Tag: Press Taylor

Film review: Jaguars’ Evan Engram has a new role in 2024

Film review: Jaguars’ Evan Engram has a new role in 2024

Jacksonville’s regular season is just over a week away from commencement. The team spent a decent chunk of the past week cutting their roster down from 90 to 53 players and constructing the 17-man practice squad.

Last week marked the final preseason game for roster bubble players to make their case to be on the gameday roster. While the game offered plenty of standouts, it also provided a glimpse at a player who is one of the most important skill players on the team.

Tight end Evan Engram put up career-high numbers with 114 receptions and 963 receiving yards with the Jaguars in 2023.

Yet, it seemed it was not utilized in the way many have hoped since he was selected in the top 15 picks of the 2016 NFL Draft, as he averaged a career-low 8.4 yards per reception.

But it looks like new offensive coordinator Press Taylor has found a way to use Engram. 

There were whispers during training camp of Engram taking on new roles this season, and it appears they are coming to fruition.

Not necessarily by shifting to an in-line focus, considering Engram spent roughly one snap there for every two in the slot or out wide in 2023, but as an even greater alignment-versatile player who could be a Swiss army knife for the Jaguars’ offense moving forward.

Last Friday night showed what could be expected from the former All-American standout.

The clips above show Engram lined up as a fullback with Luke Farrell as the in-line “Y” in this offset strong I-formation during the first two plays for Jacksonville’s offense. The former can be seen making blocks at the second level and slowing down the backside defender on the respective reps.

In the two offensive series he played, Engram lined up almost everywhere. Along with the first two plays at fullback, he saw snaps as an H-back and motioned to create Bunch and Trips looks out of shotgun and single-back formations.

Engram also played in the Z alignment off the line of scrimmage, as the in-line Y and in the slot. When the Jaguars approached or entered the red zone, Engram became the offense’s focal point. 

The former Ole Miss standout caught two touchdown passes from star quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Both of them were well-thrown, accurate passes.

Yet, Engram’s prowess as a receiver stood out. That is his superpower.

The Jaguars are not going to succeed offensively if they keep him as an in-line-only player and restrict him. Engram is most dangerous when in space and playing one-on-one against slot cornerbacks and safeties in the red zone.

Here, the Jaguars run a spacing concept out of a bunch set with Engram running a seam route as the Y on the weak side of the formation.

He baits the cornerback into committing his hips to the boundary, allowing him to swim over the defender and work back inside. Lawrence makes a fantastic throw between two defenders as Engram displays excellent concentration to secure the grab for six points. 

Engram’s usage in this offense already seems different than in years past. He appears less restricted by his alignment and more loose moving around the formation.

His ability to threaten defenses from any alignment makes the Jaguars offense much more dangerous. That will be key, especially with the development and progression of first-round wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

The Jaguars are entering a crucial season in a year where the AFC looks as stacked as ever and the AFC South is on the rise. Engram will be an integral part of the offense in more ways than one and his two lone drives in the final preseason game provide a sneak peak of what is to come.

ESPN coaching staff rankings: Jaguars in NFL’s bottom-half

ESPN coaching staff rankings: Jaguars in NFL’s bottom-half

The Jaguars’ coaching staff has something to prove this season, at least in the eyes of ESPN’s Benjamin Solak.

Ranking every NFL coaching staff ahead of the 2024 campaign — “It’s about optimization on any given Sunday, while keeping a long view on development,” and not necessarily wins and losses, he wrote — Solak placed head coach Doug Pederson and his Jacksonville staff at No. 18 on Thursday.

He largely cited the Jaguars’ offensive regression last season compared to the year before, given Pederson’s reputation as a respected play-caller from his Super Bowl-winning days as Philadelphia’s head coach, as his reasoning.

Pederson awarded those duties to Press Taylor, who coached alongside him with the Eagles, last season.

Pederson is one of only three head coaches on this list to have won a Super Bowl in the past 10 years. The other two (Andy Reid, Sean McVay) have staffs that are in my top five. Yet here are the Jaguars, all the way down at No. 18.

Pederson hasn’t done in Jacksonville much of what made him successful during his early years in Philadelphia (2016-20). He was on the crest of the run-pass option wave then, which made offense simpler for his quarterbacks, but now the Jaguars ask Trevor Lawrence to run a fairly traditional West Coast offense without many of the bells and whistles other quarterbacks get to enjoy. They still run RPOs and use play-action and send players in motion, but nothing is weaponized the way elite offenses do it in today’s NFL.

