Toby Gerhart wants to be the ‘Beast Mode’ for the Jacksonville Jaguars
By Jack Crosby
Finally getting the chance to shine in his a backfield that he can call his own, there’s a lot expected this season from the hard-running Jacksonville Jaguars running back, Toby Gerhart. With the offensive resurgence seemingly taking place this season under second -year head coach Gus Bradley, Gerhart’s success is a big part of the transition.
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For him to be successful and the Jags’ offense to flourish, Gerhart will have to run harder than he ever has before. More or less, he’ll have to play the part that Marshawn Lynch played last season in helping the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl.
Gerhart, well, he tends to agree with that point.
“Gus comes from the Seattle Seahawks‘ model of playing good defense, relying on the run game where Marshawn Lynch was their ‘Beast Mode’ out there,” Gerhart said Wednesday, per USA Today. “Hopefully, I’ll be the ‘Beast Mode’ down here for the Jaguars. I want to be a guy who helps turn this program around with a physical, punishing offense.”
There’s a lot more pressure on Gerhart this season than just having to be the featured back. Not only will he have that backfield all to himself, but he has to take over for one of the most successful backs in the franchise’s history, Maurice Jones-Drew.
“There’s definitely pressure because Maurice (Jones-Drew) was the guy here the last eight years,” Gerhart admitted. “The face of the Jaguars always seemed to be a running back dating from Fred Taylor to Maurice. I’m excited for the chance to be the guy and carry the load.”
There are a lot of people out there that believe the culture in Jacksonville is heading toward a positive change. Gerhart plays a crucial role in that new culture.