Urban Meyer expected Jaguars to be cleaner by now

If you thought the Jacksonville Jaguars would be better after undergoing a makeover this past offseason, you aren’t alone. Head coach Urban Meyer told the local media Wednesday he expected a “cleaner team” by now, especially on offense. On the other hand, he said he knew what he was getting into.

Meyer went on to cite injuries to key players as a preseason for the inability to score points in recent weeks.

"Injuries are awful… DJ [Chark Jr.] went down and you’re like, okay. Then, [Travis Etienne] and then [Jamal] Agnew goes down, and you’re just trying to find that spark on offense."

Meyer is right. Chark, Agnew, and Etienne were all expected to have a key role in 2021. The team is lacking playmakers and there are only so many injuries you can overcome. That’s why the team’s brass needs to keep fortifying the roster and also add depth next year. Keep in mind that he took over a roster that managed to win just 12 games in the three seasons prior he took over.

Having said that, Meyer has also been a factor in the team’s struggles this season. He’s said more than once that he doesn’t micromanage the roster even though he’s the leader of the team and must make sure everything is running smoothly. As the head coach, he must know everything that’s going on his sideline and the opposing team’s, and that hasn’t always been the case this season.

Meyer is right when he says the Jaguars need more playmakers but he can’t blame the dearth of talent for all times they’ve been flagged this season, 77 in total, which ranks10th in the league ahead of Week 13. Keep in mind that these penalties have come at crucial times and have tipped the scale against Jacksonville. This is an area the coaching staff needs to put an emphasis on in the following weeks.

The Jaguars don’t have to win every remaining game of the season but they need to show tangible progress. Here are more observations from Meyer’s sitdown with the local media Wednesday.