Jaguars rookie back James Robinson has a break-out game against Tennessee

• Jaguars rookie running back James Robinson gained 102 yards rushing
• The undrafted free agent rookie scored on the first possession of the second half
• After gaining only 1 yard in the second half last week, he had 85 in the second half vs. the Titans

James Robinson had a difficult first half for the Jaguars on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. 

The second half could best be described as spectacular. 

The free-agent rookie running back from Illinois State gained 102 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 18 yards in the Jags' 33-30 loss to the Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. In the process, he showed a burst that was lacking in last week's workmanlike performance against Indianapolis and showed that he also can be productive in the passing game. 

Robinson scored his first NFL touchdown on a stunning 17-yard run up the middle in the third quarter that combined power and speed. Later in the period, he broke off a 39-yard gain that was the big play in a drive that ended in Gardner Minshew's 2-yard TD pass to Keelan Cole. 

On those two scoring drives, Robinson gained 68 yards on six carries and caught two passes for 12 yards. He carried the ball or caught a pass on six of the 14 plays on the possession that ended in his touchdown. 

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In addition, on that possession, Robinson and fellow rookie Laviska Shenault showed that they can be a potent one-two punch. Shenault, who played wide receiver and lined up in the backfield. had two carries for 8 yards mixed into that drive and for the game had 37 yards on five carries, and caught three passes for 35 yards.

Combined, the Jags rookie tandem had 139 yards rushing and 53 yards receiving, a total of 192 total yards on 27 touches -- 7.1 yards per play. 

Robinson had 62 yards on 16 carries last week against the Colts, but gained only 1 net yard in the second half. He had seven carries for 17 yards in the first half against the Titans, but was just getting warmed up, and had 85 yards on nine attempts after halftime. 

Robinson has rushed for more yards (164) in his first two games than any rookie in Jaguars history. In comparison, Leonard Fournette had 140 yards in his first two games in 2017, Fred Taylor had 46 yards in his first two in 1998 and Maurice Jones-Drew had 12 yards in 2006.

Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said Robinson has simply taken what he showed the coaches on the practice field during training camp to the field. 

"What you're seeing is what I've been seeing all [of] camp," Marrone said. "He's really steady, a good football player. If there's something there, he's going to find it. He's a tough runner, has a little burst ... he's been solid." 

Wide receiver D.J. Chark said Robinson is forcing defenses to concentrate on him, which loosens up the passing game. 

Chark said Robinson has also lit a fire under his position group. 

"When he's running the ball between the tackles, you have to respect it," Chark said. "He makes blocking fun. You block for two or three seconds and you see him running by you. It makes you want to go out and get a pancake [block]." 

Robinson was the only true running back to get a carry last week, with Shenault lining up in the backfield twice, and getting two carries for 10 yards. With Minshew mixing in a couple of timely scrambles, the Jags rushed for 165 yards against a Titans' defense that prides itself on stopping the run and averaged 6.1 yards per play. 

It was the most rushing yards the Jaguars have had since Oct. 20, 2019, when they had 216 yards against Cincinnati and the most per attempt since 7.1 yards against Denver two weeks before that.