Jaguars HC Urban Meyer experiencing growing pains in transition to NFL

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Urban Meyer as their head coach because they believe he is the right man to oversee their rebuild. So far, Meyer has the Jags trending in the right direction but the process hasn’t been flawless. He is currently facing the realities of making the transition to the pros.

NFL coaching legend Jimmy Johnson says that Meyer is frustrated because of the limited amount of time he can spend with players in the pros, via Nate Davis of USA Today. Johnson added that the former Ohio State head coach is used to “being around players all the time, and they weren’t able to do that because of COVID-19”.

Johnson then mentioned that Meyer has been preparing for the job and was aware of the situation he was “getting into when he accepted the job”. The former Dallas Cowboys head coach believes “he’s going to do a great job” because he “knows how important personnel is” and “how to deal with people”.

The Jacksonville Jaguars know what they have in Urban Meyer.

It’s perfectly normal for Meyer to feel frustrated. After all, head coaches have a bigger voice and more input in college, so it’s not surprising to see him experience growing pains. Looking back, bringing Chris Doyle to the coaching staff wasn’t the soundest decision. Also, the Jaguars were docked $200,000 and two days of practice in 2022 for violating contact non-contact rules this offseason.

Then again, not everything is doom and gloom and Meyer has done a good job all things considered. In fact, he has had a big impact in Jacksonville even though he’s been on the job for less than seven months. Don’t forget he’s taking over a team that could muster a measly 12 wins over the last three years. It’s true that he’s made mistakes, but any that’s expected for a head coach who is about to make his NFL debut.

Keep in mind that making the transition to the pros is no walk in the park. For every Jimmy Johnson and Tom Coughlin, there is a legion of Steve Spurriers, Chip Kellys, and Bobby Petrinos.

Urban Meyer has the Jacksonville Jaguars on the right path.

Moreover, Meyer is making sure players have access to the best resources available. Whether it’s nutrition, state-of-the-art training facilities, or rehab, the former Florida head coach wants them to have the best of the best. When you take into account that his predecessor, Doug Marrone, wasn’t a good motivator, there’s already a day and night difference in Jacksonville.

Having a potential franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence will also make Meyer’s job easier. Now, the Jaguars head coach is aware the Clemson product alone can’t win games. That’s why he hired Darrell Bevell as the offensive coordinator and Brain Schottenheimer as the passing game coordinator.

It’s uncertain when the Jaguars will turn into a serious contender. Heck, they may even lose to the Houston Texans. Nevertheless, Meyer is doing everything he can to ensure it happens as soon as possible. Even if he has had a few slips on the way.