The Jacksonville Jaguars were looking to bounce back in 2024 after failing to make the playoffs the year prior. Unfortunately, things quickly went off the rails and they somehow managed to sink even lower. To nobody's surprise, head coach Doug Pederson got the boot, and the Jags once again find themselves back at square one.
The Jaguars are now currently looking for Pederson's replacement. At this point in the process, it's hard to tell who'll fill the vacancy. But regardless of who gets the job, the team must make the following changes if they want to avoid another collapse in 2025.
GM Trent Baalke must spare no expenses to address needs
Under general manager Trent Baalke, the Jags haven't been afraid to spend money to bolster the roster. The trouble is that they haven't always allocated the resources well and have neglected a handful of needs.
For instance, the interior offensive line and the pass rush were an issue in 2023. Yet, Baalke chose not to take a look at either need even though he had several chances. Last year, the team's brass released cornerback Darious Williams because they got back $11 million in space. Although that's not an amount to scoff at, Baalke inadvertently created a weakness in the secondary when he chose to save money.
Throughout most of the year, the cornerback spot opposite Tyson Campbell was an issue, and it all could've been avoided if the Jaguars had kept Williams. This offseason, the front office must address that cornerback spot, the right guard position, the pass rush, and a few others. The Jags must spare no expense to take care of them if they want their next head coach to have immediate success.
The Jaguars must have a coaching staff that can relate to players and get the most out of them
It's easy to understand to see why the Jaguars moved on from defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell. Late in 2023, assignments were no longer discussed in meetings, and communication between units was non-existent. To get the most out of the underachieving unit, Jacksonville brought in Ryan Nielsen to replace Caldwell. The hire made sense.
After all, Nielsen earned widespread praise for his work with the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. Moreover, his emphasis on fundamentals and technique were precisely the things the defense needed. However, his personality rubbed players the wrong way. Gene Frenette of The Florida Times-Union reports that the defensive coordinator's "demeanor turned the players off even more and made for a tense atmosphere within the unit."
The Jaguars must bring in coaches — not just on defense — who can legitimately listen to players. This isn't to say that they need to be their friends. Rather, that teaching goes both ways and to get the most out of their players, coaches must relate to them.
Just recently, head-coaching candidate Aaron Glenn got the spotlight because of a conversation in which he talked about the importance of relating to players and putting yourself in their shoes. Maybe not him, but that's the kind of coaches the Jaguars must hire.
The Jaguars must bring in a create offensive coach who can get the most out of Trevor Lawrence
Turning Trevor Lawrence into a top-10 quarterback will be one of the next regime's biggest priorities. It doesn't matter if Jacksonville hires a head coach with a defensive background as long as he has a detailed plan for the former Clemson Tiger.
Having said that, Lawrence is just a piece of the puzzle. The next offensive coordinator must be a creative mind who isn't afraid to experiment and innovate. Doug Pederson was once that coach, but his scheme eventually stalled, and he didn't make the attempt to reinvent himself.
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated reports that the Jaguars' offensive ecosystem was "an echo chamber between Pederson and right-hand man Press Taylor." Moreover, people in the organization grew concerned about the lack of ideas and innovation.
If the Jags want to get the offense back on track, they must bring in a coaching staff that is willing to listen to new ideas and implement them.