How the Jacksonville Jaguars can win the AFC South

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MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 23: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs with the ball against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2. Re-establish the ground game

In 2017, no team in the league finished the regular season with more running plays (527) and more rushing yards (2,262) than Doug Marrone’s club. When he was available, the team got plenty of production from then-rookie running back Leonard Fournette, the fourth-overall selection in the draft that year.

The team’s ability to dominate on the ground would continue in the postseason against the Buffalo Bills (155 yards), Pittsburgh Steelers (164) and to a lesser degree, the New England Patriots (101). Fournette, reserve running backs Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon and quarterback Blake Bortles all played a big role in Jacksonville’s success on the ground that year.

But that was hardly the case this past season. The ground game slumped to 19th in the NFL and Fournette was limited to only eight contests, running for just 439 yards and five of the club’s disappointing seven overall rushing touchdowns. It’s essential that he remain healthy if the ground game is to rebound.

This offseason, the team signed free agent running backs Alfred Blue, Benny Cunningham and Thomas Rawls while allowing four-year pro T.J. Yeldon to move on (he’s now with the Buffalo Bills). General manager David Caldwell also used a fifth-round pick on Temple’s Ryquell Armstead.

Of course, a solid running game would also benefit the Jacksonville defense as well. And if new starting quarterback Nick Foles is to succeed, the Jaguars need to get back to the offensive formula that paid off so well in ’17.

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