Jacksonville Jaguars legend Maurice Jones-Drew believes the team must re-find its identity and focus on doing its job in order to save their season after an 0-4 start.
The Jags have had opportunities to win three of their four games – all three coming in one-score games while having made multiple mistakes at big moments in each matchup.
Jacksonville is the only team in the NFL without a win, with pressure mounting on head coach Doug Pederson after coming into the season being seen as one of the favorites to win their division and advance through to the playoffs.
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But while Jones-Drew believes the team’s fortunes could have been very different had they played the way they’re capable of, with the former running back stating that he believes that they’re essentially trying too hard.
Speaking to Mirror US Sports, he said: “I think they’re pressing and I think it’s on Coach Pederson to really calm them down. And you saw that in Houston. They were up big and they had a chance to go up and win that game, as they did against Miami, and they kind of just started doing things that are uncharacteristic, both coaching and players.
Doug Pederson might be on the hot seat in Jacksonville (
AP)
“And so, when you see that, it’s just like, okay, you guys are worried more about the outcome than performing at a high level. That’s what you have to do. So, if you perform at a high level, those things will end up working out for you in the long run, you know? And I think they’re more worried about just winning in general. They can’t play like that and they can’t coach like that.
“If they focus on taking the right steps, throwing to the right guy, making the right read all over the board offensively, they’ll score points. And then defensively, being in the right gap, making sure your eyes are in the right spot… those little things matter.
“When you don’t do those things, big catastrophes happen, right? Like, big plays are made when you’re in the wrong position. Your eyes aren’t right. and you’re making fundamental mistakes.
“So, I think they need to focus on the little things, and do a better job situationally. But they really need to get a win this weekend, then they can start to turn their season around.”
The Jaguars gave Trevor Lawrence a huge extension this (
Al Pereira/Getty Images)
Pederson has led the Jaguars to back-to-back winning seasons in his first two years – making the playoffs and almost defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 divisional game.
But many had hoped that they would take a leap in 2023, which they did not, and stagnated as they limped to a 9-8 record and missed out on the playoffs, before starting this year with an 0-4 record.
As Jones-Drew mentioned, the Jaguars are in need of a big performance, with pressure mounting on Pederson – with fans already naming legendary head coach Bill Belichick as a potential replacement.
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