in the mid-2000s have the Jaguars had the same starting right tackle for any extended length of time. They've had just one winning season and one playoff appearance since then, and the hirings of Marrone and offensive coordinator Greg Olson were the latest noteworthy offseason changes to try injecting life into an offense which ranked 31st overall last year.

"I don't want to get into the schematics, but the offense is good," Parnell said. "We're learning it every day. There's a lot of diversity in it."

BORTLES FOLLOWING THROUGH

Bortles said after Tuesday's OTAs that he is getting better at ripping his thumb downward on his throwing motion, resulting in a more catchable ball.

"I was kind of cutting across the ball, throwing it like a baseball sometimes, causing some wobblers," he said of the motion he had as a rookie and even before his college career at UCF.

After next week's mandatory minicamp for veterans, Bortles said he will head out to California sometime in July to keep working on his mechanics.

"I'm good with it. It seems like you guys like it," he told reporters. "I've got to continue to work on it and continue to improve it, but it's definitely night and day from this time last year."

EVANS RETURNS

Safety Josh Evans is participating in drills this week but is wearing a red vest as a precautionary measure. Evans underwent shoulder surgery after a season in which he played through pain to start the final 13 games at free safety.

"He had to wear a harness pretty much the whole year," defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker. "So we knew there was something he had to play with. He's a tough guy."

Evans is getting more of a look at strong safety, where he will likely back up Johnathan Cyprien, than at his old spot -- even after fourth-round draft pick James Sample broke his right arm last week. Craig Loston, whose time with the Jaguars last season consisted almost exclusively of special-teams duties, has replaced Sample as the backup to Sergio Brown.

"With the Sample injury, now Loston gets more reps," coach Gus Bradley said. "And he's taking advantage of it. There's always stories that will take place if guys are in the right mindset."

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.

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