The Jacksonville Jaguars desperately need to find balance on offense. Yes, they were at least "average" in several meaningful rate stats, finishing 16th in first downs per play, 17th in yards per play, and 18th in points per play. But if they were as good in the run game as the passing game the Jaguars might be special. Doug Pederson hasn't shied away from that fact this spring, and believes there's one obvious fix that may help in the 2024 NFL season.
According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, Doug Pederson believes the team simply needs to have a second running back step up to keep Travis Etienne fresh that can add consistent value. And he specifically believes that running back will be Tank Bigsby saying:
"[The Jaguars] have to get Tank [Bigsby] going, bottom line...He is too good--that's why we drafted him."
"I think early [Bigsby] had some 'what is that?'-type plays for whatever reason, right or wrong...He is a young player that we're excited about. Like we talked about last year, we take some burden off of Etienne a little bit, keep him healthy for the remainder of the season."
Asserting the importance of getting a running back going who averaged 2.6 yards per carry on 50 rush attempts last fall doesn't (on the surface) seem like the quick fix for anything. But the Jaguars absolutely need a running back to step up alongside Travis Etienne because he simply ran out of gas down the stretch.
Etienne started off the year scoring seven touchdowns in the first seven weeks, averaging four yards per carry and 4.65 yards per touch. Down the stretch Etienne's yards per carry fell off by a half yard and his receiving efficiency disappeared. The Jaguars finished 25th in rushing first down rate and 30th in yards per rush attempt among all NFL teams. Just absolutely abysmal results.
If the Jaguars can get Tank Bigsby to break out, looking like the running back that we saw dominate SEC competition at age 18 averaging four yards after contact per attempt, Jacksonville will be dangerous on the ground in 2024.
Year two is the most pivotal for NFL running backs, and it's historically the most common year for the largest leap in production and efficiency at the position. And it sounds like Coach Pederson is going to make sure that second year breakout happens for Bigsby this fall.
We just saw a massive breakout from a second year running back in Kyren Williams for the Rams in 2023, a year after he largely embarrassed and disappointed as a rookie. It is possible to see massive improvement like that.
The Jaguars may not see that level of 1300+ yard breakout for Bigsby, but as the staff already knows and believes, he is far too talented to not take a huge leap in the 2024 NFL season. And if he does, the Jaguars might find the offensive balance they've been looking for since Trevor Lawrence entered the league.
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