The Jacksonville Jaguars were a disaster under Urban Meyer, but they found some stability in hiring former Super Bowl champion coach Doug Pederson.
A big part of that has been a rebound in the play of franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, whom the Jaguars selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Meyer’s first with the team.
Now entering his third year, Lawrence says the familiarity will pay dividends in his play this year.
“Just being able to speak out. . . . One, it’s just knowing everybody more,” Lawrence told Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union. “You have those relationships with guys that have been here since my rookie year and guys that came in last year. And now being a third-year guy with rookies coming in, I think you just have that experience. You feel more comfortable speaking up and being the leader in the room, the leader of the offense.”
It’s a sentiment that Pederson echoed as well.
“The biggest thing I’ve seen with Trevor, now going on two years [with him], from where we had him a year ago in the offseason to today, his confidence is incredible,” said Pederson. “It’s off the charts. He’s put the past behind him, he’s focused on the future, and really embraced the opportunity with this football team.”
Lawrence elevating his play even further in his third year would almost certainly go a long way in returning the Jaguars to the playoffs.
