By: Will Baptist

The running back position has seen a drastic change over the years, and they are required to be more complete backs now. Catching the ball out of the backfield, and having a good enough route tree to line up in the slot is a major aspect of being an every-down back.

Alvin Kamara is arguably the best example of that in the NFL right now. He has the strength and size to run it up the middle throughout the game, while having the quickness and route running ability to run numerous different routes, and stay on the field on third down.

Kamara was drafted in 2017, and already has 4 Pro Bowls under his belt. We have yet to see a running back with the unique size and quickness comparable to Kamara since he entered the league, but it seems there is one on the horizon.

Travis Etienne, a first-round pick out of Clemson, is the best comparison we have seen to Kamara. Etienne is poised for a big rookie season on the Jaguars, especially since his quarterback will be his former college teammate, Trevor Lawrence. They already have familiarity with each other and know the strengths and weaknesses of each other’s game.

Similarities in Styles

Etienne and Kamara are the exact same size, at 5’10 and 215 pounds. They play very similar styles, with their patience and explosiveness. Etienne is physical and able to run between the tackles, but has the straight line speed to score on any play.

Etienne is extremely difficult to bring down, and it normally takes at least two defenders to do so. He was able to run a wide array of routes during his final two seasons at Clemson, and showed that he has the ability do that consistently at the next level. He improved as a pass blocker throughout his career as well, which bodes will for his ability to stay on the field on the third down moving forward. Kamara also showed flashes in college of how great of a pass catcher he could be during his tenure in Tennessee.

Urban Meyer will unleash that aspect of Etienne’s game, and it would not be shocking to see him catch 60-70 passes as a rookie. He is the complete package, and his strength and size are reminiscent of Kamara as a college back. Their quickness jumps out on tape and their ability to move in and out of cuts is staggering.

One major difference is Kamara ran a 4.56 40-yard dash, while Etienne ran a 4.32 40-yard dash. That speed is going to translate immediately at the next level, and as long as Etienne can hold his own as a pass blocker, he will be on the field a ton as a rookie. They have other backs in place in Jacksonville, so he will not have to shoulder the load, which gives time to learn and grow.

The biggest similarity between them is the strength and ability to bounce of defenders. They both understand leverage and how to use their size to break tackles on every play. This will be a nightmare for opposing defensive backs when they are put on an island on a swing pass, and try to bring down Etienne. He is in prime position to be Offensive Rookie of the Year, just as Kamara was in 2017.

Similarities in Statistics

Etienne shattered the record books during his 4-year career at Clemson. He holds the ACC career record for rushing yards (4,952), total touchdowns (78) and total points (468). Etienne had the luxury of being on one of most the prolific teams in the NCAA all four years. When he stepped on campus as a freshman, it was evident he was the premiere back on the team, while totaling 766 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, along with 7.2 yards per carry as a true freshman.

This was only the beginning for Etienne, as he went on to rush for for consecutive 1600+ yard seasons with at least 23 total touchdowns as a sophomore and junior. His junior season, Clemson began to use him as a pass catcher and expand on how he can contribute out of the backfield. He had 37 catches, 432 yards and four touchdowns through the air, showing that he can be an every down back. It was clear how special he was and his yards per carry never dipped below 7.2 his first three seasons.

Every player’s statistics and production should have an asterisks by it for the 2020 season, considering the global pandemic was in full force. Etienne is no exception, and this forced him to play only 12 games, as opposed to the 15 games that he played the two seasons prior. His rushing stats took a dip , but he exploded as a receiver and showed his full capabilities. He hauled in 48 catches, 588 receiving yards, two touchdowns and 12.3 yards per catch.

Kamara had very similar production as a receiver during his time in Tennessee. He was primarily used at a pass catcher, but still dominated on the ground. In his two years at Tennessee, he totaled 1,294 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, 6.2 yards per carry, while catching 74 passes, 683 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. All this production occurred in a 24-game span, and it was clear Kamara was a diamond in the rough, and if he totaled the same amount of games as Etienne did in college, their statistics could be identical.

The similarities between Etienne and Kamara are uncanny, but being drafted into the right organization plays a major role in how successful the player can be. Kamara was drafted into the perfect situation, with no lofty expectations as a third rounder, and going to one of the most genius offensive minds in Sean Payton, and future Hall of Fame quarterback, Drew Brees. Etienne is going to a first time NFL head coach, Urban Meyer, and an organization that does not have much of a history of winning. For the Jaguars sake, hopefully Etienne paired with Lawrence can provide them with hope for the future, because their talent is undeniable.

