The buzz – the betting odds – indicate that the Jaguars are probably going to wind up with Ashton Jeanty. I like the sound of that. The combination of Jeanty and Liam Coen could really energize that offense.
I do, by the way, put some stock in where people are investing their gambling money. I believe there’s some insider trading that occurs. Someone with the team quiet tells a few friends who their team is going to take (or not take), and a few wagers are made to pick up some pocket money.
The lines have been shifting, with Jeanty now the favorite to be picked fifth overall. If some team believes that Jeanty is another LaDainian Tomlinson, they’ll want to get on the phone, arranging a trade with the Patriots (4th) or Jaguars (5th).
Should he wind up in Jacksonville, that could really juice up that offense. He looks like one of those running backs who can get yards on his own – make those around him look better. And in this case, he would be paired with a coach who’s shown he can turn around a running game.
Coen took over Tampa Bay’s offense last year. The Bucs in both 2022 and 2023 ranked last in rushing. With Coen dialing up the plays, they zoomed up to 4th in rushing. That was with a rookie, Bucky Irving, leading the way for them. Irving was a great fourth-round pick. Jeanty plays with a similar style, I think, but is a better prospect – 20 pounds heavier and also faster.
RUSHING YARDS, LAST TWO SEASONS | |
---|---|
2023 season | 2024 season |
156 Baltimore | 187 Baltimore |
141 Chicago | 179 Philadelphia |
140 San Francisco | 154 Washington |
139 Arizona | 149 Tampa Bay |
135 Detroit | 146 Green Bay |
135 Miami | 146 Detroit |
130 Buffalo | 144 Arizona |
128 Philadelphia | 137 Indianapolis |
127 Atlanta | 131 Buffalo |
121 Indianapolis | 130 Atlanta |
120 LA Rams | 127 Pittsburgh |
118 Cleveland | 127 San Francisco |
118 Pittsburgh | 115 New England |
112 Dallas | 114 New Orleans |
112 Green Bay | 112 Houston |
110 NY Giants | 112 Denver |
108 Tennessee | 110 LA Chargers |
106 Denver | 110 Carolina |
104 Kansas City | 109 Minnesota |
104 Carolina | 109 Tennessee |
102 New Orleans | 105 Miami |
96 Houston | 105 Kansas City |
96 NY Jets | 104 NY Giants |
96 ••Jacksonville | 103 LA Rams |
96 LA Chargers | 102 Chicago |
95 New England | 101 ••Jacksonville |
93 Washington | 100 Dallas |
92 Seattle | 95 Seattle |
91 Minnesota | 94 Cleveland |
90 Las Vegas | 92 Cincinnati |
89 Cincinnati | 91 NY Jets |
88 Tampa Bay | 79 Las Vegas |
—Ian Allan