Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette is exactly what Tom Coughlin Needs
By Luke Sims
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette is exactly the kind of player executive vice president Tom Coughlin wants and needs on his revamped team.
Executive vice president for football operations Tom Coughlin is in the midst of changing the Jacksonville Jaguars culture and turning the team into winners. In that regard, Leonard Fournette is exactly what the Jags need.
In order to cement a culture shift toward winning and being tougher, Coughlin needed a player to embody that change. Nobody in the 2017 NFL Draft is more physical on offense than Leonard Fournette. Nobody can set a tone quite like Fournette.
The last time the Jaguars selected a first round running back was when Coughlin selected legendary Jags runner Fred Taylor. Taylor defined the Jaguars for a decade and was the workhorse the team could rely on.
Coughlin gets the same type of player with Fournette. Fournette immediately gives the Jaguars a player who can control games and turn any run into a major gain. He can wear down defenses. And he balances the offense.
Caldwell -- "From the minute Doug and Tom came in here, the idea of us being physical ... we wanted to make sure we were able to do that."
— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) April 28, 2017
Culture change and tone change is important. Even if Fournette doesn’t become a 10,000-yard back or lead the league in rushing (though those are both goals he should certainly have), having a player who can be an instant leader on the field based on his playing style is incredibly important. The Jags need to break the mediocrity and losing culture that has weighed them down since 2010.
Next: Fournette Pick is an A Selection
It’s time to win now and win every single aspect of the game. The Jags just did that by establishing a new culture with the first pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.