The Jacksonville Jaguars faced a challenging 2023 season, marked by a late-season collapse that dashed their playoff hopes and denied them the AFC South title. Despite high expectations, the team struggled on both sides of the ball, ranking among the bottom in several defensive categories. Head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence found themselves under scrutiny as injuries and inconsistencies plagued the team. Owner Shahid Khan expressed dissatisfaction with the team's predictability and discipline, leaving many questions about the franchise's future direction.
Injuries were a significant factor in the Jaguars' disappointing season. Nine starters or key players missed a total of 39 games, severely impacting team performance. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, a pivotal figure for the team, missed eight games due to injury, further complicating the Jaguars' offensive efforts. The absence of top receiver Christian Kirk for nine games only added to the offensive woes.
Defensively, the Jaguars struggled immensely. They ranked last in pass defense, 31st in total defense, 25th in run defense, 27th in scoring defense, and 25th on third downs by the end of the season. Their average of 389.9 yards allowed per game was the second-worst in franchise history, while their 257.4 passing yards allowed per game was the third-worst mark. The defense's inability to stop opponents consistently contributed to their downfall.
Despite these challenges, the Jaguars boasted a solid pass-rush duo in Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, who combined for 46 sacks over the past two seasons. However, their efforts were overshadowed by the team's overall defensive struggles. The disappointing free agent class failed to make a significant impact, leaving the Jaguars with one of the worst defenses in franchise history.
Head coach Doug Pederson faced external criticism regarding his playcalling and quarterback management throughout the season. He acknowledged the need for reevaluation after the 2023 campaign. Owner Shahid Khan's dissatisfaction became evident following a meeting with Pederson before the season finale, where he expressed concerns about the coach's plan moving forward.
"Whether it's an offensive coach or a defensive coach, just hire the guy that's going to instill that culture," – Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence stressed the importance of building a strong team culture and instilling toughness and confidence in the players. He emphasized that changes in staff alone would not resolve the team's issues and highlighted the need for players to take responsibility for altering their trajectory.
"We can't just think just because some changes are made, staff and everything around us, that it's all going to be fixed," – Trevor Lawrence
The Jaguars' season concluded on a disappointing note with a loss to the Miami Dolphins. Despite leading by 17 points in the fourth quarter, they were unable to secure victory. General Manager Trent Baalke acknowledged that the team needs to become bigger and more physical to compete effectively in the NFL.
"What we were doing was not working and a change in direction was needed," – Shad Khan
Shahid Khan echoed this sentiment, noting that a change in direction was necessary given the team's lackluster performance. The Jaguars face an important offseason as they seek to address these issues and regain competitiveness.
"But I do have confidence in the type of people we have, the players we have, but this is a big offseason, and we have to really dial in and like I said, build that culture and become just a tough, hard-nosed, gritty team," – Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence remains optimistic about the future, expressing confidence in his teammates' ability to build a resilient and gritty team. This offseason presents an opportunity for reflection and growth as they aim to forge a new path forward.
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