During his rookie season, running back Tank Bigsby participated in 12 percent of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive snaps.
Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor believes this was insufficient and doesn’t hold Bigsby responsible for his limited playtime in 2023. Taylor expressed regret over how Bigsby was utilized during his rookie year.
We would have liked to see more usage and opportunities for Tank as the season progressed,” Taylor stated on Tuesday. “In hindsight, there are many things we could have done better. The goal isn’t to go 9-8 every year, so we scrutinize everything. It’s about utilizing every player on game day effectively.
I think Tank had more to offer, but we might not have given him the chances he deserved. Sometimes, we opted to give Travis (Etienne) another rep instead of Tank. You live, learn, and adapt. Tank is in a good place as he heads into Year 2, and we’re looking to maximize his potential.
Bigsby led Auburn in rushing during each of his three seasons, finishing his career with 2,903 yards and 25 touchdowns on 540 carries, plus 448 yards on 62 receptions. He experienced multiple coaching changes during his college tenure.
This is my second year with the same offense,” Bigsby told WJXT-TV in Jacksonville. “In college, it was challenging with different coordinators each year. Now, with the same playbook and coaches, I can grow and get better.”
Jacksonville has 14 players preparing for their second NFL seasons, including Bigsby and five other offensive players. Taylor highlighted the impact of a year of experience.
You see the difference in how they practice now compared to last year,” Taylor said. “They understand the system and play faster, showing the skills they developed in college.”
Bigsby ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries and caught one pass for 6 yards as a rookie. Meanwhile, Travis Etienne played 73 percent of the offensive snaps, running for 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns on 267 carries, and catching 58 passes for 476 yards and one touchdown.
With nine more workouts remaining before training camp, the Jaguars are focused on refining their roster and preparing for the upcoming season.
