JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — No matter if you are the No. 1 overall draft pick or Mr. Irrelevant, there is always going to be a learning curve for rookies in the NFL. For Jaguars second-year running back Tank Bigsby, that adjustment was more mental than anything.
“You may not get that many reps, so when you do get in, you have to try to make everything count,” Bigsby said. “Don’t be so tensed up—be relaxed. Also, just know what you’re supposed to do when you get out there and handle it at full speed.”
Even though Tank struggled immensely last season, the Jaguars are still committed to him as the second back behind Etienne.
“I don’t feel any pressure,” Bigsby said. “I just try to stay as calm as I can because, at the end of the day, it’s football. Pressure comes from not preparing, and we prepare well out here and in the classroom. So, whenever those opportunities come, I’ll be ready.”
Going into this season, a big focus for Bigsby is manifesting his own goals.
“I really don’t like to talk about them, but I have a little drawing board I use,” Bigsby said. “Of course, I want to run for a lot of yards—I’m not going to say the numbers or anything. I want to score a lot of touchdowns. I want to do a lot of things. But at the end of the day, it comes down to handling the little things first. So, at the end of the year, I’m going to do a little post. I’m not on social media, so at the end of the year, I’m going to post all my goals when I accomplish them, God willing.”
Bigsby made use of the first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, running for 28 yards on three carries while also adding another 45 yards on a kickoff return.
If Bigsby can get things going for himself this season, he believes the Jaguars could have the best backfield in the NFL with him and Etienne.