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Trevor Lawrence has never lived up to the hype of being the generational talent he was dubbed to be coming out of Clemson in 2021. But the flashes of greatness he has shown in his NFL career — the second half of the 2022 season, Jacksonville’s 8-3 start to 2023 — couldn’t be further from his present reality.
Four games into 2024, a healthy Lawrence — months after signing his mammoth five-year, $275 million contract — is struggling as much as he ever has in his NFL career, despite the fact that he’s in his third year in Doug Pederson’s system. It’s a major issue amid a disastrous 0-4 start for the win-now Jaguars, the NFL’s only winless team.
This is a team that owner Shad Khan said ahead of training camp was the best the franchise has ever assembled.
“We just have to stay together. It’s going to teach us something,” Lawrence said Sunday. “I don’t think we need to blow everything up and start over.”
Lawrence has completed just 53.3% of his passes for 729 yards and four touchdowns against one interception with a 78.9 passer rating, which is tied for 25th among 34 qualified quarterbacks, according to Pro Football Reference. He’s currently pacing for career worsts in completion rate, first downs passing, passing success rate, bad-throw rate and on-target throw rate. That’s despite the Jaguars’ pressure rate allowed being around the league average at 20.9% (15th), per Pro Football Reference.
Two overthrows in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans epitomize Lawrence’s struggles. One was to first-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr. late in the first quarter. The other was to veteran Christian Kirk early in the third period. Both would’ve been touchdowns.
The protection was perfect on both plays.
Lawrence just missed.
“I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn when I say that he knows he’s got to make those throws,” Pederson said Monday. “Those are NFL, big-time throws.”
Lawrence needs to play better, but Jacksonville’s playcalling could also be contributing…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/why-jaguars-trevor-lawrence-regressing-year-4
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Publish date : 2024-10-03 17:58:57
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