The post How does Travis Etienne compare to Alvin Kamara? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Eli Grabanski

When Tebow signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, sports media went crazy, and for good reason. He has not played for an NFL team since 2012. He’s slated to be 34 years old going into the 2021 NFL season. And he’s going to be making the switch from quarterback to tight end! Based on all this information, it’s a stretch that he even makes the Jaguars’ final roster.

But what if Tebow did make the roster? What would his ceiling look like?

This article will dive into what kind of stat line we could realistically see from Tim Tebow if he manages to make the team and has a role in the Jaguars offense in 2021.

Jacksonville Jaguars Depth Chart

The Jacksonville Jaguars have some depth at quarterback with Trevor Lawrence and Gardner Minshew. They have depth at running back with James Robinson, Travis Etienne, and Carlos Hyde. They have depth at wide receiver with D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones, Laviska Shenault, and Collin Johnson. But at the tight end position? Not so much. Right now on the Jaguars roster, they have Chris Manhertz, James O’Shaughnessy, Luke Farrell, and Tim Tebow at the tight end position which is less than inspiring. The lack of an established quality tight end option will improve Tebow’s chances of making the final roster and challenge for some play-time here and there.

The Urban Meyer Factor

If Urban Meyer weren’t the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tim Tebow would not be in the NFL. But Urban Meyer had success with Tebow at the college level over a decade ago and believed that Tebow could be useful to the Jaguars offense in 2021, so he decided to give him a chance.

We can’t expect anything close to the kind of production he put up in college at the NFL level, playing a new position, over a decade later. But looking at these college statistics, we can see that Tebow was utilized in a couple of ways during his time at Florida – mainly through the air with his passing and on the ground with his rushing ability. This versatility makes it seem likely that the tight end position will be just one of the places that Tim Tebow lines up…especially considering that Urban Meyer’s 219 game career as a college football head coach, his tight end room averaged just 2.13 receptions for 25.61 receiving yards and 0.26 receiving touchdowns per game and he has been well-known for using players all over the field – like Trey Burton, Percy Harvin, Jordan Reed, and Curtis Samuel. Meyer and the Jaguars may list Tebow as a tight end officially, but he will likely deploy Tebow in a Taysom Hill-like fashion if Tebow makes the final roster.

The Darrell Bevell Factor

The Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator will be Darrell Bevell during the 2021 season. Bevell has taken a more traditional approach in utilizing his players and probably won’t be the one pushing for Tebow to play.

Take a look at the graph above. In just three seasons of Darrell Bevell’s 14-year career, he’s provided his officially listed wide receivers and tight ends with more than one carry per game. If Urban Meyer takes a more hands-off approach to the offense and leaves Darrell Bevell in charge, Bevell probably won’t give much rushing work to Tebow which would limit his overall upside as a player. The good news is that if Bevell believes that Tebow can successfully play the traditional tight end position, there is a little bit of receiving upside given Bevell sticks to his utilization of the position over the last five years.

The Conclusion

Tim Tebow may be listed as a tight end with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but given Urban Meyer’s love of ‘gadget’ players, it’s more likely that he is utilized a poor man’s Taysom Hill for the team. For reference, in 2019 when Taysom Hill was a gadget player the full season, he put up a stat line of 27 carries, 156 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 19 receptions (on 22 targets), 234 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns. Based on this, the absolute ceiling of Tim Tebow should be somewhere around…

The post What Is The Ceiling for Tim Tebow In Jacksonville? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

Both the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars have made clear investments in their backfields. Both teams have committed to the idea of a two-headed running back attack as well. This run by committee approach has slowly begun to take over the NFL with many teams opting to have two high class runners in their backfield. The Browns and Jaguars have each approached their backfields differently. Let’s compare the two. 

The Jaguars 

The Jaguars signed running back James Robinson after the 2020 draft. The first year back exploded onto the scene. In 14 games, Robinson reached the endzone ten times with seven rushing and three receiving touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,070 yards and added another 344 through the air. 

After the success of Robinson’s rookie year, it caught many Jaguars fans off guard when the team elected to use the 25th overall pick on Clemson running back Travis Etienne. Ettiene had a historic collegiate career alongside Jaguars new quarterback and #1 overall draft pick, Trevor Lawrence. Etienne racked up 110 touchdowns and 6,107 yards from scrimmage. 

The potential of this duo is there, especially when you look at the other pieces surrounding them on offense. Both have proved to excel at the receiving game as well. During the Jaguars rookie minicamp, Etienne has only been participating with the wide receivers. During the 2020 season, Etienne had the highest receiving ranks of any running back.