Taylor, who has long been connected to Pederson, has been the subject of offensive frustration. He took over playcalling in 2023 and it looks like he’ll keep it in 2024 even though the offense declined in success rate, points per drive and expected points added per play once he manned the headset. Of note was a huge decline on late downs, where Pederson’s offenses have typically been excellent: In 2022, the Jaguars ranked ninth in third-down conversion rate and 15th in fourth-down conversion rate. In 2023, they were 17th and 26th, respectively.

Jacksonville’s decline in advanced offensive statistics was reflected in the box score, as well.

The Jaguars’ offense fell to a slightly above-average No. 13 in the NFL in yards (339.5) and points (22.2) per game in 2023 after finishing No. 10 in those departments under Pederson the year before (357.4 and 23.8, respectively).

Jacksonville’s rushing production dropped by 27.7 yards per game and from No. 14 in the league to No. 24. The Jaguars’ total yards per play decreased by half a yard (down from No. 8 to No. 15), and its turnover count increased by eight (up to fifth-most from 14th-fewest).

The Jaguars nearly matched their points per game from the 2022 season over last year’s first six games, before quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered the first of three injuries he played through and four he experienced on the campaign (knee, ankle, concussion and shoulder).

Jacksonville averaged 20 points per game after leading receiver Christian Kirk suffered a season-ending core muscle injury in Week 13, too.

So long as Taylor maintains the play-calling role, the Jaguars are banking on Lawrence and Kirk’s returns to full health and a few tweaks to their personnel to get their offense back on track.

Additions include free-agent signees, center Mitch Morse and wide receiver Gabe Davis, and first-round draft pick, receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Davis and Thomas replace Calvin Ridley, who signed with Tennessee in free agency, and Zay Jones, who was released; Morse takes over for Luke Fortner as Jacksonville’s starting snapper.

Solak shared his belief that Jacksonville’s offense can rebound so long as Pederson is heavily involved in the unit’s strategizing.

Praising Jacksonville’s offseason defensive coordinator swap, when Pederson replaced Mike Caldwell with Ryan Nielsen in February, Solak suggested the head coach can lean into the strengths he displayed with Philadelphia this season.

I still think Pederson is a good manager of players and has a sound offensive system, but he needs to be more hands-on in reviving this offense — and he can be. Nielsen, his new defensive coordinator, was one of the pleasant surprises in last year’s coaching carousel. As a first-year DC for the Falcons, he got substantial overachievement out of a thin roster. I expect big things in Jacksonville, where he has a bit more talent to work with.

Press Taylor explains Jaguars making late preseason QB move

Press Taylor explains Jaguars making late preseason QB move

The Jaguars will likely take two quarterbacks into the 2024 season on their active roster, as they have done in each of Doug Pederson’s two years as Jacksonville’s head coach.

But the Jaguars added a fourth quarterback to their roster Wednesday morning, officially signing E.J. Perry away from the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League ahead of Jacksonville’s Friday preseason finale at Atlanta.

Jaguars offensive coordinator pointed toward the groin injury backup quarterback C.J. Beathard suffered against Tampa Bay on Saturday as the reason for Perry’s return to Jacksonville for a third stint with the team.

“Part of that was just that C.J.’s health just moving forward to make sure as we go into this next game, just not limiting our ability to play this game out as we go,” Taylor explained Wednesday.

Beathard will be sidelined against the Falcons Friday, per Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Jacksonvlle’s starting offense are slated to play for about the entire first half, leading only one healthy passer for the second before Perry’s signing, Mac Jones.

Perry’s recent previous experience with the Jaguars — with whom he first joined as an undrafted free agent and spent his rookie season as a practice squad member in 2022, and returned to last December while Lawrence was in concussion protocol — should allow him to step into action if needed this week.

“E.J. is a guy we obviously have trust in and he’s been around us,” said Taylor. “He’s a guy that we can bring in at the very last minute and he is going to know 50 to 75 percent of the terminology from the jump.

“Guys are familiar with him, which I think that’s a part of it as well. Not everybody’s played with him, but a lot of guys have been here just through his time on and off the roster.”

