Jaguars think Denard Robinson can work as a running back
By Mike Dyce
The Jacksonville Jaguars are struggling to get their seasons first win. Part of their offensive struggles comes in the ground game, where their 66.4 yards per game ranks 31st in the league. So in what might be a bit of a desperation move, the Jaguars are moving offensive weapon/quarterback/wide receiver Denard Robinson to running back.
“We tried him at wildcat and tried him at receiver and we just said that didn’t work real well,’’ Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said, via Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union. “Let’s put him at tailback. He never played it before, but when he did, some things came naturally to him. . . .
“He gained our trust as far as ball security and he had a really good work of practice before the San Francisco game and we said, ‘All right, let’s get him in there and see what he can do.’”
At 0-8 what do you really have to lose? They can officially walk away saying they tried everything with this move.
The Titans run defense has allowed an average of 122.5 yards per game, a mark that ranks 26th in the NFL. There is an opportunity for Robinson to be successful there. As a quarterback at Michigan he rushed for 4,495 yards in his career. Though in his later years became more about running and less about throwing.
In his sophomore season, he was the first player in NCAA history to pass for 2,500 yards and rush for 1,500 in a single season.