Tag: Travis Etienne Jr

Doug Pederson encouraged by Jaguars defense through first 2 games

The Jaguars offense is still trying to sort things out, but Doug Pederson is encouraged by the defense’s performances so far this season.

Going into the 2023 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars offense was what held the national spotlight. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, wide receiver Calvin Ridley and running back Travis Etienne Jr. were set to lead one of the most electric offenses in the league.

But the Jaguars’ defense has been the difference maker through the first two weeks.

“They’re playing physical — that’s something that is the pride for the defense right now,” Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson said Monday. “Two weeks in a row, they’ve kept the offense in the game. They did it in Indy until the offense caught wind at the end of the game and then all day [Sunday], they did the same.”

The Jaguars held the Indianapolis Colts to 21 points and the Kansas City Chiefs to 17. The 38 total points allowed through the first two games of the season — 19 points per game — are the 10th lowest total in the NFL.

Outside linebacker Josh Allen racked up three sacks in the season-opener against the dynamic Anthony Richardson. Safety Andre Cisco picked off Patrick Mahomes and racked up 10 total tackles against the Colts. And linebacker Foye Oluokun and safety Rayshawn Jenkins have shown an ability to make plays on ball carriers in the open field.

Pederson singled out Allen, Cisco, Jenkins and outside linebacker Travon Walker for their individual efforts. But it’s the combination of their play that’s paying dividends.

“That’s just a credit to the scheme, what [defensive coordinator] Mike [Caldwell] is doing, utilizing the personnel this year,” Pederson said. “You’re seeing Travon and Josh up their game a little bit on the edge. The secondary is more in-sync this year; just the communication has been better. They’re playing faster, they’re stymying the run and shutting that down.”

Defensive lineman Folorunso Fatukasi also credited Caldwell for helping the team improve in his second season as the team’s defensive coordinator.

“He’s continuing to do what he needs to do,” Fatukasi said. “He’s giving us every opportunity for us to continue to be in the right positions.”

Fatukasi said the defense had its share of good and bad moments against the Chiefs but said the team is focused on working out the kinks.

“It’s just really more about the defenses gelling even more together, talking more, getting our eyes and hands right, being more technically sound,” he said. “If we get those things together, it turns out a little smoother.”

Jacksonville forced three turnovers and allowed only 17 points, but still lost Sunday. Pederson stressed following the gameplan and putting the offensive players in the best position Monday following the loss.

“The defense kept us in this football game,” Pederson said. “We’ve got to do better. We’ve got to execute. We got too many guys on offense, veteran players that we all need to do better, starting with me.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

5 Chiefs players who could cause problems for the Jaguars in Week 2

Here are five Chiefs players who could give the Jaguars trouble in Jacksonville’s Week 2 home opener:

The Kansas City Chiefs opened the season with a close one-point loss to the Detroit Lions in the first game of the year. The Jacksonville Jaguars, however, go into the game with a 1-0 record after defeating the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The Chiefs haven’t lost back-to-back games since Weeks 2 and 3 of 2021, but the Jaguars have the opportunity to end their streak.

Here are five Chiefs players who could give the Jaguars trouble in their Week 2 matchup:

Why Jaguars vs. the Chiefs is the most important home opener in years

The Jaguars were bounced by the Chiefs in the playoffs last season, but now have a chance to get revenge.

The best quarterback in the league leading a dynasty, arguably the best head coach in the league, and a budding rival who bounced Jacksonville in the playoffs the season before.

Yes, this describes the Kansas City Chiefs — the Jaguars’ Week 2 opponent — but it also describes the team Jacksonville played in its 2018 home opener.

In 2018, a Week 2 matchup against the Patriots was the most important home opener the Jaguars had in years. Now, their tilt against the Chiefs is just as significant.

During the 2017 season, Jacksonville came out of nowhere. The Jaguars went 10-6 a year after a three-win season to earn their first playoff berth in a decade. They beat the Buffalo Bills. Then they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Jaguars were one game away from the Super Bowl; the only thing in their way — the New England Patriots. Jacksonville had a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, but future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady led a comeback to rip the AFC title from the Jaguars’ hands.

