The Jacksonville Jaguars spent the last few months revamping their front office, hiring James Gladstone as their general manager after an extensive search. There's no doubt that the Jags hired him because of his ability to identify talent, but that isn't his biggest strength, at least according to head coach Liam Coen.
Coen made an appearance on 1010 XL and touched on several topics, including his relationship with Gladstone. During the exchange, he was asked what the new Jags general manager's biggest strength is. Rather than saying talent evaluation, he mentioned his communication skills.
"It's the elite communication skills. Like he's so intelligent, without making it known that he's one of the more intelligent guys in the room," Coen responded when he was asked what makes Coen so good. "He can communicate with a defensive line coach, the same that he can go and communicate with the athletic trainer."
Coen continued, "I mean, he just has a great way about him. Very honest, young. He's a coach's kid. He's a coach's son. He grew up in locker rooms. He grew up on the sidelines. And those are things that I value personally, and will ultimately help us with this whole process."
All things considered, Coen's comments are refreshing. After all, Gladstone's predecessor, Trent Baalke, routinely clashed with the coaching staff and rarely ever appeared to be on the same page as former head coach Doug Pederson.
Below is Coen's full exchange on 1010 XL. His remarks about Gladstone start at the 2:13 mark.
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Why the Jaguars got it right when they hired James Gladstone
It will take a few years to truly assess the James Gladstone hiring. That said, the Jacksonville Jaguars made the right call based on how things have played out. For starters, his lack of experience at the position shouldn't be an issue.
Former Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson had previously held the job, but his experience doesn't account to much when you take into account that his track record acquiring talent left much to be desired. Not surprisingly, he didn't reach the finalist stage of the Jaguars search for Trent Baalke's replacement.
Circling back to Gladstone, he was far from the only candidate who had never had a general manager job. However, Los Angeles Rams players, coaches, and execs routinely raved about their former director of scouting, routinely talking about how crucial he was to their success in recent drafts.
Ultimately, though; Gladstone will have to prove himself, and he's got his work cut out. The Jaguars are coming off a disappointing campaign and have several holes to fill this offseason. Working in his favor is that the cupboard isn't fully bare. Jacksonville has a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and several foundational pieces on both sides of the ball.
If James Gladstone works his magic and manages to revamp the roster like he's expected, the Jaguars will be in a position to compete right off the bat.