Jaguars S Andrew Wingard: I would run into battle with Doug Pederson’

Four-year safety Andrew Wingard has rightfully gotten plenty of praise for the role he played in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 28-27 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12. But the players also known as Dewey also credited head coach Doug Pederson for the job he’s done in his first year at the helm.

Wingard logged three total tackles and forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter that helped shift the momentum in the Jags’ favor. He met with the local media after the game and said he was thrilled for Trevor Lawrence, who faced plenty of adversity in his rookie campaign but now had a competent head coach in Pederson.

“I’m just so happy for Trevor because he had to deal with Urban Meyer last year as a rookie”, Wingard said”. And I don’t even know if he had a rookie year and to see the growth he’s made not just on the field, but just like his preparation, his demeanor”.

Wingard later added that Doug Pederson has kept the team focused despite the fact that they were 3-7 entering Week 12.

“I would die for Doug Pederson, I swear. I would run into battle with Doug Pederson 100 percent. I love the guy and his attitude. It’s like you’re 3-3, and you want to make the playoffs and he hasn’t changed his attitude whatsoever. We come into work, we keep working, we just keep chipping away and eventually, it’s gonna pay off and it did today and the feeling in the locker is awesome”, Wingard said.

The former Wyoming Cowboy played a season-high 34 snaps against the Ravens and his 87.9 Pro Football Focus overall grade was the highest among Jaguars players in Week 12. Here’s his exchange, via Action News Jax.

Doug Pederson is steadily changing the Jaguars’ culture

Wingard isn’t the only Jaguar that has voiced his support for Pederson. Cornerback Shaquill Griffin said earlier this year that they’re ready to ‘run through a brick wall‘ for their head coach, and so far, players are buying into his program.

Urban Meyer left the Jags in pretty bad shape and Pederson was tasked with helping a fractured locker room heal. Under Meyer, the team would often make headlines for non-football-related things but Pederson has helped them avoid getting the spotlight for the wrong reasons during his short stint.

Pederson’s got his players’ backs and will put them in a position to be successful. Even if it isn’t reflected in the win-loss column, that goes on to show that he has the Jaguars trending in the right direction.