One huge reason the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Liam Coen as the head coach after 2024 was his ability to get the most out of his quarterbacks. The expectation was that, under his tutelage, Trevor Lawrence would take a leap this season.
But seven games into the season, Lawrence hasn't been as consistent as the Jaguars would surely like. That's led team reporter and NFL analyst Bucky Brooks to say out loud what every fan wants to see from No. 16.
Bucky Brooks wants Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence to build consistency
Bucky Brooks made an appearance on 1010 XL's Fran Frangie Show and said that he wants Trevor Lawrence to be more consistent, noting that he's done a good job with the basics but needs to elevate his game.
"I just want to see him have a clean game. He's been really good with the mental part, for the most part. Managing the game, he's fine," Brooks told host Frank Frangie. "But now it's about making big-boy throws. The difference in this league between good and great is the quarterback's ability to deliver when everyone in the stadium knows he has to deliver."
Brooks continued, "Trevor has to show that he can consistently deliver those A-level throws, A-level performances when the stakes are high. If he does that, then we have a lot to celebrate at the end of this year."
Basically, Brooks is saying that if Lawrence takes his game to the next level, the Jaguars will be advancing to the playoffs. And all things considered, that's not a far-fetched proposition. After all, the former Clemson Tiger got hot in the second half of 2022 and played a huge role in helping Jacksonville qualify for the postseason.
Of course, Lawrence has his work cut out. For the season, he's completed 58.7 percent of his throws for 1,620 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He'll need to put up better numbers if the Jaguars want to make a playoff push.
The Jaguars need Trevor Lawrence to take his game to the next level
Plenty of Jaguars fans are frustrated that Trevor Lawrence hasn't lived up to expectations after being drafted first overall in 2021. There's no doubt that he needs to elevate his game to the next level if he wants to leave no doubt that he's the long-term answer behind center in Jacksonville. Then again, a bit of help from his supporting cast would go a long way.
The Jaguars lead the league in drops, and the offensive line gave up 10 sacks and 62 total pressures in the two losses prior to the BYE. Similarly, Jacksonville hasn't been able to get the running game going, and that's put additional pressure on Lawrence to deliver. Compounding the issue is that the defense struggled to stop the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks from putting points on the scoreboard.
The silver lining is that Lawrence showed a bit of improvement in the past two losses, completing 55.6 percent of his throws for 553 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. It's also worth noting that the fifth-year quarterback is playing in a new offensive system, and there's a chance he'll continue to have a better grasp as the season progresses.
The bottom line is that everyone must play better (and there have been other players who've left a bit to be desired this season), but if the Jaguars truly want to make a playoff push, Trevor Lawrence must hit his stride.