'Fall in love with him someday and divorce him the subsequent': Why hasn't Trevor Lawrence lived as much as the hype?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is usually not a very effusive man. He does not give emotional pregame or locker room speeches. He does not yell at teammates or coaches on the sideline.

That is not how he leads. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson has persistently praised Lawrence for the way in which he stays stage, by no means getting too excessive or too low.

However when he stood on the podium following the Jaguars’ 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, Lawrence was offended and discouraged by the underperforming offense. He shook his head and listed errors made by himself, the receivers, offensive line, backs and coaches. He talked about everybody having to be accountable for a second less-than-stellar offensive efficiency to start out the season.

“We suck proper now,” he stated on the podium. “So, I am fairly shocked.”

It was as visibly upset as anybody in Jacksonville has seen Lawrence in three-plus seasons.

“That is what you need out of your chief,” Pederson stated final week. “I do not need anyone to sugarcoat something.

“It is probably not in his nature to do it, however you already know what? He is bought to do it.”

Because the Jaguars (0-2) head to Buffalo to face the Payments (2-0) on “Monday Evening Soccer” (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) the discourse surrounding whether or not Lawrence has lived as much as the hype is rising following two underwhelming performances to start out the season.

Lawrence was tagged with a “generational prospect” label by draft analysts popping out of Clemson in 2021, however he has struggled with inconsistent play and turnovers in his first three NFL seasons. He is performed nicely sufficient to earn a $275 million contract extension that made him one of many top-paid QBs within the league this summer time, however he hasn’t lived as much as top-QB standing on the sector.

His rookie season was overshadowed by then-coach City Meyer, who was fired after a 2-11 begin. Lawrence and Pederson bounced again with a playoff berth in 2022, however the quarterback regressed as accidents flooded the workforce in 2023. These struggles have persevered early on this season, however can Lawrence lastly escape for good and take the Jaguars again to the playoffs?

As an NFC govt put it: “You wish to fall in love with him someday and divorce him the subsequent.”

IN 2021, LAWRENCE was regarded by scouts, media analysts and followers as the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck in 2012. His dimension (6-foot-6), arm expertise and dominance whereas at Clemson (which included profitable a nationwide title as a freshman), made him the most-hyped quarterback getting into draft day.

When the Jaguars drafted him first total, the expectations have been sky-high.

Lawrence’s rookie season was a catastrophe beneath Meyer, whose questionable soccer choices and mistreatment of gamers created a dysfunctional atmosphere.

Lawrence threw 12 landing passes and had 22 turnovers (17 interceptions) in a 3-14 season. One NFL govt, who requested anonymity, known as it a wasted 12 months that knocked Lawrence’s developmental timetable out of whack.

The Jaguars employed Pederson — who is thought for being QB-friendly and gained Super Bowl LII with Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles — in 2022.

Lawrence’s second season began off sluggish. In Weeks 1-8, he threw 9 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. It wasn’t till Weeks 9-18 the place he confirmed off top-QB potential — finishing 69.7% of his passes (second in NFL) with 15 TDs and two interceptions.

And he had a number of elite moments in that timeframe, too.

Deleting a 17-0 first-half deficit to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20. Overcoming a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens 28-27. Throwing three TD passes in 9 minutes to force overtime and beat the Dallas Cowboys after trailing by 17 factors within the third quarter.

And, lastly, the largest second of his profession: After throwing 4 interceptions within the first half of the wild-card game towards the Los Angeles Chargers, Lawrence threw 4 landing passes and the Jaguars gained 31-30 on a last-second subject purpose.

“I really feel like he by no means will get flustered,” defensive lineman DeForest Buckner of the Jaguars’ AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts stated. “Clearly from his rookie 12 months till now, he is grown rather a lot. However I might actually say he is poised all through a recreation. We have been all witness to it in that playoff recreation towards the Chargers. … And that simply exhibits the psychological toughness … and simply the quick reminiscence.”

In 2023, the Jaguars began 8-3. Lawrence had a 61.5 QBR (tenth within the NFL) and accomplished 67.3% of his passes with 12 landing passes and 7 interceptions. However he fell aside within the last six weeks throwing 9 TD passes and 7 interceptions. He had a 44.8 QBR and the Jaguars went 0-5 in his begins.

Lawrence’s tail off might be defined by accidents — he had a concussion along with his ankle and shoulder accidents — and his prime two receivers, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, and a number of offensive linemen additionally lacking video games.

“He clearly wasn’t proper final 12 months,” an NFL personnel director stated earlier than the season. “He was fairly beat up and tried to play by means of it. I feel his toughness and his capacity to play by means of these points and make all of it concerning the workforce is commendable.”

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You need to look carefully to discover a time Lawrence has performed nicely for an prolonged stretch.

There was a interval — from Week 12 in 2022 to Week 12 in 2023 — when Lawrence was probably the greatest quarterbacks within the NFL. He ranked prime 10 in completion share, yards per try, QBR and passing yards. He threw 24 landing passes to 9 interceptions. Extra importantly, the Jaguars have been 14-4 (the identical file as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs). The one workforce and QB with a greater file in that timeframe was Philadelphia and Jalen Hurts (15-1).

