As they set sail into the 2022 regular season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are focused on a Week 1 win against the Washington Commanders. Preparations have been made for months, and after a disappointing preseason where they lost all four games they played, the team is ready to prove they’ve got what it takes to win in the NFL and remain competitive in the AFC South.
Second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence is set to play a key role in getting the team on track this year. In conjunction with head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor, the sophomore signal-caller has put together a strategy to make a run at a statement win in Washington on Sunday. He told media members at yesterday’s press conference that he is secure in the Jaguars’ game plan they’ve established, and feels prepared for the challenge he’ll face in the Commanders’ potent defense.
“I’m confident in what we’re doing and the plan we’ve put together so far, and I feel great about it. I think the guys love it. I know we’re really excited. But in the same way, we don’t know exactly what they’re going to do because the first couple games of the season are always like that. You’re going off last year’s film and the past, and obviously the same defensive coordinator but you never know what kind of new wrinkles they’re going to have.
“Obviously, this is a team where Coach Pederson and Press (Offensive Coordinator Press Taylor), a lot of our coaches played against some of those teams in the same division for a while. They have a history so I’m sure they’ll have a plan for us, just like we have a plan for them. It’s really about executing that and adjusting as you go on, okay, what are they actually doing, and making those in-game adjustments. But, yes, I’m really excited and I think we’ve got a great plan.”
Though the onus isn’t entirely on Lawrence to win the matchup singlehandedly, his comments on Wednesday show how much of a burden he knows he will carry this season in the 2022 Jaguars redemption tour. His defense will still need to hold up their end but, for now, it would seem that the game plan Lawrence and his coaches have concocted will likely decide the outcome of their scrum in Washington.