Story by
Trevor Lawrence already impressing new Jacksonville Jaguars coaches in another new offense
- Story by
- Trevor Lawrence already impressing new Jacksonville Jaguars coaches in another new offense
No, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence isn't being asked to audition for the next "Dancing with the Stars."
However, the footwork Lawrence needs to learn in the offensive scheme introduced by head coach Liam Coen is intricate and rhythmic, changing from play to play and from formation to formation.
Advertisement
Organized Team Activities and mandatory minicamp are over , the first phase of installing the new offense — the third Lawrence has had to learn in his five years in the NFL.
At times, the offense looked ragged. Lawrence wasn't always on target.
But Coen and his key offensive assistants have seen enough to make them eager to get back at it when training camp opens in late July.
COACH'S SUMMER VACATION: Jaguars may be on summer break, but coach Liam Coen still hard at work
Spencer Whipple, Shane Waldron praise Trevor Lawrence
That's especially true of quarterbacks coach Spencer Whipple and passing game coordinator Shane Waldron , who work the closest with Lawrence.
Advertisement
"The thing about starting a new system is there's so much to take in," Whipple said June 17 during a media roundtable with the Jaguars assistant coaches. "He's [Lawrence] played a lot of football but regardless, any time there's a new system, there's a lot of downloading of information, footwork, timing, route concepts, the way we call certain things, protection, adjustments ... it takes time for anybody."
Waldron said the process has still been relatively smooth, since the staff inherited a veteran quarterback.
"He's been there, done that around the league for enough years," he said. "The great part about watching him interact with Coach Whipple and with Coach Coen and with Grant [offensive coordinator Grant Udinski ] is that constant communication."
And during his final news conference of minicamp, Lawrence said the terminology of Coen's offense has been committed to memory.
Advertisement
"Towards the end [of the spring] it felt a lot more second nature and felt like I could just go play and communicate and move fast."
What's different about a Liam Coen offense?
As far as Lawrence is concerned, the offense will ask him for more roll-outs and setting up in other ways than simply dropping straight back. Improving Lawrence's footwork has been a key component.
That's not to say Coen will ask Lawrence to do more read-option plays. But they will take advantage of his athleticism.
NEW FAVORITE TARGET: Why Dyami Brown was the most impressive player for Jaguars this offseason
Advertisement
The Jaguars will also do more pre-snap motion and shifting and Lawrence will also be given as many as three play calls, then check to the right one at the line of scrimmage.
Balance is everything for Coen. One of his biggest tasks is upgrading the Jaguars' running game (26th in the NFL in rushing last year), with improvements on the offensive line, a return to form by running back Travis Etienne , who had two 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, more solid play by 2024 team rushing leader Tank Bigsby (766 yards, seven touchdowns), and contributions from drafted rookies Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen .
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks to pass during the second mandatory minicamp at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
When Coen was the offensive coordinator at Tampa Bay in 2024 , the Bucs were the only team in the NFL to finish among the top five in rushing (fourth, 149 yards per game) and passing (third, 265 yards per game). Tampa Bay also went from 20th in scoring to fourth, 29 points per game and more than a touchdown ahead of 2023
Advertisement
The Jaguars were balanced last year, but not in a good way. They were 24th in passing with 212 yards per game and 26th in rushing with 102 yards per game.
Lawrence's skill set impresses coaches
The Bucs improved their offense at that kind of rate in Coen's first year as an NFL offensive coordinator with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. Mayfield is barely 6 feet tall, his arm strength will never be confused with John Elway and he was playing with his fourth team in seven years.
Yet, Mayfield threw for 41 touchdowns and 4,500 yards in leading Tampa Bay to a divisional title and the playoffs.
What can this Jaguars coaching staff do with a quarterback 6 inches taller and with a stronger arm?
Advertisement
Whipple said Lawrence has everything NFL coaches covet in a quarterback : size, arm strength and mobility. But he said Lawrence has shown him in OTAs and minicamp that he can see plays even before they unfold.
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski talks near quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the second mandatory minicamp at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
"All of those things (size, arm strength, running ability) are what you see right away," Whipple said. "But the thing I'm really impressed with is his anticipation, on seeing some of the things, making throws over top of the linebackers ... really impressive."
Waldron said game planning with Lawrence as the quarterback could be downright fun.
"He's got the arm strength to put the ball on all three levels of the field and for a bigger quarterback, he's also got some legit athleticism," Waldron said. "I think he can do a little bit of everything at a really high level, whether it's a drop-back game, a play-action game, moving the pocket with him and breaking contain. It's exciting when you have a guy like that that can really operate all aspects of an offense."
Advertisement
OUTSIDE THE STADIUM: A six-month extension will set deadline for completing Four Seasons Hotel in December 2026
Waldron said it's vital that the Jaguars protect Lawrence better than last season but he knows that he's got a quarterback tough in body and mind.
"He's displayed toughness, where he's not afraid to hang in there until the last second and take a hit in order to make the throw," he said. "But also, at that size, being able to have some escape ability and mobility, or hanging out to extend plays is a unique combination."
How did Liam Coen grade Trevor Lawrence in OTAs and minicamp?
Coen said Lawrence has made the most progress in simply getting a play off, given the amount of information Coen wants him to process on every snap.
Advertisement
"I think just calling a play," Coen said. "Whether it's a call it and run it play or a play with two calls and maybe a third adjustment. There aren't a ton of plays that he can just shut his brain off and go hand it off so that has been a huge adjustment in some ways but also growth ... where he's shown the ability to go get is in the right plays. I think that's where I've seen the most growth."
Coen asked defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile to throw more blitz packages at Lawrence in team periods and while Udinski said Lawrence's progress may have seemed slow at times, he was satisfied by the end of minicamp.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) wipes away the sweat during a press conference after the Jacksonville Jaguars’ third mandatory minicamp Thursday June 12, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
"There's definitely a lot of details," he said. "The progress is one of those things that's incremental, it's day-by-day, and then you look back after a week or two weeks or three weeks and recognize how much you've moved from that initial starting point. It's hard to notice some of that progress on a day-to-day basis because it is so incremental. It's one percent, two percent, three percent here and there but when you add it up at the end, you turn around and have something to be proud about."
Advertisement
Lawrence admitted to some days being better than others for the offense, but praised the entire offense for its work ethic in trying to absorb Coen's system
"I thought it was really good ... some good days, some days were a little sloppier, and that's just part of it, especially with a new system," he said after the Jaguars' final minicamp practice on June 12. "A lot of new guys, everyone's playing together kind of for the first time for a lot of us, so overall I thought it was really good. I thought we learned a lot, took some really big steps of improvement throughout OTAs, and I'm proud of the guys, how they worked. Everyone worked their tail off all offseason, really pushed ourselves."
The next step will be training camp and eventually practices in full pads. Everyone will find out then how much Lawrence and the offense have progressed.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence already settling into new offense
