Following a well contested 27-20 loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round, the Jacksonville Jaguars head into their most optimistic postseason in a long time.
Making it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2017 is obviously a huge accomplishment, but how did the Jags grade out considering the season as a whole?
Trevor Lawrence Shows Up
Coming out of college, Lawrence was the most hyped QB prospect since Andrew Luck. He has every physical tool, a pro frame, can make every throw, as well as seemingly having the personality to be the face of a franchise. In year one, there were more questions than answers, as Lawrence was inconsistent throughout the year, only completing 59% of his passes and posting a 12/17 touchdown to interception ratio. However, the Urban Meyer situation was a “Get Out of Jail Free” card for Lawrence, as the organization was in shambles the entire year.
This year Lawrence showed why he was so highly touted. The statistics speak for themselves, as #16 completed 66% of his passes for 25 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. As improved as the stats were, the eye test was just as good. Lawrence handled duress under the pocket much better, he was more confident in his decision making, and used his legs to his advantage more this season. TLAW burst onto the national stage in the second half of the Wild Card round, staging a massive comeback after a putrid first half. The man the Jags took to be their franchise QB has shown that he has the ability to be their savior going forward.
Inconsistent Defensive Play
The Jaguars are loaded with young talent upfront, such as Josh Allen, Travon Walker and Foyesade Oluokon. And throughout the season the defense showed flashes of being great, but as with any young team, there are quite a few points that the unit must improve on, especially in big situations.
Throughout the regular season, the Jags were the fourth-worst in the NFL on third down, allowing opposing offenses to convert 43.2% of the time. Throughout the year there were many small things that plagued the team, such as losing contain, not filling gaps correctly, and missed coverage assignments. However, the team still finished 12th in points allowed per game, so the team does have work to build on from this season, but there are still holes that need to be filled if Jacksonville wants to continue to compete deep in the postseason. But the future is very bright for this group, especially if they can pick up a talented defensive back in the draft or free agency this year.
Pederson Play-Calling Revolution
One of the biggest improvements league wide this year was the Jaguars’ offensive play-calling, and this is one of the main reasons Trevor Lawrence was able to improve so greatly this year. What is really so different about Doug Pederson’s offense?
Pederson originally comes from a high school coaching background, and although the NFL is exponentially more complex and rigorous, there are still concepts that carry over.
Pederson has one of the most simple schemes in the NFL, and that makes it very easy for the quarterback to decide where he is going with the football. You often will hear that a team has run an “RPO”, or run/pass option, and that is what was the driving force for Jacksonville’s offensive success this year. When an RPO is run, the quarterback usually keys in on only one or two defenders instead of the entire field. The edge defender is often the one in conflict; if the linebacker decides to come down and play the run, there is a route replacing the space he was in; if the backer wants to cover the route, then the numbers are positive in the running game (more blockers than defenders to be blocked). When paired with motions, spread out formations, and talented offensive personnel, the RPO can be the center of your offense, as it was with the Jags this year.
Aside from the RPO, Pederson did an excellent job of getting Lawrence on the move so that he could use his legs to stretch the defense. Whether it was play action, a bootleg, or a sprint out, there was much more movement from the QB position this year, making (once again!) the decision making process much easier for the young QB.
Weak Division
As fun as the Jaguars playoff run was, they probably should have never been there in the first place.
After starting 2-1, the Jags lost consecutively to the Eagles, Texans, Colts, Giants, and Broncos, and although they came roaring back late, this stretch was unacceptable. Also, their “win and in” game against the Titans included facing Malik Willis, who looked completely inept as an NFL starter.
Not to be a downer, but the rest of the division was awful as well, with the Texans and Colts struggling throughout the season to cobble together wins. However, the Jaguars did put together quality wins against the Ravens, Chargers, and Cowboys, all playoff teams.
Last Thoughts and Final Grade
What a fun ride it was this year for this Jags team, and the “nobody believes in us” era of a rebuild is some of the best fun that a fanbase can have.
This team is young, talented and primed to continue their success in the years ahead.
This season was a serious stepping stone for a team that was seriously struggling in years past.
Losing+Small Market is a deathly equation for a franchise, but now that Lawrence has progressed and the defense and weaponry is steadily upgrading, the Jags have a shot to move into the upper echelon of AFC teams soon.
As far as this year, Jacksonville was not a quality team for many of its weeks, which is why this season is not an A or A+. There were serious struggles in defending the pass this year, as the unit ranked 27th in pass yards allowed per game. But, compared to expectations, this team excelled and proved that they are a squad that fans should be excited about for years to come.
Final 2022 Season Grade- A-