T.J. Yeldon is coming to the Jacksonville Jaguars to be the workhorse back for the team. He’s expected to beat out Denard Robinson and Toby Gerhart and be the definitive running back for the Jags. Last season the Jaguars were hoping Gerhart could develop from the backup to Adrian Peterson to a top flight starter and saw that fail. Instead, we all saw Robinson put in some surprisingly strong performances as a starter.
When we get down to it, however, Robinson and Gerhart just aren’t starting running backs for the Jaguars. They are intriguing options, but bringing in Yeldon enabled the Jags to ensure they had a true, starting caliber running back on the roster right off the bat for 2015.
So, barring injury, we’re all looking to T.J. Yeldon to be the top running back for the Jaguars in 2015. He’ll be given every opportunity to succeed.
Here are five reasons why I think he’ll live up to the responsibility and be successful this coming season.
Sep 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys tackle Jermey Parnell (78) watches a replay on the video screen during the second half against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
1) An Improved Offensive Line
Leaving Alabama for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014 arguably could have been a downgrade of an offensive line for a running back. Fortunately for T.J. Yeldon, he left for the Jaguars in a year where the team is revamping the offensive line. With two to three new starters and a healthy Luke Joeckel at left tackle, the offensive line for the Jacksonville Jaguars could be a strength for the team for the first time in a few years.
Brandon Linder proved he could pave the way at guard. Zane Beadles is serviceable at the other guard position but could be forced out of his starter spot by strong up and comer A.J. Cann. Luke Bowanko did enough in 2014 to justify a return at center but if he doesn’t shake out, the Jaguars brought in perennial Oakland Raiders starter Stefen Wisniewski to compete (and likely start) at that position. Jermey Parnell is locking down right tackle and Luke Joeckel may finally be playing at weight after two rough seasons to start his NFL career.
The new offensive line for the Jaguars isn’t just new-look, it’s new attitude, new approach, and new results as well. Yeldon will be able to find holes behind this offensive line. He’ll be able to use his high-level vision and find spots to exploit the defense behind this offensive line. For the first time since 2007/2008, the Jaguars are fielding an offensive line that could bully the opposing defensive line on each and every down. Expect Yeldon to see success as a result.
Next: T.J. Yeldon Will Get Every Opportunity to Succeed
Oct 4, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back T.J. Yeldon (4) runs for a first down during the first half against Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
2) T.J. Yeldon Will be Given Every Opportunity to Succeed
Denard Robinson and Toby Gerhart are getting new roles and in their place will step T.J. Yeldon. Yeldon is expected to be the feature back for the Jacksonville Jaguars and he is expected to excel in that role. The team had almost every running back available to them at the top of the second round and they chose to go with the player they believed had the best ability to be successful with their football team. Head coach Gus Bradley and offensive coordinator Greg Olson will put Yeldon in position to be successful.
Their is a renewed focus on the running game with the Jaguars this season as well. Blake Bortles essentially was the offense for the 2014 Jaguars and that provided little balance for the team. Yeldon is expected to alleviate some of the pressure on Bortles. The Jaguars desperately need someone like Yeldon to step up and become a consistent threat every time he touches the ball or they will have to revert to a one-dimensional offense yet again and that hasn’t worked well for them in the past.
It’s important to note how committed the 2015 Jaguars will be to the running game. This isn’t just coach speak early in the offseason. This is a necessity for the Jaguars. The Jags have been burned too many times in the past so they need to make sure they can feed Yeldon and get him opportunities. As the feature back for the Jaguars he will be given every chance to prove he’s ready to shoulder the load for this team going forward.
Next: Greg Olson Knows When He Has a Quality Runner
Aug 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson looks at images from the game with the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. Vikings win 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
3) Bringing in Greg Olson as Offensive Coordinator
The Jacksonville Jaguars made some big moves along the coaching front for the offense after the 2014 season. Jedd Fisch was sent packing after failing to translate his collegiate work to a successful NFL format and in return the Jaguars brought in three offensive minds. Former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone left the New York and is the offensive line coach and assistant head coach, quarterback guru and former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is heading up the QB group for the Jags, and Greg Olson was poached away from the Oakland Raiders to be the offensive coordinator.
That’s an awful lot of experience for a young offense in Jacksonville. Olson, however, has the final say on what goes down and while he’s known more for quarterback development, his arrival to Jacksonville is a good thing for T.J. Yeldon.
Balance is critical for offenses in the NFL. Sometimes a team like the Green Bay Packers or New Orleans Saints can get away with not having anybody running the ball, but guys like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees are the exception, not the rule. Last season the Jaguars were forced to pass more and more because they fell behind often and couldn’t rely on the running game to eat up yards and time.