So it begs a question of whether or not he will even be utilized in the backfield in Jacksonville. 

The Browns 

The two-headed backfield in Cleveland may be the best in the NFL. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have proven to be two of the premier backs in the NFL. The two backs combined for 23 touchdowns and over 2,400 yards from scrimmage. Chubb and Hunt both play the position very differently from each other. Hunt is a more agile back who also excels at receiving. Hunt had eleven touchdowns on the season with five of them coming through the air. 

Chubb is the opposite. He thrives off contact and looks for it. He may be the most aggressive back in football, only comparable to the likes of Titans running back Derrick Henry. 

His aggressive, downhill running is what makes him so versatile. The ability to have such a contrast in running backs has brought this Browns offense to a whole different level. 

Comparing the Backfields 

Both backfields are more alike than people may think. Each team has a player that is at least somewhat comparable to the other. Chubb and Robinson mirror each other while Hunt and Etienne can be expected to play similar roles as well. Robinson has proven to live off of contact, much like Chubb. 

Both backs run as if they have a chip on their shoulder, constantly trying to prove a point and prove that they belong. 

Hunt and Etienne are both backs that excel at the receiving game. Both could line up next to other receivers and they wouldn’t miss a beat. They both play more agile than their counterparts.

These two backfields, while each at different points in their career, could both be at the top of the NFL this season. The young guys in Jacksonville will be attempting to still get their footing in the NFL. The seasoned vets in Cleveland are playing with their eyes on one prize: a super bowl. Even with these differences, each duo will be interesting to watch. 

The post Comparing the Jaguars RB tandem to the Browns appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

Florida Gator legend and former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow has eyes on a return to the NFL. After a nearly six year long hiatus, the man himself has his eyes set on a comeback; as a Tight End. Well at least, he is being called a Tight End. Jacksonville Jaguars (and Tebow’s former coach at Florida) Urban Meyer has had discussions to bring his star pupil back on a one-year contract. Tebow, the 33-year old QB turned TE has never stopped playing professional sports. Tebow recently ended his four-year stretch of playing minor league baseball with the New York Mets minor league affiliates. That leads us to now. While it is still unknown how exactly the Jaguars will utilize Tebow, there are a few different possibilities. Let’s take a look.

Think Taysom Hill but Bigger

As many people heard the news of Tebow’s return, many people thought of New Orleans Saints Tight End/Quarterback, Taysom Hill. Hill has stuck around in the NFL, and recently signed a new contract with the Saints, because of his versatility. He fits in all over the offense and is able to make an impact all over the field. During the 2020 season, Hill had 121 pass attempts and 87 rushing attempts. He finished with 4 passing and 8 receiving touchdowns. Hill also recorded one receiving touchdown which brought his season total to 13. The Jaguars could be hoping to utilize Tebow this exact same way. An all-around gadget player that defenses would have to specifically scheme for. This could add a whole new layer to a Jaguars offense that now has Trevor Lawrence at the helm. It has been reconstructed and will look much different than what they sent out last season. 

Opening the Playbook

The arrival of Tebow would allow for the offense to go deep into the playbook and have some fun. While he has never caught a pass in either the NFL or college, he has clearly thrown the ball once or twice. This would cause defenses to always be prepared for a pass if he is one the field. Who knows, maybe we can even get something like this again.  

Tebow is an all-around athlete and should be utilized that way. Letting him sling the ball would be enough to make any football fan watch.

Guidance for Trevor Lawrence

The biggest opportunity in this potential signing comes from a leadership aspect. The opportunity to have a young quarterback like Lawrence able to have someone like Tebow in the locker room could prove to be very beneficial. Tebow may not be able to be the best player but his presence alone could change the entire locker room. Regardless of how you feel about him as an athlete, his attitude is like no other. A Jaguars team that has struggled for some time may welcome something like that. Urban Meyer may also welcome Tebow just because they are familiar. Who knows, Tebow may even be Meyer’s good luck charm

There is no guarantee that Tebow even makes the roster come this season but the possibility is there. Tebow’s willingness to put his head down and do the necessary work to be great is clear but will it be enough? The Jaguars already have five tight ends on the roster and the odds are slim to none that Tebow is better than any of them. Can he block a linebacker? Is he even able to catch a football? He just might be. So let the hometown kid try one more time.

