Recent times have been tough in Jacksonville. Since the realignment to the AFC South, The Jaguars have won their division just once. And for suffering fans, that magical run to the AFC Championship game in the 2017 season is nothing more than a distant memory. After hitting rock bottom in 2021, the franchise has cleaned house and turned over a new leaf. But do not fear! Here are five reasons why The Jags can shock the world and go from worst to first this year:
5 – Trevor Lawrence Takes A Step Up In His Sophomore Year
"I think I gained the respect of my teammates pretty quick… It's going to be a much different year." @Trevorlawrencee joins @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/hyHT3LdZ3j
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 11, 2022
Despite being a widely recognised talent, the cards were stacked against Trevor Lawrence in 2021. The most touted quarterback to come from the college ranks since Andrew Luck, Lawrence predictably struggled in Duval County his first year. Joining a franchise with subpar talent level and a toxic working environment was a recipe for disaster. And much like Peyton Manning, ‘T-Law’ suffered some bumps and bruises as a rookie – ending with a 59.6% completion rate and a 12:17 TD:INT ratio.
The good news? There was a marked improvement in the last quarter of the season. With Meyer gone and Darrell Bevell stepping in, Lawrence looked more comfortable and started showing what he’s capable of. With the game at the next level slowing down, almost everyone expects the prodigy quarterback to take a big leap in 2022. And if Lawrence is even remotely the franchise QB we think he is, then The Jaguars can expect a major improvement in their offensive output this season.
4 – The Roster Talent Level Has Undoubtedly Increased
I think it’s fair to say that The Jaguars were considered one of the most talent-poor rosters in the NFL in 2021. Even with an elite coaching setup (which, undisputedly, Jacksonville DID NOT have last year), that limits the ceiling of what an NFL franchise is capable of. Some questionable personnel moves from a front office trying to appease Urban Meyer didn’t help. This time last year, names atop the depth chart included Chris Manhertz, Carlos Hyde, Leon Jacobs and Rudy Ford.
All those names are either now off the roster, or third on the depth chart at best. Trent Baalke and the front office have worked in tandem with the new head coach to fill this roster with better talent. And there’s no question that this team is a lot more competitive than it was twelve months ago. Trevor Lawrence has an improved surrounding cast to throw to. The trenches have been bolstered on both sides of the ball. Travis Etienne has recovered from a brutal lisfranc injury and is ready to ball out. And the linebacker corps has been completely rebuilt. If the coaching staff can build some cohesion, this roster is more than ready to compete in the AFC South.
3 – Urban Meyer Is History
Urban Meyer came into the NFL with a reputation, and almost went out of his way to validate that reputation. From day one Meyer continuously brought problems to the franchise. Hiring dubious coaches. Signing Tim Tebow. Misbehaving in an Ohio bar. And of course, kicking kickers. The culture in the locker room quickly hit rock bottom with Meyer at the helm. And what’s more, he seemed disinterested in ever addressing it. Perhaps used to coaching kids and not grown men, the former Ohio State and Florida head coach was simply the wrong man for the job.
It took far too long, but Meyer was relieved from his duties after just thirteen games in charge. Since then, The Jaguars have worked hard to eradicate the stink of Meyer from the building. GM Trent Baalke clung on to his job, but with a new coaching staff in place, the environment at TIAA Bank Field has vastly improved. Setting a healthy culture is the basis of everything, and allows the roster to focus solely on improving and making the team better. With Meyer gone, the team can forget drama and focus on football and winning games.
2 – The AFC South Is There For The Taking
It wasn’t long ago that this division was considered one of the toughest in the NFL. Traditionally difficult to pick who would top it come season’s end, The AFC South was usually decided in the final week of the season. The JJ Watt-led Texans dominated for a while. Chris Ballard transformed the fortunes of The Colts. And in recent years, The Titans have been a force in the AFC, riding Derrick Henry to the playoffs.
Things change quickly in the NFL. The Texans are rebuilding, and might be one of the few teams in the NFL with less talent than the Jaguars had last year. The Colts haven’t been able to find a quarterback capable of leading them deep into the playoffs. Matt Ryan seems to be an upgrade, but his final years in Atlanta have made people question how much juice is left in the tank. As for Tennessee, they’ve seen some talent depart this offseason, and the drafting of Malik Willis leaves a question mark over starting QB Ryan Tannehill. Whilst any one of these teams are dangerous on their day, The Jaguars should be confident in their talent. Jacksonville is no longer the runt of this division.
1 – Doug Has Done This Before!
Say what you want about the hiring process and the choice of Doug Pederson – you cannot question his pedigree. The first man to bring a Lombardi to The City of Brotherly Love, Pederson will go down as a legend in Philadelphia for transforming the fortunes of the Eagles franchise. Against all the odds, and with a backup QB to boot, the new Jags HC took an unfancied team the distance.
What might be more special than that Super Bowl win in the 2017 season was the manner of the turnaround. The previous season, The Eagles finished rock bottom of their division. Twelve months later, they went 13-3 and won the AFC East. That division isn’t too dissimilar to the AFC South, in that there are four teams who can all beat each other on any given Sunday. Ambitions of a Super Bowl heading to Duval County may be premature, but Pederson has the capability to galvanize a franchise. If the roster buys-in and gets some early momentum, Deadly Doug has the tools to take this team to a division title.