The Jacksonville Jaguars have one of the undrafted steals of the year in running back James Robinson.
In the Week 5 matchup, the rookie from Illinois State collected 48 yards on 13 carries and caught five passes for 22 yards. The Texans even made the rookie fumble while bottling him up throughout the 30-14 win at NRG Stadium.
As the Texans get ready to close out the season series with the Jaguars Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at TIAA Bank Field, interim coach Romeo Crennel says the defense won’t have to adjust much of their game plan to contain Robinson.
“I don’t think that we have to change,” Crennel said. “I think we have to continue to do what we did in that game to slow him down. Now knowing that he’s gotten better, so we’re going to have to be better in trying to stop him, as well. That comes down to that discipline.”
Robinson produced 119 yards and a touchdowns on 22 carries along with catching four passes for 18 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ 39-29 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7, just before Jacksonville’s bye week.
Regardless of who the running back is, Crennel has had to stress to his players that assignment discipline is the name of the game.
Said Crennel: “I’ve talked to these guys about all the time is the discipline of doing your job first, and then trying to help out and not jumping off blocks too soon, which creates seams. If we don’t create seams, then we have a better chance of slowing down the run.”
If the Texans can slow down Robinson, it will put the onus on sixth-round rookie quarterback Jake Luton, who will be making his first career start, to win the game, which is a tough proposition given Crennel is 12-2 against rookie quarterbacks since 2014, postseason included.
