When Liam Coen took over as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, his top priority was to restore Trevor Lawrence’s performance. The quarterback‘s decline over the past two seasons has raised concerns, as injuries and struggles in decision-making have limited his ability to reach the high expectations set during his Clemson days and his selection as the first overall <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL Draft pick.
To address this, the Jaguars’ offseason has focused heavily on building chemistry and timing between Lawrence and his receivers. However, recent practices have revealed the difficulties of this process, especially after rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. faced drops in contested catches and left a session limping with a minor injury.
Liam Coen responded to these challenges by highlighting the positives amid the setbacks.
“I don’t necessarily think it was a bad day… We got a ton of opportunities to make plays… We just didn’t make ’em.”
— Liam Coen, Head Coach
Implementing a System Centered on Consistency
Coen’s approach prioritizes steady execution over perfection, aiming to build a solid foundation before looking for high-impact plays. For rookies like Thomas Jr., adapting to the faster pace and complexity of the NFL requires repeated practice and patience to master new schemes. This shift in focus is seen as crucial for the Jaguars to stabilize an offense that has sometimes depended too much on Lawrence’s individual talent.
Coen’s previous success in Tampa Bay, where he adjusted tactics to maintain offensive effectiveness despite missing key players, gives the Jaguars confidence in his ability to guide their unit through transition. The emphasis is now on consistency in daily drills, enabling more reliable performance in games.
Lawrence’s Health Remains the Foundation of the Offense
Central to the Jaguars’ hopes is Trevor Lawrence’s health. Currently, he is managing minor shoulder tightness that has limited his practice repetitions. Although the coaching staff considers these restrictions precautionary, reduced practice time hampers the development of rhythm and timing essential to Coen’s system.
The situation was further complicated when Thomas Jr. exited practice with an injury after catching a deep pass near the red zone. While his condition is not serious, the combination of Lawrence’s limited throwing and receiver injuries highlights the thin margin the Jaguars face in regaining competitive form.
As the team works to fully install Coen’s system, the success of the season will likely depend on maintaining player health and achieving offensive cohesion. Despite the challenges, the Jaguars possess the raw talent needed for a successful campaign if Lawrence can return to his confident, decisive play.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Trevor Lawrence’s condition?
A. Trevor Lawrence, who plays quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, had surgery on his left shoulder’s AC joint. He will have limited activity this spring while he recovers. He is expected to be fully cleared by the start of training camp.
Q. What is Trevor Lawrence’s sack rate?
A. Pro Football Focus reported that Lawrence had his best pressure-to-sack rate of 14.5% in 2021, ranking sixth. In 2022, it slightly increased to 14.6%, placing him fifth. By 2023, it rose to 18.4%, dropping his rank to 18th. In 2024, it climbed to 20.0%, ranking him 17th. Each year, he became less effective at avoiding sacks.
Q. Did Trevor Lawrence suffer a brain injury?
A. Lawrence underwent surgery on Tuesday to fix a sprain in his left shoulder. Engram’s left shoulder labrum was repaired on Monday. Pederson mentioned both procedures were successful. “The outlook is positive for both players, and now we focus on their recovery period,” he stated.
Q. Why did they pay Trevor Lawrence so much?
A. The Jaguars aren’t just giving him money for his past performances. They’re investing in him because they think he’ll help them compete for a Super Bowl win as he becomes more familiar with coach Doug Pederson’s strategy.