Go Go Gadget Offense
By Mike Milder
May 13, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Denard Robinson (29) runs during organized team activities at The Florida Blue Health
Phil Sears USA-TODAY Sports
Maurice Jones-Drew left, Maurice Jones-Drew right, incomplete pass, and Punt. Too often the Jags have been in the recent years running a very simple offensive style where MJD is heavily relied on to move the ball downfield. This style of offense has helped defenses game-plan early for their games against the Jags. It seemed when he was healthy if MJD failed to break off a big run then the Jags offense seemed to stall and end up punting.
Well, that was the old Jaguars. The new Jaguars have been working this offseason on making their young offense one of the most electrifying and exciting offenses in the league. It all started when new offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch was hired.
Fisch has spent the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami where Fisch worked with players like Jacory Harris and and Stephen Morris putting together a high powered offense in the ACC.
Then the draft rolled around and the Jags began to look for some pieces for Fisch so that he and his new style of offense could flourish in the NFL. With the second overall pick the Jags decided to play it smart and draft Luke Joeckel to help keep Gabbert on his feet and plow some holes for MJD to run through.
In the fourth round of the draft the Jags went with the wide receiver from South Carolina, Ace Sanders. Sanders is too small to be the ‘go to guy’ in any receiving corp, but instead brings other ways to contribute to an offense. Sanders is a guy who the Jags liked as a punt/kick returner that can also bring something to the offense lining up in the slot as a receiver. He could also be used on some end-around plays where the Jags could get him out in some space where he can use his speed and quickness to be a playmaker.
Then there is the man who you can really get excited for in Denard Robinson. Robinson was drafted in the fifth round as a running back after spending the bulk of his career at the University of Michigan as a Quarterback. Robinson is a tough, quick, and athletic player who has a knack for making plays when on the field. With his size and abilities Robinson is not an every down NFL quarterback, however he has reportedly fit well at running back and can even be used in some gadget plays where he would be asked to throw the ball or even line up at QB.
Listed as a running back, drafted as a wide receiver, and former college quarterback Robinson is obviously a very versatile player which gives OC Jedd Fisch many options on how he wants to use Robinson in his scheme. Already in OTAs Robinson has lined up as a slot receiver, running back, and has even taken a few reps at quarterback.
As training camp draws nearer it will be exciting to see what Fisch has in store for the offense and how he will use his new weapons in Sanders and Robinson to help complement MJD and the rest of the Jaguars offense.
-Mike Milder