Jaguars HC Doug Pederson will ‘help a lot of people build up’

It’s telling that several Jacksonville Jaguars players showed up to the introductory press conference of new head coach Doug Pederson. While it’s uncertain who his stint with the Jags will play out, it’s great to see that the players he will be coaching were eager to meet him. Among those that assisted was team captain Josh Allen.

Allen spoke to Jaguars reporter Ashlyn Sullivan and described Pederson’s introductory meeting as ‘great’. He believes his new head coach “seems like a good person” and someone that’s going to “help  a lot of people build up”. The outside linebacker says that he can’t wait to be around him a bit more and is looking forward to turn the page after a less-than-stellar 2021 season.

"I want to get to know him and a lot of guys want to get to know him. We want to move forward and we want to put last year could be in the past, which was hard too but we want to do that. We want to move forward. We want to wind down and we want to get to the ball going. So it’s good to meet on you seems like a really great guy and met his wife as well. And she seems like a awesome person as well. I’m excited about this."

The Kentucky product went on to say that now that Pederson is the head coach, he and his teammates can stay focused on what they need and get ready for the 2022 season. A first-round selection in the 2019 draft, Allen played 16 games with 15 starts in 2021 and logged 71 total tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and an interception. Moreover, he posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 78.6 and played a key role in the team’s three wins of the 2021 campaign.

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson could help Josh Allen have a breakout year.

Allen bounced back last year after missing eight games in 2021 due to a knee injury. While he was dominant at times and was one of the top pass rusher in the whole league during a stretch in the middle of the season, his performance eventually faded. The fourth-year outside linebacker should join the upper echelon of edge rushers in he can be more consistent in 2022. He already made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and has shown he’s got the potential to get there again.

For that to happen, the Jaguars’ next defensive coordinator will be tasked with turning Allen into a premiere pass rusher. Reportedly, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Mike Caldwell is the favorite to land the job but nothing is set on stone. Whoever Pederson gets to fill the opening left by Joe Cullen will need to maximize Allen’s talent.

Allen is entering the fourth-year of his rookie contract and is one of the team’s core players. Pederson must ensure he picks the right man to help the edge rusher explode in the NFL if he wants the Jags win a few more games in 2022.