In his second stint as an NFL head coach, Doug Pederson has big plans for the Jacksonville Jaguars in his first season with the team. He helped recruit big-name talent in free agency and oversaw a draft process that put his squad in a position to be successful in the regular season and for years to come.
The longevity factor is a major piece of what Pederson hopes to accomplish with this Jaguars rebuild; not just to win this year, but to continue winning in the future. He told reporters on Monday about how his experience in Jacksonville is unique from his previous tenure in Philadelphia, where he served as head coach of the Eagles from 2016-2020.
“I think the biggest thing is that we’re younger this time around for me, which I like,” Pederson explained. “The guys understand, too, the new additions to the team are all guys that can help us. They’re here for a reason. It’s unfortunate that the team they were on probably had to let them go, but it’s fortunate for us that we got them. We’re excited to work with these guys.
“They understand that it’s a process for them, too. They can’t just exhale that sigh of relief like, ‘I’ve made it.’ They’ve got to continue to work and prove that they can still hold a job next week. I think it’s the practice squad guys that it’s on a week-to-week basis, but it’s a good group, I’m excited to work with these guys, it’s an energetic bunch. We’ve got a sprinkle of veterans in there, too, so that’s good, too.”
One of his most challenging tasks this season will be his need to acclimate so many of the Jaguars’ younger talents to the rigors of professional football. With help from veterans like Shaquille Griffin, Dawuane Smoot, Brandon Scherff, and Christian Kirk, this relatively inexperienced crop of first and second-year players could bring Jacksonville back to relevance sooner than some may have expected a few months ago.