In addition to his time with Jacksonville, Perry also spent offseason and preseason time with Houston last year.

Perry has yet to attempt a pass or appear in a game in the NFL, but has completed 67-of-112 attempts for 785 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions with Michigan in the UFL and USFL.

Over five years in college, two seasons with Boston College and three with Brown, Perry completed 63.5% of his 900 throws for 6,247 yards with 47 touchdowns and 27 interceptions, adding 16 scores on the ground.

“[E.J. is] a guy that we have confidence in as a coaching staff can help us through a game situation here,” Taylor concluded.

Taylor: Brian Thomas Jr.’s first Jaguars catch ‘can go a long way’

Taylor: Brian Thomas Jr.’s first Jaguars catch ‘can go a long way’

The Jaguars hope rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas’s 41-yard, contested catch in his preseason debut Saturday was his first of many explosive plays with Jacksonville.

To Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor, it was exactly the kind of welcome-to-the-NFL moment a first-round pick needs.

“I think that catch can go a long way,” Taylor said Tuesday. “You saw kind of the energy that [Thomas] had after the catch.”

On 3rd and 1 at the Jaguars’ 20-yard line, Thomas released outside against Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams and unleashed his 4.33-second 40-yard dash speed to get open down the left sideline.

Quarterback C.J. Bathard underthrew the pass, causing Thomas to slow down and fight through Williams’ contact to track the ball in, grasping it with his left hand and chest before securing it with his right arm while being pulled to the ground.

Jacksonville’s sideline erupted with excitement as it became clear Thomas made the grab.

“Then the cool part was our sideline; everybody kind of erupted at that time and you saw the guys go wild for him, come on the field, give him high fives, all that type of deal,” Taylor continued.

“Because we’ve seen that partially, we see that skill set flash all the time, he makes plays here and there, he’s done it through spring, done it through camp, and guys are just excited for him.”

Taylor had previously described Thomas as a fairly quiet, “locked in” player who appeared entirely committed to his development and learning from coaches and teammates throughout his first offseason with the Jaguars.

But Thomas was similarly energetic after his big gain, hopping up to celebrate as the crowd and fellow Jaguars roared.

“It’s football. Competing brings it out of me,” Thomas said after the game Saturday. “This is what I love to do, this is my passion. When I’m out there on the football field, I give it my all and that’s when it comes out.”

As Jacksonville prepares its No. 23 overall draft selection for his first pro season, Taylor believes moments like Thomas’ catch on Saturday can inspire the entire squad, not just the rookie, representing hard work being paid off.

“Anytime a rookie comes in, puts his head down, works hard, guys can root for that,” Taylor expressed.

“Everybody wants him to have success — like all of our guys — and so when a guy makes a play like that, it’s a good thing for him moving forward, but for everybody around him as well to see that and believe in him.”

Pederson, Lawrence preview Taylor calling Jaguars’ plays from sideline

Pederson, Lawrence preview Taylor calling Jaguars’ plays from sideline

Doug Pederson has yet to decide whether he or Press Taylor will call offensive plays for the Jaguars this season.

But Taylor, the team’s offensive coordinator for two seasons and play-caller last year, will at least remain in charge of Jacksonville’s offense throughout the 2024 preseason, Pederson acknowledged Thursday.

With a twist.

“Press is going to try it on the field,” said Pederson, the Jaguars’ head coach. “I told him he’ll like it down there.”

Taylor, who took play-calling over from Pederson in a move that was reported hours before the season began last September, did so with a bird’s eye view from the box in 2023, sending plays in over a headset.

Pederson, citing the potential for quicker communication with players and on-field coaches and a better connection with the game as it unfolds, believes the move could benefit Taylor as it ultimately brings him closer to the rest of the team.

“One is you get to feel the game. Two, you’re with the players. And three, you can make the right corrections right now, communication-wise,” Pederson explained. “You feel connected to the football game a little bit more.

“Early in my career I was in the box as well and just, you’re kind of removed. It’s a little more challenging up there.”

Effectively, Pederson wants to remove those challenges that slowed Jacksonville’s offense down last season and return it to the level of production it reached when he called the plays, regardless of who handles the duties.

