Jaguars take lead from Cardinals after Calais Campbell fumble recovery.
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Jacksonville’s vaunted ground game has veered off course.
The Jaguars were mostly listless while trying to run the ball in a 27-24 loss at Arizona on Sunday that ended the team’s four-game winning streak. Rookie Leonard Fournette finished with 25 yards on 12 attempts – both season lows – and failed to gain at least 10 yards on any carry for the second time in three weeks.
It’s a huge concern for a team built to run the ball and play great defense.
“It’s something we have to change,” coach Doug Marrone said Monday. “We want to be able to run the football and put ourselves in manageable situations. I think that’s going to help us along with our play-action game and being able to take shots – basically what our philosophy has been the whole time.
“I’ve got to do a better job, and the coaches, of putting those guys in a good position, schematically, and being able to take advantage of some of these heavy fronts that we see.”
The Jaguars (7-4) still lead the league in rushing, averaging 154.3 yards a game, but have been under that mark in each of the last three games. The last time they eclipsed their average was in a Week 7 victory at Indianapolis.
Jacksonville hosts the Colts (3-8) on Sunday. It’s the first of three consecutive home games and a chance to get the ground game back on track.
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