Why Doug Pederson claiming Tank Bigsby won't be Jaguars RB1 is actually the best news

Tank Bigsby had 101 yards and two touchdowns, plus a 28-yard reception, during a 37-34 win for the Jacksonville Jaguars over the Indianapolis Colts on October 6. With the outing, Bigsby may have earned the Jags' RB1 role.

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson made it more likely that was the case by claiming the contrary. As The Coachspeak Index noted, Pederson doesn't tend to follow through on his depth chart claims.

“No, not at all," Pederson said when asked if Tank will replace Etienne as the starter. "Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game, that’s just the way games go. And [I'm] happy for Tank, great for the offensive line. In some of those situations, but no, Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game today."

Tank Bigsby becoming the player he could never be at Auburn

Tank only had seven 100-yard games against SEC play during his three years at Auburn. He had 13 such games total. That number is not befitting of a back with Bigsby's talent. But the offensive line in front of him all three years at Auburn underwhelmed so much that his stat-line will never reflect how good he was.

And worse yet, only Tiger fans will remember how often Tank made magic after contact with the hand he was dealt with.

If Bigsby goes on to become a great NFL RB, many will say that he could've done more had he gone elsewhere. Perhaps they're right.

But Tank never turned his back on Auburn even when things got bad. He could've left after the 2021 season via the transfer portal -- and it certainly looked like he was going to -- but he stuck things out on the Plains, through Gus Malzahn and Bryan Harsin's firings.

Tiger fans deserve to claim Bigsby. Future Jags RB1 Tank Bigsby, that is.