The unit generally ranked around league average in major statistical categories under Taylor, finishing No. 13 in the NFL in yards (339.5) and points (22.2) per game compared to No. 10 in those departments under Pederson in 2022 (357.4 and 23.8, respectively).

But Jacksonville’s rushing production dropped by 27.7 yards per game in the same side-by-side, falling from No. 14 to No. 24. Its total yards per play reduced by half a yard (down from No. 8 to No. 15), and its turnover count increased by eight (up to fifth-most from 14th-fewest). 

In fairness, the Jaguars’ offense was beleaguered by injuries throughout the year. Most notably, quarterback Trevor Lawrence was impacted by knee, ankle and shoulder injuries and a concussion at various points following Week 6.

The Jaguars averaged 23.7 points per game through the matchup in which Lawrence first got hurt, against Indianapolis in October. 

Lawrence, who shared his expectation that Taylor would call plays this season in April, admitted he had not thought much about the coordinator’s game-day location change but suggested it could enhance the offense’s communication.

“It’ll be cool to see him down there and interact with him. I think it’ll be good for him to get a feel for just the team,” Lawrence said after some consideration Thursday. “Some games are just different.

“The feel at the beginning, you feel as players and coaches on the field, but I’m sure it’s different from the press box or the coaches’ booth. I’ve never been up there, so I don’t know. I would assume it’s different. You’re kind of detached from the energy and the atmosphere of the sidelines. So, we’ll see how that changes things if it does at all.”

Jacksonville will open its 2024 preseason at home against Kansas City, at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Press Taylor envisions Gabe Davis unlocking ‘element’ in Jags’ offense

Press Taylor envisions Gabe Davis unlocking ‘element’ in Jags’ offense

The passing game struggles Jacksonville has encountered in training camp have been well-documented by observers, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence up to five interceptions in four days of team drills including three during 11-on-11 periods.

Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor issued an important reminder Friday: Play installations are kept relatively minimal this early in the preseason.

Jacksonville has yet to conduct a padded practice, limiting typical physicality from offensive linemen in their blocking and wide receivers in their route-running.

But if there is a player who could get the offense going when pads come on, Taylor believes it could be new Jaguars receiver Gabe Davis.

“I think a lot of the things that Gabe can do, you’ll see more in the live periods, which we don’t have a ton of those. But as the pads come on and things get physical, there’s an element to Gabe that we expect to bring out of him, or him to bring out in our offense even more,” Taylor said Friday.

Davis signed a three-year, $39 million contract with Jacksonville during free agency in March, following four seasons with Buffalo, which selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft out of UCF.

In 64 appearances and 47 starts with the Bills, Davis hauled in 132 receptions for 2,730 yards, averaging 16.7 yards per grab, with 27 touchdowns. He added 22 catches for 474 yards and six touchdowns in seven postseason games.

Importantly, he caught 16 regular season red zone touchdowns, including five in 2021 (tied for 20th-most among NFL receivers that season) and 2023 (tied for No. 13).

The Jaguars opened camp working extensively in the red zone during team periods. Their quarterbacks, Lawrence, Mac Jones and C.J. Beathard, combined for five interceptions over those two practices.

Turnovers were less frequent on Days 3 and 4, but scores and explosive plays remained few and far between.

Davis’ size — 6-foot-2, 225 pounds — and explosive play ability could disrupt that trend for the better for Jacksonville’s offense when the Jaguars dress fully for practice this week.

“Obviously, he’s got length, he’s got speed, he’s got play speed,” Taylor described Davis. “So, those are all things that as we just continue to grow and build, we think he’ll add to the offense.”

The Jaguars return to the Miller Electric Center for Day 5 of open training camp on Monday. Find Jacksonville’s full training camp schedule and reserve tickets for practices here.

CBS calls Jaguars’ play-calling an ‘overlooked’ offseason storyline

CBS calls Jaguars’ play-calling an ‘overlooked’ offseason storyline

The Jaguars have been in the news a lot this offseason.

They handed out two of the biggest contracts in franchise history (and in one case, NFL history), signed eight players during March’s free agency period, picked nine more in April’s NFL draft, and even struck a deal with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan on proposals to renovate EverBank Stadium (pending City Council approval).

But CBS analyst Cody Benjamin thinks one Jaguars storyline has been buried in the team’s offseason newsfeed: Who will call Jacksonville’s offensive plays in 2024?

