The Jacksonville Jaguars already look like a different team under Liam Coen. Just four games into his tenure, the first-time head coach is proving the Jags made the right call when they hired him, as he has them playing a physical brand of football and winning games they would've probably lost in the past.
In Week 4, Jacksonville beat the Niners for the first time in 20 years, putting an end to a five-game streak. The cherry on the top came after the win when Coen confronted Robert Saleh about the accusation of signal-stealing.
Rightly, the Jaguars got an amazing grade for a win that included a dominant performance in all three phases of the game.
The Jaguars get a superb grade for beating the 49ers
John Breech of CBS Sports assigned grades to all NFL teams for their Week 4 performances and gave the Jags an A, noting that they delivered on offense, defense, and special teams.
"The Jaguars won this game the old-fashioned way: With defense, a strong ground game, and a dash of special teams," Breech wrote. "Defensively, the Jags forced four turnovers, and they've now forced a total of 12 on the season, which leads the NFL. The biggest turnover came late in the fourth quarter when Arik Armstead forced a Brock Purdy fumble that iced the win of Jacksonville."
Breech continued, "Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile had led a total turnaround of a unit that couldn't stop anyone from doing anything last year. Travis Etienne had another impressive game (124 yards) and looks completely revitalized in Liam Coen's offense. From a special teams standpoint, Parker Washington had the biggest play of the game with an 87-yard punt return for a TD in the second half."
Last year, the Jaguars were 27th in points allowed and 31st in total years allowed. Similarly, their nine takeaways ranked dead last in the NFL. With defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile at the helm, Jacksonville ranks fifth in points allowed and 15th in total yards. On top of that, their 13 takeaways in four games lead the league.
The running game has also experienced a notable improvement. The Jags are fourth in rushing yards and 10th in rushing touchdowns. Now, they must work on the passing game.
It looks like Trevor Lawrence has gotten fully acclimated to the new offensive system, and his rapport with his receivers could use some work. If the passing game starts to click, though, Jacksonville will be tough to beat.
Related: Robert Saleh went full supervillian after accusing the Jags of stealing signals
The Jaguars are 3-1 and have yet to hit their stride
As good as the Jaguars have been, they still have plenty of work left. During an exchange with the local media after the win over the 49ers, Liam Coen talked about the need to find the next level of execution and build consistency. And that's the thing, the Jags are winning, but they're aware that they could be even better.
For instance, Jacksonville didn't have a single drop in Week 4 after logging a league-high 13 the three prior games. Now, it must focus on cutting down on the penalties. They had 12 for 90 yards against the 49ers.
Now, the Jaguars have yet to earn league-wide recognition even after beating San Francisco, but the national media will no longer be able to ignore them if they stun the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5.