Coen said he had ‘trust and belief’ that the Jaguars offense was going to make the plays necessary to beat Arizona
Jaguars defeat Cardinals in OT, Rams crush Bucs | NFL wrapup video
The Jaguars made a defensive stand in overtime to squeak past the Cardinals 27-24; Baker Mayfield is injured as Rams crush the Bucs 34-7.
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen said on Nov. 24 that he continues to have confidence in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the skill position players, despite Lawrence’s four turnovers in a 27-24 overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals the day before at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
The Jaguars are tied for 12th in the NFL with 14 turnovers, 11 of them interceptions by Lawrence. They’re also tied for first in the AFC South in turnovers with their next opponent, the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 30 (1 p.m., CBS).
Coen said Lawrence keeps producing plays when absolutely needed, and while he obviously wants mistakes to be cleaned up, he can’t argue with the results that have led to a 7-4 record.
“Calling [plays] and working with those guys, I had a lot of trust and belief that they were going to make plays and they did,” Coen said during a video conference with the media. “I mean [Lawrence] is 18 for 30 [completions] but the accuracy on a lot of the plays that we did throw and catch on gave guys opportunities to run it, run and catch a few times.”
Coen rattled off a few key plays
“The throw to Parker [Washington] for the touchdown [with 3:47 left in the game] was unbelievable,” Coen said. “The play made to Jakobi [Meyers] against zero blitz on a third down … got to have it, was a great play. And then the throw in overtime [to Washington] was a huge play between the two of those guys.
“So all of them, my conversations with Trevor and those skill players and the guys after the game were ‘guys I have more and more confidence each week,’” Coen went on. “I’m getting more confident as a play caller with the pass game.”
Liam Coen on how to stay confident in the offense
It’s just been building, I think, over time. I think the guys that have been able to go out and continue to try to put good stuff on tape. It’s been happening in practice. Is it perfect? No. Are we lighting the world on fire every time we throw? No. But it has improved, and I, as the play caller, do have confidence in calling pass plays that we’re going to find a completion. I thought Trevor went through his progressions well … you believe you’re going to be able to move the football that way.
Liam Coen on the Jaguars’ rivalry with the Titans
“I think it’s definitely felt [Jaguars’ fans dislike for Tennessee] a little bit throughout being here in my short time in Jacksonville. You can see the division means something … the divisional games, you can feel that there’s just a different level. Felt the same way in LA, or in Tampa with … Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, you feel it. You know that it’s going to be a four-quarter football game. They’re [the Titans] coming off a one-score game at home, and the quarterback’s [Cam Ward] playing better. So we know this is going to be a dog fight.”
Liam Coen on moving edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen to different sides
“I think we obviously affected the quarterback more. We had six sacks, right? Was the most since 2023 you know, 15 QB hits, five guys had sacks. I do think … continuing to try to be creative about getting our guys matchups, it’s no different than what you’re trying to do on offense or in special teams when it comes to trying to put your best players in positions to be successful in matchups that are favorable, that you think are favorable in your way. I did think we took a step forward in some ways.”
“I thought Devin played extremely fast, violent in the game. For an off-the-ball [linebacker] to be able to cover some of the screens and some of the stuff underneath, but also be effective within the pressures and the games … he’s quick, how big he is, and athletic, so he’s good when you can get him going on some of the pressures and match-ups on running backs. Pleased with Devon’s performance yesterday.”
Liam Coen on the offense’s balance
“That is important for us as an offense, as a team, to continue to be more explosive, but to be balanced. As you go into November, December, football, we know we’ve got to be able to continue to sustain the run and offensively, we’ve got to have balance and move the chains better on third downs than we did the other day. But you know, the guys are believing. They’re trying. They’re working their tails off throughout the week with limited ops, because Wednesdays, we’re not throwing it that much, so you only get two days of really full speed pass game, and that’s that sometimes takes a hit. But I do have confidence.”
“You just know that if you do get him some space and get him to the second and third level, that he can go and create explosives. And when you get the ball to him in space, he’s just been so consistent about making people miss and getting extra, those hitting yards are so important in the game, whether it’s in the run or in the pass. He also had a couple good pass pickups, protection pickups as well. So been really pleased with TJ.