The Jacksonville Jaguars entered 2024 looking to bounce back after an underwhelming 2023 season. But having already been eliminated from playoff contention, it's fair to say that they've once again come up short of expectations. So what exactly went wrong? Too many things.
From a coaching standpoint, the Jags lack toughness and discipline. They'll often show up seemingly ready to play but will ultimately fail to win to win close games. On the other hand, the front office has done a good job of locking up franchise cornerstones. However, the team also has a handful of roster holes that have held the team back. Compounding the issue is that Jacksonville lost several key players, including players, including Trevor Lawrence, to season-ending injuries.
This begs the question, which Jaguars players, coaches, or executives didn't do their part to help the team win and deserve nothing but coal from Santa on Christmas Day? The following bunch most definitely come to mind.
Doug Pederson, head coach
Head coach Doug Pederson earned widespread recognition in 2022 for helping the Jags heal from the Urban Meyer debacle. On top of that, they made the playoffs and won the AFC South that year, which is impressive when you take into account that both feats had evaded them since 2017. Unfortunately, things have more recently gone sideways, as Jacksonville has managed to win just four of their last 21 games dating back to Week 13 of the 2023 season.
Sure there are many reasons for the team's collapse but the buck stops with Pederson, which is why the Jags must start looking for their next head coach.
Trent Baalke, general manager
While Trent Baalke hasn't been dreadful, he hasn't been great either. The fact that he hardly ever talks to the media or takes responsibility for his blunders makes you wonder why he isn't more transparent. Maybe he wants Doug Pederson to take the fall, and if that's the case, it doesn't reflect well on him.
Regardless of the reason, Baalke's lack of accountability isn't what you expect from a general manager. And like the head coach, he must also get his walking papers once the season is over, or if possible, sooner.
Mac Jones, quarterback
The Jaguars got rave reviews when they traded for former first-round pick Mac Jones in exchange for a sixth-round pick earlier this year. Sure, he was coming off a pair of disappointing seasons but flashed enough as a rookie to make you think that he could keep the offense afloat in case Trevor Lawrence missed time.
Of course, backup quarterbacks are always one injury away from stepping onto the football field, and when Jones was thrust into action, he wasn't able to deliver. In his defense, the offense was struggling even when Lawrence was behind center, but the former Alabama product is showing that his rookie campaign was an outlier and not the norm.
Arik Armstead, defensive end
The Jags needed to bolster their interior defensive line, so fans were hyped up to find out Trent Baalke had inked Arik Armstead to a three-year deal. For context, the former Oregon Duck was one of the best defensive linemen in the league throughout his stint with the San Francisco 49ers, so it was fair to assume that he would beef up the Jacksonville interior trenches.
But against common sense, Armstead has mostly lined up on the edge with the Jags. This is odd when you take into consideration that he's at his best when he plays on the interior. Compounding the issue is that the California native is making an annual average of $14.5 million and doesn't have much to show for it.
Ryan Nielsen, defensive coordinator
Hiring Ryan Nielsen in the offseason to replace Mike Caldwell as the defensive coordinator generated hype. After all, his predecessor had ample talent to work with last year but his unit underachieved. Unfortunately, things haven't gotten better with Nielsen leading the defense. In fact, they've objectively gotten worse.
The Jags are among the most teams in the league in most meaningful defensive categories, and plenty of the blame falls on Nielsen, who was supposedly going to emphasize technique and fundamentals. However, those are traits his unit has lacked in 2024.
Whether Pederson returns in 2024 or not, Nielsen needs to get the boot.