Everyone has an opinion about [quarterback Trevor] Lawrence cashing in with a $275 million extension, but maybe it’s time to figure out exactly who is going to be responsible for orchestrating the former No. 1 draft pick’s offense. After shuffling Lawrence’s receiving corps this offseason, welcoming Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. in favor of Calvin Ridley, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been mum about the quarterback’s play-caller for 2024, with coach Doug Pederson repeatedly eluding questions about the role this offseason.

Why is this relevant? Because Lawrence took a noticeable step back in 2023, offensive coordinator Press Taylor’s first year as the full-time play-caller. Pederson previously split decision-making with Taylor in 2022, which has many thinking the head man could reclaim the responsibility for himself. Another layer here: Pederson’s relationship with Taylor was reportedly at the crux of his abrupt split from the Philadelphia Eagles years ago; once revered for his offense, Pederson’s unit grew stale in 2019-2020, and his insistence on making Taylor a coordinator contributed to the Eagles’ decision to move on.

Jacksonville’s offense took a step back with Taylor calling plays full-time in 2023, compared to 2022 when Pederson was believed to occupy the role. It’s since been reported the two split the duties between halves.

The unit generally ranked around league average last season, finishing No. 13 in the NFL in yards (339.5) and points (22.2) per game compared to No. 10 in those categories (357.4 and 23.8) the year before. But its rushing game production dropped by 27.7 yards per game (falling to No. 24 from No. 14), its yards per play reduced by half a yard (down to No. 15 from No. 8), and its turnover count increased by eight (jumping to fifth-most from No. 19).

Granted, the offense averaged 23.7 points per game over the first six weeks of the season, before Lawrence suffered his first of four considerable injuries (a knee bruise, high-ankle sprain, concussion and shoulder sprain) on the year.

Still, Pederson hasn’t ruled out the possibility of re-taking the job for the 2024 campaign.

“I think those are things that I need to consider this offseason and this spring,” Pederson said on Feb. 27. “There were things out of my control that I had to deal with more the last year that takes you away from some of that stuff … as part of the evaluation process, I have to evaluate myself and Press as decision-makers and play callers and see what’s best for our team.”

But Pederson has not provided much of an update since, despite the question persisting from reporters and analysts.

“[We] don’t play a game until September,” Pederson said on May 10. “So we got some time.”

Reporting that Taylor would take over as Jacksonville’s play-caller surfaced on the first day of the regular season in 2023. At this rate, it’s fair to wonder if the Jaguars’ decision will be offered on a similar timeline this year.

Jaguars ‘eager’ about RB Tank Bigsby entering second season

Jaguars ‘eager’ about RB Tank Bigsby entering second season

Hopes are high in Jacksonville for running back Tank Bigsby as he enters his second season with the Jaguars, despite his bumpy, 50-carry debut campaign.

Jacksonville’s third-round NFL draft selection in 2023, Bigsby was acquired to provide the Jaguars’ running back room insurance and a rotational contributor behind starter, Travis Etienne Jr.

But aside from scoring two touchdowns in as many games to begin his NFL career, Bigsby fumbled twice and struggled with rushing efficiency over the 13 games he logged a carry.

He finished the year averaging 2.64 yards per attempt, surpassing four yards per carry in only one game in which he rushed at least three times, the season finale against Tennessee.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor are optimistic that Bigsby is in for improved production in 2024. He’ll receive more opportunities as the team attempts to reduce Etienne’s workload and keep him fresh, as Etienne averaged over 19 touches per game in 2023.

“Tank has done a great job going into year two. He’s a smart player … he’s a hard worker. [He] practices extremely fast, which I love,” Pederson described Bigsby. “Eager to get the pads on and see what he can do.”

As he aims to boost his efficiency, Bigsby’s offseason focus has been his ball-carrying vision within the Jaguars’ offensive scheme, per Pederson. According to Pro Football Focus, Bigsby averaged three-tenths of a yard before a defender made contact with him in 2023.

“For him now, it’s just understanding what he is seeing particularly in the run game, anticipating where the hole is going to be,” Pederson explained. “It’s like a movie screen and that screen is constantly moving and changing. For him, it’s being able to see that and react.”

