Defensive tackle Anthony Maddox scored a two-round decision over offensive lineman Brett Romberg in the "Oklahoma" drill, and rookie cornerback Scott Starks welcomed rookie wide receiver Matt Jones to training camp with a big hit in passing drills.
Those were the highlights of the Jaguars' first practice in full pads of this training camp. The practice began at 4:15 this afternoon, after having been moved up from 7:15 due to a forecast for evening storms. Even at that, the Jaguars concluded this afternoon's practice in a light rain.
The ink on Jones' contract was barely dry when the first-round pick from Arkansas was belted to the ground with a thud. Starks, a third-round pick from Wisconsin, timed the hit perfectly, striking Jones in the chest as he attempted to catch a pass from quarterback Quinn Gray. The pass appeared to have reached Jones before he was out of his cut and it was in the process of glancing out of Jones' hands and off his right shoulder when Starks' hit sealed the verdict.
"It wasn't like it was a hard hit. I mean, he's 170, 180, how hard can he hit me?" Jones said following the practice.
After missing the first five practices of training camp while his contract was being negotiated, Jones welcomed the action and the experience of his first pro full-pads practice.
"I got back into the routine of it. It definitely felt good," he said.
Maddox, a fourth-round pick in 2004 who didn't see any significant playing time until the late stages of the season finale in Oakland, was the star of a brief "Oklahoma" drill that included no starters. Maddox thumped Romberg out of the way twice and knocked undrafted free agent running back Derrick Wimbush to the ground in the second surge.
Rookie second-round pick Khalif Barnes led off the "Oklahoma" with an impressive win over veteran defensive end Marcellus Wiley, but veteran end Paul Spicer got the best of Barnes in the offensive tackle's second try.
Third-year tight end George Wrighster scored wins over second-year end Bobby McCray and undrafted free agent end Benard Thomas, but Thomas rebounded with a victory against veteran offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam. Those decisions, of course, are subjective and, in some cases, might be challenged.
The Jaguars are scheduled to practice at 10:15 a.m. and at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday. The second practice will be in full pads. Friday will see the team conduct its annual training camp scrimmage, which is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Alltel Stadium. There is no admission price for the scrimmage.
