I bear in mind the first time I noticed Trevor Lawrence. It was the summer season of 2017 throughout an NFL Network present devoted to the Elite 11, the preeminent competitors for highschool quarterbacks. It’s been the excellent barometer for who the subsequent batch of signal-calling prospects are. And I bear in mind seeing he was a Clemson commit throughout the peak of their dominance. The lengthy hair, the peak, the poise, the accuracy … it was the apparent full package deal. And Lawrence lived up to the lofty expectations set for him as a as soon as–in–a–technology prospect for the Tigers. That was till he confirmed up in the NFL, proving that leap is a large one for any quarterback. Taking the helm of a crappy group isn’t a everlasting band-aid.
It took till 12 months No. 3 in the NFL, but Lawrence has lastly began to present on the skilled circuit what all that hype was about. Take Jacksonville’s win over New Orleans final night time as a prime instance. Was he spectacular? No, and Lawrence’s restraint shouldn’t be labeled as a lack of capability. It’s maturity. Lawrence doesn’t have to be Superman to win with the quantity of expertise the Jaguars have put round him. The Clark Kent persona generally has to come out, particularly that game-winning drive in opposition to the Saints. And he by no means threw a pick-six like his gridiron counterpart from The Big Easy, Derek Carr, did final night time.
It solely took two performs on Jacksonville’s closing drive of the sport not to contain a kneel for it to rating. And the Saints’ retort led to a turnover on downs. Comparing Lawrence to Carr isn’t a honest combat, as the former Clemson quarterback has been higher than Carr since highschool. Sorry not sorry for that dig. The solely query now is how far Lawrence can take the Jaguars and why it took three years for the correct Lawrence to present up. Both solutions are a little extra easy than you may suppose.
Lawrence can be the catalyst to lead the Jaguars deep into the playoffs, nearly like he did final season. Those playoffs have been the learning-on-the-fly expertise he wanted to put all the items collectively. That’s why staging is so necessary in cooking. Not the platform the place musical theater takes place, with a exhausting A, stage. Like a extra hands-on internship. You study for those who can burn on the line. If you possibly can’t discover one other profession. If you possibly can, you possibly can develop into Gordon Ramsay. And that was the four-interception first half in opposition to the Chargers final 12 months the place he fastened it in the second half to lead Jacksonville to victory. And then he almost took down the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs on the highway the subsequent week. That’s not dismissing how terrible throwing 4 interceptions in two quarters is. It’s how these horrible passes didn’t tank his group’s season. And now, in the best division to win in soccer, the Jaguars have the inside observe to dominating the AFC South for years to come.
In NFL phrases, two years for a quarterback truly isn’t that lengthy. Zach Wilson was given two years’ value of probabilities earlier than Aaron Rodgers got here to city. How many second probabilities has Carson Wentz had? At the finish of final 12 months, Lawrence made little question that this was his franchisee for the foreseeable future, and it’s solely constructed that fairness this season. Jacksonville is 3-0 on the highway and is in the center of a 4-game win streak that ought to attain 5 subsequent weekend with a sport in opposition to Pittsburgh. Then comes a dwelling contest in opposition to the 49ers. What a matchup that will be, as Lawrence vanquishing considered one of the finest defenses in the league would be his nationwide flag-planting second. And doing that earlier than the finish of 12 months No. 3 in the NFL is mightily spectacular irrespective of how he bought right here.
