A Look Ahead to Week 16
When I first watched Trevor Lawrence during his freshman season at Clemson, I was stunned and in awe. While playing in Death Valley, he quickly demonstrated rare athletic talent, arm strength, play-making ability, and the will to win. He started 40 games for the Tigers, won a National Championship and his NFL future looked unlimited.
Lawrence’s first season was horrible under first-time NFL head coach Urban Meyer. Meyer was unequipped to handle the job. He had no understanding of the pro game or a pro-offensive attack. Then in his second season, Lawrence showed promise. Nothing elite or franchise-carrying worthy, just way better than his first season. He did improve under head coach Doug Pederson, helping the Jags win the South and a home playoff game against the Chargers. It was an improvement and perhaps a precursor of better days ahead.
This season, we all expected the giant spike due to the second year in the same offensive system, the comfortability with the offense, and the improvement of talent around him. NFL fans were going to witness the Clemson version of Lawrence arriving in Duval, taking the South by storm, making the Jags one of the best teams in the AFC. That hasn’t happened—and it appears unlikely to occur. Lawrence has been turnover-prone, mistake-prone, and inconsistent with his accuracy and decision-making. He isn’t a bust, but he also isn’t worthy of the huge extension he is going to receive when his rookie deal expires.
Perception and draft status rule most evaluations. If Lawrence had Brock Purdy’s numbers this season, he would easily be the MVP, and the folks in Canton would be asking for his jacket size, preparing for his arrival in fifteen years. Do you believe if Lawrence was in San Francisco, he would duplicate the Purdy numbers? Take a moment to answer before assuming the answer is yes.