Wednesday's notebookBy Ryan Robinson, jaguars.com writer
Starter production
Maurice Jones-Drew took over the as the Jaguars' lead running back in 2009, and in the three seasons since he has been honored with invitations to the Pro Bowl. Jones-Drew, who shared the backfield with Fred Taylor his first three seasons, ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards (4,321), first in yards per game (93.9 avg.) and tied for fifth in overall touchdowns (29) over the last three seasons.
Jones-Drew is the only player in franchise history with at least 1,300 rushing yards in three consecutive seasons and he now owns three of the top five single-season marks in team history for rushing yards and attempts.
Jones-Drew's career rushing totals
YEAR
GP/GS
NO
YDS
AVG
LG
TD
2006
16/ 1
166
941
5.7
74t
13
2007
15/ 0
167
768
4.6
57t
9
2008
16/ 3
197
824
4.2
46t
12
2009
16/16
312
1,391
4.5
80t
*15
2010
14/14
299
1,324
4.4
37
5
2011
16/16
343
*1,606
4.7
56
8
TOTALS
93/50
1,484
6,854
4.6
80t
*62
*Team record
Jones-Drew ranks high among active players
Maurice Jones-Drew has the sixth-most rushing yards (6,854) and fifth-most touchdowns (74) among active players. Every player ahead of Jones-Drew in each category has played in more games.
Jones-Drew owns the franchise record with 74 career touchdowns (62 rushing, 10 receiving, 2 kickoff returns) in only 93 games. He is tied with Fred Taylor with a franchise-record 62 career rushing touchdowns including a franchise-record 15 in 2009. He has 10 or more touchdowns in five of his first six seasons. Only LaDainian Tomlinson (82) has more touchdowns than Jones-Drew since he entered the NFL in 2006.
NFL MOST RUSHING YARDS AMONG ACTIVE PLAYERS
RK
PLAYER
YARDS
GAMES
1.
LaDainian Tomlinson
13,684
170
2.
Thomas Jones
10,591
180
3.
Steven Jackson
9,093
115
4.
Frank Gore
7,625
100
5.
Willis McGahee
7,366
120
6.
Maurice Jones-Drew
6,854
93
NFL MOST TOUCHDOWNS AMONG ACTIVE PLAYERS
RK
PLAYER
TDs
GAMES
1.
LaDainian Tomlinson
162
170
2.
Tony Gonzalez
95
238
3.
Hines Ward
86
217
4.
Antonio Gates
76
132
5.
Maurice Jones-Drew
74
93
6.
Larry Fitzgerald
73
124
Reggie Wayne
73
173
* *
NFL MOST RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS AMONG ACTIVE PLAYERS
RK
PLAYER
TDs
GAMES
1.
LaDainian Tomlinson
145
170
2.
Thomas Jones
68
180
3.
Ricky Williams
66
147
4.
Adrian Peterson
64
73
5.
Maurice Jones-Drew
62
93
* *
Production in any venue
Maurice Jones-Drew is not biased towards home or away games, AFC or NFC opponents or division games. His production was steady in 2011, much like in previous seasons.
Here's a look at how Jones-Drew performed in 2011 and previously:
- Averaged an NFL-best 98.1 rushing yards in the eight road games. Four of his six 100-yard rushing games came on the road. He leads the NFL with a 95.5 rushing yard average in road games from 2009-11.
- Has scored 32 touchdowns (28 rushing, 3 receiving, 1 return) in 34 career division games including four in six games in 2011. Fourteen of his 25 career 100-yard rushing games have come in division play. He averaged 107.5 rushing yards in the six division games in 2011 with at least 97 yards in five of the six games.
- Since becoming a full-time starter in 2009, Jones-Drew leads the NFL with 17 touchdowns (15 rushing, 2 receiving) and a 101.9-yard rushing average in 17 division games from 2009-11. He has 15 rushing touchdowns and nine 100-yard rushing games during that span.
- Averaged 100.8 rushing yards in four games against NFC opponents in 2011 including two 100-yard rushing games.
- Eclipsed 100 rushing yards in two of the club's three prime time games in 2011.
- Rushed for at least 84 yards in 15 of the last 16 home games with 100 or more yards in seven of the games. He averaged 102.6 rushing yards in eight home games this season, the second-most in the NFL.
