Jacksonville Jaguars receivers Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk’s historical past dates again almost a decade. When the 2 gamers have been in highschool, Kirk was the highest receiver in Arizona whereas Ridley was the highest route runner in Florida.

They each have been ranked as high 25 gamers nationally and crossed paths throughout the grueling camp circuit. Their paths crossed extra occasions as Kirk went to Texas A&M and Ridley grew to become a standout at Alabama.

They even entered the draft throughout the identical cycle and have been chosen among the many high 5 receivers taken throughout 2018.

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Now, 5 years later, the 2 are on the identical workforce and Kirk is trying ahead to the chance to play alongside the participant he as soon as competed towards.

“He’s been working his butt off and doing the additional issues to be taught the offense and get acclimated to what we’re doing, however he matches proper in with the tradition and all of the issues we’re making an attempt to do right here,” Kirk advised the Occasions-Union in April when requested about Ridley.

Ridley provides a dynamic to Doug Pederson’s offense that groups could have issue game-planning for. He’s versatile and in a position to make affect performs in a number of methods.

Whether or not that’s going deep to take the highest off or just exploiting a matchup to scheme him open, Ridley’s affect on the Jaguars will assist the receiving core total.

“Us as an offense, we sort of predicate ourselves on figuring out matchups and having the ability to put guys in several positions,” Kirk mentioned. “I feel with who now we have, you’ll be able to sort of put anybody wherever and create huge mismatches for defenses.”

Ridley has been out of a locker room setting for almost two years however in keeping with Kirk, he’s already on his method to being one of many guys. Kirk attributes a big portion of the success of the workforce final yr to the close-knit relationship between the gamers.

Whether or not it was going to eat dinner collectively or getting collectively at somebody’s home, the Jaguars’ offense spent quite a lot of time collectively final season off the sphere.

“With (broad receiver) coach Chad Corridor now, he’s all about trusting and attending to know each other and constructing these relationships as a result of we’re those going to battle with each other on Sunday,” Kirk mentioned. “We observed the little issues of getting collectively at one another’s homes, going to dinner and spending quite a lot of time with each other off the sphere, which we do quite a lot of and that’s what attributed to our success and having the ability to have these relationships final yr.

“I’ve little doubt in my thoughts that (Ridley) is gonna be part of that.”

Kirk can relate to what Ridley could also be experiencing. Final season, Kirk was a free agent, contemporary off signing with the Jaguars and needed to transfer from his house in Arizona to Jacksonville.

However he developed a robust bond together with his teammates and has settled into town properly.

“I feel at this level final yr there was quite a lot of new and experiencing every part new so now, it’s much more settled,” he mentioned. “Me and Zay (Jones) have been speaking about it the opposite day, it simply feels a lot extra relaxed and realizing the place to go eat and go expertise issues and you’ve got a house to come back house to, it’s nice from that side.”

Kirk, Jaguars have excessive expectations for yr two in Jacksonville

There’s a saying: “If higher, you will need to do higher.”

That’ll be near Jacksonville’s mindset coming into the season after making their method to the AFC Divisional Spherical of the playoffs final yr.

“Our season final yr didn’t finish the way in which we wished it to, however we completed quite a bit that we have been trying ahead to,” Kirk mentioned. “I feel it’s simply selecting again up from the place we left off. There’s some expectations and now we have to set our personal targets and set our personal normal and determine what we wish to get out of this yr and push ourselves to be a contender.”

The expectations for the workforce might be excessive, however Kirk could have private expectations he hopes to hold out. These targets embody going from the “silent chief,” somebody who lets his work communicate for itself, to a extra vocal position on the workforce.

“In all elements, yearly I sort of are available in with the identical mindset of taking the subsequent step,” Kirk mentioned. “Placing every part collectively and simply maintain evolving. I wish to be extra of a vocal chief. That’s within the locker room, inside our (receiver) room, however actually simply taking the reins of being the chief. Statistically as properly, simply taking the subsequent step and constructing off the muse that was set final yr and getting higher as a result of I feel that contributes to us profitable soccer video games.

“If I can — in all elements — take the subsequent step and be just a bit bit higher, I feel I’d be pleased with that.”

Juston Lewis is a sports activities reporter for the Florida Occasions-Union. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter at @JustonLewis_.

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