Then the Jags got their chance at redemption in 2018. After their best season in years, Jacksonville beat the New York Giants in Week 1 and met the Patriots in Week 2. This time, Duval came out on top; the Jaguars won, 31-20.

Last season, Jacksonville had a similar, yet more disappointing start to its season. However, the team turned its year around and found itself with a playoff spot.

The Jaguars beat the Los Angeles Chargers and found themselves slated to play the AFC’s next top dog: the Chiefs. Like in 2018, Jacksonville found itself on the losing side; it fell to Kansas City 27-20 to end its Super Bowl aspirations.

If history repeats itself, the Jaguars would find themselves on top.

The gravity of the game speaks for itself. Jacksonville has its shot at redemption. And it will need top performances from its best players.

The Chiefs are coming off a one-point loss to the Detroit Lions in the first game of the NFL season. If there’s one team that has proven it can bounce back from anything, it’s the Chiefs.

However, this Jaguars team looks to be much better than the one that got revenge over New England. The 2023 Jaguars have what figures to be one of the league’s best offenses, led by one of the best coaches, conducted by one of the best quarterbacks. And the defense showed it can give offenses trouble in Jacksonville’s win over the Indianapolis Colts in their first game of the season.

A win would mean everything to Duval. Jacksonville’s fans were disappointed but understanding of the Jaguars’ Divisional Round exit at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champions. Now, the fans could see the Jaguars secure an upset victory over the team that ended their season. And the win would be in front of the home crowd.

Regardless of the result Sunday, the Jaguars have the opportunity to prove even more. In 2018, Jacksonville went downhill after its win over the Patriots. The team won only one of its next nine games and regressed significantly compared to the year before.

This time, the Jaguars have stars in all the right places. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is unquestionably one of the best passers in the league. He’s got receivers Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk, running back Travis Etienne Jr., and tight end Evan Engram to make plays for him. The defense also appears to have taken steps forward since last year.

Last year’s success wasn’t a fluke. And a win over the reigning Super Bowl champs who knocked Jacksonville out of the playoffs would cement the Jaguars as one of the best teams in the NFL.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

6 studs and 4 duds in the Jaguars’ 31-21 win vs. Colts

Who shined brightest in the Jaguars’ Week 1 win?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 1-0.

It wasn’t the easiest road to a win Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, but the Jaguars battled back in the fourth quarter to get a 31-21 victory over their divisional rival Indianapolis Colts.

There’s a long season ahead for a Jaguars team that has Super Bowl aspirations, but there are plenty of things to clean up right now.

Here’s who stood most for the Jaguars in their win, and who will need to perform better if the team hopes to keep things headed in the right direction:

5 Colts players who could cause problems for the Jaguars in Week 1

Which Colts players do the Jaguars have to worry about most?

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be in Indianapolis this weekend to break in Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2023 season.

The Jaguars just had their most successful year since they made the 2017 AFC Championship. The Colts, on the other hand, had a season to forget. Still, they’ve got young talent they’re hoping can develop into players of the future.

Here are five Colts players the Jaguars will need to watch out for in their week one matchup:

Where to draft the top Jaguars players in fantasy football

The Jaguars are as relevant as they’ve ever been in fantasy football. Here’s where to draft Jacksonville’s top players:

Last year, the Jaguars showed flashes of what could become a top offense in the NFL. With their recent offensive success comes high expectations for many Jacksonville players in fantasy football.

With the emergence of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the second year in head coach Doug Pederson’s offense, and the arrival of wide receiver Calvin Ridley, many Jaguars will be considered when fantasy football players are drafting their teams.

This is where fantasy footballers should target the top Jacksonville players in their drafts:

Calvin Ridley can solidify himself as a top 10 WR this season

Calvin Ridley is primed to climb back into the top 10 wide receiver conversation this year.

First-year Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley was a fringe top 10 receiver in his most recent full season in the NFL.

Ridley was the 11th best wide receiver and the No. 65 player in the league going into the 2021 season, according to NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2021 list as voted on by his peers. He only missed one game in 2020 and reeled in 90 passes for 1,374 yards.

