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Jacksonville Jaguars Need to Target RB Todd Gurley

By Dan Schmelzer

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Between Denard Robinson, Toby Gerhart, Storm Johnson and Bernard Pierce, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a solid core of players at the running back position.

Robinson looked good running for a 4.3 yards per carry average on 135 attempts last season, both Gerhart and Pierce have been solid in limited roles in the past and Johnson has some nice upside going forward. The Jaguars would be alright entering 2015 with their current backfield situation.

Dec 7, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Denard Robinson (16) runs after a handoff from quarterback Blake Bortles (5) in the first quarter of their game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

That being said, none of the current backs are franchise-changing talents. They are solid players who can get you by, but for the most part, their upside is limited.

Todd Gurley is a running back with franchise altering talent. He is a clear top-ten, possibly even top-five talent who is expected to slip because of durability concerns and the lessened value on the running back position. The Jaguars need to find a way to capitalize on this opportunity.

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Gurley has a special skill set that could make him a star at the NFL level. He is a devastating power back who is not afraid to lay a hit on an opposing defender. He shows a natural ability to lower his center of gravity and square his shoulders which allows him to bounce off would-be tacklers with relative ease.

If tackling a powerful back like Gurley wasn’t hard enough, he also shows great balance, using creative moves to stay on his feet.

While Gurley’s power is impressive, it is not the only weapon in his arsenal. He shows great quickness in short spaces and in and out of his cuts. While he usually prefers to run over defenders, Gurley shows a little bit of shake in his running style as well.

Gurley also shows great ball carrier vision, as he always seems to hit the open hole very quickly and with authority. He may not have the best straight-line speed, but Gurley shows plenty of speed to outrun defenders in open space.

He is also a very good receiver out of the backfield with soft hands, while being a very willing pass blocker whose protection skills are ahead of most backs entering the NFL.

Basically, Gurley is the total package at the running back position, and the comparisons to Marshawn Lynch are fair.

The only main concern in Gurley’s game is his durability. He missed some time here and there throughout his college career due to injuries, but the biggest one happened late last season.

Gurley tore his ACL in November of 2014, and while he is expected to make a full recovery, and probably will be ready towards the beginning of next season, major knee surgeries always make you think twice.

Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt and training staff tend to running back Todd Gurley (3) after an injury in the fourth quarter of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. Georgia won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

It is probably unwise to expect Gurley to have a huge impact during his rookie season. Coming back from a major knee injury is always difficult for a running back, and while he is likely to see the field next season, his knee could hold him back.

However, as mentioned before, the Jaguars have a decent situation at the running back position. With their stable of backs led by Robinson, they would be able to weather the storm as Gurley gets back to 100% healthy.

Also, of course the Jaguars want to win, but with such a young roster, they are not necessarily expected to compete this coming season. Jacksonville can afford to allow Gurley to heal with a proper timetable better than most teams can.

Selecting a dynamic back like Gurley to grow with quarterback Blake Bortles and the young Jaguars’ offense seems to be a slam dunk pick. That said, with the injury concerns, and the recent trend of running backs falling in the draft, selecting him with their third overall pick would just be careless. It simply is not going to happen.

The way I see it, there are two scenarios where the Jaguars can get themselves in a valuable position to select Gurley. In my recent mock draft for NFL Spin Zone, one of these scenarios happened.

I had the Jaguars selecting a much-needed pass rusher with their third overall pick, while Gurley slid down the draft board a bit. With it being unlikely for him to drop any further, I sensed an opportunity for a team like the Jaguars to trade back in to the first round with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the 22nd overall pick.

In this mock, the Jaguars gave up their second round (36th overall) and third round (67th overall) picks in exchange for the 22nd overall selection and the Steelers’ 6th round pick (199th overall). They then used the 22nd overall selection on Gurley.

If he slips a bit in the draft, trading back in to the first round for an opportunity to land Gurley will be a real possibility for the Jaguars. Every single year there teams looking to trade back at the end of the first round.

Teams like the Miami Dolphins with the 14th pick, Houston Texans with the 16th pick and San Diego Chargers with the 17th pick are certainly possible landing spots for Gurley. That being said, it all depends on how the draft goes. That mock draft fell in place where there were better opportunities to fill positions of need for those teams.

Another possible way for the Jaguars to get into good position to land Gurley would be trading back from the third overall pick. If Jameis Winston goes first overall like we all expect, the Tennessee Titans will be in an interesting situation with the second pick. Trading down appears possible, as does selecting quarterback Marcus Mariota or defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

Sep 20, 2014; Pullman, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) drops back for a pass against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

If decide to hold on to the pick, and take Williams, the Jaguars will be in a great position to move down. That is exactly what happens in the most recent mock draft by Josh Norris of Rotoworld.

The Cleveland Browns have long been rumored to be looking to trade up for Mariota. With Williams going second overall to Tennessee, Norris has the Browns trading both of their first round picks to the Jaguars for the third overall pick to select Mariota.

With the 12th and 19th pick now in their possession for this mock draft. The Jaguars draft supremely talented pass rusher Vic Beasley at 12, before landing, you guessed it, Gurley at 19. This would be an absolute dream scenario for the Jaguars.

Now, with Miami, Houston and San Diego all still picking before 19, it is certainly possible that Gurley will be gone before then. That being said, in this scenario, the Jaguars hold the 12th pick as well. Beasley may be there at 12, but I find that fairly unlikely. If a talented pass rusher like Beasley is not available, the Jaguars could simply decide to take Gurley with the 12th overall pick.

This is all somewhat hypothetical, but if Mariota does not go with the second pick, Cleveland offering up their two first round picks feels like a real possibility.

More than anything, Gurley is a special talent at the running back position. His knee is a massive question mark that undoubtedly makes him a risky pick. That being said, he is the kind of player who can completely change a franchise for the better.

It is time to get creative, the Jacksonville Jaguars should find a way to land Todd Gurley.

Next: Expectations for Jaguars WR Allen Robinson

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