When the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Liam Coen, most analysts predicted that it would take them a year or two to turn things around. However, they're currently in the thick of the playoff race and just one game behind the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South. Simply put, the Jags have become competitive in Year 1 of the Coen era.
Having said that, there are six games left in the schedule, and the playoff picture could still change considerably. And while there's currently a strong chance that Jacksonville will qualify for the postseason, one thing could derail their entire season.
The Jaguars have an inconsistent QB in Trevor Lawrence
Let's get it out of the way: Football is a team sport, and it takes the whole team to win games. That said, the quarterback is the most important position because it has the biggest impact on the outcome of the game. If you have a good one, your chances of coming out on top will increase considerably.
In the case of the Jaguars, they have Trevor Lawrence, a mesmerizing that will make throws his peers can only pull off in their dreams but will make baffling mistakes on the following drive.
And that's the thing, nobody will deny that Lawrence has all the attributes you want in a franchise quarterback, but talent can only take you so far in the NFL. At some point, it has to turn into production.
Throughout his career, Lawrence has routinely shown his talent but has also struggled to build consistency. Of course, it's not all his fault. In particular, he's lacked stability since Jacksonville drafted him first overall in 2021.
The incompetent Urban Meyer was his head coach as a rookie. And although he showed progress early under Doug Pederson, No. 16 was struggling because he wasn't getting good coaching. On top of that, the organization hasn't always surrounded him with enough talent to routinely win football games.
This season, things are a bit different. Lawrence has made a few head-scratching throws, and his numbers don't pop off the statsheet. On the other hand, he's come up clutch when the Jags have needed him the most. The games against the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals come to mind.
Circling back to coaching, Lawrence has had a steeper learning curve when soaking up Liam Coen's scheme. That's probably why he has yet to have a firm grasp of the offense at this point of the year, but that's where the Jaguars will need him to make strides the rest of the way.
The Jaguars will need Trevor Lawrence to cut down on the mistakes
You could make the case that the Jaguars are 7-4 with Trevor Lawrence, and you would be right. Moreover, they have favorable matchups against the Tennessee Titans (twice) and the New York Jets. Couple that with the fact that the Indianapolis Colts are struggling, and the Jags have a realistic chance to make the playoffs.
That said, as temperatures drop, clubs tend to put a bigger emphasis on pounding the rock. Fortunately, the Jaguars have a good running game, so that won't be an issue. Nevertheless, the quarterback will still need to complete a few clutch passes every game to win. That's where Lawrence comes in. He's well played at times this season but hasn't truly taken his game to the next level.
If the Jaguars want to leave no doubts that they're a legitimate playoff team, Trevor Lawrence will need to put it all together. If he does, they could make some serious noise.