What’s Jaguars biggest spot for grabs in training camp?

Just like any other NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars will see a few position battles take place in training camp. You won’t see Gardner Minshew compete with Trevor Lawrence for the starting quarterback job. However, there are a few spots for grabs, and if you ask Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report, he will tell you running back is the biggest one in Jacksonville.

Moton recently put together a list of every NFL team’s biggest job for grabs in training camp. He says he was surprised the Jags made Travis Etienne the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft even though they already had James Robinson in place. He notes that Andy Staples of The Athletic has Etienne listed as the starter in his early depth-chart projections.

"“Yes, the undrafted free agent from Illinois State was one of the best stories of the 2020 season,” Staples wrote. “And yes, he’ll still play a major role in the offense. But the Jaguars didn’t draft Etienne at No. 25 to make him a third-down back.”"

Moton notes that Etienne has lined up as a receiver during training camp. Moreover, he points out that the former Tiger hauled in 102 receptions for 1,155 receiving yards and eight touchdowns over four seasons. He believes the Jaguars will use the 2021 first-round pick in an every-down role while Robinson will be relegated to a reserve position.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will have a running back committee in 2021.

You might’ve heard that the Jaguars should consider trading Robinson after drafting Etienne. After all, you don’t take a running back in the first round to sit on the bench. Nevertheless, the Illinois State product can still have a big role on offense.

Although Robinson is not an elite running back, he showed in his rookie year he can tot the rock, running the ball 240 times for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns. Furthermore, he totaled 1,414 scrimmage yards, the most by an undrafted running back in NFL history.

Staples is right, E-T-N won’t be a third-down back but that doesn’t mean the Jaguars will send Robinson packing nor relegate him to the sidelines. Last season, the former Redbird got 86 percent of the team’s total carries. Etienne can take some of the load off his shoulders. In fact, Jacksonville’s young running back duo has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL.

There is room for both James Robinson and Travis Etienne in Jacksonville.

Etienne and Robinson may not currently be as talented as the Cleveland Browns running back duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. However, they can both help the Jaguars’ running game improve in 2021. Last season, they ranked 28th in rushing yards and 31st in rushing touchdowns. The Jags often fell behind in 2020, so they abandoned the run early in the game to try to catch up. That will most likely change in 2021.

The Jags will have a more balanced offense with quarterback Trevor Lawrence taking snaps behind center. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell also likes to run the ball, so both Etienne and Robinson will have plenty of opportunities.

Although the Jaguars’ offense will revolve around Lawrence, the team will be counting on Etienne and Robinson to have an impact in 2021. Regardless of who is the starting running back, there will be enough carries for the two of them.