2. The Jaguars massively underachieved under Urban Meyer
Every now and then, you will hear Jaguars players open up about how taxing the short-lived Urban Meyer was. Following the win over the Titans, wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. said ‘only one man was broken’ — Hint: It was Meyer — when asked about the notion the team was broken in 2021.
Similarly, players that underachieved under Meyer had thrived under Doug Pederson. For example, safety Rayshawn Jenkins didn’t make a single big play last season and showed poor leadership when he was disqualified for a game after punching San Francisco wide receiver Jauan Jennings. But what a difference a year makes.
Jenkins has now become a key cog in the Jaguars’ J-Villians secondary and has played a huge role in two of their wins this season. Besides forcing the fumble that led to Josh Allen’s touchdown recovery in Week 18, he picked off quarterback Dak Prescott in Jacksonville’s jaw-dropping overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15.
MADNESS IN JACKSONVILLE. WALKOFF PICK-6 FOR THE @JAGUARS. #DALvsJAX pic.twitter.com/ZQrhOLRuIW
— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2022
But Jenkins isn’t the only player that has bounced back considerably since Meyer left town. Trevor Lawrence has made a huge leap in Year 2. He broke the team’s record for completions in a season, previously held by Blake Bortles, and became the first quarterback in franchise history to score 25 passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns in a season.
With @Trevorlawrencee's 25-yard TD pass to WR @ckirk, he became the first player in franchise history to record 25 passing TDs and five rushing TDs in the same season.
— JaguarsPR (@JaguarsPR) January 8, 2023
Other players that have flourished under Doug Pederson are cornerback Tyson Campbell, defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris, safety Andre Cisco and right tackle Jawaan Taylor. Simply put, Pederson achieved what his predecessor couldn’t: Get the most out of his players.