Jacksonville Jaguars raise major questions after loss to Rams in London
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Ryan O’Halloran breaks down the Jacksonville Jaguars’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost two consecutive games after starting the season 4-1.
- A lack of takeaways on defense and poor quarterback protection on offense have contributed to recent losses.
- Rookie Travis Hunter emerged as a potential top receiver, while several other players may face lineup changes.
Welcome to the first crisis of your brief NFL head-coaching career, Liam Coen.
Life was great just two weeks ago during a 4-1 start for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they will wobble into their bye week with consecutive losses, including Sunday’s 35-7 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in London.
Here are four questions about the Jaguars after they were dismantled by the Rams:
First Down
Question: Who are the real Jaguars? The team that beat Kansas City in Week 5 or the team that was routed by the Rams on Sunday?
Answer: The cop-out answer is somewhere in between, right? Like most every team, they live off takeaways and protecting the quarterback.
In Weeks 1-5 (4-1), the Jaguars’ defense produced 14 takeaways and the offense allowed only six sacks.
In Weeks 6-7 (0-2), the Jaguars’ defense produced no takeaways and the offense allowed 14 sacks.
Gulp.
The problem is, the Jaguars’ supposed top guys haven’t been their best guys.
Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen goes into the bye with a half-sack (albeit one Sunday was negated by penalty). Did you even hear defensive end Travon Walker’s name mentioned (albeit playing with a club on his right wrist)? On offense, quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a career-high 25 incompletions (albeit with some drops) and receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is a non-factor (three catches and another drop before leaving with an injury).
Until those players start playing better, the Jaguars will be running in place, if not running backward.
Second Down
Question: What should be made of Jaguars coach Liam Coen’s fourth-down management during the game?
Answer: I had agreed with most of Coen’s fourth-down decisions this year, but was confused by them against the Rams.
Fourth-and-3 from the Rams’ 32 (trailing 14-0): This should have been an easy call because the Rams’ offense was doing whatever it wanted and a field goal wouldn’t have made a dent. Cam Little of course missed the 50-yard field goal attempt.
Fourth-and-7 from the Rams’ 11 (trailing 21-0): The Jaguars reached the Rams’ 14 before going 4-yard run, minus-1 yard run and incompletion. Instead of kicking the chip shot field goal to go into halftime with something, Coen opted to go for it and Lawrence scrambled for 4 yards. It was the longest fourth-down attempt of the Jaguars’ season.
Fourth-and-2 from the Rams’ 30 (trailing 21-0): A no man’s land decision for Coen. I would have kicked the field goal because the drive had produced gains of 11, 11, 11 and 8 yards and just getting any points would have been a positive. Lawrence threw incomplete.
Later in the second half, the Jaguars couldn’t convert on fourth-and-7 from the Rams’ 27 and fourth-and-13 from Rams’ 14. No issue with either of those; the Jaguars needed touchdowns.
Third Down
Question: Did rookie Travis Hunter become the Jaguars’ No. 1 receiver?
Answer: Yes, by equal parts default and his growing comfort level in the offense. Hunter was the listed intended receiver 14 times (previous high this year was eight in Week 1) and had season bests with eight catches (previous was six in Week 1) and 101 yards (previous was in Week 5).
Who should Lawrence trust at the receiver position at this point? I’ll start with Hunter, Parker Washington and Tim Patrick and then get to Dyami Brown and Brian Thomas Jr.
Hunter, who also scored his first touchdown (34-yard catch), made catches all over the field against the Rams and it didn’t appear Lawrence was forcing throws into coverage just to get to Hunter. Encouraging.
The Jaguars have more depth at cornerback with Greg Newsome II, Jourdan Lewis and Buster Brown than they do at receiver so the emphasis moving forward should continue to be Hunter at receiver. This is a team struggling to score points so maximize his snaps by trying to produce explosive plays.
Fourth Down
Question: Which players should be on alert for lineup changes during the bye week?
Answer: The list should be Thomas, Little (kicker), right guard Patrick Mekari and safety Andrew Wingard.
The Jaguars have struck with Thomas through his dips in performance, but let’s face the fact that he has six drops and one touchdown catch through seven games. Was the final part of 2024 just an aberration? No way does he merit playing at least 81% of the snaps he got in five of the first six games (snap counts for the Rams game will be revealed Monday).
Coen enters the bye with a kicker problem. Little’s current claim to fame is a 70-yard field goal in an exhibition game. In the real games, he is 10 of 14 on field goals, including another miss on Sunday. The Jaguars should sign a kicker to the practice squad and have that player compete in practice with Little. The winner gets to play at Las Vegas in Week 9.
Mekari had two enforced penalties and two other declined penalties against the Rams. Rookie Wyatt Milum is healthy after a knee injury against New Orleans preseason game.
Wingard gave up a long touchdown and was called for two penalties (one was a bad call) against the Rams. Time for Antonio Johnson?