No Rush For MJD
By Mike Milder
Jun 11, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew walks off the field after a minicamp at the Florida Blue Health & Wellness Practice Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy USA-TODAY Sports
Running back Maurice Jones-Drew is still recovering from his Lisfranc injury and foot surgery which ended his 2012 season, and with the Jaguars getting ready to start training camp next week it has been reported that the Jags plan to slowly work Jones-Drew back into action.
Jones-Drew is the Jaguars best offensive player and best player in general at this point. While Jones-Drew is expected to be ready for the preseason and ultimately start week 1, he is not ready just yet for a full workload. It seems at this point the consensus among the Jaguars coaching staff is that Jones-Drew should take it easy and make sure he learns his role in the new Jaguars offense.
Aside from last year when Jones-Drew was sidelined with the Lisfranc injury, MJD has been the guy to carry the workload for the Jags offense over the last few seasons. In 2010 and 2011 MJD accounted for more than 50% of the whole offense. Although that was before this new coaching staff and before new owner Shahid Khan who has said he would like to see the Jags to become more of a passing team. So with the team trying to turn to a more pass happy scheme and with MJD getting close to the age where running backs start to drop off in production it is expected that MJD will not be asked to do as much as he has in the past.
With that being said Jones-Drew once again is still the best offensive player the Jags have, and will be expected to take the bulk of the carries on Sundays. MJD also should have it easier this season with Luke Joeckel being added to offensive line, along with running back Justin Forsett, and Offensive weapon Denard Robinson who can give what should prove to be much needed spells at times so MJD can rest. With the success that receivers Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackman had last season that should also take pressure off of MJD and give the Jags fewer situations where they have to face 8 or 9 men in the box.
So we will not be seeing MJD working fully until he is 100% ready to handle being able to be tackled on his bad foot. Until then he will just be running through the plays with no actual contact in hopes to be fully ready for week 1.
-Mike Milder