Jaguars' Liam Coen names one way Trevor Lawrence has 'drastically improved'

It's hardly a secret that a big reason the Jacksonville Jaguars hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen as their head coach this past winter was because those running the Jaguars hope Coen will be able to get the best out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Coen touched upon how Lawrence has already taken steps in the right direction during springtime workouts. 

"I think his footwork has drastically improved," Coen said about Lawrence, as shared by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I think just the rhythm of playing the position in every system is different. Right? ...We talk about footwork so much because when the game is being played, we know it’s lived in the gray. But we’re trying to create black and white lines for footwork, for reads, for timing, because when the things start moving, oftentimes you have to revert back to your fundamentals, your footwork, your timing. And so, I think he’s taken a step in that area as well as just the overall operation."

Lawrence signed a five-year contract extension worth up to $275M last offseason before he endured what could be referred to as a disastrous campaign. Jacksonville fell to 2-10 on the same day he suffered a concussion that ultimately resulted in the team shutting him down so he could have shoulder surgery. Per Pro Football Reference, Lawrence ended the regular season ranked 28th in the league among qualified players with an 85.2 passer rating and 35th with a 60.6 percent completion percentage. 

The Jaguars fired head coach Doug Pederson shortly after the campaign came to an end. 

Coen added during his comments that he has wanted Lawrence to focus "on his lower half and his footwork and then also just running the show" while learning a new offense.

"Like, I’m not really judging, does he make every single throw right now?" Coen continued. "Is every single ball perfectly accurate right now? Is he operating the offense at a high level? Yes, he is right now."

Back in February, Coen voiced strong support for Lawrence after the 25-year-old curiously became the subject of a trade rumor seemingly out of nowhere. That's all well and good, but history shows a regime will only stay married to a quarterback it didn't pick for so long if that signal-caller leaves much to be desired with his on-the-field performances.