However all that highlights his greatest challenge: inconsistency. A part of that’s turnovers. He has 60 in three seasons, greater than every other participant within the NFL.

“[He’s] tremendous assured, however the decision-making must be higher,” the NFC govt stated. “I feel it comes right down to the truth that he is been nice his complete life. … Now he is realizing you may’t do among the issues he has tried to get away with.

“I do consider he is a top-10 quarterback as soon as he figures all of that out. Perhaps not the highest, prime stage, however shut.”

Lawrence’s 39 interceptions are third most within the league behind Josh Allen‘s 47 and Mahomes’ 43 since he entered the league, however he has 59 TD passes (sixteenth within the NFL) whereas Mahomes (109) and Allen (103) are the one two gamers in triple digits.

Lawrence additionally struggles with ball safety. He is misplaced 21 fumbles in 52 profession video games, by far probably the most of any participant for the reason that 2021 season started — Detroit’s Jared Goff is second with 14 — and already tied for probably the most in franchise historical past with Mark Brunell, who did it in 120 video games.

Getting into Monday, Lawrence has a three-game streak with no fumble misplaced — two extra video games would tie the longest streak of his profession.

“I’ve saved two palms on the ball once I’m escaping, once I’m stepping up, when the pocket’s muddy and I can see it and I do know the problems,” Lawrence stated this week. “I really feel like I’ve completed a a lot better job.”

The Jaguars consider Lawrence will solidify his spot as a prime QB within the league, which is why they gave the contract extension that included $200 million in ensures. It made him the highest-paid QB till Dak Prescott‘s deal surpassed that earlier this month.

Might the Jaguars have waited one other 12 months to do the deal? After all, one other NFC personnel govt stated earlier than the season, however the worth would have solely elevated, particularly if Lawrence put the flashes of elite play collectively for a full season.

Two weeks into the 2024 season, and that hasn’t occurred — but.

LAWRENCE HAS THROWN one landing move in two video games this season. It was to rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. towards Miami within the season opener, and it was probably the greatest throws of his NFL profession.

Thomas was sandwiched between three Dolphins defenders and Lawrence let the ball go as he was being hit by linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah.

Lawrence positioned the ball within the again left nook of the top zone over cornerback Jalen Ramsey and security Jordan Poyer. Thomas used his attain to make the catch alongside the top line. It was an ideal throw the place solely Thomas might get the ball. Thomas was about 15-20 yards away from the place he’d ultimately catch it when Lawrence launched it.

It confirmed off Lawrence’s capacity to see the sector, anticipation, arm power and accuracy: all qualities of an elite quarterback.

Pederson stated over the offseason he expects Lawrence to have a bounce 12 months as he is extra snug within the offense — which offensive coordinator Press Taylor believes nearly occurred final season earlier than Lawrence bought damage.

“The primary half of the season, he was taking part in pretty much as good as anyone,” Taylor stated. “I do not know if he was getting credit score for that outdoors the constructing. I’ve no clue. However we have been very pleased with how he was taking part in, how he was working the offense, managing video games, profitable video games for us.”

There is not any signal of a bounce occurring this season but. Lawrence’s completion share (51%) ranks thirtieth, and he’s final in completion share on third down (21.4%).

His play, based on QBR (56.7), is barely above common (50). He has posted a QBR of lower than 60 in seven consecutive begins — all of which he has misplaced, the longest lively streak within the league.

“Whether or not that is an damage factor, coping with stress up entrance, I do not know, however there is not that consistency in how he units and delivers. You need repeatable mechanics,” a former NFL head coach stated of Lawrence’s performances. “A few of his completions I see are barely out of body once they should not be … I do know he is made efforts for that, however in my thoughts, he does not appear as sharp, on it on a regular basis, proper now.

“I feel it could be [that] he is urgent — rather a lot.”

The offensive troubles have not all been on Lawrence. Getting into Sunday, the offensive line ranked twenty fourth in move block win fee. Lawrence’s stress fee (share of dropbacks the place he was both sacked, beneath duress or hit) and sacks per dropback ranked thirty first and final, respectively. And Lawrence’s receivers have a league-high 4 drops.

“In the event you consider Trevor — and I do know the quarterback place will get a variety of scrutiny — however there’s a variety of points that we’ve … simply task errors that have to be mounted,” Pederson stated. “Can he be higher? Yeah, he might be higher. I feel that is all a part of simply persevering with to develop. … He is on monitor.”

Lawrence has bounced again from tough begins earlier than. Regardless of every part he is gone by means of — from Meyer to finish zone interceptions towards Houston and Denver in 2022 to the wild-card playoff comeback to his listing of accidents in 2023 — his self-confidence has not waned.

“I do not actually care what individuals take into consideration me,” Lawrence advised ESPN. “I play for the individuals round me. … However I additionally suppose issues are earned on this league, and I might like to get to the purpose in my profession the place there is no doubt concerning the participant I’m.”

ESPN nationwide NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler contributed to this story.