Jacksonville Jaguars need to help QB Jake Luton by running the ball

Jacksonville Jaguars RB James Robinson will make Jake Luton’s job easier.

Heading into Week 9, the biggest question surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars was how they were going to proceed with the quarterback position after finding out that Gardner Minshew II is out with a thumb injury. Earlier this week, we learned that rookie signal-caller Jake Luton will get the starting nod against the Houston Texans.

Luton had a fine career at Oregon State, but it’s one thing to go against college-level talent and another to throw the football with Texans All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt and linebacker Whitney Mercilus in your face. For that reason, the Jaguars need to help their rookie quarterback ease into the role by making running back James Robinson a big part of their offensive gameplan.

Jacksonville Jaguars RB James Robinson can be Luton’s best friend on offense.

In his latest sitdown, Jaguars offensive coordinator Jay Gruden talked about the importance of establishing the run and having a balanced offense with Luton at the help. He pointed out that as good as the signal-caller been in practice, things won’t be easy in his first NFL start. Thus, avoiding third-and-long situations, and adding play-action passes to the offense will be key and will definitely make Luton’s job less complicated.

Although the Jaguars currently rank 30th in rushing yards with 676 and 27th in rushing touchdowns with five, Robinson has done his part. In seven games, he has averaged 4.5 yards per carry and racked up 481 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Moreover, he’s hauled in 27 receptions for 225 yards and three touchdowns.

If Robinson hasn’t played a bigger role in the Jaguars offense, it’s because they have fallen behind in previous games and have abandoned the role. Gruden knows this, that’s why it wasn’t surprising to hear him say that the team needs to run the ball effectively, which they will be able to do against a Texan’s run defense that ranks 31st in yards allowed.

Luton has to also perform well in his first NFL start, there’s no doubt about that, but the ‘Jags’ odds of beating the Texans will go up if they establish the role and make Robinson an important plan of their game plan on Sunday.