Many NFL talking heads have already used oxygen to discuss whether first-year Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has any idea what he’s doing. Now,
After the team signed Tim Tebow earlier this week, Meyer generated more buzz on Saturday by announcing a unique minicamp agenda for his rookie first-round unning back.
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Meyer announced that Etienne will take all of his rookie minicamp reps at the wide receiver position. An interesting decision, to say the least, given that Etienne was drafted as a running back.
#Jaguars coach Urban Meyer told reporters that first-round RB Travis Etienne will take all of his minicamp reps at WR. “Worst case scenario you have a running back that's elite with receiver skills,” Meyer said. Similar, it seems, to Le’Veon Bell in his prime.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 15, 2021
Urban Meyer isn’t wrong to an extent. Pass-catching backs are all the rage in today’s NFL, for the teams themselves and fantasy football participants alike.
That being said, this is certainly an intriguing decision on the part of the new Jacksonville Jaguars coach. Apparently, Meyer informed Etienne of this wrinkle on draft night and received an enthusiastic response.
Coach Meyer told Travis Etienne the day after he was drafted he would take individual reps at WR during minicamp, Travis was all for it –
"Worst case scenario you have a RB with the skillset of a WR, best case scenario you have a hybrid player that can do both." – Meyer pic.twitter.com/CwJjJu1F3t
— Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) May 15, 2021
The Jags had zero capital invested at the running back position prior to taking Travis Etienne in this year’s NFL Draft. Fellow back James Robinson came from the ranks of undrafted free agent to have an unforgettable rookie season in 2020. Perhaps Meyer wants him to be more involved in the offense than we were led to believe?
Or, maybe Meyer is so confident in Etienne as a runner that he just wants him to become a better receiver? Honestly, who knows with this guy anymore.
Etienne did flash his pass-catching skills at Jaguars camp on Saturday:
Travis Etienne showing his receiving chops early in Jags camp 👀
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) May 15, 2021
Look, this could work out brilliantly for the Jaguars and Urban Meyer will have the last laugh. But for now, it’s the people of Twitter getting a kick out of this announcement:
My projected starters for JAX week 1:
QB: Gardner Minshew
RB1: Laviska Shenault
RB2: James Robinson
TE: Tim Tebow
WR1: Travis Etienne
WR2: Trevor Lawrence
Slot WR: DJ Chark— RyȺn the RyBred (@RyanWorldEater) May 15, 2021
Travis Etienne playing receiver during a camp when the QB can't hand the football off shouldn't be that big a deal. He was also the only RB at camp.
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) May 15, 2021
When Travis Etienne goes 9-40-0 rushing and 5-55-0 receiving in a 14 point loss pic.twitter.com/kxqKrVAyDe
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 15, 2021
Things I learned when I was today years old:
– Travis Etienne is now a Wide Receiver
– Travis Etienne was plan…B?
– Kedarius Toney was plan A… pic.twitter.com/Y8TssgIZQq
— AngeloFF (@angelo_fantasy) May 15, 2021
And my personal favorite of the bunch:
“Travis Etienne is taking all his reps at WR”
James Robinson: pic.twitter.com/FZPGJWRNsT
— Jarad Evans (@PFF_Jarad) May 15, 2021
Some memes just never get old!
Stay tuned to find out once and for all whether Urban Meyer is a coaching genius or a total quack.
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