JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars experts – Frank Frangie, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick and Kainani Stevens – are breaking down the Jaguars as the 2025 NFL season approaches; today: The key to the Jaguars improving on 2024 in 2025
Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars
- The key to the Jaguars improving on 2024 in 2025 is: They must be more physical. They must keep their best players healthy. The defense must play better in what seems to be a much-improved scheme. Lawrence must take the next step.
Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director
- The key to the Jaguars improving on 2024 in 2025 is: The biggest improvement the Jaguars can make from 2024 is on the defensive side of the ball. The eyes will be on the offense, but Anthony Campanile is in prime position to have a huge year as a first-time defensive coordinator. One could argue the Jaguars will be better by simply walking out on the field. The Jaguars' defense was last or almost last in just about every major category last year. If they can bump up to average, it will make a huge difference. The Jaguars also had only nine turnovers, which is hard to do in a 17-game season. The ball should bounce the Jaguars' way a bit more in 2025.
John Oehser, jaguars.com Senior Writer
- The key to the Jaguars improving on 2024 in 2025 is: Improving in many areas. The Jaguars' secondary absolutely must improve, and the defensive front must stop the run better to set up better opportunities to rush the passer and therefore force more turnovers. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence also must improve his awareness and decision-making as he learns Head Coach Liam Coen’s new offense. But the thought here is the biggest key to the Jaguars' season is how they fare in short-yardage situations. Their struggles in this area as much as anything else defined the team during its struggles late in the 2023 season and pretty much the entire 2024 season. Because the Jaguars couldn't consistently convert short-yardage situations, they too often struggled to keep drives alive. This also contributed to their struggles in the red zone. Also: When you can't convert third and short, it allows defense to focus on the pass rush – therefore creating more pressure on Lawrence. While any team that finished 4-13 must improve multiple areas, improving in short-yardage situation would help so much that it could significantly improve the whole team.
The Jaguars were drafted into four teams led by a team captain and lieutenant in an "iron games" competition organized by Director of Strength and Conditioning coach, Eric Ciano. In this series of conditioning drills throughout the offseason programming, teammates were put to the test. Be sure to check out the newest episode of THE HUNT to see more behind-the-scenes coverage and who came out on top.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Maason Smith (94), linebacker Devin Lloyd (0), defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) and defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars executive vice president of football operations Tony Boselli during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Zechariah McPhearson (34), offensive lineman Anton Harrison (77), offensive lineman Fred Johnson (74), wide receiver David White Jr. (83), defensive end Arik Armstead (91) and tight end Brenton Strange (85) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Yasir Abdullah (56) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Luke Fortner (79), wide receiver Parker Washington (11) and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars tight end Patrick Murtagh, offensive lineman Patrick Mekari (65), tight end Shawn Bowman (49), long snapper Ross Matiscik (46) and offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (73) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback John Wolford (18) and tight end Patrick Murtagh during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) and offensive lineman Patrick Mekari (65) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland (76) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik (46) and offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (73) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik (46) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback John Wolford (18) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (73), running back Tank Bigsby, quarterback John Wolford (18), long snapper Ross Matiscik (46), cornerback Tyson Campbell, offensive lineman Patrick Mekari, tight end Patrick Murtagh, defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson, defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (52), wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit, tight end Shawn Bowman during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (73) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (73) and offensive lineman Patrick Mekari (65) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Fred Johnson (74) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars players and strength staff during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive linemen Robert Hainsey (73) and Patrick Mekari (65) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little (72) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens (14) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Yasir Abdullah (56) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wide receiver Austin Trammell (86), offensive lineman Dennis Daley (78), linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) and offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (70) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive tackle Maason Smith (94) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1), linebacker Devin Lloyd (0), and offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (70) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Chuma Edoga (55), linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, linebacker Devin Lloyd (0), linebacker Chad Muma (48), wide receiver Austin Trammell (86) and offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (70) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard (42) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Eric Murray (29) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars strength and conditioning staff during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive line coach Matt Edwards, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and general manager James Gladstone during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little (72) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen (70) and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars kicker Cam Little (39) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah (90) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars defensive end Myles Cole (59), wide receiver Dyami Brown (5), CB Montaric Brown (30), TE Hunter Long (84) and S Andrew Wingard (42) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars offensive lineman Dennis Daley (78) during phase two of the voluntary offseason program at the Miller Electric Center on May 7, 2025.
Brian Sexton, jaguars.com Senior Correspondent
- The key to the Jaguars improving on 2024 in 2025 is: Finding a way to win the close games they lost in 2024. They were 1-9 in one-score games last season. They melted in those crucial situations. Call it mental toughness or resilience, but this team must find a way to tighten down and play its best football when the game is on the line. That's how it's done in professional football.
J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com Senior Reporter
- The key to the Jaguars improving on 2024 in 2025 is: Health and an improved roster. The Jaguars battled key injuries each of the last two seasons down the stretch. The roster floor feels better already with the offseason acquisitions, and they'll continue to search for talent wherever they can find it if it helps the football team.
Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter
- The key to the Jaguars improving on 2024 in 2025 is: Establishing the run. The Jaguars' offense will not be successful if they can't run the ball when they need to in crucial situations. Travis Etienne Jr. will be motivated entering a contract year and rookie additions Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr. will be fighting it out for playing time as well. I'm also hoping to see some improvement in this category from the offensive line, too.
