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Jacksonville Jaguars' GM James Gladstone recently described two reasons why he wanted to sign free agent center Robert Hainsey.
One of the key factors in the Jaguars' decision to sign Hainsey was because of his experience in Liam Coen's offense.
During the 2024 season, Hainsey was in Tampa Bay with Coen and will bring that experience in the scheme to Jacksonville, which, as Gladstone put it, can help take some of the burden off of Trevor Lawrence's shoulders.
Of course, like any offensive lineman, once the ball is snapped, the center has his specific blocking responsibilities. But pre-snap, the center is an important figure in getting the protections set, identifying blitzers, and communicating any adjustments that might be needed. The rapport that the center has with the quarterback is an element that can't be overlooked either.
“It was a massive priority, right?" said Gladstone of signing Hainsey. "That's some weight off the shoulders of Trevor at the line of scrimmage, that now because of the familiarity from Robert, he doesn't have to bear as a quarterback."
Hainsey was the Buccaneers' starting center during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. However, 2024 rookie Graham Barton took over that role last season, so Hainsey had just one start and played only 94 offensive snaps the entire season.
But even in his limited playing time, when Hainsey was on the field, he made every snap count, something that didn't go unnoticed in Jacksonville.
"Robert was not going to allow that opportunity—he didn't know how many he was going to get last season—to make it so that by the time that pro-free agency kicked off, that bell rang on Monday, that he was going to be given an op because somebody saw exactly what we did in him and that's a player that does not quit," Gladstone said. "The whistle blows and he's playing through it, and that's something that we really, really value.”
Hainsey has been one of several offensive line additions made by the Jaguars and he figures to step into that starting center role this season.
The Jaguars signed Hainsey to a three-year, $21 million deal with $13 million guaranteed.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars free agency: 2 Reasons Jacksonville had to sign Robert Hainsey
Continue reading...
One of the key factors in the Jaguars' decision to sign Hainsey was because of his experience in Liam Coen's offense.
During the 2024 season, Hainsey was in Tampa Bay with Coen and will bring that experience in the scheme to Jacksonville, which, as Gladstone put it, can help take some of the burden off of Trevor Lawrence's shoulders.
Of course, like any offensive lineman, once the ball is snapped, the center has his specific blocking responsibilities. But pre-snap, the center is an important figure in getting the protections set, identifying blitzers, and communicating any adjustments that might be needed. The rapport that the center has with the quarterback is an element that can't be overlooked either.
“It was a massive priority, right?" said Gladstone of signing Hainsey. "That's some weight off the shoulders of Trevor at the line of scrimmage, that now because of the familiarity from Robert, he doesn't have to bear as a quarterback."
Hainsey was the Buccaneers' starting center during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. However, 2024 rookie Graham Barton took over that role last season, so Hainsey had just one start and played only 94 offensive snaps the entire season.
But even in his limited playing time, when Hainsey was on the field, he made every snap count, something that didn't go unnoticed in Jacksonville.
"Robert was not going to allow that opportunity—he didn't know how many he was going to get last season—to make it so that by the time that pro-free agency kicked off, that bell rang on Monday, that he was going to be given an op because somebody saw exactly what we did in him and that's a player that does not quit," Gladstone said. "The whistle blows and he's playing through it, and that's something that we really, really value.”
Hainsey has been one of several offensive line additions made by the Jaguars and he figures to step into that starting center role this season.
The Jaguars signed Hainsey to a three-year, $21 million deal with $13 million guaranteed.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars free agency: 2 Reasons Jacksonville had to sign Robert Hainsey
Continue reading...
