By Jeff Moeller
JACJSONVILLE (Florida Sports Wire) – Where have you gone, James Robinson?
You remember him? He was a breakout rookie running back with the Jags in 2020, as he set the NFL record for yards from scrimmage by an undrafted rookie with 1,414.
He followed that with a 767-yard season on the ground, but it was cut short when he tore his Achilles. Robinson also fell in disfavor with former head coach Irwin Meyer, as his workload began to be reduced.
From there, even with new coach Doug Pederson, Robinson’s career continued to be a mystery. The once franchise-type back had a restrained work load, and there was plenty of intrigue and banter swirling about his lack of playing time. Here was a 24-year-old stud who could be a workhorse for quite some time.
He was shipped to the Jets in October 2022, but didn’t become the feature back there everyone expected. He only saw action in four games as his playing time was limited for an undisclosed reason, even though he appeared to be fully recovered.
This was especially puzzling considering the Jets needed a feature back with rookie Breece Hall going down with a season-ending injury.
Robinson wasn’t tendered a contract this spring, and signed a two-year deal with the Patriots.
So, what does Robinson have to do with the Jaguars today? Plenty.
His surprising exit last October confirmed the fact that the Jags were ready to hand the running reins over to Travis Etienne.
The Clemson product was lost for his rookie season of 2021 when he incurred a Lisfranc injury in the team’s opening preseason game. He was the second running back taken in the draft, and the Jags were confident they had their feature back of the future to reunite in the backfield with Trevor Lawrence.
Last season, Etienne proved his worth when he rushed for 1,125 yards on 220 carries for a 5.1 per carry average. He also caught 35 passes out of the backfield for 316 yards.
Etienne was a pivotal part of the team’s success last season that resulted in an AFC South title and a playoff victory. It appeared the Jags’ running game issues were solved. Or were they?
The question this year is whether Etienne will increase his workload for 2023. Head coach Doug Pederson was known for sharing his running back duties. During his time in Philadelphia, Pederson didn’t have any running back average more than 13 carries.
This offseason, the Jags added Auburn rookie Tank Rigsby, and ex-Brown D’Ernest Jackson for depth. Jamycal Hasty was a good change-of-pace back last season. With Rigsby, Jackson, and Hasty, the Jags do have the backfield that would suit Pederson. It does take pressure off Etienne to be a 100-yard weekly back.
Etienne has shown his speed and breakaway potential in the open field, so look for Pederson to utilize Etienne more out of the backfield as a passing threat. It didn’t take teams long to adjust to him last season, yet he still managed to have five 100-yard-or-more games rushing.
The Jags have more than an adequate passing attack on the outside with Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Evan Engram and new addition Calvin Ridley. They plan to get plenty of coverage, and Etienne should be a viable and effective option.
Etienne will be the team’s lead back, but there are more options to a running game than the past few seasons.
Looking back at Robinson’s trade, there aren’t any more lingering effects about the Jags’ running game.
(SportsDay columnist Jeff Moeller covers the NFL and other sports for Florida Sports Wire)
