Denard Robinson: Jags New Talisman? And what of Bortles?

In recent years, the Jaguars may have converted a fair few college quarterbacks into good or even great wide receivers and running backs. For evidence of that you need to ask two Mikes. The first, Matt Jones, a QB of the University of Arkansas, posted 2,153 yards for 15 touchdowns in the four seasons he featured as a wide receiver wearing the Jaguars jersey. The second, Mike Brown played quarterback at Liberty but was shuffled to a handy wide receiver and punt returner as a professional.

More from Black and Teal

• Jacksonville Jaguars RT Jawaan Taylor expected to have massive market in 2023 NFL Free Agency
• Robert Tonyan could be perfect complement to Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram in 2023 NFL Free Agency
• 5 Jacksonville Jaguars dream targets in 2023 NFL Free Agency
• 3 potential trade partners for Jacksonville Jaguars CB Shaquill Griffin
• Jaguars should explore trading for Michael Thomas amid Calvin Ridley suspension

Going into the second half of the regular season, just about every fantasy team owner is raving, and rightly so, about Denard Robinson, a.k.a. “Shoelace.”   A fifth round draft pick in 2013, he is, following his 100 yards per game against both the Browns and Dolphins, proving that he merited a higher draft position than 135

th

overall selection. Perhaps, football fans should not be surprised. His career total of 4,495 rushing yards, while at Michigan, earned him the accolade of most yards ever run by a quarterback in NCAA history. Such stats go some way to explaining Gus Bradley’s gamble in giving him the ball in the backfield, rather than at the gun. They also indicate why, much faster than one might have originally anticipated, following Maurice Jones-Drew departure back to his Oakland homeland, Jacksonville has found another talisman on the ground.

What remains to be seen, however, is whether the Jaguars franchise can achieve the seemingly easier job of making a star college quarterback a prominent feature in the NFL. Many thought the team’s 2014 hero would be University of Central Florida’s Blake Bortles who, although showing promise, is also giving away points. Miami is a painful memory. Let’s hope that the Bengals bring a better performance out of him – the kind  a Jags fan saw when Mark Brunell, a man old enough to be his father, took the snaps.

Sep 28, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) looks to hand the ball off to wide receiver Denard Robinson (16) during warm-ups before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports