Big Cat Country on Chris Rodriguez
From the article
Enter Chris Rodriguez Jr., who rushed for 67 yards over expected last season. He ranked third among 51 running backs in percentage of runs that went for more yardage than expected (45.5%).
STACKED’s take
Rodriguez signed to fix Jaguars' 31st-ranked short-yardage run game; 67 yards over expected last season.
Rodriguez signed as a free agent to address Jacksonville's struggling run game, which ranked 31st in 3rd-and-short efficiency (32.4% success rate) in 2025. He rushed for 67 yards over expected last season, ranking third among 51 running backs in percentage of runs gaining more yardage than expected (45.5%). Head coach Liam Coen, who coached Rodriguez at Kentucky in 2021 when he posted 6.1 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns, values his ability to generate yards after contact and break tackles—skills Coen emphasized as non-coachable. Coen stated: "He just doesn't get tackled" and called him a "glass eater" willing to "run through a wall." Tight end Brenton Strange praised his short-yardage prowess: "he's going to get downhill and he's going to run somebody over" and "get those dirty yards." Quarterback Trevor Lawrence added: "he can get those dirty yards" and "has the capability to make people miss." Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski noted Rodriguez provides "the opportunity to still get explosive runs and then be efficient on the runs that might not always be perfectly blocked." Rodriguez appears on pace to be full-go for the season opener after an offseason foot procedure.
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