Latest news with #Jaguars
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jaguars position review after minicamp: Maason Smith and the defensive tackles
With offseason programs behind us, let's take a position-by-position look at where things stand for the Jaguars. Next up are the defensive tackles. With offseason programs now behind us, let's take a position-by-position look at where things stand for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Next up are the defensive tackles. If you missed our other positional reviews, you can find them below. Confidence in personnel and scheme The defensive tackle position was thought to be a major need for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. Last season, the defensive line unit as a whole ranked 32nd in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric and 27th in run stop rate. Consistent success for any defense begins up front with there being a steady push. When that element is there on a regular basis, particularly from the interior, every other defender on the field benefits. However, while the outside perception was that the defensive tackle position needed a change, GM James Gladstone decided to stand pat. The only real personnel change that is taking place is that Arik Armstead is moving back inside. This showcases the confidence that Gladstone has in the players already on the roster, along with Anthony Campanile's defensive scheme to help elevate this unit. In this new defense, we are going to see more movement up front and a more attacking play style. We also saw Green Bay's defense last season--where Campanile was the linebackers coach--dial up blitzes and simulated pressures to help get after the quarterback as well. "We certainly look forward to seeing guys being in different positions than they've been in the past and that being an element that activates different sides of them," Gladstone said. "Their whole approach has been great so far, so we're looking forward to it." Arik Armstead moves back to defensive tackle As already mentioned, Armstead is moving back inside, where he was highly productive with San Francisco. The 2024 season was Armstead's first with the Jaguars after signing as a free agent, and with that, he moved to defensive end. Armstead had played end earlier in his career with the 49ers, but in more recent seasons, he had spent most of his time at tackle. With Jacksonville in 2024, Armstead logged 36 pressures and ranked 32nd among all defensive ends in PFF's pass rush win rate metric. For comparison's sake, in 2023, while with the 49ers at tackle, Armstead recorded 58 pressures and ranked ninth in pass rush win rate. Now moving back inside, that certainly has to factor into the aforementioned confidence that Gladstone has in this unit. "I think that's where I'm best," Armstead said of the tackle position while appearing on the O-Zone Podcast. "I've played both in my career and had success at both, but I can have the biggest effect on the quarterback playing and rushing against guards and centers. That's what I do best." A big year ahead for Jaguars' Maason Smith Along with Armstead moving back to tackle, another key factor in the Jaguars getting more from this unit is Maason Smith making a big jump in his second NFL season. Smith would appear in 11 games as a rookie, totaling 14 pressures and three sacks. By PFF's pass rush win rate metric, Smith ranked 99th among defensive tackles, and in run-stop rate, he ranked 124th. As Smith described during OTAs, he really likes the new defensive scheme, where he feels like he has more freedom and can play with that more, get off the ball, attacking play-style. So far, head coach Liam Coen has been impressed with what he's seen from Smith during offseason programs. "He's a big one for us," said Coen after Wednesday's practice. "We need him to take a huge step this year. I think he's done a great job when you talk about the offseason program, in the weight room, the conditioning, his mentality with the work ethic, and then coming out here and making it hard." Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive tackle depth chart
Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Driverless disruption: Tech titans gird for robotaxi wars with new factory and territories
As three key players vie for dominance, the race to put driverless taxis on roads across the country is heating up. Waymo, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, already offers paid autonomous rides in a handful of cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Amazon's robotaxi effort, known as Zoox, opened a new production facility in the Bay Area this week. The company has been testing its unique pill-shaped vehicles in California and Nevada since 2023. Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas, Elon Musk just started testing driverless Teslas with the hopes of launching a commercial service soon. Musk unveiled a prototype for Tesla's Cybercab late last year, touting his vision for an autonomous future and "an age of abundance." The arrival of self-driving tech could eventually affect society as much as the internet and smartphones did years ago, some experts predict. With Waymo leading the way and Tesla and Zoox trying to catch up quickly, a new status quo could be on the horizon, said Karl Brauer, an analyst with "Tesla has tried to catch up, and Zoox is a more recent competitor that's hoping to be a serious player," he said. "Waymo has been slow and steady and, as a result, is winning the race." According to some industry insiders, the U.S. is about 15 years from seeing widespread use of robotaxis, Brauer said. While Waymo taxis have become a