(12-29-2023, 10:18 AM)NYC4jags Wrote:

(12-29-2023, 12:19 AM)OG-JAGFAN Wrote: He was just an insane specimen of power and speed.  If not for all the early year injuries he would already be in the hall of fame.

The injuries didn't help him, but even worse for his HOF chances has been the low number of touchdowns. 

The Jaguars hardly ever used Fred in the red zone through out his career.
Whether it was a coaching philosophy of preserving his health at times, or favoring the skillset of another back on those plays designed for short yardage, from 1999-2006 Fred Taylor stood on the sideline for the majority of running plays inside the 25 yard line. (I scoured through the defensive splits and tallied up the touches for the backs on those teams based on field position last year when this topic arose) 

James Stewart, Stacey Mack and Maurice Jones Drew were given many opportunities to score from 20 yards or less while Fred had to just watch from the sideline. 

At one point I extrapolated the numbers based on his red zone efficiency and the carries taken from him and his TD numbers projected to be in a near dead tie with Curtis Martin who is 13th on the all time list and already in the hall. 

I love MJD, but I wish they had given Fred a bigger chunk of those attempts inside the 20 all those years. He'd have been enshrined years ago if that had been the case.

Yea, I think that it is safe to say that Fred will not choose Tom Coughlin (hope he'll still be alive and in attendance) to present him his statue. Between the Red Zone issue and calling his game to to game status in 2001 "questionable" (despite the severity of the groin injury), T.C. did Fred no favors. Of course, the latter issue lead to his "Fragile Fred" nickname given to him by some. 

Wouldn't it be something if Fred and Coughlin got enshrined the same year? Both are pretty much slam dunks to eventually get in. I do hope Coughlin is still around when he is honored.

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