Upon running back Chris Rodriguez’s return to the practice field in training camp, that was the first true opportunity for quarterback Trevor Lawrence to work with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offseason addition.
“He runs downhill,” Lawrence said, via Jaguars.com. “He’s a big guy. He’s hard to get your arms around. His legs are moving. He’s going to be great for us because he can get those and find those dirty yards and he also has the capability to make people miss. So, I think he’s really well-rounded and he has been doing a good job for us.”
A foot injury sustained early on during offseason programs delayed Rodriguez’s debut in Jacksonville.
Rodriguez is competing with Bhayshul Tuten for the top spot on the Jaguars’ running back depth chart, but regardless of how that shakes out, both backs are expected to see steady playing time this season.
As Lawrence noted, Rodriguez can add a physical presence to the Jaguars’ backfield. His ability to bounce off tacklers can be a real differentiator for him.
Last season with Washington, Rodriguez ranked eighth among all running backs in average yards after contact. He would also rank 14th in rush yards over expected per attempt, according to Next Gen Stats.
Rodriguez may not generate a bunch of explosive runs, but he’s shown that he can steadily churn out positive runs — even when the blocking isn’t quite there. Having that skill set in the backfield is quite valuable as it keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and out of get-back-on-track situations.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Trevor Lawrence shares early impression of Jaguars’ offseason addition
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire | USA TODAY Network
