The Jacksonville Jaguars are under a lot of pressure to prove the run game can remain strong without Travis Etienne and with a relatively young running back room.
Veteran running back Ameer Abdullah could help.
At 33 years old and entering his 12th NFL season, Abdullah is the oldest player in Jacksonville’s running back room by six years. He was signed by the Jaguars in May, and on the surface, it would appear that his role is to provide depth and experienced leadership to the unit. But reducing Abdullah’s value to simply being the veteran in the room misses why the Jaguars signed him in the first place — and he is eager to prove that he can be more than that.
In a new interview with the Florida Times-Union, Abdullah said he is ready to show that he still has a lot to offer, and already, running backs coach Chad Morton said he’s making his mark.
“He’s the old head in the group and guys can learn and soak up knowledge from him,” Morton said. “He’s well spoken, calm, competitive, a hard worker. It’s imperative that these guys get as much as they can from him.”
Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez, and LeQuint Allen are all relatively new to the league, with Rodriguez being the most experienced as he enters his fourth year in the NFL. Yet it’s this trio that is expected to lead the running back room, with Abdullah competing for a roster spot against DeeJay Dallas and J’Mari Taylor.
And already, Abdullah is being praised for what he can bring not only to the offense but to special teams as well. Special teams coordinator Heath Farwell mentioned that Abdullah is a player he’s “always admired,” noting his abilities as a return man.
Abdullah seems a natural fit for special teams, where he can replace not only Tuten and Allen, but Parker Washington as well. All are set to take bigger roles on the offense, and Abdullah has experience as a pass catcher and kickoff returner. But he still wants to have the opportunity to do more.
“I approach everything the same. No matter if it’s young guys or veterans on the team that I’m competing with. Just giving my best effort every single day,” he said, and added that, while he’s aware the cards may seem stacked against him, he is still going to give it his all.
Abdullah fits into a broader roster-building philosophy Jacksonville has shown throughout the offseason. The Jaguars have repeatedly targeted experienced players who coaches believe can reinforce the culture Liam Coen and James Gladstone are trying to establish.
So far, the comments from the coaches Abdullah has been working with indicate he is already fitting well into the role of an experienced veteran with versatility, something Coen noted himself, specifically mentioning Abdullah’s ability to impact the passing game.
Abdullah’s role could very well extend beyond just carrying the football. Between his receiving ability and his value across multiple special teams units, the picture that emerges is less of a traditional reserve running back and more of a versatile chess piece who can contribute in several phases of the game. If Abdullah does earn a roster spot, it may have less to do with how many rushing attempts he can rack up, and more to do with everything else he can provide.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Ameer Abdullah offers Jaguars much more than veteran leadership
Reporting by Casandra Chesser, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Casandra Chesser, Jaguars Wire | USA TODAY Network
