Jaguar coach Doug Pederson has made a superb begin constructing round Trevor Lawrence

Jaguar coach Doug Pederson has made a good start building around Trevor Lawrence

JACKSONVILLE, FL – New Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson is off to a superb begin by way of ensuring quarterback Trevor Lawrence has the whole lot he must be profitable in his second season.

Along with hiring former head coach Mike McCoy because the quarterbacks coach and Bryce Taylor as offensive coordinator, Pederson additionally introduced on Jim Bob Kooter because the passing sport coordinator.

All three are former quarterbacks, which suggests Lawrence will likely be working day by day with 4 coaches – together with Pederson – who see the match the identical means.

“It’ll be a very good dynamic as a result of what I perceive about Trevor is his mentality, how he thinks,” Pederson stated. “He’s desirous to be taught. He needs to develop. I’ve nice academics within the room who might help him and assist him achieve success.

“It isn’t simply on the sector, however I am pondering off the sector as properly, and that is what I am wanting ahead to in April once we get the gamers right here.”

Lawrence accomplished 59.6% of his passes for 3,641 yards and 12 touchdowns with 17 interceptions as a rookie, however these numbers have to be considered throughout the framework of essentially the most dysfunctional season in franchise historical past on account of former coach City Meyer.

Proprietor Shad Kahn needed to make Lawrence – the No. 1 public choose in 2023, which has been known as the generational prospect – the point of interest of his quest for teaching.

Pederson, who performed for 10 years within the NFL as a reserve quarterback, apparently did the identical when signing for his staff. McCoy, who performed for Lengthy Seaside State and Utah and frolicked with 5 NFL groups, was the San Diego Chargers coach on the time from 2013-16 — the Chargers ranked within the prime ten every season. Cowater has performed in Tennessee and coached within the NFL since 2012, which incorporates three seasons because the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator (2016-18).

Taylor gained back-to-back NJCAA nationwide titles as a beginning quarterback at Butler Neighborhood School earlier than signing with Marshall. He spent eight seasons as QC coach, assistant quarterback, quarterback coach, and passing coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, together with 5 seasons beneath Pederson.

Pederson stated he’ll work with the three coaches and Lawrence to give you a sport plan every week, and he and Taylor will make the ultimate selections on what Jaguar do offensively. With so many individuals concerned, nothing ought to fall by way of the loopholes in crime, which was an issue in 2023.

“One of many issues that I love to do within the locations I have been to is we prefer to contain everybody and their concepts,” Pederson stated.

Having a powerful Lawrence backing staff is an effective begin, however there are two different main issues Pederson has to deal with – determining what occurs on the left deal with and strengthening the receiving physique.

Cam Robinson is ready to change into a free man on the left deal with. Jaguars can use the franchise tag on him for the second 12 months in a row (at a price of $16.5 million), signal him an extension or let him stroll. That might imply including a left-hand intervention within the free company, taking one with the primary total choose or going with Walker Little’s second-round choose in 2023 to be the beginning.

The Jaguars led the NFL in low passes (33) and slipped by way of vast receivers (21) final season. 13 of the 33 factors got here third (once more, the very best within the league), and there is not any doubt that inconsistency from the cross catchers harm Lawrence’s improvement. So did the dearth of velocity within the place when DJ Chark Jr. , who was slated to change into a free agent, this season with a damaged ankle in Week 4.

Jamal Agnew, who was initially signed as a kick returner and has solely been a full-time recipient since Could 2020, began to get extra work as a menace rapidly and rapidly till he got here down for the season with a thigh damage in Week 11.

So count on Jaguars to go after a receiver in free company and craft at the least one of what’s thought of a deep class.

“It is about constructing the perfect assault attainable, and it’s important to take a variety of elements into that,” Taylor stated. “We are able to all get on the market and say we would like that prime free agent, however in some unspecified time in the future, it prices a specific amount, and there is a wage cap.

“Each sort of the entire group is working collectively to ensure that, once more, we construct the perfect assault attainable for the Jacksonville Jaguars or that this contributes to our staff, enhances our protection, compliments our personal groups, and places us ready to win as many video games as attainable.”

Thus far, Pederson is off to a superb begin.