Taylor expressed some regret for Bigsby’s relative lack of involvement in the offense, admitting there were instances he kept Etienne on the field when Bigsby likely could have accomplished a particular concept Taylor called.

Bigsby averaged just five offensive snaps per game over his 16 backfield appearances last year. His 80 offensive snaps on the season ranked No. 10 among the 15 running backs drafted in 2023 who received at least one handoff.

“I mean, we would’ve liked to say we would get more usage, opportunity for Tank as the season went. Looking back, there is a lot of things that we probably could have done better,” Taylor said. “You try to be as critical of everything that you can be, and — how do we utilize every single player available to us on game day?

“I think there are things Tank could have provided that we maybe didn’t give him opportunities to or maybe we’re quick to give Travis another rep on something that Tank could have done well for us. You live, learn, grow from it and adapt moving forward.”

Addressing Bigsby and second-round tight end Brenton Strange’s scarce contributions compared to 17-game starter, first-round offensive tackle Anton Harrison, Taylor mentioned the shallows of the learning curve both players experienced as rookies and how they’ve entered their second offseason prepared for their responsibilities.

Now, he said, Bigsby and Strange are better equipped for the speed of the NFL game, the pace of practice, their roles in the Jaguars’ offense and requirements within the scheme. Their growth has translated to the practice field, and Taylor is hopeful the trend will continue into the season.

Appearing to be on the right track, Taylor believes Bigsby is ready for an uptick in usage, and the Jaguars plan to accommodate it.

“Tank is in a great headspace in terms of where he goes in year two,” Taylor stated. “We are looking to get the most out of him as well.”

Taylor: Jaguars’ Mitch Morse ‘confident in who he is, what he’s done’

Taylor: New Jaguars center Mitch Morse ‘confident in who he is, what he’s done’

Doug Pederson praised Jaguars free agent center signee Mitch Morse shortly after signing in March for his abilities as an NFL offensive lineman and the veteran leadership he’d provide to Jacksonville’s front five.

While pads have yet to be put on as the Jaguars conduct voluntary offseason team activities (OTAs), making the former compliment hard to gauge, Morse has thus far lived up to the latter billing in the eyes of Jacksonville offensive coordinator Press Taylor.

The nine-year pro has acted as a strong example for other linemen in positional and team meetings, ensuring he captures and understands every detail issued by his new coaching staff.

“This is a guy that’s very confident in who he is, what he’s done,” Taylor described Morse. “You see it show up the way he handled himself in the huddle and the meeting room. He’s not afraid to speak up and ask questions.

“Some young guys that are new to a system are probably going to wait until a meeting ends and go grab a coach on the side, ‘Hey, you said this; what did you mean by that?’ Mitch will stop a meeting and make sure he’s on the same page of what the coach is expecting.”

That being said, Taylor noted, Morse has had no issue learning the Jaguars’ offensive system.

It likely helps that Morse’s offensive coordinator during his rookie season with Kansas City in 2015 was Pederson, to whom Taylor is a coaching disciple, before Pederson received his first NFL head coaching opportunity with Philadelphia.

“Football hasn’t really changed over the course of many years, but each offense has their own language. It’s how quickly can we get everybody on-boarded with our language. ‘What does it sound like for us? When you say this, what does this mean?’ ” Taylor explained. “Mitch has done a great job getting himself up to speed with that.”

Morse was the most significant addition to Jacksonville’s offensive line this offseason after the team finished with 59.6 pass-blocking and 40.6 run-blocking grades during the 2023 regular season, ranking No. 21 and No. 31 in the NFL in those respective categories, per Pro Football Focus.

Morse earned 63.7 run-blocking and 71.7 pass-blocking marks from PFF in 2023. Over 126 career appearances, each of which he’s started, Morse has allowed just 11 sacks.

He appears poised to take over as Jacksonville’s starting center this season, replacing the team’s 2022 third-round selection in the NFL draft, Luke Fortner, who posted 40.0 run-blocking and 54.9 pass-blocking grades last year. He allowed four sacks in 2023.

Otherwise, the Jaguars’ offensive line is largely expected to look the same in 2024 as the unit of 2023.

Seven-year Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson returns after missing eight games over two chunks of the 2023 campaign due to suspension and injury, while Anton Harrison looks to build upon a strong rookie campaign at right tackle entering his second pro season.

