Fournette ready to bust a big run
JACKSONVILLE — Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett recognizes that his running backs haven’t gotten free for many long gains and will only continue to face defenses that are focused on stopping them. That said, he can’t help but enjoy the way they’ve played this season.
Although rookie Leonard Fournette and veteran Chris Ivory are the main parts of a ground game that has been only a little better than league average in yards per attempt, Hackett believes they have the perfect style for what the Jaguars are trying to accomplish.
“The big thing for us: not having those negative-yard runs,” said Hackett, whose running game is averaging 4.2 yards per carry, which is 13th in the league. “Any time you can hand the ball to a back and you’re going to gain at least a yard, which those guys really specialize in no matter how muddy it may get, it’s always going to give you a chance to be able to have a good play call the next one.”
Fournette has avoided the negative plays that Hackett said disrupt a drive.
Although he’s averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and 66.3 yards per game — eighth in the NFL — only six of Fournette’s 57 carries have gone for zero or negative yards. And he’s been consistent on first down to get the Jaguars in good position: Fournette has 105 rushing yards on first-and-10 situations.
Entering Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, Fournette is eighth in the league with 199 rushing yards.
Because Fournette so often keeps the offense moving forward, the Jaguars aren’t concerned about where they rank in yards per attempt at this point.
In fact, they are almost giddy to rank 13th — and be fifth in total rushing yards — considering Fournette’s longest gain is 17 yards. Ivory, who is averaging 3.6 yards on 21 carries, has a long of 17, too.
“With what [Fournette] is capable of, if we keep pounding the ball, there’s no doubt in my mind that one of those [long runs] is coming soon,” right guard A.J. Cann said.
Said Fournette: “At the end of the day, it’s up to me whether I want to break a tackle and want that 60-yard run or 50-yard run. I put it all on myself because I know I can do better.” Teammates do, too. Several this week said they believe it’s only a matter of time before Fournette springs one of the long runs that made him worthy of the fourth overall pick. The type of signature moments he made almost weekly while at LSU.
“He’s been an inch away a couple of times, whether it was somebody [shedding] a block or someone grabbing his shoe,” quarterback Blake Bortles said.
One play in particular that stands out to Hackett came during the second quarter of the Jaguars’ 44-7 victory over Baltimore on Sunday.
Facing fourth-and-1 from the Ravens’ 39-yard line, the Jaguars kept their offense on the field and asked Fournette to pick up a yard.
At the snap, Fournette took a hand-off from Bortles and followed fullback Tommy Bohanon on a run to the right behind tackle Jermey Parnell and tight end Marcedes Lewis.
Fournette easily picked up the first down and appeared to first be contacted by Baltimore safety Eric Weddle after a gain of about three yards. As Weddle attempted to make the tackle, Fournette spun and showed good balance to stay on his feet and churn for more yardage.
That possession ended with a 45-yard field goal by Jason Myers to put the Jaguars up 13-0.