Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette in pivotal season to produce

Editor's note: This is a multi-part series previewing the Jaguars and their talent at each position before training camp opens on July 25. Today: The team’s running backs.

Instead of building off a successful rookie season, Leonard Fournette significantly regressed last season.

He was unproductive, injury prone and had maturity issues to surface.

If he doesn’t figure it out this season, it could be his last in Jacksonville.

It’s a make-or-break season, but Fournette got a clean slate after rushing for just 439 yards in eight games that included an ejection for fighting during a game at Buffalo that led to a one-game suspension from the NFL. In April, Fournette was arrested for driving with a suspended license but the case was dismissed when he was fined $303 after he pleaded no contest.

''Some things I did in the offseason I admitted to that I was wrong,” Fournette said. “But we’ve moved on. We’re in a good place right now. It’s a clean start for a lot of guys. The past is the past. After the season we had last year, I think everybody kind of hit the restart button.''

Though the Jaguars voided $7.1 million in guarantees remaining in his rookie contract, they are still counting on Fournette. And of course offensive coordinator John DeFilippo expects Fournette to be a big part of his offense if they’re going to be successful.

They need his inside power running, pass catching ability and big-play runs off the edge – all of the things he displayed as a rookie when he rushed for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns in 2017 when the Jaguars advanced to the AFC title game against New England.

Desiring to get away from distractions in his hometown of New Orleans, Fournette spent part of his offseason working out in Wyoming while reconnecting with his former LSU strength and conditioning coach Ben Iannachione. Fournette also spent time in Jacksonville leading up to OTAs with quarterback Nick Foles to learn the play calls better.

Fournette still missed more than half of the team’s voluntary workout sessions. However, he reported to mandatory minicamp in good shape, flashed his speed and looked comfortable catching passes out of the backfield. Still, what matters the most is how is he going to perform during the season?

Coach Doug Marrone hired 64-year-old running back coach Terry Robiskie, who is tasked with the challenge of getting the most out of Fournette. Perhaps their Louisiana connection will help -- Robiskie is a New Orleans native and former LSU star like Fournette.

''No matter what boat brought us over here, we’re all on the same boat, all have the same goal,’’ Robiskie said. ''Let’s try to win the game.”

What they definitely want to avoid is a repeat from last season when the Jaguars went from leading the NFL in rushing in 2017 (141.4 yards per game) to finishing 19th last season (116.9). Despite playing a 16-game schedule, the Jaguars did not have a 100-yard rusher in a game last season. It led to the Jaguars overhauling their running backs room that resulted in the departures of T.J. Yeldon, Corey Grant, Carlos Hyde and running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley.

They filled their need for depth behind Fournette in free agency and the draft. In the fifth round of the NFL Draft in April, the Jaguars selected former Temple running back Ryquell Armstead, the first tailback the franchise have drafted since taking Fournette with the fourth overall pick in 2017.

A physical runner with explosiveness, Armstead suffered a minor hamstring injury and did not participate in minicamp but he is expected to be a full participant when camp begins.

Armstead will be vying for a rotational spot with Alfred Blue, Thomas Rawls, Benny Cunningham and Taj McGowan behind Fournette. Blue, who was signed in March after playing five seasons with Houston, appears to be the frontrunner. He has good cutting ability, good vision and can catch passes out of the backfield.

''He knows what he wants to do, he comes out here, he practices. I am happy with him,” Marrone said of Blue during last month’s minicamp. ‘’ “That whole group has done a nice job.’’

But whether the Jaguars overall ground game will be successful will depend on Fournette – and this could be his final shot to prove he was worthy of his fourth overall selection in the draft.

''I kind of put a lot on myself this offseason by getting my body right. Just mentally coming back ready to play football. No distractions, leaving the outside stuff where it is at,'' Fournette said. ''I think that is one of the biggest things that I think us players have a problem with. Like you see with Telvin [Smith Sr.] and what he has going on, we face a lot of problems. We have a lot of issues ourselves and if we aren’t right ourselves and we come on this field, we aren’t going to be right in the game. That is one thing I respect about what Telvin is doing right now – trying to get himself together.''