However, he missed much of the following season due to injury and was suspended for the entirety of the 2022 season. His nearly two-year break from the NFL dropped him out of the conversation of the top receivers in the league.

This season, Ridley has a chance to look like his former self and remind the league why he is one of the best receivers in the game.

First, he’s playing with budding superstar Trevor Lawrence at quarterback. Ridley started his career with potential Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Matt Ryan. While Ryan was a tremendous player at his peak, earning MVP honors in 2016, Ridley caught the tail-end of Ryan’s career in Atlanta.

Ryan still put up monster numbers through the air, but the Falcons never had a winning season after drafting Ridley in 2018. This year, however, Ridley joins a Jaguars team that accomplished its first winning season since 2017, due in large part to Lawrence’s play.

Lawrence’s rookie season didn’t go as planned, and not much looked different in the early portions of last year. But he looked like a different player after Jacksonville’s Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 30.

Lawrence was one of the best quarterbacks in the league after the loss. He threw for 2,273 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only two interceptions while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for the rest of the regular season. That version of Lawrence is a player who will get the most out of Ridley.

If Lawrence reaches an MVP level of play, like many project, Ridley will have his best quarterback since maybe the 2018 version of Ryan. Perhaps even better.

Ridley will also be surrounded by playmakers, so he won’t receive all the attention from opposing defenses. In his final games in Atlanta, Ridley was clearly the best receiving threat, and defenses only had to worry about him.

Now, Ridley will play alongside Christian Kirk, who showed an ability to thrive in a No. 1 receiver role; Zay Jones, who had a stellar season as the Jags’ No. 2 option in 2022; and Evan Engram, who rose to the level of one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league. There’s also Travis Etienne Jr.. who’s emerging as one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL.

Ridley isn’t likely to break into the top five wide receiver conversation, which includes the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill, Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams, Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs and Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown, according to NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2023 list.

However, it’s very possible he could compare to the rest of the top-10 — the Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb, Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase, Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle, Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Evans.

Chase and Kupp have proven to be two of the top receivers in the last few years, and it’ll be a challenge for Ridley to keep up. But he could surpass or reach the level of Waddle, Lamb, and Evans, as well as Deebo Samuel and Amon-Ra St. Brown, who both finished just outside the top ten.

Samuel’s dual-threat ability is dangerous for opposing defenses, but his quarterback situation is less than ideal. St. Brown is a great security blanket, but he has a more limited array of talents than Ridley. That leaves not many players in the way of the Jaguars receiver breaking into the top 10.

Evans will start the season catching passes from Baker Mayfield and might even share the field with third-year quarterback Kyle Trask. He’ll deal with one of the worst quarterback situations in the league and is now in his age-30 season.

Waddle rounds out maybe the best receiving duo in the league, so it wouldn’t be a disappointment if Ridley didn’t reach his level. But Ridley is catching passes from a better quarterback and should be the No. 1 option, while Waddle is fighting for reps with maybe the best receiver in the league.

And Lamb has burst onto the scene as a top receiver in the league, reaching career-best heights last season. Brandin Cooks’ arrival should only help Lamb face less attention, so Ridley’s climb may stop there.

Ridley is coming off nearly two years away from the NFL and is going into his first year with Lawrence and the Jaguars. But if all goes right, he could soon be viewed as a top 10 receiver, something the team hasn’t had in decades.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Jaguars will ‘pump the brakes’ before expanding Tank Bigsby’s role

Doug Pederson wants to be careful not to put too much on Tank Bigsby’s plate.

Tank Bigsby is generating plenty of buzz in training camp, ripping off long touchdown runs and bamboozling Jacksonville Jaguars defenders. His strong performance has earned him the No. 2 spot on the running back depth chart, but Jaguars coach Doug Pederson is also trying not to put too much on Bigsby’s plate.

“You’ve still got to be careful with how much you expand his role,” Pederson said Wednesday. “I think he’s done a nice job so far, there’s still some learning to do and some growing to do as a rookie. Keeping him where he is right now is a good thing and expand maybe as you go.

