Jacksonville Jaguars

On second day, Jaguars take RB T.J. Yedlon, OG A.J. Cann

Published May. 1, 2015 8:02 p.m. ET

foxsports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars, in an attempt to improve the NFL's 21st-ranked rushing offense last season, selected Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon with their second-round pick Friday night.

In the third round, the Jaguars took 313-pound guard A.J. Cann out of South Carolina, marking the second year in a row that they took a player at that position in that round.

The 6-foot-1, 226-pound Yeldon gained 979 yards and 11 scored touchdowns as a junior after going over the 1,000-yard mark in both his freshman and sophomore years. He joins a team which got less than a combined 1,000 yards from Denard Robinson and Toby Gerhart in 2014.

"I think I fit in pretty well," said Yeldon, the first running back to be drafted by the Jaguars in either of the first two rounds since the just-retired Maurice Jones-Drew in 2006 and the 36th overall selection. "I can do a lot of things. I can catch the ball out of the backfield, run the ball, have excellent vision."

Another attribute mentioned by general manager Dave Caldwell was Yeldon's ability to block in pass protection. Robinson's limitations in that area were one reason why the Jaguars gave up a league-high and franchise-record 71 sacks.

But above all else, it was his running style which made Yeldon the third running back taken overall after Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon, both of whom went in the first round Thursday night.

"Sometimes when you run zone schemes and gap schemes, you really need to have a guy who knows when to hit it and has patience to let things develop in front of him," coach Gus Bradley said. "And that's what you saw in him."

"He's got the ability to break long ones," Caldwell said. "But he's a patient runner and gets the most out of what's there."

Gerhart and Bernard Pierce are the only backs on the roster similar in size to Yeldon, and neither one of them possesses his speed. Bradley said the Jaguars will not use a fullback at all next season as they plan to often go with a two-tight end formation consisting of Julius Thomas and Marcedes Lewis.

Robinson, a fifth-round pick in 2013, ran for 582 yards last season before missing the final three games with a foot injury. His best game came when he had 127 yards on 22 carries in a win over the Cleveland Browns.

"Rarely do you see guys getting over 20 carries anymore," Bradley said. "You see 15, 16 carries. And we want to be more like that too."

Yeldon was an integral part of Alabama's national championship team as a freshman despite playing behind Eddie Lacy, now with the Green Bay Packers. His longest run was a 68-yarder against Mississippi in his sophomore year. Foot and hamstring injuries slowed him this past season, including in the Southeastern Conference championship game and the Crimson Tide's loss to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.

He had a reputation for a while as a fumbler, but the Jaguars are convinced those problems have largely been settled.

"Regardless if he had no fumbles or quite a few, it would be addressed," Bradley said.

Cann was a first-team all-SEC selection and a four-year starter at left guard, a position which the Jaguars targeted in free agency a year ago when they signed Zane Beadles. Both Caldwell and Bradley have spoken highly of Brandon Linder, who started 15 games at right guard as a rookie after being taken in the third round. The selection of Cann can't help but be viewed as a sign that Beadles needs to step up his level of play.

"I don't know if it's a so-called wake-up call," Bradley said. "For Zane, he went through the season and probably didn't play as well as he had hoped."

"We need to always keep in mind that we've got to protect the quarterback and be able to run the ball," Caldwell said. "This game is won in the trenches, offensively and defensively. If there's a player of value there, we're always going to make that a priority."

The drafting of Cann comes on the heels of the signings of Jermey Parnell and Stefen Wisniewski, who are expected to start at right tackle and center, respectively. Cann, Yeldon and defensive end/outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. give the Jaguars three players from the SEC in as many selections.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Jaguars have their own picks in each of the final four rounds. After taking two players on offense in the second day of the draft, they will eventually go back to the other side of the ball. But don't be surprised if they take a wide receiver who can double as a kick returner.

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.