Jaguars Top 10 Draft Picks: Maurice Jones-Drew

by Alfie Crow on Apr 27, 2011 3:00 PM EDT in 2011 NFL Draft

In the 2006 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars took a running back out of UCLA that everyone deemed "too small". Maurice Jones-Drew was an electric player coming out of the Pac-10, but was often over shadowed by USC's Reggie Bush. Bush wound up the third overall pick in the draft to the New Orleans Saints, but so far... Jones-Drew has been by far the better player at the NFL level. Jones-Drew came into camp and right away charmed reporters with his quick wit and infectious smile.

Jones-Drew, while confident, knew his role on the team however and looked to then veteran running back Fred Taylor for guidance. Taylor took Jones-Drew under his wing and the two formed a dominant rushing attack for the next three seasons. In 2009, Jones-Drew lived up to the new contract the Jaguars handed him by rushing for nearly 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns while being voted to his first Pro-Bowl. In the 2010 season, Jones-Drew followed it up with a 1,300 yard season and only 5 touchdowns, but once again was voted to the Pro-Bowl and was even considered in MVP talks, however far fetched they were. Jones-Drew did all of that in 2010 with an injured knee, as well.

For a running back who was deemed to small and bears the number 32 for the number of teams who passed on him, he's certainly played big. Jones-Drew is easily the 2nd best running back in franchise history, and he's only been a starter for two seasons.

Are You Smarter Than The Experts?
Correctly predict the first 32 picks of the 2011 NFL Draft and you’ll win $10,000,000!
BEST ROUND EVER IN PRIMETIME
Enter at facebook.com/BudLight
Here We Go

Enjoy Responsibly ©2011 Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Bud Light® Beer, St. Louis, MO. ©2011 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. No Purchase Necessary. Contest open to U.S. residents (except CA) 21+. Contest begins 12AM CDT on 4/1 and ends 5:59:59PM CDT on 4/28. See Official Rules for complete details. Void where prohibited.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'm assuming/hoping he's your #1 overall draft pick

He is mine. If he was second, it would be to Boselli.

Twitter: BLByline Youtube: BLByline
I'm willing to drink the Kool-ade, but I'm hungry for the truth.

by Brian Levenson on Apr 27, 2011 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

He was an awesome pick.

We should trade him for a 5th. On a different note, I was thinking about who my best draft picks would be and realized the Jags have never drafted an elite wr, that’s a pretty awful track record.

by KillJag on Apr 27, 2011 3:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Meh, WRs are overrated.

a good QB will prove that to you over and over again

Twitter: BLByline Youtube: BLByline
I'm willing to drink the Kool-ade, but I'm hungry for the truth.

by Brian Levenson on Apr 27, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

wr are overrated

But its still nice to have one. You can’t tell me Smith and McCardell didn’t make the team better when they played here.

by KillJag on Apr 27, 2011 3:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Tom Brady's WR's (Super Bowl Wins)

QB>wr

2001: Troy Brown, David Patten
2003: Deon Branch, David Givens
2004: David Givens, David Patten

Ignore the hype; look at the results.

by harperslaw on Apr 27, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

You miss the point.

Please show me where having 2 good receivers didn’t effect this team in a positive manner. Don’t show me a list of Brady’s WRs win he won superbowls. There have been plenty of Superbowl winners who have had elite WRs too so the point is moot.

by KillJag on Apr 27, 2011 3:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I guess I did

A good WR makes your team better – there’s no doubt about it. But in the NFL if you don’t have a good QB that WR is wasted talent. A good WR isn’t going to flourish under a bad QB, but countless average WRs have flourished under good QBs. Give me a dominant LT, QB, and DE over a dominant WR any day.

Ignore the hype; look at the results.

by harperslaw on Apr 27, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

100% agree

As far as importance goes wr is down the list for me too. I was just noting that we’ve never been lucky enough to draft an elite one. Or a QB for that matter, considering that this franchise is pretty fortunate to have the success it has had to this point.

by KillJag on Apr 27, 2011 3:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

"Where having 2 good receivers didn't effect a team in a positive manner..."

The Cincinnati Bengals

I rest my case.

Twitter: BLByline Youtube: BLByline
I'm willing to drink the Kool-ade, but I'm hungry for the truth.

by Brian Levenson on Apr 27, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Well played sir.

But I did say this team.

by KillJag on Apr 27, 2011 4:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

What number are we on?

You should really put that on here somewhere. I lost track, and don’t feel like going back and counting.

by acedarney on Apr 27, 2011 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

It wasn’t really in any specific order.

Follow me on Twitter
try beer

by Alfie Crow on Apr 27, 2011 5:48 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Ahh...thanks

by acedarney on Apr 27, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Another player we've been blessed to have

MJD’s last minute catch and run against Cleveland was a magical moment crunched out with pure desire to win. Think of that run when your back is against the wall and you need to beat the odds. Thanks MJD!

The Teal and Black are comin' back!

by arthardie on Apr 27, 2011 9:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions