Prowling the Web: Evening Edition
Make the jump for my take on Bernstein’s musings…
- Highlight:
"…every carry you give to a Rashad Jennings, Deji Karim or Greg Jones is one less chance Jones-Drew has to take it to the house. Although the team is concerned about the fatigue and pounding that MJD will take, it’s simply in their best interests to have him touch the football as much as possible…"
- Hof’s Reaction:
A few thoughts…for one, I think Rashad Jennings is a legitimate NFL running back. I’ve seen flashes of everything you could ask from his position. On this play alone, he eludes a tackle behind the line, throws a huge stiff arm to net positive yardage, tiptoes along the sideline, then breaks away for the touchdown. That wasn’t an accident. Jennings can run physically between the tackles, he can be quick and elusive around the edges, he catches well out of the backfield, and he can block. I expect Jennings to see the ball plenty this year, but make no mistake, Maurice will still be the workhorse and I have the feeling that’s the way he’ll be used for the next three years of his contract. There’s no need to gamble against the numbers, RB’s go downhill fast right around age 30, as we’ve seen time and time and time again. Maurice will be going into his age 29 season when his contract is up. This might be his first and last big contract and it might be his last in Jacksonville.
- Highlight:
"…[Greg] Jones is an elite fullback, but his $3.1 million salary will work against him…Jones will need to beat out (Brock) Bolen in camp to retain his position…"
- Hof’s Reaction:
This is complete speculation at best and in my opinion, a load of crap. Greg Jones has shown ZERO signs of a dropoff; whenever anyone starts saying that his high salary may lead to him getting cut, he makes a clown out of them. The blocking FB may be an endangered species in the modern NFL, but the Jaguars are a team that wants to run and with either David Garrard, Luke McCown, or a green Blaine Gabbert leading the passing game, they’ll need a strong running game. Jones is the lynchpin of our rushing attack and unlike the RB position, his role relies more on strength, technique, and instinct than speed and elusiveness. His age isn’t a problem and he’ll be mowing linebackers over yet again in 2011.
– Andrew Hofheimer