Leonard Fournette remains the centerpiece of the Jaguars offense
By David Levin
Will Leonard Fournette have the type of season that was expected of him last season and erase doubts about his commitment to the Jaguars and playing football?
The Jacksonville Jaguars are giving running back Leonard Fournette every opportunity to become the star running back he was expected to be when the team drafted him fourth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
A new offensive coordinator in John DeFilippo, who has gone on record as saying that Leonard Fournette will be vital to the team’s success running the football. A new running backs coach, in Terry Robiskie, who played football at LSU like Fournette and wants to help the young man grow on and off the field. A new quarterback who has spent time going over plays and forming chemistry with the often injured player.
It’s a formula the Jaguars front office and their coaching staff hopes will lead to another 1,000-yard plus season and hopefully will mean Jacksonville makes the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
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All of the changes are great, as long as Fournette continues to be the person he appeared to be as he stood at a podium after practice on Friday and preached the gospel of change. If change does him a little good (thank you, Cheryl Crow), then it will do this entire roster some good as well.
Still, Fournette has to remain committed.
"“We’re really looking forward to Leonard having a big year,” DeFilippo said. “I’m going to call it what it is: He’s going to be a major reason where our offense goes. I’m not going to sugarcoat that. Leonard Fournette needs to be a big part of this offense.“The harder he works – which he is right now – that’s going to be not only good for our offense, but good for our team.”"
That statement is true of any high-profile player coming back from an unsuccessful season. Never has it meant more to Fournette, who until last season, where he ran for 439 yards and five touchdowns, was successful at every level he has touched a football.
Robiskie said when he and Leonard Fournette met for the first time, he could tell his pupil wanted to get better for himself and the team. He told the media on Friday morning Fournette wants to do more than just have a better 2019 campaign.
"“He’s got the ambition. He’s got the heart. The one thing I feel like in the early stage of us being together, I think he wants to win,” Robiskie explained. “I don’t think he wants to win a game. I think he wants to be a part of something special. I think he wants to win a Super Bowl, and I think the year before last, that little taste that he had, I think that kind of helped push it a little bit more. I think he’s got a desire to win and hopefully win a Super Bowl.”"
The Jaguars would love for No. 27 build on his rookies season – 1,040 yards and nine rushing touchdowns – and eclipse the century mark again and beyond while hoisting a Lombardi Trophy in the air. DeFilippo thinks the team has a special running back who can make a difference for the offense, and combined with the passing game and quarterback Nick Foles, can do some great things this season.
Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette said Friday that he used this offseason to essentially re-boot himself and start over. Admitted he made some mistakes -- meaning his arrest for driving with a suspended license -- but said he doesn't feel he has to prove to... https://t.co/JHzrdZPAsH
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) May 24, 2019
When I spoke to Alfred Blue, who has signed this offseason to be the team’s primary backup to Fournette, he said he was excited about forming a 1-2 combination in the backfield. It was Blue who played at LSU right before Fournette. They, too, have a bond that could lead to success.
There will be a story on Blue this weekend here on Black and Teal.
If Fournette can take the brass ring that is out there, and run with it (pun intended), this could be a comeback story in the making. Everyone the media has talked to about the potential of this offense says the same thing. If Fournette is healthy and playing football like what is expected of him, then the Jaguars offense will be better for it.
Next. Terry Robiskie brought in to help Jaguars running game. dark
Leonard Fournette has said he wants to prove he is the player everyone thinks he can be. Now, he just has to go out there and prove it.