“We’re only two weeks into camp and there’s a lot of football ahead of us, so we’re just going to pump the brakes and make sure he’s good with what he can handle.”

In Pederson’s career as a coach with both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jaguars, he’s leaned on a running-back-by-committee approach. Only once has a back received at least 50 percent of the team’s carries — Myles Sanders in 2020, who averaged 13.7 rush attempts per game.

Even during a breakout season for Travis Etienne Jr. last year, he finished the season with 12.9 carries per game and 49.1 percent of the team’s rushing attempts.

That seemingly leaves plenty of room for Bigsby to make an impact, although the Jaguars also have veterans JaMycal Hasty and D’Ernest Johnson to potentially work into the mix.

Earlier in camp, Pederson raved about Bigsby’s coachability and his chances at making an impact in the receiving game, as well. Just don’t count on him racking up as many touches and fantasy points in 2023 as training camp buzz may suggest.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Travis Etienne shares his thoughts on RB market in NFL

Former Clemson running back Travis Etienne gave his thoughts on the current state of the market for his position in the NFL.

Former Clemson running back Travis Etienne chimed in last week on the current state of the running back market in the NFL.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Etienne gave his thoughts on why NFL teams are not giving running backs big contracts.

“The market is what the market is,” Etienne said. “For me to go out there and get the best deal for myself, I have to come out here and work hard each and every day. If I don’t produce or be productive, I am not going to even be in that conversation when they are looking to pay me. The best thing I can do is win games for my football team.”

The former four-star recruit also added that running backs need to have a wide range of skill sets if they want to be paid like other positions.

“It kind of depends on the type of back you are,” Etienne said. “You see, some backs get paid, like Christian McCaffrey. He catches the ball out of the backfield. For running backs moving forward, you have to diversify the game. You have to be more than just a downhill bruiser in order to talk leverage.”

After missing his rookie season due to injury, Etienne had a breakout second season in the NFL in 2022, rushing for 1,125 yards and five touchdowns on 220 carries. He is now entering the third season of his four-year rookie contract, with a fifth-year option available if the Jaguars decide to exercise it.

Etienne was one of the college football’s top dual-threats when he played at Clemson from 2017-2020, rushing for 3,338 yards and recording 1,155 receiving yards. He finished his career as a Tiger as the ACC’s all-time leading rusher.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Travis Etienne on RB pay: ‘The market is what the market is’

Unlike many of his peers, Travis Etienne isn’t worried about the state of running back contracts.

Running back contracts became a hot topic in July when franchise-tagged backs Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard didn’t get long-term deals ahead of the mid-summer deadline. The ensuing drama and domino effect even led to Jonathan Taylor requesting a trade from the Indianapolis Colts.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. isn’t concerning himself with the issue, though.

“I feel like I really don’t have a word in it, honestly,” Etienne told reporters Saturday. “I feel like the market is what the market is and for me, to go out there and get the best deal for myself, I have to come out here and work hard each and every day.

“If I don’t produce or be productive, I’m not going to even be in that conversation or there won’t be anybody looking to pay me. The best thing I can do is keep my head down and keep working to win games for my football team.”

When star running backs across the league met on a Zoom call earlier this month, Etienne wasn’t one of the players who participated. But his turn to hunt for a new contract isn’t far off on the horizon.

Etienne, who missed his entire rookie year due to a Lisfranc injury, is due to become a free agent in 2025, although the Jaguars have the right to pick up a fifth-year option on his deal and push his free agency to 2026.

In the mean time, Etienne hopes to prove he offers more value than the running backs of a bygone era.

“I also feel like it depends on the type of back you are because you see some guys getting paid, like Christian McCaffrey for instance, he catches the ball out of the backfield,” Etienne said. “So, I feel like for running backs moving forward you have to diversify your game, you have to be more than just a downhill bruiser in order to be able to be on that level and have leverage whenever you go into those conversations.

“We have to continue to grow and evolve our game because you see the way that football’s going, it’s a passing league now. We just have to evolve as a whole.”

Etienne finished the 2022 season with 1,125 rushing yards, 316 receiving yards, and five touchdowns.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]