Modifications might be coming for Jaguars if early-season struggles proceed

At Week 4 of this NFL season, it is nonetheless early. However it’s getting late actual early in Jacksonville.

The 0-3 Jacksonville Jaguars have been allegedly the most effective workforce assembled in franchise historical past, in keeping with workforce proprietor Shad Khan forward of this season. However either side of the ball rank towards the underside within the league, and the Jags are coming off an unpleasant 37-point loss in prime time to an AFC contender Khan thought his workforce must be.

Folks across the league are bracing for adjustments in Jacksonville if the Jags cannot start to proper the ship quickly, however a number of sources who spoke to CBS Sports activities this week issued phrases of warning concerning what strikes, precisely, the workforce may make at this level.

A lot of the dialogue across the Jaguars has centered on head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor. Whereas the connection between these two has been sturdy for years, sources level to a strained relationship between Pederson and common supervisor Trent Baalke, in addition to misalignment from proprietor to GM and head coach, as different causes of dysfunction.

“For those who hearth Doug and Press, you don’t have any one to run the workforce and construct the sport plan,” stated one supply.

Taylor, believed to be the principle offensive play-caller, started working with Pederson when the pinnacle coach took over in Philadelphia in 2016. Pederson’s loyalty to Taylor and refusal to fireplace him was a part of the reasoning behind the Eagles firing Pederson after the 2020 season. And when Pederson obtained the Jaguars gig in 2022, he introduced on Taylor as his offensive coordinator.

The 2024 Jaguars have but to attain greater than 17 factors in a recreation, and so they’ve registered 4 offensive touchdowns by 12 quarters of play with the Thirtieth-ranked scoring offense. However the speeding assault has been efficient when Jacksonville can go to it.

They’re averaging 5.4 yards per carry, third-best within the league behind the Ravens and Packers, and a full yard above league common. However their 64 rush makes an attempt are fourth-fewest within the league.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence signed a franchise-record five-year, $275 million contract within the offseason, however many agree his play has been holding the Jaguars again. He has struggled mightily with accuracy. His completion proportion over expectation, which seems to be at anticipated completions in comparison with precise completions, is destructive 8.9%. That is third-worst within the league amongst certified passers and behind second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson and benched quarterback Bryce Young.

“Usually once you give the quarterback the extension after 12 months 3, they play with large confidence the subsequent 12 months,” one supply stated. “It is the workforce saying, ‘We consider in you, we’re shopping for into you. He is not taking part in like they invested in him.”

Stated one other supply: “For those who watch the video games, there are conditions the place the balls will not be on anyone.”

Pederson may at all times take extra management in play-calling — one thing he is been hesitant to do — however sources threw chilly water on Taylor going anyplace due to how integral he’s to the weekly preparation.

“Nobody on workers can substitute what Press does for him,” stated one supply.

Certainly, whether or not it is an interim head coach or a special coordinator, there is no such thing as a apparent selection for both on the Jaguars workers. Former Chargers head coach Mike McCoy is on workers because the quarterbacks coach, however he hasn’t coordinated an offense since 2018 when he had the last-ranked Cardinals offense sputter to his personal mid-season firing.

“I perceive everybody’s narrative could be to fireplace Press,” stated a supply. “However even from a sensible standpoint, I do not understand how you efficiently recreation plan in the event you hearth him. You are losing [Lawrence’s] season by doing that.”

Lawrence is also feeling the results of absences round him. Calvin Ridley signed with the Titans within the offseason, and Professional Bowl tight finish Evan Engram has missed the final two video games with a hamstring harm that may doubtless flip into a 3rd missed recreation.

The Jags protection has additionally struggled, giving up the fourth-most factors within the league — although a lot of that got here Monday night time within the blowout in Western New York.

Baalke has been the GM since 2021. He and Pederson navigated the post-City Meyer tenure to get the Jags to the playoffs in 2021, and strikes like inking Christian Kirk to a market-beating deal and locking in Engram have helped the franchise.

However his resolution to take Travon Walker No. 1 total in 2021 over Aidan Hutchinson has proved pricey for the franchise.

Since coming into the league, Hutchinson ranks tenth in quarterback pressures (150) and is tied with T.J. Watt and Khalil Mack for the seventh-most sacks (27.5). Walker is tied for thirty seventh in sacks with 15.5, and his 101 pressures rank exterior the top-40.

One supply with information of the dynamic between Pederson and Baalke known as the working relationship “a wedding of comfort.”

For as hands-off as Khan has gave the impression to be in his management of the group, few NFL team house owners have been as lively in hiring and firing coaches as he. Since Khan took over on the finish of the 2011 season, he has employed 5 completely different head coaches. Twice he has handed out pink slips inside one season, together with what’s arguably probably the most disastrous single-season teaching tenure in trendy NFL historical past with Meyer.

Solely the Browns and Broncos have had extra head coaches since Khan grew to become proprietor of the Jaguars. And Pederson will doubtless want to show issues round this season to keep away from Jacksonville from pulling even with these two franchises for that distinction.