common sight in the cities where they operate, weather conditions and charging infrastructure still limit their expansion. On Wednesday, Waymo expanded its service area in Los Angeles County, where its vehicles now roam an area of more than 120 square miles. The company also increased its service area in San Francisco, expanding access to suburbs and Silicon Valley. Days after Waymo's announcement, Zoox opened a 220,000-square-foot facility in Hayward, Calif., that the company says will be able to produce 10,000 robotaxis per year. Zoox is preparing to launch its public ride-hailing service in Las Vegas and San Francisco this year. Unlike Waymo vehicles, which are retrofitted Jaguars, Zoox is developing a purpose-built taxi with no steering wheel or gas pedals. Zoox also has a manufacturing plant in Fremont, Calif., where the company develops its test fleets of retrofitted Toyota Highlanders. Tesla has a manufacturing facility in Fremont as well. Musk has promised for years to deliver autonomous vehicles and a robust ride-hailing service. Lawmakers in Austin requested this week that he delay the rollout of his service in the city. Tesla, Zoox and Waymo are the three remaining major U.S. companies in what was once a more crowded field, Brauer said. General Motors' autonomous taxi company Cruise suspended operations in 2023 after one of its vehicles struck and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. Last year, Uber and Cruise announced a partnership that could put Cruise vehicles back on the road. A company called Argo AI, backed by Ford and Volkswagen, was also developing driverless technology until it shut down in 2022. The continued expansion of robotaxis depends on safe and successful testing, Brauer said. There have been several incidents related to Tesla's Full Self-Drive mode, a technology currently available but still in development. Waymo has issued recalls of some of its vehicles on multiple occasions. "If there's a tragic result for any of these three companies during the testing and development process, it would likely slow down the entire industry," Brauer said. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brian Thomas Jr. Earns Surprising Mention Alongside NFL Superstars
Brian Thomas Jr. Earns Surprising Mention Alongside NFL Superstars originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Following a strong rookie campaign, Brian Thomas Jr. appears ready for a breakout sophomore season. The Jacksonville Jaguars will rely on their young star as part of a solid group of receivers as they attempt to regain playoff success behind Trevor Lawrence. Advertisement He'll be on the field with other talented receivers, including Dyami Brown, Parker Washington, and promising rookie Travis Hunter. However, some believe Thomas Jr. will be the one getting all the praise. In his debut NFL season, fans marveled as he racked up 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 receptions. The former LSU star also helped with six rushing player for 48 yards and achieved Pro Bowl status as a newcomer. One analyst believes Thomas Jr. is poised for a stellar 2025 NFL season that could have him discussed with several elite players. Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7).Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Thomas Jr. is ranked at No. 44 on CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco's Top 100 NFL Players list. Prisco mentions that the rookie Hunter is getting all the talk before the new season, but that many people forget how impressive Thomas Jr. was on a bad offense last season. Advertisement That's not all, Prisco also mentioned several other elite receivers that he expects Thomas Jr. to be contending with for top-tier status. "By this time next year, we're going to be talking about Brian Thomas Jr. in the same class as Ja'marr Chase and Justin Jefferson," he said during CBS Sports HQ. For Prisco's 2025 list, Thomas Jr. is the sixth overall receiver to appear in the top 100. The only players ahead of him are Justin Jefferson, Ja'marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill, and A.J. Brown. Earlier this month, the sophomore receiver had an injury scare at minicamp, colliding with teammate Tyson Campbell. Despite fear of a shoulder injury, reported head coach Liam Coen said Thomas Jr. was 'fine,' and it was just a bruise. Advertisement Thomas Jr. isn't the only Jacksonville Jaguars player to appear on Prisco's list. Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen is No. 76 with Prisco mentioning he's dropped weight which will help him be more explosive this coming season. Related: Brian Thomas Jr. Had a Lot to Say About Travis Hunter Related: Jaguars Rookie Travis Hunter Reacts to Madden NFL 26 Rating This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jaguars for a day: The 6th annual Special Olympics Florida Fantasy Camp
Signed, sealed, and delivered! Nearly 40 athletes with the Special Olympics became a part of the Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie class Wednesday afternoon. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Advertisement It's the mission behind the 6th annual Special Olympics Florida Fantasy Camp. The newly added members to the roster got to put pen to paper with Jaguars GM James Gladstone, take a tour of the Miller Electric Center, plus hit the practice field with the rest of the Jaguars Rookie Class. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Action Sports Jax Alivia Tassely spent the day down at Jags headquarters as the new rookies were welcomed into the NFL. Watch Action Sports Jax Brent and Austen Show discussing the Jaguars' training camp dates here.
