Cam Robinson Pivotal to Jaguars Future Running Game Success
The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) have had three different players play left tackle this season in starer Cam Robinson and backups Will Richardson and Cedric Ogbuehi. That has been out of necessity due to injuries to Robinson before Week 1 and during Week 7 and not due to Robinson's play, however.
Robinson returned to the Jaguars starting lineup in Week 3 against the Tennesee Titans following a knee injury and simply put, the Jaguars offense is vastly different with him. He provides a physical presence and a mean streak to the Jacksonville offense, and he is easily the team's top run blocker.
For some perspective, here are running back Leonard Fournette's rushing numbers since Week 3 when he runs to the left side, per NFL Next Gen Stats: 73 attempts for 411 yards. That is a staggering 5.63 rushing average.
"Cam’s [Robinson] a physical guy," offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said last Thursday. "He’s a really physical guy, and then you have [Andrew] Norwell over there, those are two big men over there that can create some space for the runner and Leonard’s [Fournette] obviously done a nice job. But yeah, that’s a credit to the left side."
Robinson left Week 7's 27-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals with a toe injury and it is currently unclear what his status is moving forward. It is likely this will be updated by Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone on Wednesday.
But make no mistake about it: if Robinson misses any time, it would be a huge blow to the Jaguars offense. Sure, he has had his inconsistencies as a pass blocker, but he has also added a much-needed aggressive edge to Jacksonville's offense and his presence has been a boost to Fournette's impact on the game.
“He brings an intensity that we love, and we love him for that," quarterback Gardner Minshew said last Wednesday. "Just the more he gets into it, the better he’s doing and it’s a lot of fun to see him when he’s out there really competing, laying it on guys.”
