The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a very underwhelming 2024 campaign. While they certainly had many issues on the defensive, their offense may have been the most frustrating part of the season. It was clear by the end of the season that it was time for a change. Enter new head coach Liam Coen.
Coen is coming off a playoff run leading the high-octane Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense. He'll try to recreate his formula in Jacksonville, and it all starts with an emphasis on strong offensive line play. Over the offseason, the Jaguars bolstered their offensive line with key veterans like Patrick Mekari and Robert Hainsey. They also used a third-round pick on guard out of West Virginia, Wyatt Milum.
Games are won in the trenches, and that certainly seemed the case last season for Tampa, which ranked fifth in rushing yards per game and third in rushing yards per attempt last season. The hope is that Coen will take that success and build on a running game with two talented backs that struggled to get their footing last season.
When Coen was introduced, he pointed out that his offense is going to be built around the players he has. In his opening press conference, the head coach had this to say:
"It takes complementary football at all three phases to be great — offense, defense and special teams. How do we want to play the game? And that's fast, fundamentally sound, attacking, situational masters and tough, both mentally and physically,"
Liam Coen
Coen went on to mention the importance of the personnel and emphasized that the scheme will fit around the players, not vice versa. This is a very "new-school" approach to play-calling and system building, and it is clear that the culture of this team is one that will prioritize the individual spirit of its players and one that will give the guys in the locker room an opportunity to make their voices heard.
Trevor Lawrence will be the biggest beneficiary of the new Jaguars offense
The player with the most say in this playbook will likely be quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is coming off an injury-plagued campaign last year. In the same exchange with the media, Coen said the following.
"How do we make Trevor Lawrence and this offense as dynamic and explosive as we can be? We've got to build it around him as well. We've got to make every part of this about improvement, and he will be a part of that process. He's earned that right. I cannot respect his toughness and mentality and work ethic more than I do already from afar. This will all be about Trevor right now."
Liam Coe
Liam Coen will also have a big influence on the Jaguars running game
Well, just what can we expect from a Liam Coen-led offense? Expect a lot of variety from this offense. Coen was a master of play-calling last season, a responsibility he will continue as he begins his head Coaching journey. The Bucs were very well-balanced last season, 45 percent run plays and 55 percent pass plays. The pairing of Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby could be very similar to that of Rachaad White and Bucky Irving.
I expect both running backs to have drastic improvements next season. It wouldn't come as a surprise if Etienne finds himself back as one of the league's top backs at the season's end. With Coen at the helm, Tampa posted 29.5 points per game and 6.2 yards per play in 2024. Their running game also went from the worst in the league the year prior to fourth in rushing yards. On top of that, Bucky Irving crossed the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie.
Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby could be on the field together often. It's likely that both of them will find success on this offense. The Jags could use Etienne as a multi-purpose back, while Bigsby is a short-yardage back. This offense will likely also sprinkle in a bit of rookie Bhayshul Tuten as well.
Travis Hunter will give the Jaguars passing game a much needed boost
While improvements to the success of Jacksonville's run game are vital to the success of the franchise, Trevor Lawrence and the passing attack are likely going to see a lot of improvement as well. Along with the additions to the offensive line, the Jaguars traded up to the second pick to draft Heisman-winning receiver/corner Travis Hunter.
Pairing Hunter alongside star receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ensures that Lawrence has two big-play receivers who are sure to keep the opposing secondary on their toes. A lethal passing attack and a dominant run game spell trouble for opposing defenses. Expect a lot of play action this season. There should be a lot of deep shots downfield as well.
Last season, the Bucs averaged 8.0 yards per pass attempt. What is even more impressive is that Tampa averaged a league-best 72 percent completion percentage, a career high for Baker Mayfield. The Jaguars certainly have the weapons to do so.
Another expectation is that we could see a lot of versatility in this offense. The offense will not be stagnant. Coen has shown the ability to create mismatches through different motions, personnel groupings, and a variety of formations. Expect to see a lot of motion in this offense. It will not be stagnant, and often will be used to try and catch defenses out of position.
Final thoughts
There is a lot of excitement in Jacksonville, and there's good reason to be. The level of talent hasn't been the issue in Jacksonville for many years now. It has been an issue of consistency, play-calling, and miscommunication. The hope is that, under the new regime, these issues will be a thing of the past and the Jaguars' offense can finally grow to reach their true potential.
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