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Jags' backs carry heavy load


With Taylor's health still a question, unproven backups will get their chances in camp.


By BART HUBBUCH, The Times-Union


All eyes will be on the backfield when the Jaguars open training camp next weekend.


From the health of Fred Taylor's surgically repaired left knee to questions about his mostly unproven backups carrying the load in the meantime, the situation at running back is the biggest question the Jaguars face as another season approaches.

Key Jaguar dates

Friday, July 29: Players report to training camp.

Saturday, July 30: First practice at 10:15 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 13: Preseason opener vs. Miami Dolphins at Alltel Stadium.

Sunday, Sept. 4: Final roster cutdown date.

Sunday, Sept. 11: Season opener vs. Seattle Seahawks at Alltel Stadium.


The players consider it no understatement to say a healthy and productive backfield could be the difference in the Jaguars improving on their 9-7 finish or missing the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.

"You need that balance that a good running game provides,'' quarterback Byron Leftwich said. "It's very important to our offense and to our whole season that we have that.''

That's especially true this year, as the Jaguars are switching to a new offense under veteran coordinator Carl Smith that Smith says will include a more vertical passing attack but whose foundation will be the run.

While that might sound good in theory with Taylor coming off a 1,224-yard performance last season, the Jaguars' all-time leading rusher hasn't fully healed from a serious knee injury that caused him to miss the final two games and resulted in extensive surgery.

The Jaguars tried to address the uncertainty at Taylor's position with an unsuccessful pursuit of Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry, and by using a fourth-round pick on Virginia's Alvin Pearman.

A lineup of LaBrandon Toefield, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Pearman is not likely to inspire confidence. The Jaguars combined for just 188 rushing yards and 13 points in Taylor's two-game absence last December.

The Jaguars, though, insist that any doubts about Taylor's backups are coming from outside the organization.

"We've all got confidence in those guys,'' Taylor said. "There's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to be good [once the regular season starts], but those guys behind me can get the job done. We have one of the best situations at running back in the whole league.''

The Jaguars have one of the NFL's deepest backfields in terms of numbers. That group includes fullback Greg Jones, a tailback at Florida State who likely will be called upon as a situational runner this year.

What makes the Jaguars' situation without Taylor precarious -- and what might have prompted their recent interest in Henry before he was traded to AFC South rival Tennessee -- is the lack of experience behind him.

Toefield is considered more of a third-down back and receiver out of the backfield than an every-down pounder. He has rushed for just 381 yards combined in two seasons as a pro.

Fuamatu-Ma'afala has 984 rushing yards in seven NFL seasons but was released by Pittsburgh two years ago because of persistent minor injuries, a problem that followed him to Jacksonville.


Third-year pro LaBrandon Toefield is considered a better fit as a third-down back instead of an every-down runner.


Then there is Pearman, who ran for 1,037 yards at Virginia last season. He appears more in Toefield's pass-catcher vein at 5 feet 9, 208 pounds, than a bruiser in the mold of Taylor.

Because none of those three runners has asserted himself in the NFL, the Jaguars could rely on a backfield by committee as long as Taylor is absent.

Considering such an arrangement worked last season for Denver, St. Louis and Minnesota, all of whom reached the playoffs, the Jaguars don't see why a crowded backfield might not work for them this fall.

"We've made it clear all along that we like the [backup running backs] we already have on the roster, and that hasn't changed,'' Jaguars senior vice president Paul Vance said after the Henry trade fell through. "They're all capable players.''

Leftwich agrees, saying the Jaguars' problems running the ball in Taylor's absence last year can't necessarily be blamed on the backs themselves.

"We've got a new offense that we're putting in, and you've got to give that a chance,'' Leftwich said. "That was a different offense last year. We're going to be fine [at running back].''

Leftwich also said it could be a mistake to assume Taylor won't be ready and that the Jaguars will have to go to their backups at all.

"Give it a chance to play out,'' he said.

Added veteran wide receiver Jimmy Smith: "We need a healthy Fred, no doubt about it. He's proven that he's one of the best running backs in the league and has the ability to make this offense go. If he can't go, then we're going to have to have one of the other guys step up. It's that simple.''