The post Tim Tebow’s Role on the Jacksonville Jaguars appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

Urban Meyer, the championship level coach in the college ranks, ESPN commentator, and now converted NFL coach arrived in the professional ranks this off-season. Up to this point, it’s safe to say that Meyer has come with a bang. Meyer has transformed the Jacksonville Jaguars in a shorter time than any Jaguars previous management has done in the last decade. True, Meyer was gifted with the golden first overall pick, but he has greatly transformed the aching roster beyond selecting the obvious first overall pick candidate in Trevor Lawrence. Well, what has he done that sets himself apart from the other minds in the game? I’m going to lay out the Jaguars head coach’s craftsmanship in this 2021 off-season. 

Bringing Darrell Bevell and Brian Schottenheimer to Jacksonville

Former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer helped set a franchise record for points in a season for Russell Wilson. Yet, the former Seahawks OC still met the chopping block at the end of the season. The son of Marty Schottenheimer heads to Florida to be the passing game coordinator. Bringing Schottenheimer to Jacksonville Is an absolutely fantastic hire for “passing coordinator duties”. 

Meyer didn’t bring one excellent, seasoned mind to Jacksonville. He also brought over the former Lions interim head coach, Darrell Bevell, to be the offensive coordinator. Bevell helped Russell Wilson become a league MVP in Seattle, then he helped a Matthew Stafford Lions offense average roughly 25 points per game in 2019 when the former Lions QB was healthy.  

Having an excellent football coach in Urban Meyer produces a strong ripple effect in garnering more quality football minds.

Drafting Travis Etienne in the first round

It’s brilliant that the Jaguars drafted Travis Etienne and showed that they are making a serious effort in equipping Trevor Lawrence’s led offense to compete at a high level right away. Running back was not a huge need for the Jaguars with James Robinson, plus it was a first-round draft pick being used on the RB position — yet, this was a first-round pick well used. The Saints got lots of backlash for trading up to get all-purpose back Alvin Kamara, especially when they had Mark Ingram. It’s safe to say that the Kamara pick was a massive win.

Etienne poses a similar skillset to Kamara and he will surely be a great pass catcher for Lawrence. The draft pick of Etienne will help Lawrence be more efficient as a passer and put up big numbers in year one, but it will keep James Robinson fresh. Sorry, Robinson fantasy owners.

Signing Marvin Jones Jr.

When the Jaguars offense takes the field in Week 1, it will be almost unrecognizable to Jags nation. One reason that the offense could be much more dangerous is because of the highly touted Marvin Jones Jr.

Jones has a whopping 18 touchdowns in the last two years combined. Jones will be a fine complement to DJ Chark in the new-look offense. It’s a great contract for the Jaguars, as well — two years for $14.5 million. The Jaguars also added deep threat and former first-round pick Phillip Dorsett to the wide receiving mix.  

Urban Meyer did a superb job of not only making splash moves this off-season but adding multiple chess pieces in each area of the offense and coaching arena.

The post Urban Meyer has been the top new NFL Coach and it’s not close appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Draft day is just over a day away and the anticipation of what each NFL franchise will do has all fans excited! The first round of the NFL draft goes live at 8:00 PM ET from Cleveland. The draft is back in person after a remote and virtual draft last year. The commissioner will be back on stage greeting and shaking hands with the future stars of the NFL.

The Jaguars have been on the clock for months. They hold the first pick of this year’s draft and it is all but done in the eyes of everyone. Could they shock the world and really shake things up? Maybe but it is unlikely! The prospect everyone penciled in for Jacksonville and the number one overall pick of this year’s draft is Trevor Lawrence, from Clemson.

For the first time in franchise history, the Jaguars will have the number one pick. This is pivotal for the franchise and the future of their newly signed head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer is testing his luck in the NFL for the first time after winning multiple NCAA Football Championships and coming out of retirement. Meyer won National Championships at both Florida and Ohio State in the past. He has plenty of championship pedigree in the college ranks. Meyer has tallied 187 wins in 17 NCAA seasons as a head coach. Meyer will start off his NFL tenure with a high caliber QB in Trevor Lawrence.

Why Lawrence is a sure fire number one pick can be seen in his football career dating back to high school. Lawrence broke the Georgia high school record for yards and touchdowns in his senior year, records previously held by Deshaun Watson. He broke these records while competing versus another high profile quarterback in this class in Justin Fields, who grew up 20 miles away from Lawrence. Lawrence followed Watson to the University of Clemson. In his freshman season, he led the Tigers to a National Championship. Lawrence led the Tigers in a route over Alabama. The next season Lawrence made it to the College Football Championship again but lost to Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers. His junior year Clemson lost to Ohio State in the semifinals.

