Jacksonville Jaguars Need Big Game out of Denard Robinson to Flip Script on Colts
By Michael Compton
@MWCompton
Phil Sears-USA Today Sports
The Jacksonville Jaguars head into their Week 12 clash with the Indianapolis Colts having lost their last four contests to the defending AFC South champions. Defeating the 6-4 Colts will be no easy task for the 1-9 Jaguars, but to be competitive and keep the game close, establishing the rushing attack is essential for Jacksonville.
The Colts’ defense has struggled against the running game. The unit ranks 17th in the league against the run (112.9 yards per game) and allows 25.3 points per game (22nd). Luckily, the New England Patriots offered the Jaguars a blueprint for success in beating the Colts last week. The Patriots exploited the weakness in the defense by rushing for more than 200 yards in a 42-20 blowout win over Indianapolis. Granted, the Jaguars are not the Patriots, but if they can control the line of scrimmage and spring Denard Robinson often enough, Jacksonville can keep Andrew Luck and the league’s top-rated passing offense off the field.
Robinson has emerged as the go-to ball-carrier in Jacksonville’s backfield since stepping in for Toby Gerhart in Week 7. Robinson is a slippery runner with instant acceleration. The former quarterback is still learning the nuances of the position, but he is showing great instincts in traffic and is proving his worth in a young offense in need of playmakers. Robinson is certain to continue his development as his touches increase, and he could play a key role in deciding this contest.
The return of tight end Marcedes Lewis, who has been out of the lineup since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 2, will also bolster the running game. A ferocious blocker, Lewis can set the edge for Robinson, and also give rookie quarterback Blake Bortles a veteran presence in the huddle and sure hands down the field.
On paper, it appears that the Colts, who should be plenty angry coming off a loss, will bounce back and run roughshod over the Jaguars. But as the Oakland Raiders showed in their upset victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC West showdown on Thursday night, teams playing for pride, especially against division rivals, are dangerous in potential trap games.
Michael Compton is a Jacksonville Jaguars writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter at @MWCompton and connect with him on Google.
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