Sad news: The Jacksonville Jaguars have just dismissed one of their best talents, who…

Sad news: The Jacksonville Jaguars have just dismissed one of their best talents, who…

The Jacksonville Jaguars have defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in a crucial playoff game, rallying from a 27-0 deficit. With my heart full, my voice gone, and my phone dead, I walked back to my hotel from the stadium to write my game story. One particular line in my story really jumped out:

In the stadium, there existed a dimly held notion that the Chargers would eventually come to light if they misbehaved. And they sure as hell found out.

When we fast-forward to January 7, 2024, we can confirm that someone messed around and got caught. This time, the Jaguars were the ones eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Tennessee Titans, 28-20.

In October, the Jaguars were 8-3 and one win away from the AFC’s top seed. 8-3! They were supposed to have this division locked down for the next ten years, but instead they’re sitting at home watching a rookie quarterback and rookie head coach play.

Whatever way you cut it, the second half of the season was a coaching and organizational disaster. Everyone involved feels devastated when they lose five of their previous six games, but when you look at the losses, they’re all the same.

The Jaguars’ defense, which was among their strongest suits in the first part of the season, struggles with basic skills like tackling. Miscommunication in the secondary results in wide-open touchdowns and coverage busts. A team that struggles to run the ball and puts all the pressure on their third-year quarterback, who has fumble issues, is doomed by offensive line problems. Oh, and during the losing run, that quarterback also had to cope with a concussion, a shoulder injury, and a high ankle sprain. Fun times!

The fact that the Jaguars thought they could run it back is the most damning aspect of this. During the off-season of the previous year, Jacksonville made very few significant changes. Nothing much changed for a team that finished 9-8 the previous season, even with the addition of Calvin Ridley and the replacement of Jawaan Taylor on the offensive line by rookie Anton Harrison. It was hoped that with the right guidance and development, the young talent would continue to rise.

The score was once again 9-8.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ playcalling staff, head coach Doug Pederson, and general manager Trent Baalke are all to blame for this disastrous season. It’s one thing to crumble and experience a new loss with each passing day. Every setback struck the same chords, exhibiting no real development or evolution. The offensive line woes that surfaced at the start of the season returned to haunt them in the Week 18 championship game. The play that indicates you’re afraid of the line in front of you to block correctly is a rollout pass to the third-string tight end on third-and-goal, and the Jaguars were afraid of it the entire season. You could tell when the Jaguars played that they were ranked 31st offensively in Adjusted Line Yards, according to FTN Fantasy. They ended up with the highest percentage of runs stuffed; it seemed like they lost three games after every significant run. Jacksonville’s offensive line from the previous season was the same one they had this year, and by choosing to make minor improvements, they dropped from 29th to 31st place.

Now that the offseason is upon us, the franchise appears to be at its most critical juncture in my memory. You can no longer afford to take it easy and take short cuts in the division. The Colts were right there without their rookie quarterback, and the Texans pose a real threat. This team’s composition, whether it be in the front office, coaching staff, or personnel, needs to change. Trevor Lawrence will be starting at quarterback for the fourth year, so the front office needs to provide their rising talent with a better line-up.