Jaguars vs Bucs Practice #1: What We Learned

Notes from the Jaguars the first of two Jags vs Bucs practices.
By Jordan de Lugo - @jordandelugo

PRESENTED BY

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The Jaguars and the Bucs faced off earlier today in a joint practice. This was the first of two joint practices leading into the Jaguars and Buccaneers preseason week 2 matchup this Saturday. The teams went at it in front of a packed house. Here's what we saw:

The Jaguars D-Line hits the Bucs O-Line right in the mouth. In individual drills Malik Jackson and Roy Miller exploded into the backfield, bull rushing whomever was in their way. Yannick Ngakoue looked solid (when he has he not this summer?) going up against the Bucs offensive tackles. This Jaguars D-Line has performed well all summer against their own O-Line, against the Jets O-Line in week 1 of the preseason, and now on the first day of joint practices against the Buccaneers. This group seems for real. Hopefully they can keep the momentum going.

The Jaguars wide receiver group may be unparalleled. They've looked good all offseason and now into training camp. Like the Jags D-Line the receivers have been impressive every time they've stepped on the field. Allen Robinson, Rashad Greene, and Bryan Walters all made impressive plays in 1 on 1 drills. In team drills Allen Robinson scored, and more importantly so did Marquise Lee who is continuing an impressive summer. Lee scored on an out route at the end of practice in which he turned up field quickly to find the end zone.

TD Marqise Lee. #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/b1arpEYGAn

— Alyssa Lang (@AlyssaLang) August 17, 2016

​We all expect the big names to make big plays, but an under the radar guy that impressed earlier today was Shaq Evans. Evans suffered a minor leg injury earlier in camp, somewhat derailing his efforts to make the team, but he was back in action today and was able to find the end zone in team drills. ​

Hey so, Shaq Evans is back at practice and over his lower leg injury. #Jaguars pic.twitter.com/UDDD0y8tPu

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) August 17, 2016

The Jaguars slot corners are showing that this teams success on nickel blitzes in 2015 was no joke. We know Colvin excels at nickel blitzes, but today against the Bucs Dwayne Gratz was able to get in on the nickel blitz action recording a sack (or at least half a sack) on Mike Glennon. 

Speaking of good play from cornerbacks . . . Prince Amukamara may be the most undervalued player on this Jaguars team. He has been nothing short of a stud so far for the Jaguars and he showed out again against the Bucs again today. It's going to be hard for Todd Wash to keep Prince off the field IF he stays healthy.

There was a Josh Evans sighting today! He continued the Jaguars secondarie's impressive run of INTS this camp with an interception of Mike Glennon. Evans' roster spot is in serious question this camp despite his 36 starts for the team over the last three years.

Dante Fowler followed up an unimpressive performance against the Jets last Thursday with more uninspiring play against the Bucs in 1 on 1 drills this morning. He didn't flash at all in 1 on 1's, but in team drills Fowler got back on track! He created pressure on at least one play against the Bucs right tackle despite being held on seemingly every snap.

A minor story line this summer has been Telvin Smith's coverage ability. He struggles at times to cover the intermediate middle part of the field and that was on display early this morning. Fortunately, Smith almost always makes up for his errors and he did just that later on in team drills when he deflected a Jameis Winston pass incomplete. ​

​Stay tuned for more Jaguars coverage!

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