Lawrence’s college career is full of gaudy numbers. In three seasons as a starter, he tallied a record of 34-2. Lawrence completed 66.6% of his passes for 10,098 total yards. He has a career passer rating of 164.3 with 90 career passing touchdowns to 17 interceptions. He wasn’t just a pure passer he has the ability to run and make big plays with his legs outside the pocket. Lawrence rushed for 943 yards for an average of 4.1 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns. We all saw his running ability in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl where he broke off a 67 yard touchdown run.

Of course, with all the numbers come awards and accolades. Lawrence has plenty of All-Honors from all of his seasons. He finished second in Heisman voting last year as well as a finalist for the Maxwell, O’Brien, and Camp Player of the Year Awards.

Lawrence is regarded as the ultimate NFL prototype in today’s game. With rare size, mobility, speed, awareness, arm strength, and accuracy Lawrence is set to play a huge role in the Jaguars future. Mel Kiper graded Lawrence as his fourth highest quarterback ever and the highest since Andrew Luck. The experts say Lawrence is an Elway, Luck, Manning type of player.

Lawrence is a smooth operator in the pocket, his awareness and athleticism allow him to move in the pocket and he uses his eyes and arm talent to make plays. He works well under pressure and can beat you outside the pocket. His experience in big games vs high quality competition gives NFL teams a clear view of his ability on the field.

Off the field, Lawrence doesn’t raise any red flags. Last year he missed a few games with a positive covid test. He was on the sideline engaged in the game and helping his teammates and team in whatever fashion he was able to. He showed another phase of his toughness and football spirit by having his pro day on February 12^th. He was scheduled for labrum surgery on his non-throwing shoulder on February 16^th. He’s expected to make a full recovery before camp and get ready for his rookie season.

Lawrence will make it four straight years a quarterback is picked number one overall. The Jaguars are rebuilding a team and former pro bowl receiver DJ Chark will be excited with his new signal caller. Of course, there are no guarantees of becoming a superstar in the NFL but Lawrence is an insanely talented prospect and one of great value for the Jaguars.

The second overall pick belongs to the New York Jets. A team that also is looking for a future leader at the quarterback position and one with a new first time NFL head coach. Robert Saleh was signed as the Jets new head coach back in January. Saleh has been an NFL coach on the defensive side of the ball since 2005. Most recently he was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers starting in 2017. With a new defensive coach and at the time a young quarterback the Jets were looking at prospects in the playmaking and defensive side of the ball. However, a lot has changed since January.

The Jets traded away Sam Darnold to the Panthers earlier this month. Darnold was supposed to be the savior of the Jets after being drafted third overall in 2018. Without a quarterback, the Jets are expected to draft Zach Wilson with the second overall pick.

The Jets have been linked to Wilson since his pro day at BYU. Wilson made some high level throws including a viral throw that may have started a trend in the following pro days. Wilson is a gunslinging quarterback prospect with the talent to make big explosive plays off schedule. Wilson broke out in his final season at BYU with many plays of this type. Wilson led BYU to an 11-1 in his junior season. He threw for 3692 yards, 33 touchdowns to 3 interceptions while completing 73.5% of his passes. The completion percentage ranked second in FBS last year and he broke Steve Young’s BYU record. He also used his rushing ability for 235 yards and 10 scores. Surprisingly to some Wilson does have Hawaiian ancestry and was named a co-recipient of the 2020 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.

What the experts like about Wilsons 2020 tape is a vast improvement in play from previous years combined with explosive plays and the ability to execute tight window throws on and off schedule. Some of those tight window throws come with a lot of risks although only three went as turnovers scouts would like a higher level of decision making in the next level. His mobility kept defenders honest, he’s able to slide in the pocket and make accurate throws deep as well as good decisions while scrambling. His deep ball accuracy was over 50% and he gave big receivers plenty of opportunities to win 50-50 balls.  

Although BYU didn’t face elite completion Wilson was able to deliver the goods to show he’s an NFL caliber player. In the cougars lone loss vs Coastal Carolina another group of five school that was ranked Wilson played well but showed some holes in decision making and accuracy. He’s got the tools and ability to overcome those struggles and the Jets are likely to make him the second overall pick.

Even though Wilson will go after Lawrence some think Wilson will be the better NFL quarterback. Crediting his accuracy and playmaking. Gang Green get ready to welcome Zach Wilson after booing the commissioner.

The top two picks are nearly 100% locked in by all. The draft really starts at number three with the 49ers. Thursday night will be highly entertaining and the anticipation and excitement will grow more till your team is officially on the clock.

The post Why Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are the top two picks appeared first on Pro Football Mania.