Jaguars: 3 reasons why criticism for Trevor Lawrence is too harsh
2. The Jaguars haven’t surrounded Trevor Lawrence with enough weapons.
As talented as Lawrence is, he won’t grow, let alone win football games, if the Jaguars don’t put him in a position to succeed. Keep in mind that Jacksonville clinched the first overall pick in the 2021 draft, which they used to select the signal-caller, because they were the worst team in the NFL.
The Jaguars didn’t have many playmakers last season, and although head coach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke did a good job of acquiring talent this past offseason, one year is not enough to fully replenish a roster that was in dire need of difference-makers in 2020. The Jags don’t currently have a deep threat on the roster, and their offensive line could use a boost, the same is true for the tight end group and even the running back room.
Simply, Lawrence’s supporting cast has played a role in his lack of production. His wide receivers have failed to create separation and have dropped a staggering 18 passes this season. Head coach Urban Meyer was genuinely shocked when he heard that figure, as he didn’t think they were that many. Losing DJ Chark for the season surely affected offense but the team should have had a contingency plan in place and it didn’t. No young quarterback is going to win without a solid supporting cast, and Lawrence is no exception.
The Jaguars’ offensive line has also been penalized at a high rate. They lead the league in false starts with 18, per The Football Database. They have also been flagged 10 times for offensive holding. That’s not acceptable and all those penalties have affected the offense’s efficiency. Also, Lawrence has had to scramble a lot and if he weren’t as mobile as he is, he would be sacked more often.
The Jags will need to keep retooling the roster next offseason if they want to put Lawrence in a position to succeed. For the time being, they need to cut down on the penalties. They can’t afford to keep shooting themselves on the foot.