Greg Olson had a similar problem in Oakland last season. The Raiders were forced to pass the ball far too often due to a poor running back group and falling behind often. They attempted the least number of rushes in 2014.
Don’t let that be indicative of how Olson approaches the game, however. While he has focused on the passing attack, he hasn’t been shy about getting top runners the ball. In his past four seasons as an offensive coordinator you can see fluctuations in how often the running backs get the ball. In 2010 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his offense ran the ball 13th most in the NFL. In 2013 with the Raiders it was 16th. The 2010 Bucs featured 1000 yard rusher LaGarrette Blount and Olson got a surprising 733 yards out of Rashad Jennings with the 2013 Raiders. Both of those runners averaged over 4.5 yards per carry. Last year Darren McFadden averaged just above three yards per carry for Olson and the Raiders.
The message is clear: if you can prove successful running the ball, he’ll keep handing it off. If not, he’ll turn to the passing game.
For T.J. Yeldon, that is a call to action. He’ll be given the opportunity to be the primary ball carrier, he just needs to make sure that he is successful at it. Greg Olson is willing to run the ball if his running back is hot. Yeldon just needs to make sure he can show he’s a hot runner early in the season and consistently throughout the season. Having a competent passing attack should help take some heat off of Yeldon as well.
Next: It isn't All Yeldon, There Will be a Growing Team Around Him
Sep 29, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas (80) runs with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
4) Growing Talent Around Him
T.J. Yeldon isn’t going to be the only successful player on the Jacksonville Jaguars offense. He’ll be joining a young – but successful – wide receiver group in Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, and Allen Robinson who are all looking to be healthy and productive in their second years. Also looking for a big 2015 will be quarterback Blake Bortles who is expected to make strides during his sophomore effort. The offensive line has already been talked about, but we can’t stop chatting about just how different that unit will be from the horrendous version it was in 2014. Also along for 2015 and beyond is new pass catching tight end Julius Thomas (AKA the crown jewel of the Jaguars 2015 free agency period) who looks to draw every defender’s attention when he’s lining up.
The Jaguars may be a young team, but there is a host of quality talent sitting ready for the offense. Greg Olson could hardly hope for better young players to build and offense on and Yeldon is going to be an important part of that. We should emphasize that he is a part of a growing group of talent, he isn’t the only one. While not every player the Jaguars have returning is going to successfully grow in 2015, there is enough raw talent and potential on this offense for success to be found in a number of places. Yeldon is expected to be the primary ball carrier, but he isn’t expected to suddenly outshine everyone on offense.
The Jaguars fielded a weak offense in 2014, but with a better offensive line, a couple key additions, and the hope for young players reaching their potential it shouldn’t be tough to envision Yeldon be among a group of successful players for the Jags. This offense is going to be much improved.
Next: Yeldon Won't be Expected to Do It Alone
Dec 7, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Denard Robinson (16) evades Houston Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing (56) at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dole-USA TODAY Sports
5) Plenty of Help at Running Back
While T.J. Yeldon is going to be the feature back for the Jaguars, he’ll also be joined by three former starting running backs among the stable with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Denard Robinson, Toby Gerhart, and Bernard Pierce have all started at times in their NFL careers and all are capable backs who can step in and make sure Yeldon’s legs don’t completely wear down during a game or through the season.
Fresh legs is something we often overlook at the running back position. Work horse running backs wear down over their careers (one of the reasons they have such short careers) and we understand the wear and tear of 300+ or 400+ carries can do to a player. But it isn’t just about the overall season total, but also about the touches per game or per series. It’s important to keep those runners fresh. We nearly immortalize guys like Emmett Smith who can take carry after carry and still break a big one every ten attempts. Those types of guys are few and far between however and maybe, just maybe we should stop expecting such Herculean efforts from our running backs.
While Yeldon will get every opportunity to succeed, he won’t have to do it alone. The 2015 Jaguars aren’t carrying a fullback and are instead carrying five running backs for the season. Three of them are past starters and Yeldon is going to be the focus. There’s no pressure in this group, it’s all about finding the right mix that leads to the most success. There’s no question in my mind that Yeldon is the most talented guy on the depth chart and while he is expected to prove it, even if he lets the other guys take a few touches they likely won’t surpass him during the season. Instead, it will be all about making sure Yeldon doesn’t get too run down during the game or during the season.
Next: Denard Robinson and Toby Gerhart Focus on Getting Ready not on New Roles
More from Black and Teal
- Jacksonville Jaguars should welcome Derrick Henry into the kingdom
- Jaguars Rumors: Trent Baalke seems to be getting respect now
- Bold trade proposal has Jacksonville Jaguars shipping LT Cam Robinson
- Jaguars News: This division rival might be making a big move
- Former Jacksonville Jaguars S Johnathan Cyprien: “New Profession, Same Standards”