It would be an understatement to say the landscape of the NFL at the running back position has changed. We have seen this position not only devalued in salary terms but also in individual usage on the field. As we see each team adapt to this rapidly, the Jaguars got their room right this year. Travis Etienne and rookie running back Tank Bigsby could be the perfect combination to fit this new-age NFL.
The Jaguars Running Back Duo Can Thrive Together
Injury History
A huge part of the game of football is the risk of injury. It is important to load up at the running back position due to this risk of injury. This position has more risk of injury than anyone on the field at a 16% rate. This makes sense as the position is almost guaranteed to endure contact on every play. Not only is this an important statistic for the position around the league, it is especially important to the Jaguars.
During Etienne’s rookie season, he had a major ligament tear that sidelined him almost the entire season. Not only this he also experienced some minor injuries at the college level as well. We all hope for health but for a young player to already have a significant injury history it doesn’t hurt to have reinforcements at the position.
Play Styles
Sometimes during NFL drafts, it isn’t necessarily about picking the best player available but more about how a player fits your team. The addition of Bigsby this year can not only find himself a prominent role but help Etienne as well.
While these backs have similar frames they excel at different things. Etienne is a more elusive pass-catching back. He is patient and can make big plays due to his diverse play style. Bigsby is not much of a pass catcher but he is a downhill runner. He excels in short-down situations and red-zone opportunities. A player like Etienne thrives off of not every down workload but quality snaps over quantity. He is not a traditional “bell cow” back. Bigsby can provide a different downhill running back look to defenses that can simultaneously help the quality of Etienne’s touches.
Similar Offenses
Etienne has drawn comparisons to star running backs Alvin Kamara and Tony Pollard. A player that is lean and elusive with pass-catching ability. If we look back at both Alvin Kamara and Tony Pollard’s careers they have always had success sharing the room. Whether it was Mark Ingram or Latavius Murray for Kamara or Ezekiel Elliott for Pollard these backs were always in a timeshare. This was necessary as these running backs served to give better looks to them. They would also take mileage out of their lean frame by taking the bully work in short-yardage situations and near the goal line.
This is how Tank Bigsby will become utilized in this offense. He will carve out a role like these previous secondary options. We have seen it already in his slow start of only nine carries for twenty-three yards he has already seen goal line work for two touchdowns. I believe history will repeat itself again as Bigsby will not only help Etienne become a star but carve out his own role.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
