Top ground game runs into trouble

JACKSONVILLE — Eleven games into the season, the Jaguars lead the NFL in average rushing yards (154.3) and attempts (33.7).

So why does it seem like the Jaguars’ once-vaunted running game needs major repairs? Because the eyes do not lie.

If the Jaguars (7-4) are to win the AFC South or claim a wild-card spot, they need to get their run game going. Quickly.

In the four games since their bye, the Jaguars are averaging 41.5 fewer rushing yards per game even though they are running it nearly as often as they did in the first seven games (34.0 in the first seven games; 33.3 in the last four games).

In Sunday’s 27-24 loss at Arizona, the Jaguars’ tailbacks combined to gain 29 yards on 16 carries. Less traction in the run game means more pressure on quarterback Blake Bortles, and that’s not the recipe drawn up by the organization before the year.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a panic,” tight end Marcedes Lewis said Monday. “We have to just do what we do a little better.”

What the Jaguars did in their first seven games was run often and run well — 169 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry. But those averages have sunk to 128.5 and 3.9, respectively, in the last four games.

“Obviously, it’s something we have to change,” coach Doug Marrone said. “We want to be able to run the football and put ourselves into manageable situations.” What has happened? Some factors to consider: Tailback Leonard Fournette’s ankle isn’t 100 percent and he missed the win over Cincinnati (team rules infraction).

Chris Ivory is figuratively missing (eight carries for one yard games).

Right tackle Jermey Parnell (knee) has missed three straight games and left guard Patrick Omameh (quad) has missed the last 21⁄2 games.

And defenses have come up with better schemes to hem in Fournette and dare the Jaguars to throw.

The explosive rushes (at least 12 yard-gain) are down — 12 by the tailbacks in the first seven games but only four in the last four games. And the touchdowns are also down — eight in Games 1-7 compared to three (two by Bortles) in Games 8-11.

“With the run game, I feel like that’s the fastest thing you can get right because it’s literally a little bit more effort here, a little bit more effort there,” Lewis said.

The Jaguars remain committed to giving great effort to establishing the run. But it simply isn’t clicking well enough.

First play from scrimmage against the Cardinals: The Jaguars had fullback Tommy Bohanon and two tight ends in the game. Unblocked safety Tyrann Mathieu filled a gap, forcing Fournette to bounce outside. Chandler Jones made the tackle (one-yard loss) after he dodged Bohanon’s block.

Second play: In “11” personnel (three receivers/one tight end/one tailback), Fournette gained one yard when defensive lineman Frostee Rucker beat right guard A.J. Cann.

On and on it went. The longest gain by a tailback was eight yards by Fournette, who was held to a season-low 25 yards on a season-low 12 attempts. He now has gone three straight games without a rushing touchdown.

“I feel like we had our opportunities; we were a little short in certain areas,” Lewis said. “There were a couple, off the top of my mind, we were 1-2 blocks away [from a big play].” in the last three