Hays Carlyon's Jaguars Blog

HAYS BLOG: Trevor Lawrence is winless but looks like a budding superstar

todayOctober 1, 2021

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By Hays Carlyon

CINCINNATI – Trevor Lawrence is winless in four starts.

I understand that.

But I see a budding superstar.

Lawrence was superb considering the circumstances in Thursday night’s 24-21 loss to the Bengals. Cincinnati (3-1) connected on an Evan McPherson 35-yard field goal as time expired. The Jaguars never trailed until the final play.

Jaguars coach Urban Meyer was emotional in the postgame press conference, pounding the podium at one point when reminded that Lawrence played a turnover-free game for the first time. Meyer described the loss as “devastating” and “heartbreaking.”

He then closed his though with this.

“This team is going to win some games,” Meyer said.

I believe him because I believe Lawrence is the elite franchise quarterback he was drafted to be with the top-overall pick.

His numbers weren’t staggering against Cincinnati. Lawrence completed 17 of 24 passes for 204 yards with no touchdowns for a passer rating of 96.5. He also ran eight times for 36 yards and a touchdown.

However, this is why I was so impressed with Lawrence.

Jaguars receiver DJ Chark was injured on the third play of the game, breaking his left ankle. Lawrence had yet to attempt a pass.

That left the Jaguars with two decent options in Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault.

Lawrence completed all three of his attempts to Jones for 24 yards.

Shenault stepped up, catching six passes for 99 yards. Lawrence scrambled right on one play and fired a deep ball downfield that Shenault caught for a 52-yard gain. We just haven’t seen Jaguars quarterbacks make that kind of play.

Lawrence was then left to throw to these targets:

*Tight end Dan Arnold, who arrived Tuesday in the CJ Henderson trade. Arnold was outstanding considering the short amount of time he had to prepare. He caught two passes for 29 yards.

*Receiver Jamal Agnew, a return specialist with 16 career catches in his five seasons. Lawrence fired a 27-yard strike on the sideline to Agnew who did make a tremendous catch keeping his feet in bounds.

*Receiver Tavon Austin, who has promoted from the practice squad on Thursday.

*Tight end Chris Manhertz, who has 13 career catches in six seasons.

*Tight end Jacob Hollister, who was signed Sept. 3.

*Tight end Luke Farrell, a fifth-round rookie.

Really, it’s amazing how well Lawrence played. He will have to be Superman to carry an offense missing Chark and rookie first-round running back Travis Etienne, who is out for the season with a foot injury.

There is simply little talent around Lawrence.

Yet, he gave the Jaguars a great chance to win on the road in primetime against a 3-1 team.

A defensive meltdown doomed the chance for victory.

The Jaguars allowed all 24 points in the second half, surrendering a vomitous 313 yards after halftime.

Hang in there, Trevor. Help will be coming but probably not until 2022.

Hang in there, Urban. You have a rising star at quarterback.

(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @HaysCarlyon).

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