For the second straight season the Jaguars enter the football season with a new head coach, however, this time around there is a much different feel surrounding it.
Doug Pederson has taken over the reins of the team, but unlike Urban Meyer who held that position a year ago, he is not a first year NFL coach and in fact is far from it with a Super Bowl title to his name.
As a result, there seems to be a sense of hope that has resonated not just within the organization but also among the fan base.
The key to maintaining that hope is to establish some success and make that the Jaguars’ standard for which everything is measured.
That is easier said than done and finding a level of consistent success is something the Jaguars have been in search of for more than a decade.
However, signs are beginning to take shape that signal the Jaguars are heading in the right direction.
Not only is Trevor Lawrence in his second season as an NFL starting quarterback, but he is also now having a head coach that played the position in the league and understands what it takes to succeed.
Although it is extremely early in the relationship, it looks to have the potential to be something special.
Not only does Lawrence have a new outlook from the head coach, but he also has upgraded offensive weapons around him with the additions of wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in free agency.
Not to mention the return of Lawrence’s college teammate Travis Etienne Jr., who missed all of last regular season with a Lisfranc injury but is back in the swing of things and has looked explosive throughout the preseason.
If he can create the production, he did during his career at Clemson added with the eventual return of James Robinson and the potential of rookie Snoop Conner, the offense should be fun to watch.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars were also very active in free agency and the draft and were able to revamp the defense in many ways.
It all starts along the front seven, where they provided some much-needed help for Josh Allen on the edge, by drafting Travon Walker No. 1 overall.
Walker has not taken long to make his share of splash plays that demonstrate the talent he has.
It may take some time, but as the season progresses, he should only get more comfortable and as he does, he and Allen could turn into quite the ferocious tandem when it comes to getting after the passer.
The linebacking corps has almost all new names with free agent pickup Foyesade Oluokun taking leadership in the middle.
The unit is youthful with rookies Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma expected to contribute right away, but with that also comes an added energy.
Potential can be a bad word because it also means a sense of uncertainty and unproven nature, but after years of frustration, for Jaguars fans this year it offers an outlet for hope.
