Maurice Jones-Drew: What His Return Means to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Hello, Maurice.

Remember me, the disgruntled fan?

I’m the one who buys season tickets and waits for an investment, only to be told that you held out 38 days while 52 other position players braved the heat, punishment and stresses of preseason and offseason training.

What, you think you are deserving of more money and a better contract than the one you signed back in 2009 when you were just breaking out in this league? You wanted to be paid on potential, you wanted to be paid like other rising stars. You got what you asked for. You got the pie in the sky. We bought jerseys in your honor. We worshipped the ground you walked on and we understood you were and probably are one of the best small backs to ever play this game.

We, rather I as a fan, get that. I know the gem the Jaguars have. But I don’t need to hear from you, how you are angered by only making $4 million this season. Somehow, I think teachers in Duval country and service men and women have a hard time picking up what you are trying to put down.

C’mon man, get with the program.

I am happy you finally tucked your tail between your legs and came to your senses. Yes, the train was leaving the station. The new conductor (head coach Mike Mularkey) and his stewards (Blaine Gabbert, Paul Posluszny, Justin Blackmon and others) would have carried on without you.

The team had a new stallion ready to ride this season (Rashad Jennings) who loved coming to practice, being the top tailback and new his role on the team for just over $500,000 this season.

I call that bargain shopping.

But now that you are back in the fold with this team, please remember that you are playing for us and with us, not against us.  My meaning behind that is this is a team that could surprise some teams and the NFL as a whole. I am not talking about the playoffs yet, mainly because we are not there yet. But this is your chance to come in, shut your mouth (as you have said, this is just business) and make this team better than it was last season.

In the meantime, here are some reasons why your return is a good thing for the team, the NFL and the fans.

The Emergence of Justin Blackmon Will Continue

We saw his flashes of brilliance in the preseason. That should continue in the regular season.

The Jaguars have a legitimate threat down the field for the first time since Jimmy Smith.

And this Jaguar reminds me a lot of Michael Irvin with a better skill set.

Could Gabbert to Blackmon be the best combination in the NFL in five years? Heck, it could be the best combination in the NFL within the next three years.

Blaine Gabbert Will Be Smiling More

Any time you have a great runner in MJD and can use him to set up a passing game, the offense becomes that much better.

The Jaguars scored an average of 25 points per contest in the preseason, which was double what they averaged in 2011.

Yes, the offense will be better and now that the team has two good runners to beat up interior defenses, the passing game can open up more down the field.

The Defense Will Be Rested

Longer scoring drives means the offense is moving down the field.

When you run the clock, you shorten the game.

A Mike Mularkey-run offense is one predicated on both the run and the pass. And in Atlanta, he used the arm of Matt Ryan and the running game of Michael Turner to open holes and use time on the clock.

The team should not venture far from what we saw in the Georgia Dome. That meant the Falcons, or in this case, the Jaguars, are a threat to score every time they have the ball.

And the defense will be fresher and more ready in the later part of the game.

Team Continuity

This is more along the lines of MJD being a leader on this team.

I personally think his numbers will drop this season. They have to based on what the new offense has shown us so far.

If MJD goes for 1,200 yards this season and Blaine Gabbert throws for 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns, this is a successful season.

Teams will have to game plan for both weapons and possibly a third in Blackmon. That is the first time that has happened since Tom Coughlin was running the show.

More Fans in the Seats

We may be mad at him right now, but once he gets the ball and breaks off a 40-yard scamper, we will all love him again.

Funny how fans have a way of forming amnesia when that happens.

We all know whether the offense and the passing game is better, everything is predicated by the fact that MJD sets everything up. And is MJD is running, and breaking 100-yard games off at a fast pace, Gabbert is throwing the ball at 250 yards a clip and Blackmon is catching six passes a game, this team is winning.

And the world will be happy, the fans will come to the games and all will be forgotten.