The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Liam Coen because they needed a head coach who could get the most out of Trevor Lawrence. So far, Coen has been supportive of the fifth-year quarterback and has done everything he can to put him in a position to succeed. On the other hand, he's aware that No. 16 must deliver if he wants to stick around long-term.
Coen recently had a sitdown on 1010XL and said that the criticism Lawrence has gotten is fair, pointing out that players and coaches are defined by their ability to win games.
"I think it's all fair, all right? Coen responded when asked if Lawrence has been fairly judged (5:36 mark). "I think, at the end of the day, he knows that the production and wins and losses is ultimately what we're judged by."
On the other hand, Coen believes that the team hasn't always helped Lawrence, bringing up two quarterbacks who thrived once they were put in a position to succeed.
"But I also say, you know, playing this position, especially this position in the league, a lot of it is about timing and circumstances. Baker Mayfield couldn't play, right? [Sam] Darnold couldn't play. This goes on and on. They're on the same team and couldn't play. So a lot of it is about timing and circumstances. What's around you? What's the infrastructure built around you from a coaching standpoint, leadership standpoint, player standpoint? What does that look like?" Coen said.
"So much of it is that, but also, at the end of the day, as a quarterback in the National Football League, you're judged by, 'Hey, what are you going to do on third down in the red zone and in two-minute situations when you need to go score a touchdown?' And he knows that he needs to improve."
After struggling as a rookie in 2021, Lawrence showed notable improvement the following year. He got off to a strong start in 2023, but injuries ultimately derailed his campaign. Expected to bounce back in 2024, the former Clemson Tiger instead regressed before an AC sprain abruptly put his season to an end. He underwent surgery to repair his shoulder and says he's back at 100 percent.
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The Jaguars will need Trevor Lawrence to come through if they want to make noise
Trevor Lawrence has shown that he can play at a high level but has failed to do it on a consistent basis throughout his career. Now, he's entering a pivotal year, as there's a new regime in place, one that inherited him and will consider moving on from him if they don't think he's the answer behind center. For the time being, the Knoxville, Tennessee native has everything he needs to succeed next season.
Liam Coen has been working one-on-one with his quarterback to help him fix his footwork and eye coordination, two areas where he struggled last year. Similarly, Lawrence has a much-improved supporting cast. His arsenal of weapons now includes the trio of Brian Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown, and Travis Hunter. Moreover, his offensive line got reinforcements, so he should now have much more time to throw the football.
Circling back to Liam Coen's comments, quarterbacks have the biggest impact on the outcome of a game, but they alone can't win. However, there's a point at which they have no more excuses and must come through. That's the position where Trevor Lawrence finds himself in ahead of the 2025 season.