By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
JACKSONVILLE – At Wednesday’s practice, Tank Bigsby was running hard.
Breaking tackles and making cuts in the process were what the Jaguars had been seeking from the second-year running back. It’s safe to say that Bisgby was underused in 2023, as he ran for 132 yards on 50 carries and caught just one pass for six yards.
Travis Etienne did his share as well, and the third-year back and also how he can be further utilized out of the backfield. Etienne ran for 1,008 yards, scored 11 touchdowns, and caught 58 passes.
This year, the Jags have worked to emphasize their running game, and Bigsby and Etienne will be at the forefront. If the Jags are to advance to the next level – like most thought last year – a heightened running attack will be the key.
This duo can have the same impact that Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew had on the team, leading them
At 24, Etienne has realized that he can be a productive back in the league. He rushed for 1,125 yards in his rookie year and caught 35 passes. His pass-catching production took a noticeable jump, and he also has further understood his role from offensive coordinator Press Taylor.
“I feel like just a whole revamp, just the way that they’ve kind of been installing,” he stated.” The way he’s kind of emphasizing more of the run game, making it our identity, really putting a lot more focus on coming off the ball and just being disciplined, and being a physical football team.”
There were plenty of instances last season in which Etienne showed his durability and determination, keeping his balance near the ground and getting the second effort with his legs.
Practicing with pads in camp also has helped harden his approach.
“I feel like it’s a lot better because I feel like the defense is always physical,” added Etienne. “ They’re over-physical whenever you don’t have pads. When you do have pads, it’s able to just define a lot more for you. I maybe like to deliver a little blow, and it’s not even just a tag on me and say I’m down. They really have got to kind of wrap up and really just try to bring me to the ground.”
Etienne certainly has noticed Bigsby’s will and grittiness in camp.
“I wouldn’t say edge,” noted Etienne about Bigsby. “I would say he’s a lot more smooth. He’s a lot more confident. He’s not as antsy as he was last year. I feel like you could just kind of tell he’s getting his swagger behind his pads. I feel like I love that for him, because he’s going to be a vital part for us to be able to just be a great team.”
Jaguars’’ head coach Doug Pederson envisions the backfield being one of the league’s better ones.“Yeah, I think Tank has a bigger role, you know, this year, in Year 2,” said Pederson. “ You know, it’s something that we’ve been looking at. We definitely know we’ve got to take a little bit off of Travis [Etienne], and keep him healthy for an entire season.”
From 2006-08, Taylor and Drew was the Jags’ backfield, rushing for a combined 5,437 yards. They led the team to an 11-5 record in 2007 and a second-round playoff appearance loss to the Super Bowl Patriots.
However, the duo was part of a team that went 24-24 during the three-year period.
Now, Etienne and Bigsby will have their chance to be another productive backfield and reach another level.
