Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has made steady progress as a rookie. Here's how he's done it

After his first six games, rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence has demonstrated that he has been good as advertised when he was drafted first overall by the Jaguars in April.

He has proven to be a young gunslinger who has caught on quickly to the speed of the NFL game, taken advantage of his quick release of the ball out of his hands and continues to show scrambling ability to extend plays.

Last Sunday in London against the Miami Dolphins, Lawrence calmly stood in shotgun formation, surveyed the defense, and changed the play at a moment’s notice after seeing the Miami Dolphins had stacked the line with pass rushers during a play early in the fourth quarter.

As he saw pressure surround him, he calmly rolled toward his right. Just as Dolphins defensive end Zach Sieler lunged to grab him, Lawrence fired a pass to Jamal Agnew for a 10-yard completion in the fourth quarter. 

“When we started watching him throughout the offseason and training camp, we weren’t going to be surprised to see him pick it up pretty quick,” Jaguars passing game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “It’s a different game (from college), and he’s doing things he’s never done, playing under center and things like that. I’m not surprised but it has definitely been impressive to watch.”

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Jaguars still need more playmakers

The Jaguars still need to put more playmakers around Lawrence, and the offensive line needs an upgrade, especially to address depth issues. The Jaguars' receivers and tight ends also have had problems holding onto Lawrence's passes and getting needed separation. And it didn't help matters that receiver DJ Chark, the Jaguars' best deep threat target, is likely out for the rest of the season after fracturing his left ankle in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals.   

Yet, despite it all, Lawrence has made rapid progress since Week 1 against Houston when he put up 51 passes and was intercepted three times in a 37-21 loss at NRG Stadium. 

Lawrence threw seven interceptions after the first three games of the season. He had a forgettable 14-of-33 passing performance for 118 yards and two interceptions for a season-low 37.2 quarterback rating and 42.4% completion rate in the Jaguars’ 23-13 loss to Denver in Week 2.

Lawrence has one pick in last 3 games

Lawrence has thrown just one interception over his last three games against Miami, Tennessee and Cincinnati going into this week’s bye. His completion percentage has been above 69% in two of the three games, including 70.8% in their Week 4 loss to Cincinnati. 

''When you see his development, I think his involvement in everything is

going to be important to me,'' Coach Urban Meyer said. ''That is how much I trust him already. Here is a spread quarterback that has never turned his back to the ball growing up.

''Now you are under center and my former quarterbacks have told me – Joe Burrow told me that when you turn your back to the ball and then all the sudden the defense is different. You do not want to have a sitting in shotgun and being a spread quarterback for the longevity of his career, but it is also [important] to let him play a little bit. Those are a lot of the conversations we have.”

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Although Lawrence did not direct the Jaguars on their first touchdown drive Sunday against the Dolphins until 40 seconds remained before halftime, he made a number of impressive throws and good decisions under pressure that ultimately led to a winning effort.

Lawrence completed a low-sailing, 9-yard pass to wide receiver Laviska Shenault with second remaining on a fourth-and-8 play for a first down. Then, kicker Matthew Wright made a last-second, 53-yard field goal that clinched the Jaguars' 23-20 win over the Dolphins, which snapped their 20 consecutive games losing streak, the second longest in NFL history. 

“We were going back and forth deciding what we wanted to do but when the call came in,” Lawrence said on the fourth-down pass to Shenault. “I had no doubt that it was the right call and that we would execute it. Especially when I saw the look from Miami, I knew I could fit it in that window and I told Laviska where to go with the ball and throw it a little low so he could get down quick. It was perfect we had one second left.”

At 1-5 with 11 games left in the season that includes a road game next week to Seattle, the Jaguars are going have to utilize Shenault more and get more carries to James Robinson so everything doesn’t fall solely upon Lawrence’s shoulders to carry the offense. 

Bevell likes Lawrence's decision making

Jaguars offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell has liked just about everything he’s seen from Lawrence for the first six weeks of the season.

“I would expect it to continue,” Bevell said. “I really like where he’s at; we’re protecting the ball well, making very good decisions, he’s orchestrating things more, he’s seeing the defense better, and he’s only going to continue to grow. I mean it was whatever it was, his sixth NFL start, so it’s good to get a win and be able to see the progression, but I think he’ll just continue in that upward movement.”

How does Lawrence rank among other 2021 rookie QBs?

Lawrence ranks third among 2021 NFL rookie quarterbacks in completion percentage (59.7) after six games. However, Lawrence's 1,465 yards passing trail only Jacksonville native and New England starting quarterback Mac Jones, who has passed for 1,472 yards. 

Lawrence's seven touchdown passes are also tied with Jones. Lawrence's eight interceptions are the second most among rookies behind New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson's nine.

Asked earlier this week what areas where he has made the biggest strides since Week 1, Lawrence said consistency and taking care of the ball better. 

''Beyond that, I think just situationally I have done a really good job the past couple of weeks,'' Lawrence said. ''I think I am more accurate and giving our guys a chance. I think you just see the offense clicking more and more and we are really putting together some good games and we are just going to keep getting better.”