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The NFL preseason isn’t always the best indication of what’s to come when games really count, but judging only on eye test aesthetics, Urban Meyer and the Jacksonville Jaguars have looked like an unprepared, collective disaster.
After getting blown out by the Cleveland Browns in the preseason opener, the Jaguars looked terrible again in Monday night’s 23-21 loss versus the New Orleans Saints.
Jameis Winston carved up Jacksonville’s secondary for two first-quarter touchdowns, and it took New Orleans putting in a myriad of backups before the Jags looked like anything resembling a competent team. That doesn’t bode well to say the least.
Meyer has won instantly at all his previous stops as a head coach, but all those success stories were at the college level. In the NFL, it’ll take a far different skill set in terms of leadership style, roster management and schematic savvy to thrive to the degree Meyer is accustomed to.
Even with the most salary cap space in the league this offseason and the No. 1 overall pick spent on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, it doesn’t look like Jacksonville has upgraded the team much from last year’s 1-15 club.
Heck, the botched Tim Tebow signing and Meyer’s refusal to name Lawrence the starter over Gardner Minshew is reason enough to doubt where things are headed.
Sure, the roster is vastly different, yet the Jags’ offense was stagnant against Saints backups. Even though it’s an exhibition game, Lawrence should be looking better than he has thus far.
Maybe that’s what happens when you hire Brian Schottenheimer to have serious influence over the direction of your offense as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
There’s a real chance this is all just a classic overreaction to preseason football. After all, the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns teams who went 0-16 were a perfect 4-0 in the preseason. Maybe the Jaguars are saving their best for when the games really count.
Having said that, you’d like to see more encouraging signs to this point. Meyer should have his team more fired up, prepared and energized. Instead, Jacksonville has been flat, uninspiring and outclassed on the field.
Meyer has time to right the ship, but damn. This author’s rosy forecast for the 2021 Jaguars is not looking good right now!
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