Real football returned to Jacksonville on Wednesday evening when the Jaguars made their pads pop in the fan-pleasing Oklahoma drill, which has become a training camp traditional.
Winners and losers weren’t easily identified, but a crowd of 2,449 cheered each burst of blocker, defender and ball-carrier. Jaguars.com plans to post video of the Oklahoma drill on Thursday, which will allow fans to decide who won and who lost.
Rookie offensive tackle Eben Britton and second-year defensive end Derrick Harvey were the first to butt heads, and they were judged to have split their two-fall bout.
Guard Uche Nwaneri and rookie defensive tackle Terrance Knighton were next to square off in a three-fall bout. Knighton scored a clear decision on one burst, while Nwaneri scratched out a couple of narrow verdicts in the other two falls.
Tight end Richard Angulo was decisive in a two-fall bout against undrafted rookie linebacker Russell Allen, and linebacker Tim Shaw made two of the biggest thumps of the evening in his bout against rookie tight end Zach Miller.
The loudest cheer of the evening went to undrafted rookie defensive end Julius Williams in a win in his second fall against offensive tackle Tony Pashos. Williams shed Pashos and stopped the running back short of the point of attack. Pashos was the clear victor in the first fall.
Guard Mo Williams and journeyman defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison battled to a draw, though it should be noted that Ellison stayed low in his charge and refused to be moved.
Ascending young offensive lineman Cameron Stephenson, who’s making a roster push as a guard/center, was the winner against a combination of undrafted rookie defensive end Jeremy Navarre and Knighton.
Veteran center Brad Meester capped the drill with a dominant effort against linebacker Thomas Williams.
Coach Jack Del Rio provided the crowd with an entertaining practice. The Jaguars followed the Oklahoma drill with nine-on-seven and pass-rush drills.
Wednesday evening’s “live” work eased the Jaguars back into the real-football mode, and the team will cap the first week of training camp with an intrasquad scrimmage this Saturday night.