Out of the Box: Rashad Greene Pastures Return

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver and punt return specialist Rashad Greene is poised to break out in a big way in 2016.

In a period of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ greatest futility from 2010-2014, a lack of an effective run game, no clarity and direction at quarterback, the absence of playmakers at wide receiver and a defense that couldn’t keep it close all spelled doom for the AFC South cellar-dwellers.

Despite these limitations in the whole team roster, it was the lack of a bonafide threat in the return game that significant disappointment to many. It was understandable that a roster lacking depth and across the board talent would take time to be rebuilt – we are in 2016 hopefully going to see the fruit of this reconstruction – but finding a single player who could spark a team, help with the field position battle and at least give the opponents something to game plan for seemed beyond the Jaguars.

Finally, in the 2015 Draft the Jaguars addressed this with the selection of Florida State wide receiver Rashad Greene. A number of shrewd pre-draft observers (this writer included) had suggested that returner was such a need that Kansas State’s Tyler Lockett should have been the Jaguars’ target. Seeing the success that the electric return man (Lockett) had in his rookie season with Seattle reinforced this suggestion, but it was the Seminole Greene who finished the year with a higher return average after he ended up in teal as the Jaguars’ 5^th round selection and hope for a spark in the return game.

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Greene didn’t have the year that Lockett had, but by season’s end the team had seen what could be with Greene utilized in this phase of the game. Averaging 16.7 yards per punt return and with a touchdown to his CV, 2016 looks set for a breakout year. It is returns like this 63 yard TD last season against Indianapolis that has the team, and the fan base, looking to see Greene continue to emerge as a legitimate weapon in 2016.

Greene has also positioned himself as a contributor on offense, scoring twice on his 19 receptions. With Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Julius Thomas getting the bulk of the attention, a breakout year for Greene and indeed Marqise Lee looms.

This all will be icing on the cake for the Jaguars if Greene is able to spark the return game and see an improvement in the net field position, shift momentum and impact the scoreboard. Fear not, Jaguars fans, it might finally be time to put the Ace Sanders era behind us.

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