Jacksonville Jaguars star running back Leonard Fournette is being given lofty expectations and full control in the backfield according to new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo.
DeFilippo, 41, is entering his first season as OC for the Jaguars after spending last year with the Minnesota Vikings and previously organizing the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles' offense from 2016-17.
The new offensive coordinator had this to say about Fournette's role within the offense (per The Athletic's Phillip Heilman):
“I know Leonard’s goals. Leonard’s goal is to be the best back in this league and unique star players play a lot of football. So, to me, he needs to play and so that’s where we’re at with that.”
Fournette, 24, has quickly ascended into the conversation for best running back in the NFL.
The six-foot RB rushed for 439 yards, five touchdowns, and 3.3 yards per carry in only eight games during the 2018 season, missing games due to a hamstring injury and one to suspension. The former fourth-overall selection for Jacksonville out of LSU is also a dual-threat in the backfield—making 22 receptions for 185 yards and a single touchdown, too.
Fournette portends to be the key for DeFilippo's Jacksonville offense and the team will need both pass-catching an efficient running out of the first-rounder. The Jaguars also employ former DeFilippo quarterback Nick Foles, who played with the offensive coordinator with the Eagles. Foles signed a lucrative deal—worth $88 million over four years—with Jacksonville to be their man under center.
However, despite Foles' heroics in the Super Bowl in recent memory, Fournette remains the ground-and-pound threat and dynamic offensive option who can score points for the Jaguars.
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