The Jacksonville Jaguars a lot of help on their offense. That’s not a secret, however, as the franchise has been at the bottom of the AFC during the last few years. But maybe this will be the season they begin to turn things around.
Jacksonville’s offense showed a lot of promise in 2015. Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, and Allen Hurns looked like a core to build around. However, they regressed mightily in 2016, and they need a spark to get things going again. That spark could be Leonard Fournette, a rookie running back out of LSU who’s eligible for the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft this week.
Let’s set the record straight. The Jaguars might be the worst team in the AFC South, but it’s not like they are several pieces away from contention. They are not the Bears, the Browns, or the Jets, for that matter. They have a solid defensive unit even if their record won’t show for it. And with another playing together, this group should be even better in 2017. After all, having Doug Marrone – who knows the team throughout – and Tom Coughlin can only improve the roster.
Things get a bit more complicated on offense, but the trio of Bortles, Robinson, and Hurns is a good foundation. And Marqise Lee emerged as a solid number-three receiver last season, giving the Jags another weapon through the air. However, their rushing game was a disaster since neither T.J. Yeldon nor Chris Ivory made an impact on the ground. That’s about to change, and Fournette is the answer to all their problems. After all, Jacksonville has the fourth pick in the upcoming Draft, so there’s a high chance they could chose Fournette – or whoever they like the most, honestly.
Fournette is coming off an impressive season with LSU. He rushed for 843 yardas in only 129 attempts, and averaged an impressive 6.5 yards per carry. That’s not going to be sustainable at the NFL level, but make no mistake. We’re looking at an impact prospect here. He also added 146 yards in 15 catches, and scored eight touchdowns overall.
The numbers might not be eye-popping, but his career totals are. He has 3380 yards and 40 touchdowns in 616 carries, averaging 6.21 yards per carry. So yeah, he can get the job done.
Picking Fournette comes with risk, though. Several scouts have questioned his passion and his drive, and several experts believe he’s more interested in becoming a star rather than pursuing an actual football career. Some have questioned his desire to be te best, too. And those little things matter, because a fourth-pick should be an impact performer on the franchise, not someone who will be out of football in two or three years.
The talent is there, however. And the Jags need all the talent they can get, especially at the running back position. It seems like a perfect match, and Jacksonville should pull the trigger. There’s a high risk, but also a high reward waiting for them if they choose the talented LSU rusher.