Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith has seen plenty of quarterback journeys over his NFL career — and in his view, Trevor Lawrence is now reaching the turning point everyone has been waiting for.
In an exclusive interview, Smith didn’t hesitate when asked whether Lawrence is starting to figure out the NFL.
“He has gotten a lot better this year,” Smith said. “And I think a lot of that is down to the new regime in Jacksonville.”
The Right Coach, the Right Time
Smith pointed to Jaguars head coach Liam Coen as the biggest catalyst behind Lawrence’s growth.
“Liam Coen is an outstanding football coach from the Sean McVay tree,” Smith said. “He understands the nuances of quarterback play because he played the position himself. Sometimes it just takes the right coach — and when that happens, it can really click.”
According to Smith, that connection is now obvious on tape.
“People around the league know the Jaguars are going to be a team to be reckoned with,” he said. “Not just this year, but for years to come.”
Smith credited Coen not only for his work with Lawrence, but also for assembling a strong coaching staff on both sides of the ball, helping Jacksonville look like a completely different team than it had in recent seasons.
Why Lawrence Looks Different
Under Coen’s system, Lawrence is showing the traits that made him a generational prospect coming out of Clemson.
“He’s been very impressive as a passer,” Smith said. “But you can’t downplay what he does with his feet. He can run the ball and create plays on his own, and he’s done that all year.”
For Smith, the defining factor is Lawrence’s ability to threaten defenses in multiple ways.
“When you have a quarterback who can go through his reads, throw the football like he can, or reel off a 15-yard run, those are signs your quarterback isn’t just good — he’s great,” Smith said. “And he’s finally on his way to becoming a great quarterback.”
Confidence Growing League-Wide
Lawrence’s improvement hasn’t gone unnoticed across the NFL, and Smith believes Jacksonville’s timing couldn’t be better.
“He’s still very young, but he’s just going to continue to blossom,” Smith said. “They couldn’t have picked a better time to start playing their best football, and I’m happy for them.”
With Lawrence playing his most complete football and Coen firmly in place, Smith believes the Jaguars made the right decision at the most important position in the organization.
“They picked the perfect guy when they hired Coach Coen,” Smith said. “And now you’re seeing why Trevor Lawrence was drafted No. 1 overall.”