Lawrence finished the season with 4,007 yards passing with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, leading the Jags to the AFC South title. The QB got off to a rough start, but he and the Jaguars hit their stride midway through Coen’s first season, winning seven straight games to complete the league’s comeback. Lawrence threw for 250-plus yards in each of the last four games of the regular season and had 11 TD passes to one INT over that span.
In the Jags’ loss to the Bills, Lawrence had some tough spots, including two game-changing interceptions, but also struggled against Jacksonville when previous teams would have drifted into the abyss. His two touchdowns in the fourth quarter gave Jacksonville a brief lead they couldn’t hold against Josh Allen. While Lawrence & Co. has fallen short against an MVP quarterback, that ability to battle has Coen excited for what could lie ahead as the QB continues to develop in the system.
“I think that’s what we’re excited about, but when you start with A) humility and B) toughness, mentally and physically, I think you can do a lot with a quarterback,” he said. “We spent a lot of time in San Francisco during the Super Bowl during that week and I got to see a different side of him, hang out with him through a different lens, and I’m really excited to work with Trevor again this year.”
There’s little doubt at this point that Coen can get a great game out of the backfield. We’ve seen that quarterbacks need to find the right system to excel. Often it takes them to bounce around the department – ie. Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold. In Lawrence’s case, the right offense came to him. If the QB can continue to build on his progress and protect the ball like he did during the Jags stretch run, there is a lot to like about Jacksonville’s future.