Jaguars Minicamp: Offensive coordinator speaks on 'great problem' team has
As the Jacksonville Jaguars gear up for training camp, questions remain on how the five men endeavored with protecting Trevor Lawrence and paving the way for Travis Etienne will line up. As of right now, the Jaguars are expected to start first-round rookie Anton Harrison at right tackle and give Walker Little the reigns at […]
As the Jacksonville Jaguars gear up for training camp, questions remain on how the five men endeavored with protecting Trevor Lawrence and paving the way for Travis Etienne will line up.
As of right now, the Jaguars are expected to start first-round rookie Anton Harrison at right tackle and give Walker Little the reigns at left tackle. But things will get blurrier once Cam Robinson is ready to return from his imminent suspension due to violations of the league's PED policy.
"It's a great problem to have," Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor told reporters on Tuesday about Robinson's eventual return.
After all, Robinson gives the Jaguars more flexibility and somewhat of a safety net if things don't work out with Little. The latter could be kicked inside upon Robinson's return. That isn't to say he doesn't have a chance of keeping the job, of course. Little played very well at left tackle late in the season and is likely to be considered an option. But his versatility might lead to him being slid inside eventually.
"I think he's a guy that can do a lot of things," Taylor said of Little. "You know, he's played both tackle spots and he's played left guard since he's been here for us in spots."
Part of the puzzle the Jags are trying to solve with their offensive line lies in the fact that the NFL hasn't handed Robinson an official timetable for his upcoming suspension, which can reportedly vary between two, six, or eight games.
"Depending on the time (the NFL gives) Cam or however that falls, we'll have a little bit firmer plan moving forward into that," Taylor added. "Until then, we're just preparing every single day for everybody to be the best at whatever position we're asking them to play that day, it may be different day to day based on who they are. But again, we like to cross-train our guys, so they're available for any spot at any time."
In the 18-week schedule (plus playoffs) of the NFL, versatility is a must for any offensive line. Having a five-man unit stay healthy throughout the entire journey is a dream scenario.
That being said, any coach understands how important continuity is in the trenches. The question marks around the Jaguars' offensive line has to be one of the biggest reasons to be skeptical about them taking the next step. Whatever plan the Jags have in store for the unit, they must take into account what's the likeliest scenario to achieve that continuity.
Featured image via Jacksonville Jaguars' YouTube channel
