Jaguars RB James Robinson named one of several offseason losers

The Jacksonville Jaguars went 1-15 last season and one of the several reasons was their lack of playmakers. On the other hand, as head coach Urban Meyer recently pointed out, saying that the team is currently starting from ground zero isn’t fair, as there were some talented players on the roster (although not enough to win more than one game). Sophomore running back James Robinson, who totaled 1,414 yards from scrimmage in 2020, is one of them.

The Illinois State product was one of the few bright spots on the Jaguars’ offense. However, he was recently named one of several 2021 NFL offseason losers by Bleacher Report. Maurice Moton, the writer of this one says the sophomore running back will probably take on a lesser role in 2021 despite the fact that he tied for fifth in rushing with 1,070 yards last season. Moton notes that the Jaguars’ brass signed veteran Carlos Hyde in free agency and drafted Travis Etienne 25th overall in this year’s selection meeting.

Moton points out that even though E-T-N has taken reps at wide receiver during the offseason, he will also have an important role in the running game. Also, there’s a chance tight end Tim Tebow takes direct snaps in the Wildcat formation and handoffs, so he could take some carries away from Robinson. Moton believes Robinson may no longer be the featured back and will now be part of a three-man committee.

The Jacksonville Jaguars can’t stop feeding James Robinson the ball.

Robinson could make it difficult for the Jacksonville Jaguars to keep him on the sidelines. He’s been working on improving his overall speed. He recently had a sitdown with the local media and said he’s focused on his knee drive, as it’s something head coach Urban Meyer pointed out earlier this year. Furthermore, the former Redbird has already proven himself in the NFL, which is something that could give him the edge over Etienne in training camp.

The 2021 first-round pick racked up 168 carries for 4,952 yards and 70 touchdowns at Clemson. Furthermore, he hauled in 48 receptions for 588 yards and two touchdowns. There’s no doubt Etienne was an electrifying player in college and the Jaguars’ brass envisions him as a dual-threat on offense. Also, he may have a higher ceiling than Robinson but it remains to be seen if he can make the transition to the pros. After all, there have been countless prospects that fare well in college but struggle to adjust to the NFL.

This isn’t to say Etienne won’t succeed in the pros. Rather, Robinson is the more experienced of the two at this moment and has already shown he can get it done. If he plays at a high level, it will be difficult for the coaching staff to take him off the field. Alternatively, there’s a scenario where both running backs play well and become one of the best duos in the NFL.

Sure, Robinson can be the lead back, but Etienne’s and Hyde’s arrival doesn’t necessarily mean he will be relegated to the bench. Instead, the Jaguars will have a formidable running back room.