Jacksonville rookies Renaldo Wynn and Seth Payne faced off against Tennessee center Mark Stepnoski and guards Bruce Matthews and Kevin Donnalley–who have a combined 31 years in the NFL.
Mismatch? Yes, but not for Tennessee.
The Jaguars got outstanding play from their rookies in beating the Oilers 17-9.
“There were no secrets out there. They were going to try to run it down our throats,” said Wynn, a first-round pick out of Notre Dame and a high school star at De La Salle.
The Oilers’ Eddie George was held to 49 yards on 18 carries.
Payne, a fourth-round pick out of Cornell, was making his first start in place of Don Davey, who last week became the third Jacksonville defensive tackle to suffer a season-ending injury.
“Our two young outstanding tackles played well in the middle, and I was pleased with that,” Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin said.
