What's the big thing Jaguars' QB Trevor Lawrence needs from Liam Coen?

USA Today

18-02-2025

What does Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterback Trevor Lawrence need most from new head coach Liam Coen?
On a recent appearance on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, Lawrence was asked that question. His response went beyond scheme and play-calling–although those are important factors–and instead centered around the need for leadership and energy.
'I think just from a leadership perspective, having that energy day-in, day-out is something our team needs,' Lawrence told Adams. 'We've been through a lot. The last two seasons have been not what we we expected after what we did two years ago. I think this team needs some juice and he's going to bring that.'
'Obviously the play-calling is SUPER important.'
Trevor Lawrence on what he NEEDS from his new HC Liam Cohen 📈@Trevorlawrencee @heykayadams @Jaguars | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/jNHyp6GYmi
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 17, 2025
In 2022, the Jaguars finished that year 9-8 after a three-win season in 2021, and won a playoff game in the AFC Wildcard round after a spectacular comeback.
However, instead of growing from that point, the Jaguars plateaued in 2023 with another 9-8 record and then regressed to just four-wins this past season.
Things grew stagnant and it's up to Coen to help lead that turnaround. But while Coen will set the vision for what he wants the culture to be like moving forward, buy in from the players and the team leaders upholding that standard is also an important part of the equation.
'As players I'm ready to lead and bring that as well. We all have to buy in. We have to buy in to what he's doing, the culture he's trying to set or we don't have a shot. So that's our responsibility to buy in to what he wants us to be and the identity we want to have as a team and to take it and run with it.'
In his one season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, Coen turned that rushing offense from being one of the least productive in football to one of the most productive. This is also an area where the Jaguars have to improve as well to assist them in becoming less predictable.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield would also have a career-year in many key categories, and the Bucs were the only offense in football to rank top-five in passing yards per game, rushing yards per game, and points per game.
Accomplishing this in Jacksonville will include having a strong running game to lean on and one that is married to the passing game, with looks and concepts that build off of each other.
Coen has also mentioned building the offense around Lawrence and what he does well, and that includes getting his input along the way.
Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski would call the Jaguars' new offense 'multiple,' referencing their ability to attack defenses in a variety of ways and with a variety of looks to keep opponents off-balanced.
All of that and more will, of course, be important to reshaping the Jaguars' offense and getting the most out of Lawrence. But before any of that can take place, as Coen said in his introductory press conference, the culture has to be established and once that happens, then the fundamentals, technique, and scheme will follow.
'At the end of the day, players play and scheme is important and obviously there's somethings we can do there to set us up, but players have to take it and believe in it and I think that's the biggest thing,' Lawrence added. 'Just that belief. I know for me and a lot of guys I've talked to, we're fully bought in and just excited for April to get here and to start.'