Urban Meyer faces criticism from fans, media for practicing Travis Etienne at WR
Urban Meyer’s first offseason with the Jacksonville Jaguars is off to a rocky start.
First, Meyer signed Tim Tebow to a one-year deal, which one analyst said could “eviscerate” his credibility in the Jags’ locker room.
And now, Meyer is having first-round pick Travis Etienne work out at receiver instead of running back — his natural position.
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“Worst case scenario, you have a running back that’s elite with receiver skills,” Meyer told the media on Saturday.
This comes shortly after the Jags drafted Etienne when Meyer said they were planning to use him as third down back.
Most fans and media aren’t excited about the experiment, especially considering the opportunity cost of taking a running back in the first round.
There’s also the matter of existing skill players who are already on the Jags’ roster. Jacksonville got great production out of rookie James Robinson last year, and rookie receiver Laviska Shenault also showed a lot of promise.
Shenault is a versatile receiver who caught 58 passes for 600 yards and five touchdowns despite shaky quarterback play last season. Robinson battled through being an undrafted free agent and carried the ball 240 times for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns.
Here’s some of the reaction to Meyer’s decision to have Etienne work out at receiver during rookie minicamp:
aliens visit daily looking for signs intelligent life and we’re out here drafting first round RBs in hopes of converting them to WRs https://t.co/C8a6y0eCXb
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 15, 2021
I’m beginning to think Urban doesn’t know what he’s doing. https://t.co/LlMaMxErml
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) May 15, 2021
Isn’t the worst case that you spent a first round pick on a running back who isn’t going to play running back? https://t.co/Bbeo2PXVNI
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) May 15, 2021
I can’t wait till Urban Meyer has Trevor Lawerence working out as a Long Snapper. “Worse case scenario you have an Elite QB with snapping skills” https://t.co/gYrwC2H8JW
— 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶 (@NickSarnelli) May 15, 2021
Maybe Etienne is the rare player who doesn’t need practice reps at pass protection and/or getting used to rushing in a brand new system. https://t.co/UPbeWkuPM7
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) May 15, 2021
I think Urban Meyer is confusing Travis Etienne for Kadarius Toney now. https://t.co/IZenYkStIN
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) May 15, 2021
Urban Meyer forcing Etienne into a Percy Harvin role when he already has Viska on the roster and potentially ruining the upside of two great prospects was more or less exactly what I expected when Urban Meyer got an NFL head coaching job https://t.co/0wrhWk7oJg
— Ben Gretch (@YardsPerGretch) May 15, 2021
Laviska Shenault when he sees Travis Etienne line up at WR pic.twitter.com/aU8DUAUYyL
— Jarad Evans (@PFF_Jarad) 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
Maybe Trevor is amazing (very possible) and nothing else matters. Or maybe this is all just continously hilarious. https://t.co/r4zkkKl91S
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) May 15, 2021
The Jags are going to be such a beautiful disaster https://t.co/x4W7ga4JHP
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) 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
Urban Meyer must have *really* wanted to draft Kadarius Toney.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) May 15, 2021
y’all when i say urban meyer isn’t gonna last in the NFL i mean it lmao https://t.co/Op6dn40lad
— Linda™ (@Lindellions) May 15, 2021