Trevor Lawrence has never been short on expectations. Since the Jaguars drafted him No. 1 overall in 2021, Lawrence has shouldered the burden of leading the entire franchise. Its expectations, its rebuild, its brand. Despite showing flashes of greatness, Lawrence continues to fall short of establishing himself as the dominant quarterback he was expected to be. Now, going into 2025, there’s a new voice in the room that wants more: Liam Coen.

The former Rams and Buccaneers offensive coordinator was brought to Jacksonville with a definite mission: to unleash Lawrence’s maximum potential. And from the outset, Coen has been unapologetic. His style is aggressive, deliberate, and unflinchingly direct. It’s time for Lawrence to take the whole show up a notch. Coen’s directive to Lawrence is evident: own up and lead with presence.

That message rang home loud in the Jaguars locker room, where teammates say the quarterback has taken a real step forward this offseason. It’s about accountability, not just for himself but for the guys around him. Teammates have picked up on a sharper edge, a clearer voice from their quarterback, indicators that Lawrence is heeding Coen’s call. It’s the type of growth that doesn’t appear on tape right away, but establishes tone in every meeting room, every walkthrough, every weight session.

Even NFL podcaster and writer Joe Arancio, who earlier called Lawrence “overrated” during his draft, believes the situation is in his favor. “Lawrence is a QB on the fringes of being good,” Arancio tweeted, “but he will likely explode statistically in 2025 because he not only has a great playcaller in Liam Coen, but he has great weapons too.” That is not an isolated sentiment. Around the league, there’s increasing optimism that the combination of Coen’s high-octane playbook and Lawrence’s ability might finally provide the breakthrough moment Jacksonville’s been searching for.

Coen’s offense will test Lawrence every week. With a playbook filled with quick reads, motion-based formations, and situational audibles. Lawrence needs to be on top of his game. So that he’s able to handle all 10 men on the field at another level. His offseason comments on the Pardon My Take podcast suggest this growing sense of awareness and sense of urgency, “I feel like this is like getting into my prime… I need to really turn it on… has been a great start.”

Training camp emphasis

But more indicative of what Lawrence is doing on the field is what he’s saying off it. Specifically about the individuals around him, most notably rookie Travis Hunter. Lawrence praised Hunter for handling the demands of playing both wide receiver and cornerback but emphasized that plenty of work still lies ahead. “It’s a lot on a rookie,” he said in a recent media interaction. He further said, ”It’s challenging to learn everything and he’s done a nice job and we still have work to do and we’re gonna get a lot done in training camp and get us ready to play come September. But I’m really excited for him and how he can help our team.”

It marks a deeper level of Trevor Lawrence’s maturation. He’s no longer merely concerned with breaking down defenses and refining technique. He’s embracing the responsibility of this team’s young core, filling the leadership vacuum that has long been half-filled. His words indicate an understanding of how each rep in camp, particularly with someone such as Hunter, primes for in-season chemistry.

Hunter, for his part, has been pulling double duty like few others. Working through both offensive and defensive schemes, he’s been the talk of the locker room. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen offered his analysis of Hunter’s unusual versatility. It’s no easy accomplishment for a rookie to make such an impact. But it also speaks to the greater expectations Coen expects from his best players, including the quarterback charged with translating Hunter’s offensive skills into points.

And this, above all else, indicates where Lawrence is in his development. He’s not merely attempting to direct the offense. He’s assisting in constructing it, shaping it, and fitting it with an atmosphere of responsibility. “We have work to do,” he stressed, and the “we” is doing quite a lot of work there. It’s a change from the solitary savior storyline into the world of quarterback as program guard.

Jacksonville doesn’t merely desire stats. They desire sustainability. And Coen’s requirements for accuracy, presence, and daily effect suggest a higher standard. If Lawrence is able to achieve it, the Jaguars won’t simply be intriguing. They’ll be lethal.