The AFC South Champion Jacksonville Jaguars are getting little attention this season, even after their first-season acquisition of starter Liam Coen.
Given their relatively quiet off-season, the Jags are counting on development within their roster in Year 2 under Coen, including a better Trevor Lawrence, a healthy Travis Hunter, a more productive defense and a more efficient offense. Despite 13 wins, Coen knows his club has room to improve and they’ve shown that with a commitment in off-season training.
“This team understands there was meat left on the bone, I think,” Coen said Monday via the team’s official transcript. “And the way they’ve gone about this offseason, I think, is indicative of that hunger and wanting to try to put ourselves in the best position to earn those moves next year.”
The Jags came out strong, winning their last eight games to clinch the division lead, but fell just shy of Josh Allen and the Bills in the Wild Card round. Of course, four of those last eight games came against teams that finished with three wins or fewer, and two others were over the runaway Colts — the positive: double-digit wins over the Chargers and Broncos.
Coen’s offense caught on and the signal caller proved he has stamina after a brief stint in Tampa Bay that took him to Jacksonville. However, Coen knows that staying at the top of the league is easier said than done. Far more teams are flashes in the pan than consistent winners.
“It’s definitely a little easier to establish [in Year 1] because they (players) are very willing to hear something else,” Coen said. “When you’ve lost or you’re coming off a tough year, they’re eager, their eyes are bright, they want to hear what you have to say, like, ‘Hey, man. This is what we got, this is where we have to go.’ It was probably a little easier than keeping it up.”
Facing a first-place schedule will make it even more difficult for the Jaguars to repeat as division champions.