Jaguars’ Liam Coen talks team’s mentality ahead of Colts game
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen preaches a one-week season to his players ahead of game vs. Colts.
The Jaguars’ team mentality is to treat every game as the most important one in franchise history, a philosophy emphasized by team leadership.Jacksonville’s offense has significantly improved its red zone performance, ranking sixth in the NFL for touchdown conversions since their Week 8 bye.The Jaguars’ top-ranked run defense will be tested against Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns.
It’s one of the most important games in franchise history.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) are set to take on the Indianapolis Colts (8-4) in Week 14, the first of two matchups between the AFC South foes, which could decide the division winner by the end of the season.
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Despite the even records, Jacksonville currently is in first place in the division due to tiebreakers.
The game has added importance because only five games remain on the schedule, and each week could determine the postseason.
The team’s mentality every week has been consistent. It’s the biggest game in franchise history, if only because it’s the next one. That’s the mentality executive vice president of Football Operations Tony Boselli has preached on the team’s weekly broadcast, and it’s one head coach Liam Coen agrees with.
“That’s definitely something Tony’s mentioned a lot and it kind of goes into the same theme of trying to go 1-0 each week because you truly cannot take for granted any of these opportunities in the National Football League,” Coen said Friday.
“You take one of those for granted and you’re to see yourself on the bad end of maybe a game you feel like you should win or you’ve gotten to a point in the season where you feel like you’re going to win a game like that and then, ‘Oh shoot,’ you’ve just laid an egg and we’ve felt that before.”
The Jaguars rose to the occasion multiple times this season, especially heading into Weeks 4 and 5 to face off against the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs in back-to-back games. They won both.
They’ve also been on the other side of that scenario, facing off against the Houston Texans and backup QB Davis Mills in Week 10. Jacksonville took its foot off the gas and lost after leading by 19 entering the fourth quarter.
“That approach needs to remain for four quarters,” added Coen.
Jaguars getting ‘red’ hot at the perfect time ahead of Colts game
The Jaguars are on a three-game winning streak, and much of that is due to the team’s ability to overcome adversity. Whether it’s due to injuries or a change in play, the team hasn’t fallen, and its execution has continued to rise.
That’s particularly true in the red zone this season.
Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Jaguars converted just 50% (11/22) of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns. The team scored points on many occasions, but couldn’t secure six when they needed to.
They ranked 22nd in the league at that time, just below average for the NFL.
Since returning from the Week 8 bye, the Jaguars have soared in the rankings, becoming one of the top teams in the league, consistently reaching and scoring within 20 yards of the end zone.
The Jaguars have scored a touchdown on 15 out of 22 trips (68%) to the red zone from Weeks 9-13, ranking sixth in the NFL during that span.
The Jaguars rank 13th this year at red zone conversions, converting 59.06% through 12 games.
Part of that is because Jacksonville has reached the red zone more times than it had in the past.
Through the first nine weeks of the season, the Jaguars averaged 3.1 red zone trips per game. Since then, they’ve brought that average up to 3.7, ranking ninth.
Coen attributes the recent success to more opportunities. But, he’s also remained balanced in the red area, giving the team better chances even when he, admittedly, gets a bit antsy down there at times.
“You’ve always wanted to kind of remain balanced in the red area so often you can get there and even myself, you want to get the ball in the end zone.You get a little antsy and want to throw it in quickly or whatever it is,” Coen explained this week.
“I think just trying to remain patient as you get down into the red zone and making sure that you come away with points is the biggest thing.”
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence attributed some of the team’s recent success in the red area to the team’s game planning and having multiple options once they get down there, depending on which defense they’re facing.
“Different defenses, they have certain things they to do in the red zone and you never know exactly what you’re going to get. You have a pretty good idea for the most part. Teams have what they want to do and what they do well, so you have a good idea and then you go into it with a plan,” Lawrence said this week.
“I think our ability to get to a lot of different plays at different times have multiple plays on and to be in the right look, I think that’s helped us and we’ve gotten better and better at executing it.”
To Coen and Lawrence’s points, the Jaguars have been very balanced in the red zone this year. They’ve scored 13 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns in that area this season.
Jacksonville averages 1.2 rushing touchdowns per game in the red zone, according to Pro Football Reference, ranking third in the league. They’ve averaged one red zone passing touchdown per game, ranking 13th.
They’ll have to keep up that work against Indianapolis on Sunday.
Here are our bold predictions for Sunday’s game.
Jaguars will hold Jonathan Taylor to under 45 rushing yards
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is having an MVP season. He’s rushed for a league-high 1,282 yards and 15 touchdowns. His 65 first downs also rank first in the league as he tries to top his 2021 season when he posted 1,811 yards, 18 touchdowns and 107 first downs.
Taylor’s worst game came in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He rushed for just 45 yards on 14 carries with the Colts losing 27-20. This week, the Jaguars will hold him to fewer than that.
The Jaguars boast the top-ranked run defense in the league, allowing just 82.4 rushing yards per game. The next best is the Seattle Seahawks, allowing 88.8.
Jakobi Meyers will score in his third-straight game
Jaguars receiver Jakobi Meyers has been the team’s most important acquisition this year under general manager James Gladstone. Since trading for him, Meyers has been one of the team’s most-targeted players. He’s been targeted 21 times, catching 28 for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
Meyers scored touchdowns in back-to-back weeks against the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans. He’s due for a third straight game with a touchdown against the Colts.
Jaguars pass rush will be stymied against Daniel Jones
This one can go either way. The Jaguars will have Josh Hines-Allen and a beat-up Travon Walker, if he can even play on Sunday, going up against one of the top offensive lines in the NFL.
But that wouldn’t be why the Jaguars don’t get any sacks against Colts quarterback Daniel Jones. The team will be laser-focused on stopping the run at all costs, and with that, there can be some drop-off in the pressure department.
Jaguars, Colts Week 14 score prediction
Jaguars 23, Colts 17.
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.
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