When the Jaguars gave wide receiver Laurent Robinson a five-year, $32.5 million deal, it came with an expectation that he raised his game above the third receiver level he showed as a member of the Cowboys.
Through the first few days of training camp, coach Mike Mularkey hasn’t seen Robinson rise above that level. While he’s been unhappy with the play of the Jaguars receivers — who are still waiting for first-round pick Justin Blackmon to join the crew — across the board, Mularkey singled out Robinson for a little extra criticism while also remaining confident that better days are ahead.
“He’s got to make some plays. Maybe he’s pressing. I’m not sure,” Mularkey said, via Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union. “I know he knows it. Heck, he’s been around the league a long time, and he knows he’s got make a play. Sometimes, you press. He’ll come around. … All he has to do is make one, and they’ll come in bunches.”
Betting on Robinson was a risk for the Jaguars, although it was one they probably felt better about after grabbing Blackmon in the first round of the draft. Without Blackmon there, though, Robinson isn’t able to get open in practice and the other receivers aren’t making the most of their opportunities.
Beat writers taking in Monday’s practice are filing more reports of trouble for the Jaguars receivers, especially as it comes to getting open. Blaine Gabbert scrambled more than he threw passes during the morning session, something that suggests we’ll be hearing more from Mularkey on this topic in the days to come.