JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Justin Blackmon's first day with the Jacksonville Jaguars was uneventful.
No circus catches. No touchdown receptions. Not even a noteworthy play.
He finished Friday's practice drenched in sweat and saturated in information stemming from new coaches, new teammates, a new system and lots of catching up to do.
"Right now, I'm just a sponge trying to take it all in," he said.
The Jaguars are counting on the former Oklahoma State star catching on quickly. They traded up two spots to take Blackmon with the fifth overall pick in last week's NFL draft, hoping to add a franchise receiver to an offense that ranked last in the league in 2011.
The first real test will come during organized team activities, which begin in less than two weeks. That's when Blackmon will get his first repetitions with quarterback Blaine Gabbert and the team's other starters.
This weekend, though, is about getting familiar with the playbook, the coaching and all the nuances that go into an NFL practice.
"He's taking baby steps," coach Mike Mularkey said.
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Blackmon got much of the attention on a day when 50 newcomers were trying to catch the coaches' eyes.
"It's the beginning of a foundation for him," receivers coach Jerry Sullivan said. "He's got to learn what to do and how to do. All the pomp and circumstance is over. Now you're down to the nitty gritty. The drawing plans are off the table. Now you're doing the construction part.
"He's got to learn where to line up. He's got to learn his assignments. As he learns them and gets better, things will come easier and he'll be able to really demonstrate all the athletic skill he possesses. Right now, there's a lot of thinking and uncertainty."
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
