It’s devastating: the Jaguars head coach has announced his unexpected departure, making a strong statement and wishing the team and fans a very fond farewell.
On Monday, the Jaguars made a number of changes to their coaching staff, and one departing coach isn’t keeping quiet.
Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, defensive line coach Brentson Buckner, passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach Deshea Townsend, inside linebackers coach Tony Gilbert, safeties coach Cody Grimm, senior defensive assistant Bob Sutton, and defensive quality control coaches Tee Mitchell and Sean Cullina were all fired, according to head coach Doug Pederson’s announcement the day after his team was eliminated from playoff contention.
On social media, NFL insider Josina Anderson claimed to have heard from a coach who was leaving Jacksonville that “the problems are staying, and the solutions are leaving.”
Carousel season is undoubtedly a trying time for a lot of NFL players, with varying opinions about how important change and improvement are.
Consequently, the following statement is from a coach who is quitting the Jaguars:
“The issues are growing, and the answers are disappearing. owx2XaIwjo’s website
@JosinaAnderson, the author, January 9, 2024
Although the coach suggests that the offense is the Jaguars’ main issue, everyone on the team has a hand in the team’s disintegration.
After an 8-3 start, the Jaguars collapsed, going 1-5 in the final six weeks of the season, including a defeat to the Titans (6-11) in Week 18. Despite starting the season as the overwhelming favorite to win the AFC South, the team was eliminated from the postseason.
As Anderson pointed out, the defense wasn’t perfect; from Weeks 1–12, it ranked 12th in points allowed per game; from Weeks 13–18, it ranked 26th. In the meantime, the offense was also mediocre.
They started the season with an average of 21.2 points per game, but during their final six games of the season, they averaged 20.5 points.
Coordinators are frequently used as scapegoats by coaches who are under fire. Only this season, Buffalo’s head coach Sean McDermott fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey after Week 10, and although the decision paid off as the team won the AFC East, the bulk of Buffalo’s progress came from a strengthened defense. The Bills defense was 19th in expected points added per play and 23rd in success rate from Weeks 1 through 10; from Weeks 11 through 18, they were fourth in EPA and eleventh in success rate.
If Pederson righted the ship, Jacksonville’s story would probably be similar. The offense needs to step up if the Jaguars are to move forward.
The first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, disappointed after a strong debut season under head coach Derek Pederson. While his interception rate rose by 1.1 percentage points, his passer rating, completion percentage, and touchdown rate all decreased.
The Jaguars issued a statement by Pederson following Anderson’s post, stating that the firings occurred “on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.”
Bernie Parmelee, the coach of the running backs, and Todd Washington, the assistant offensive line coach, were also fired, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Bernie Parmelee, the coach of the RBs, and Todd Washington, the assistant OL coach, were let go by the Jaguars.
Declaration made by Doug Pederson:
“I have made the tough decision to relieve multiple members of the coaching staff, both on the offensive and defensive sides, since our season ended.
Jan. 9, 2024 — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
The Jags’ biggest vulnerability was their offensive line, which ranked 27th in run-blocking and 29th in pass-block win rate on ESPN at the end of the season. Jacksonville’s rush yards per carry ranking was 30th as well.
Pederson has to hope his adjustments are sufficient to get the Jaguars back to the postseason the following year. If not, he will be the issue that has to be resolved.
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