Don't worry, we aren't becoming a gaming blog anytime soon. That said, Madden NFL 27's cover athlete, Caleb Williams, appears to have rubbed head coach Liam Coen the wrong way because the Jacksonville Jaguars don't get nearly as much attention. Then again, I don't think that Williams himself did anything wrong. In actuality, it was us in the media who gave Coen the ammunition he needed to rile up the troops yet again.
In a recent interview with Dan Hicken and Jeff Prosser on 1010XL's The Drill, coach Coen had a lot to say about all the promotion the Chicago Bears' franchise quarterback has been receiving from the league and the national media.
"You know what I said to the staff the other day? I go, 'Guys, this is the best part of coaching the Jacksonville Jaguars. You don't have to make up telling your players stuff," Coen said. "You don't have to make up the fire. You don't have to make it up. It's given to us every day. It's a gift from the heavens.
Coen continued, "I just [grab] my phone, look at the NFL Network website, curious if I see any photos or anything about the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think I'll just scroll right on through. Keep going, yeah. I think I'll see 40 pictures of Caleb Williams, and I won't see a single thing about any of our players on here."
But that wasn't all. As the perfect dismount, the second-year head coach finished with, "So it's beautiful because it's like, yeah, guys, this is great. Thanks. I'm gonna tell all these guys how much you all think they suck."
Last season, the offensive guru used various press clippings to keep his players focused on the ultimate goal. It worked 13 times and resulted in a lot of broken records as well. However, the former OC for the Tampa Bay Bucs could be straying into dangerous territory here, as the Jags are hardly accustomed to dealing with the consequences of giving other teams some bulletin board material of their own.
Winning on the field will actually keep the Jaguars in the spotlight
I know, I know. My subheading doesn't make any sense since Caleb Williams' second season in the league was his first elite season as a pro. The USC Trojan led the Chicago Bears to 11 wins in the regular season and an NFC North Championship, Williams' first piece of gold (technically) since coming to the Windy City.
Even though that's all well and good, Trevor Lawrence has two division titles of his own as a starter in the AFC South. Also, Lawrence has thrown for 4,000 yards multiple times, a feat Williams hasn't pulled off yet despite Chicago drafting him with that awfully elusive accomplishment in mind.
So, with Lawrence being one of the most hyped draft prospects ever and a Top 5 vote-getter for the NFL MVP Award, the Jaguars' leading man should be the one getting more acclaim from the critics and The Powers That Be at NFL Films. Alas, that isn't the case, but it isn't really a mystery why.
Like the franchise he plays for, the Clemson legend's product on the field can run hot or cold. One season, Lawrence and his Jaguars will look like they've arrived and are ready for the glory that comes with it. Then, around two seasons later, the franchise will be mulling over what to do with its latest Top 5 draft choice and new general manager-head coach combo.
Trevor Lawrence has his work cut out to make the Jaguars relevant
It's hard for hardcore fans to admit, but our beloved Jags just haven't proven that they're ready for the demands that come with receiving the NFL's biggest spotlight.
As flippant as it sounds, winning more games is the most decisive cure for that problem. If you don't believe me, just look at Josh Allen and Jordan Love (and we could actually throw Aaron Rodgers in here as well). Neither of these quarterbacks has struggled to draw consistent mainstream coverage despite playing in two of pro football's smallest markets.
Coincidentally, these signal callers have also compiled a slew of winning seasons and playoff appearances during their years under center. With all that in mind, I think Liam Coen's remarks were simply a coach trying to prevent his players from getting too complacent and buying into their own hype.
Ironically enough, the team's general manager was the one actually getting all the heat this offseason, so it's possible that Coen saw something among his players that he wanted to nip in the bud before it became an issue.
Some of the greatest teams in NFL history found a way to keep the "us versus them" narrative going for season after season. Jacksonville's ol' ball coach clearly peeped the game, so we'll see how his tactics work out as he gets ready for Year 2 as the Head Man in Teal.
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