5 steps Jaguars must take after cutting ties with Urban Meyer

5. The Jaguars must hire the right coach to oversee their rebuild.

Shad Khan took the L and moved on from Urban Meyer. He’s been more patient in the past and isn’t known for making rash decisions. However, the Jaguars’ owner had no choice after Meyer’s toxic behavior was becoming more marked by the day.

When Khan hired Meyer, he expected him to win the way he had done it at Ohio State and Florida but the head coach’s success and methods didn’t carry over to the NFL. Now, the owner needs to go back to the drawing board and finish what Meyer started. He must find a head coach that will connect with players, work with them instead of diminishing them, and get the best out of them.

Khan needs to bring in someone that can develop Trevor Lawrence and get the offense going. Right now, the unit is playing at a historically bad level and the Jaguars’ next head coach must right that wrong. There are some solid pieces in place, such as running back James Robinson, wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., but the roster is also in need of an infusion of talent.

There are going to be many enticing candidates in this upcoming hiring cycle. This writer endorses Doug Pederson but he’s not the only potential head coach that deserves consideration for the Jaguars’ opening. It would be a good idea for Kahn and general manager Trent Baalke to have a meeting with players and ask for their feedback. The decision-makers would benefit from knowing what works and what doesn’t for players and what attributes they want in their next head coach.

If the Jaguars get their next head coach right, it won’t be long before they can become a playoff team. The pieces are there. Meyer couldn’t take advantage of them. The team needs to make sure his successor does.