3 biggest reasons for Jaguars succcesful 2022 turnaround

The Jacksonville Jaguars advanced to the playoffs and won the AFC South crown when they beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 18. Looking back, they’ve come a long way since the end of the 2021 season and most people would have given you a blank stare if you had told them the Jags would be hosting a postseason game just one year after going 3-14.

Then again, outside linebacker Josh Allen isn’t most people and he kind of knew since training camp that Jacksonville could achieve great in 2022, via John Shipley of Jaguar Report.

When you look back at the things the Jags had to endure under Urban Meyer, it’s kind of impressive that they were able to pull off such a massive turnaround. Then again, there are three big reasons it was possible.

3. The Jaguars got production from their 2022 free-agent class

Following the dismissal of Urban Meyer, there was no more disliked figure in Jacksonville than Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke. Despite the fact that fans got together and made it clear they wanted the organization to oust Baalke, owner Shad Khan made it clear his embattled general manager wasn’t going anywhere.

At first, it looked like Khan made a mistake. Baalke was questioned for going on a spending spree in free agency and paying top-market money for players wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. Similarly, giving tight end Evan Engram a one-year, $9 million contract didn’t seem like a wise investment.

That video didn’t age well. Engram, Kirk, and Jones have lived up to expectations and you will be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks they were bad signings. All of them have become key cogs on the Jags’ offense and have gone on to set new individual or team records in the 2022 season. But they aren’t the only free agents that are making an impact for Jacksonville.

Cornerback Darious Williams started the season in the slot but has found success since moving the perimeter. Also, defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, and defensive end Arden Key have become important pieces of the Jaguars’ defensive front.

2. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence made a huge leap in 2022

From the moment the New York Jets gifted the Jags with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, there was a 99 percent chance Trevor Lawrence was going to be the pick. After all, the former Clemson Tiger was dubbed a generational talent and the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck in 2012.

The only way to mess up the Lawrence pick was if the Jaguars had a terrible head in place. Unfortunately, that’s precisely what ended up happening. From the get-go, Urban Meyer showed he was qualified to coach an NFL team and his questionable decision-making hindered Lawrence’s development.

Although the quarterback showed flashes at times, he also led the league with 17 interceptions. Some of his shortcomings came from his lack of experience but it’s fair to wonder how much better he would have been as a rookie if the Jags had had a competent head coach in place.

Then again, dwelling in the past is a futile exercise when you consider that Doug Pederson has helped Lawrence become a top-10 quarterback in the NFL in just his second season.

Lawrence has improved his decision-making in Year 2 and has stopped trying to do too much, which has led to fewer interceptions. Similarly, his completion percentage, his yards-per-attempt, and TD-to-INT have improved significantly.

After several failed attempts over the last decade, the Jags finally found the long-term answer at the quarterback position. Moving forward, Lawrence should give them an edge in the AFC South.

1. The Jaguars decision to go with Doug Pederson as their head coach

The Jaguars’ search to for a new head coach to fill the void left by Urban Meyer took nearly two months and Byron Leftwich seemed like the front-runner to get the job. However, Leftwich made it clear that he didn’t feel comfortable working with Trent Baalke and ultimately ended up withdrawing his name from consideration.

Once Leftwich became a non-viable choice, the Jags quickly zeroed in on Doug Pederson, who coincidentally was the first candidate that interviewed for the opening. Looking back, Shad Khan got it right. Two of Pederson’s biggest appeals as a head coach were his ability to develop quarterback and win in the NFL and he’s put both of them on display in 2022.

In his first season with the team, Pederson managed to squeeze every ounce of talent out of Trevor Lawrence. You could argue that Lawrence could have improved regardless of whom the Jags had hired as head coach but that’s not necessarily true. Nathaniel Hackett, who also got an interview, had an offensive background but he failed mightily with the Denver Broncos and lasted less than a year on the job.

Similarly, the Las Vegas Raiders regressed under Josh McDaniels and Derek Carr is no longer their quarterback, so it’s not 100 percent guaranteed Lawrence would have made the leap without Pederson.

Another reason the Jags hit out of the ballpark with Pederson was his leadership skills. They needed someone to help them heal following the Meyer debacle and Pederson has shown that he was up to the challenge. You will often hear players speak glowingly of him, which wasn’t the case under Meyer or his predecessor, Doug Marrone.

One year after finishing last not only in the NFL but the division, Pederson has helped the Jags get a ticket to the playoffs and their first AFC South title since 2017.