Next up on Giants' QB tour: Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs onto the field before the game against the Houston Texans at TIAA Bank Field on October 09, 2022 in Jacksonville. Credit: Getty Images/Mike Carlson
Aaron Rodgers? Check.
Lamar Jackson? Check.
Trevor Lawrence? Result still to be determined.
The Giants’ three-week, semi-world tour through the present and future of NFL quarterbacking will take them to TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville on Sunday against the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“He’s an extremely talented guy,” Giants quarterback Daniel Jones said of Jaguars quarterback Lawrence after practice Friday. “He can throw it wherever he wants to throw it. He’s mobile, he can get out of the pocket and make plays with his legs. He’s an extremely talented quarterback.”
Lawrence has not set the NFL aflame in his second season, but there are signs that he and Jacksonville are showing improvement.
The Jaguars are 2-4, but their average margin of defeat in those four games is 6.75 points. Lawrence has completed 65.5% of his passes for 1,397 yards and nine touchdowns against four interceptions.
All this after a 2021 season in which the Jaguars went 3-14 and fired coach Urban Meyer after a 2-11 start.
During his media availability Thursday, Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale appeared to imply that the Meyer-maestroed three-ring circus played a role in Lawrence’s struggles in 2021.
“There’s a multitude of things that go into a player struggling,” Martindale said. “Fill the blank spaces in there any way you want.”
Lawrence last season had 3,641 passing yards, a .596 completion percentage, 12 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions and was sacked 32 times. What has changed?
“I think it’s a perfect marriage between he and [head coach Doug Pederson] and [quarterbacks coach] Mike McCoy,” Martindale said. “Doug has always had a good quarterback and they always play well with his offense.”
Perhaps the most interesting development with Lawrence has been his running ability. The quarterback Meyer believed was not comfortable as a runner has rushed for 81 yards and two TDs on 20 carries this season.
“He can run for sure,” said Xavier McKinney, who recalled Clemson’s win in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl, in which Lawrence’s 67-yard TD run helped key a comeback. “That’s when I realized, OK, he can really run. As I said, every quarterback now pretty much has the ability to be able to use their legs, nobody is really slow, and nobody is really a true pocket passer.”
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