Jacksonville Jaguars: Chris Ivory, T.J. Yeldon a formidable 1-2 punch
By Luke Sims
The Jacksonville Jaguars one-two punch of Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon is formidable and gives the team the best rushing attack since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011.
Not that long ago -back when the Jacksonville Jaguars were less than a decade removed from a winning season – the Jags still featured a formidable rushing attack. In fact, Maurice Jones-Drew led the league as the top rusher in 2011.
Before that, there was the combination of Fred Taylor and MJD. Before that, Taylor on his own. There’s a rich history of strong running backs for the Jags. It’s a young franchise, but it already boasts a 10,000-yard rusher in Taylor. Unfortunately, the identity that came with that running attack has begun to fade.
Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon could finally bring it back.
It’s been a half decade since 2011. It’s time for the Jags’ rushing attack to dominate again. Hell, most fans will settle for just being respectable.
With 41 yards off just six carries, Yeldon is averaging 6.8 yards per carry in the preseason. The bruising Ivory has 51 yards on 12 carries (4.3 yards per carry). Both players look tough to bring down and are willing to battle for extra yards.
Their combined running could be enough to land them as a top-five rushing attack in 2016 (at least Pro Football Focus thinks so). If they get into the top 10, that should be good enough to not just open things up for the passing attack, but for the offense to dominate whether passing or throwing.
That’s the end goal. It isn’t just about being a complementary piece to Blake Bortles and Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. It’s about turning the rushing attack into a respectable weapon that can be relied upon.
The bruising Ivory and more elusive Yeldon are able to do that for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In limited action the’ve posted 92 yards already. Their combined average of 5.1 yards per carry is impressive. Even if it slips to 4.5 or even 4.1, it’s enough to be among the best in recent years.
Fantasy: Is T.J. Yeldon a legit option?
It’s time to regain the identity of producing great running backs. Ivory and Yeldon can get the Jags back on track.