At guard, Ezra Cleveland enters his first full season with Jacksonville on the left side after his midseason trade acquisition from Minnesota last year. Brandon Scherff returns for his third season with the Jaguars, on a restructured contract, and his 10th year in the NFL on the right.

Taylor suggested there will be room for position battles along the front when pads come on later in the offseason program. But for now, the unit is tasked with absorbing coaching points and developing camaraderie within the scheme. Morse is serving as a critical part of that process.

“We’re trying to create an identity of who we envision ourselves being within the scheme. It’s tougher to have position battles when things aren’t very physical,” Taylor said.

“Right now, you’re looking for understanding, the details, looking for some urgency. But that physical piece is the element that misses throughout the offseason that we’re trying to take our time with as we move forward. You’ll get a little bit more preview of that through training camp, obviously preseason games as these things continue on.”

Trevor Lawrence ‘expecting’ Press Taylor to call Jaguars plays in 2024

Trevor Lawrence “expecting” Press Taylor to call Jaguars’ offensive plays in 2024.

“It’s hard as a quarterback to change around and change systems, change play-callers all of the time. That can be difficult. So, I like where we’re at.”

Hours before their 2023 season began on Sept. 10, reports surfaced that Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson had awarded the Jaguars’ offensive play-calling duties to coordinator Press Taylor, a surprise given Pederson’s success in charge of the unit during his first season with the team.

In an effort to not be caught off guard again, paired with Jacksonville’s step back offensively under Taylor’s tutelage, the question of whether or not Pederson would re-assume the task has persisted from fans and media alike throughout this offseason.

Pederson didn’t exactly shut such inquiries down when they were pitched by reporters at the NFL Combine, instead suggesting the need to review his and Taylor’s responsibilities in the offense moving forward.

“It’s something that’s part of the evaluation process,” Pederson said on Feb. 27. “I have to evaluate myself and Press as decision-makers and play-callers and see what’s best for our team.”

Adding that he had not yet decided who would occupy the role in 2024, Pederson said that further conversations would be had with Taylor to determine an ideal path forward for Jacksonville’s offense.

If quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s outlook offers any indication, it would appear no changes are imminent and that Pederson and Taylor’s discussions have occurred behind closed doors, if at all.

“I haven’t had any conversations about anything necessarily changing or staying the same,” Lawrence said on Tuesday, before noting that he anticipates Taylor holding onto the job.

“I’m excited and I’m expecting it to be Press at this point because that’s kind of the direction we’ve been heading and what I expect, I’m not hearing anything. That’s where we’re going and I’m excited for it.”

Should Lawrence’s read on the situation prove correct, Taylor will be tasked with getting the offense back to the form it showcased under Pederson, if not better. The Jaguars declined in nearly every major statistical category offensively in 2023 compared to 2022.

While the unit generally ranked around league average under Taylor, finishing No. 13 in the NFL in yards (339.5) and points (22.2) per game compared to No. 10 in those categories (357.4 and 23.8) under Pederson, its rushing game production dropped by 27.7 yards per game (falling to No. 24 from No. 14), its yards per play reduced by half a yard (down to No. 15 from No. 8), and its turnover count increased by eight (jumping to No. 5-most from No. 19).

Granted, its signal-caller, Lawrence, was hampered by multiple injuries (knee, ankle, concussion and shoulder) from Week 6 on, after the Jaguars began the campaign averaging 23.7 points per matchup over their first six.

Following his stated March return to full health, Lawrence suggested that the Jaguars’ offense would benefit from the continuity of the system and Taylor’s approach to play-calling as it aims to develop more consistency in 2024.

Should Taylor remain in the position, he would be the first play-calling offensive coordinator to oversee Lawrence in back-to-back years in the passer’s pro career, entering his fourth NFL season.

“I think we’ve had success with both guys calling plays in the past, even last year, we could’ve been better offensively, but we did have some success. I do like the continuity, the consistency that I have with Press, I know him really well. I think that’s a good thing, that we’re keeping that intact. It’s hard as a quarterback to change around and change systems, change play-callers all of the time. That can be difficult.

“So, I like where we’re at, I think that we’ve made some really necessary changes this offseason already, now we’ve just got to implement them and get great at it. I think it’s about creating an identity and being really good at what we do. I think we have a clear vision and picture of what that is.”