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Training camp isn’t usually all that interesting, but NFL Films always manages to make things look awesome. Especially when it comes to one-on-ones. Which is why you’ve got to watch this Hard Knocks footage of Tampa Bay Buccaneers receivers beating Jacksonville Jaguars defensive backs. It’s beautiful.
#HardKnocksNow
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) August 25, 2017
No blame. No excuses. Just 1 on 1.
The @TBBuccaneers WRs put their training to the test in man-to-man drills w/ the @Jaguars pic.twitter.com/3skp0H28fh
I especially love DeSean Jackson towards the end of the video, just running past a defender. We’ll see a lot of that this year, if everything goes well.
Also fun: all the trash talking. It’s not even remotely over the top, just a few understated barbs. Plus some condescension combined with vague respect. Those Jaguars DBs really love grabbing at jerseys.
Incidentally, that’ll be something to keep an eye on this year. Mike Evans is a very physical receiver, and he tends to get into shoving matches—and he tends to get held a lot, too. Refs have had a tendency to let that be, which gives defenders an advantage. But, as we can see in that video, Evans can often work through that contact and still make that catch—not unlike Michael Irvin, way back when.
Evans physicality contrasts nicely with DeSean Jackson’s speed, too. NFL defenses are going to have a hell of a time stopping the both of them together.