Los Angeles Times
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Driverless disruption: Tech titans gird for robotaxi wars with new factory and territories
As three key players vie for dominance, the race to put driverless taxis on roads across the country is heating up. Waymo, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, already offers paid autonomous rides in a handful of cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Amazon's robotaxi effort, known as Zoox, opened a new production facility in the Bay Area this week. The company has been testing its unique pill-shaped vehicles in California and Nevada since 2023. Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas, Elon Musk just started testing driverless Teslas with the hopes of launching a commercial service soon. Musk unveiled a prototype for Tesla's Cybercab late last year, touting his vision for an autonomous future and 'an age of abundance.' The arrival of self-driving tech could eventually affect society as much as the internet and smartphones did years ago, some experts predict. With Waymo leading the way and Tesla and Zoox trying to catch up quickly, a new status quo could be on the horizon, said Karl Brauer, an analyst with 'Tesla has tried to catch up, and Zoox is a more recent competitor that's hoping to be a serious player,' he said. 'Waymo has been slow and steady and, as a result, is winning the race.' According to some industry insiders, the U.S. is about 15 years from seeing widespread use of robotaxis, Brauer said. While Waymo taxis have become a common sight in the cities where they operate, weather conditions and charging infrastructure still limit their expansion. On Wednesday, Waymo expanded its service area in Los Angeles County, where its vehicles now roam an area of more than 120 square miles. The company also increased its service area in San Francisco, expanding access to suburbs and Silicon Valley. Days after Waymo's announcement, Zoox opened a 220,000-square-foot facility in Hayward, Calif., that the company says will be able to produce 10,000 robotaxis per year. Zoox is preparing to launch its public ride-hailing service in Las Vegas and San Francisco this year. Unlike Waymo vehicles, which are retrofitted Jaguars, Zoox is developing a purpose-built taxi with no steering wheel or gas pedals. Zoox also has a manufacturing plant in Fremont, Calif., where the company develops its test fleets of retrofitted Toyota Highlanders. Tesla has a manufacturing facility in Fremont as well. Musk has promised for years to deliver autonomous vehicles and a robust ride-hailing service. Lawmakers in Austin requested this week that he delay the rollout of his service in the city. Tesla, Zoox and Waymo are the three remaining major U.S. companies in what was once a more crowded field, Brauer said. General Motors' autonomous taxi company Cruise suspended operations in 2023 after one of its vehicles struck and dragged a pedestrian in San Francisco. Last year, Uber and Cruise announced a partnership that could put Cruise vehicles back on the road. A company called Argo AI, backed by Ford and Volkswagen, was also developing driverless technology until it shut down in 2022. The continued expansion of robotaxis depends on safe and successful testing, Brauer said. There have been several incidents related to Tesla's Full Self-Drive mode, a technology currently available but still in development. Waymo has issued recalls of some of its vehicles on multiple occasions. 'If there's a tragic result for any of these three companies during the testing and development process, it would likely slow down the entire industry,' Brauer said.
