JACKSON, Fla. – During the preseason the Jaguars running game got off to a good start. The one-two punch of running backs T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory averaged five yards per carry, against the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That small sample size of success hasn’t carried over to the regular season.
Through two games the Jaguars running backs are averaging under three yards per carry.
Recommended Videos
“We have to be stubborn on that,” said Jaguars coach Gus Bradley. “We have to find a way to get that going. Last week we got behind and I think we tried to make things happen in the passing game. We came out in the second half and tried to establish the run again. We need stay more convicted to it.”
Not having Ivory available against Green Bay and San Diego has had a big impact on the Jaguars offense. Establishing a consistent running game was a point of emphasis this off-season. The Jaguars have had a hard time honoring that commitment. Through two weeks they're 28th in the NFL in rushing attempts.
On Wednesday, Ivory returned to practice for the first time but did so on a limited basis. On Thursday, Ivory was able to participate in full said that he’s completely pain free, from the medical issue that caused him to miss the first two games of the season.
By Sunday it will be nearly a month since Ivory last played in a game and he knows that it will take time get back in game shape.
“I’m not sure if I’m in top condition right now and I’m probably not,” said Ivory. “I think I’m conditioned enough to go out and make plays and take advantage of my time out on the field.”
If Ivory is able to play against Baltimore it would go a long way towards helping the Jaguars get back to being a more balanced team. When you can't run the ball teams know you have to pass. Against San Diego the Jaguars were trailing 21-0 by halftime. That forced them to abandon the run and led to Blake Bortles having to pass more than he normally would.
That's never a good thing for the Jaguars. Of their five wins last season, only one came in a game where Bortles attempted more than 33 passes. Against Green Bay, Bortles dropped back 39 times and against the Chargers it was 50.