Jones-Drew has a knack for the big play. He can run inside and outside. His small frame is deceptively powerful, and you can ask Shawne Merriman for confirmation of that. He is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, can make plays on special teams and—although I cannot find the videographic evidence—can hit like a linebacker when his team turns the ball over.
He is the consummate do-it-all running back, yet no one seems to wonder why he has not taken over as the team’s primary ball carrier. How is it that a guy like Reggie Bush—known for the speed and home-run ability—can take so much flack for not being an every-down back, while Jones-Drew gets away with being No. 2 in Jacksonville?
Maybe it is because Jones-Drew shies away from the spotlight. Even now, in the waning days of Taylor’s career, Jones-Drew simply will not strip the man of his dignity. He wants Taylor around and enjoys sharing the responsibility with him. MJD knows his time will come and can patiently await it while learning from Taylor.
That maturation may be the indication that Jones-Drew now is ready to become the team’s primary running back. Taylor is no spring chicken, but you do not hear MJD crying for the football when things go bad or the team in ineffective on offense. He understands the roles of others in the offense and appears to be the ultimate team player.
Which is just the kind of back you need to be—like Fred Taylor—in order to succeed in this league. And Taylor sees that now in Jones-Drew. He knows that when his time is over, which could be soon, the Jaguars’ backfield will be in capable hands.
And that, of course, is great news for fantasy owners. Not that fantasy players will be happy to see Taylor go—he has been the butt of many an injury joke during his long, successful NFL career. But fantasy owners want to see less running-back-by-committees (RBBC) in the NFL. They want more solitary backfields like LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego and Clinton Portis in Washington.
With Jones-Drew in the Jags’ current RBBC, fantasy owners are getting a lot of inconsistency. Huge weeks separated by subpar and sometimes dismal performances. With Taylor out of the way, however, things could be different for MJD.
And if Taylor does indeed step aside and Jones-Drew gets his hands on the gig, there may be no looking over his shoulder for that other back for quite some time.
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