When the Jacksonville Jaguars selected former Clemson superstar quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, everyone thought the franchise would change immediately. Lawrence was expected to come in and immediately make the Jaguars a much more competitive football team. Unfortunately, that has not been the case, nor should it have been the expectation.
An organization like the Jaguars struggles so badly for more reasons than just quarterback play. Urban Meyer and company have found that out the hard way. The roster as a whole needs to improve around Lawrence, and a rookie quarterback needs time to acclimate to the game.
So far this season in nine games played, Lawrence has completed just 58 percent of his pass attempts for 1,983 yards, eight touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Lawrence has also picked up 169 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Those numbers aren't horrible and no one should overreact to them. Most rookie quarterbacks struggle to find their footing in the NFL. However, due to all of the high expectations, fans are extremely disappointed with how Lawrence has looked so far this year.
At just 22 years of age, Lawrence walked into the most difficult and pressure-packed situation of his entire career. Coming into a franchise like the Jaguars comes with difficulties of its own. Due to that fact, Lawrence should be given some time to turn things around in Jacksonville.
All of that being said, let's take a look at three immediate fixes that Lawrence must make to his game to improve both himself and the Jaguars for the rest of the season.
*Watch the NFL LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
3 things Jaguars rookie Trevor Lawrence must fix
3. Lawrence needs to make quicker decisions
First and foremost, Lawrence has struggled with his decision-making and timing to begin his NFL career. Far too often, fans have seen him hold the football a little too long. That has allowed defenses to make plays on the football and has forced Lawrence to be a bit erratic with his throws.
Young quarterbacks have to learn to get the football out quickly. Unlike how they played in college, they aren't going to have a ton of time to dominate opposing defenses. In the NFL, the game moves quicker and the secondary is much faster and more athletic.
This is an area that most young quarterbacks struggle with. Lawrence is not the first quarterback to come in and have multiple area he needs to improve. In fact, Peyton Manning, a comparison for Lawrence, struggled as a rookie and threw 28 interceptions.
2. Don't panic under pressure
Another area that has been a clear issue for Lawrence through his first nine career games is the fact that he has panicked at times under pressure. Granted, the Jaguars' offensive line needs to do a much better job, but Lawrence has to stay calm in the pocket.
Lawrence has shown unrest in the pocket, which has forced too many inaccurate throws. He has thrown off his back foot and floated passes as well, which has led to interceptions or near turnovers. That needs to stop moving forward.
Jacksonville has to figure out a way to protect its young quarterback, but Lawrence also needs to learn how to stand in the pocket and make hard throws. That will come with time, but it's something the rookie can start learning now. For the rest of the season, Lawrence needs to try to remain poised even in the most difficult circumstances.
1. Continue improving as a leader
Lawrence has plenty of things to work on about his own game, but improving as a leader for the Jaguars is a must. He has already become the face of this franchise, which holds a lot of pressure in and of itself. The true test for a franchise quarterback is whether or not he can make his teammates better around him.
Take a look at elite quarterbacks around the NFL like Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and more. All of them are elite leaders and take their teammates up a notch when they're on the field. Lawrence has the capability, but he simply needs to continue honing in on that ability.
Back in his days with Clemson, Lawrence showcased that leadership ability. He has it in him, but coming into the NFL and starting immediately is not easy to do. Jacksonville has struggled for years and needs a true franchise leader.
This is an area that fans should be confident Lawrence will continue improving in. Jacksonville is Lawrence's team, and over the next year or two he should develop into a quarterback who takes his team to the next level.
Follow Us
Subscribe