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Running game making strides, Jags coach says
Taylor, Drew, Jones will be big part of team's "explosive quality" in '06.
By VITO STELLINO, The Times-Union
Running back Fred Taylor didn't participate in the Jaguars' voluntary offseason program, which ended Wednesday. But the Jaguars are still expecting him to show a lot on the field this fall.
Coach Jack Del Rio said that when the team takes the field again for training camp July 29, he expects the Jaguars to have a more potent running game than a year ago.
And Taylor will be a big part of that, even though he skipped all 14 OTAs.
"We're going to be able to run the ball. We're going to have an explosive quality to us. We've got the ability to strike from longer distances,'' Del Rio said.
Breaking the long run is Taylor's game, and it helps that he's healthier now than in 2005, when he was still recovering from knee surgery at the start of training camp. He was then slowed by injuries during the season and gained just 787 yards in 11 games.
Del Rio expects Taylor to arrive for camp in top shape, the same way he did at the mandatory minicamp in early May.
"He's healthy coming into this season instead of going into camp not practicing, and you're hoping he's back and [wondering] how soon can he start working. He's training like a madman, and he's on a mission," Del Rio said.
"And you add a guy like Maurice [Drew] and he has some explosiveness to him, and we're looking at things that Greg [Jones] does well, and then there's our line play.''
Drew, the team's second-round draft pick, is only 5 feet 7, but he's a speedster who might be able to break long runs as a part-time back. Jones is a good blocker who adds a change of pace.
Taylor's longest run was 71 yards last season. Alvin Pearman was the only other runner to break a run longer than 27 yards when he ran for 45.
Del Rio said he's been in communication with Taylor and seems to have accepted the fact that Taylor decided to skip the workouts.
"It'd be a little different if a backup guy was doing this. I'd like everybody to be here, and what I ask our guys to do is communicate with me,'' Del Rio said.
Taylor, who turned 30 this year, made some comments at the start of the offseason program about a lack of loyalty in pro football, but Del Rio didn't seem worried about Taylor's commitment to the Jaguars.
"I can tell you I've been able to keep most of my hair. I'm constantly concerned how I can make sure the team is as unified and cohesive as possible. That's always something I'm working on,'' Del Rio said.
Del Rio also said he expects improved play on the offensive line to help the running game. He said guard Vince Manuwai, who struggled last year, has had an excellent offseason, and tackle Mo Williams has recovered from the shoulder injuries that slowed him last year.
He said another positive is that assistant head coach/offense Mike Tice has added some new concepts to the running game and that new offensive line coach Andy Heck is improving the blocking to help the running game.
"Mike [Tice] has been around a lot of terrific offensive play in Minnesota, and he's brought something in here, and we've taken a look at it. We've tweaked our system to tailor it to the people we have,'' Del Rio said.
Del Rio said an improved running game will help the passing game. The team must adjust to the retirement of receiver Jimmy Smith. The passing game has struggled in workouts, but Del Rio and quarterback Byron Leftwich said there's time in training camp to work out the bugs.
"That's the kind of thing over time you get ironed out,'' Del Rio said of the missed passes.
Leftwich added, "You've got to be a fool to think everybody is out there throwing perfect passes every time. It's not going to happen.''
Besides Taylor, the only other healthy player missing the final OTA was tackle Mike Williams.
Del Rio said Williams was absent for personal issues that didn't have anything to do with his weight. The Jaguars want him to lose weight before the start of camp.
Del Rio said the next item on his agenda is to recharge his batteries to get ready for training camp.
"I'll try to do a little fishing and have some beach time with my kids,'' Del Rio said.
vito.stellino@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4279
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/062206/jag_3582104.shtml
Taylor, Drew, Jones will be big part of team's "explosive quality" in '06.
By VITO STELLINO, The Times-Union
Running back Fred Taylor didn't participate in the Jaguars' voluntary offseason program, which ended Wednesday. But the Jaguars are still expecting him to show a lot on the field this fall.
Coach Jack Del Rio said that when the team takes the field again for training camp July 29, he expects the Jaguars to have a more potent running game than a year ago.
And Taylor will be a big part of that, even though he skipped all 14 OTAs.
"We're going to be able to run the ball. We're going to have an explosive quality to us. We've got the ability to strike from longer distances,'' Del Rio said.
Breaking the long run is Taylor's game, and it helps that he's healthier now than in 2005, when he was still recovering from knee surgery at the start of training camp. He was then slowed by injuries during the season and gained just 787 yards in 11 games.
Del Rio expects Taylor to arrive for camp in top shape, the same way he did at the mandatory minicamp in early May.
"He's healthy coming into this season instead of going into camp not practicing, and you're hoping he's back and [wondering] how soon can he start working. He's training like a madman, and he's on a mission," Del Rio said.
"And you add a guy like Maurice [Drew] and he has some explosiveness to him, and we're looking at things that Greg [Jones] does well, and then there's our line play.''
Drew, the team's second-round draft pick, is only 5 feet 7, but he's a speedster who might be able to break long runs as a part-time back. Jones is a good blocker who adds a change of pace.
Taylor's longest run was 71 yards last season. Alvin Pearman was the only other runner to break a run longer than 27 yards when he ran for 45.
Del Rio said he's been in communication with Taylor and seems to have accepted the fact that Taylor decided to skip the workouts.
"It'd be a little different if a backup guy was doing this. I'd like everybody to be here, and what I ask our guys to do is communicate with me,'' Del Rio said.
Taylor, who turned 30 this year, made some comments at the start of the offseason program about a lack of loyalty in pro football, but Del Rio didn't seem worried about Taylor's commitment to the Jaguars.
"I can tell you I've been able to keep most of my hair. I'm constantly concerned how I can make sure the team is as unified and cohesive as possible. That's always something I'm working on,'' Del Rio said.
Del Rio also said he expects improved play on the offensive line to help the running game. He said guard Vince Manuwai, who struggled last year, has had an excellent offseason, and tackle Mo Williams has recovered from the shoulder injuries that slowed him last year.
He said another positive is that assistant head coach/offense Mike Tice has added some new concepts to the running game and that new offensive line coach Andy Heck is improving the blocking to help the running game.
"Mike [Tice] has been around a lot of terrific offensive play in Minnesota, and he's brought something in here, and we've taken a look at it. We've tweaked our system to tailor it to the people we have,'' Del Rio said.
Del Rio said an improved running game will help the passing game. The team must adjust to the retirement of receiver Jimmy Smith. The passing game has struggled in workouts, but Del Rio and quarterback Byron Leftwich said there's time in training camp to work out the bugs.
"That's the kind of thing over time you get ironed out,'' Del Rio said of the missed passes.
Leftwich added, "You've got to be a fool to think everybody is out there throwing perfect passes every time. It's not going to happen.''
Besides Taylor, the only other healthy player missing the final OTA was tackle Mike Williams.
Del Rio said Williams was absent for personal issues that didn't have anything to do with his weight. The Jaguars want him to lose weight before the start of camp.
Del Rio said the next item on his agenda is to recharge his batteries to get ready for training camp.
"I'll try to do a little fishing and have some beach time with my kids,'' Del Rio said.
vito.stellino@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4279
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/062206/jag_3582104.shtml