Rookies make Jags offense run
FOXBORO — One can sometimes forge an offensive identity with just a couple of draft picks, and that was the case with the Jacksonville Jaguars last April.
With the fourth overall selection, the Jaguars took Leonard Fournette, a 6-foot, 240-pound running back out of LSU who not only has the physique of a linebacker but the speed to run away from defensive backs. Thirty picks later, Jacksonville tabbed left tackle Cam Robinson out of Alabama, a 6-6, 322-pounder whose pure strength at the point of attack instantly upgraded the team’s ground game.
And as the league continues to trend toward shotgun-oriented, sophisticated pass offenses, the Jaguars have reminded everyone that oldschool football isn’t dead. With Fournette mostly lining up behind fullback Tommy Bohanon, the Jaguars feature I-formation staples like iso, power, toss and others that other teams might only use in sub-packages.
As the Patriots prepare to face the Jaguars in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium, that style isn’t lost on safety Duron Harmon.
“Their running backs are the strength of their offense,” Harmon said. “They rely heavily on them. We’ve just got to be ready to set the edge, play physical in the run game, take on blockers, shed blockers, tackle — just try to play physical. This is going to be a physical game, probably the most physical game we play this year. But we’re going to need our physicality to win this game.”
One doesn’t need to delve into analytics to understand what the Jaguars want to do on offense. Jacksonville’s 527 rush attempts this regular season were the most in the league, as were their 2,262 yards on the ground. Fournette was the main cog in that game plan with 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns on 268 attempts.
The rookie’s 3.88 yards per carry average won’t wow anyone, but it’s also not as relevant when he’s as effective as he is in short-yardage and goal-line situations. In a way, his effectiveness is similar to that of former Pats back LeGarrette Blount, whose ability to finish runs in the red area played a huge role in the team’s run to the Super Bowl last season.
And while the Patriots have struggled at times this year to set the edge on outside runs, making Fournette go horizontal and not square his pads will be the goal this week.
“This is not a guy you want to have a hole open and him just go downfield and just hit it because he’s big, he’s fast, he’s strong,” Harmon said. “So he’s a guy where you want to make him stop his feet, bounce the ball (outside) and, just, the main thing is going to be everybody getting to him and tackling. Do a good job of group tackling and getting to the ball, start forcing turnovers.”
‘But we’re going to need our physicality to win this game.’ — PATS SAFETY DURON HARMON On facing Jags running backs