Story by
Jacksonville Jaguars 'setting a positive standard' as franchise starts over ... again
- Story by
- Jacksonville Jaguars 'setting a positive standard' as franchise starts over ... again
For the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025, the team is starting at ground zero.
At least, that's what Jaguars executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli said on the team's first episode of 'The Hunt ,' an episodic production akin to Hard Knocks that follows the team throughout the offseason and sporadically during the season.
Advertisement
While Boselli's declaration likely wasn't meant to be taken literally, it's essentially what the Jaguars are doing this year after ushering in new leadership, including Boselli, general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen .
The team's makeover even included some support staffers, including a change of guard within their strength and conditioning program, now led by former Buffalo Bills strength coach Eric Ciano .
The first step of that venture began Tuesday alongside the team's voluntary offseason workout program . Coen mentioned the team's participation has been "very high," as far as the number of players who have shown up.
WHAT'S NEXT? Why Mel Kiper has Jaguars adding this star WR in latest NFL mock draft
Advertisement
"Very appreciative of the guys for being here, taking the time, knowing that it is voluntary, but it's definitely setting a positive standard right now," Coen said Wednesday at the Miller Electric Center, opening up his press conference by expressing excitement for being back to football after months of evaluation without players in the building nor coaching going on.
As Coen said at the League Meetings last week , the team is looking to establish its culture, but football has finally returned to the menu.
"Yeah, I think right now we're trying to establish, really, two things: the fundamentals and techniques of the schemes, right? We're not truly diving into the scheme at the moment. Fundamentals and technique, and then as well, our culture," said Coen.
"The way that we're going to play the game, our style of play, those are the two things that we'd like to like to get out of this, especially in Phase I, where you're not on the grass with the players."
Advertisement
LAWRENCE IS BACK: Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence to be on pitch count, but will be 'perfectly good' to start year
The Jaguars will be in Phase I of the offseason workout program over the next two weeks . The NFL-NFLPA collective bargaining agreement says the team can hold activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.
It's the beginning of a new regime. Again.
Trevor Lawrence , Foye Oluokun embrace change while tackling challenges
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) speaks during a press conference at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Everything is new for Jaguars players, but change isn't.
Lawrence is set to play for his third head coach (fourth if you count interim Darrell Bevell) in five years since being drafted with the first-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Advertisement
He admitted Wednesday that it is challenging to go through another search, but he's excited to begin with a new regime.
"I don't know if 'frustration' is the right word, but just starting over is always hard, and obviously we had a good year in '22, and then things just turned on us over time, unfortunately, and didn't play well enough and didn't win enough games the last two years, and we found ourselves in this position," Lawrence said, later adding that he believes in what the team is doing and how it's being carried out.
"I'm past that point of feeling like, golly, we've got to start over again, but I mean, just to be honest, there is a little bit of that at first because you're doing it again, and you've done it before and you've done it a few times," Lawrence admitted.
DEMETRIUS HARVEY'S MOCK DRAFT: Jaguars three-round mock draft includes trade down for top offensive talent
Advertisement
"So, there's a little bit of that at first, but I think we're way past that. I know guys are really excited. I'm really excited. I'm just excited to learn this system and to dive in and put as much work in as I can to have a great year."
Part of the excitement comes from what Coen and the franchise have said before the team showed up to voluntary workouts , to now when they are carrying out what they said they would.
"I think is exciting for me because you're seeing that they're doing all the things that you wanted them to do that they said they'd do from the beginning," said Lawrence.
Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun feels the excitement and energy, noting multiple times during his media availability on Wednesday that the energy of the team's new staff has been felt.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) speaks during a press conference at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, April 9, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
"They come in with their own energy, kind of a new energy to the team. Obviously, a little bit younger, but I feel like that resonates a little bit better in the room and everything right now. The passion that they speak with every time they're speaking definitely rubs off on us the right way," Oluokun said.
Advertisement
"Just take that into all of our workouts, take that into when we get on the field together. A lot of guys all willing to improve and get better together as a team."
Jaguars LB Foye Oluokun no stranger to regime change in NFL
Similar to Lawrence, Oluokun has been through multiple coaching changes, including his final season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 and again after the 2023 season when the Jaguars moved on from defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell.
Now, Oluokun will enter his third defensive system in Jacksonville, a challenge that isn't talked about much, the veteran linebacker said.
Advertisement
"If I can be real with you, I think that might be something that's not talked about a lot, but I think going through a lot of coaches, a lot of systems, whether offensively or defensively, can take a toll. I think if you go about it with the right mindset of learning and understanding that it can make your game better, accepting what they're trying to coach you on and stuff," Oluokun said.
Oluokun has played through multiple schemes during his eight-year career, something he says could give him an advantage.
"After that, being in so many different schemes, you've kind of seen everything. So, these guys are going to push me, and I feel like it's coming at a great time in my career... I'm taking every challenge on, ready to go, attacking everything, but I'm definitely very excited to accept new coaching and new understandings of defense," said Oluokun.
Oluokun explained that being in the same system as a young player is beneficial, but regardless of the circumstances, it's his job to adapt.
Advertisement
"I had a new coach my last year in Atlanta. That was learning something on the fly in a contract year. It was like, get better or get out, to me. That's kind of the pressure I put on myself. Fortunately, I was able to play well, and I came here, had a new coach. It was meet expectations, or they're going to move on," he said.
"All of a sudden, you get a new coach, and now it's like, rise to the expectation, raise your level of play, or you don't know what's going to happen. I think it's always cool challenges that I feel like are good for growth individually, but they're hard in the moment to maybe unlearn and relearn. But I'm a professional football player; it's my job, so that's what I've got to do."
The Jaguars will continue Phase I of the offseason program before moving into Phase II sometime during and after this month's draft and capping the offseason with a mandatory workout on June 10-12.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
Advertisement
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Why Jacksonville Jaguars are excited to start over with Liam Coen
