Doug Pederson Recaps The Day After

JACKSONVILLE – The issues are many, and difficult to explain.

Such is the nature of 2-7 – and with the Jaguars’ offense struggling in many areas in recent weeks, Head Coach Doug Pederson on Monday emphasized one issue that is key to many issues.

The Jaguars struggle on third down, which affects pretty much everything.

“Those are things that have haunted us this season,” he said.

Pederson spoke a day after a 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., with Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean intercepting a pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the end zone with 1:38 remaining to secure the victory.

The game marked the Jaguars’ fifth loss of the season decided by five or fewer points in the final two minutes. The Jaguars lost to the Green Bay Packers, 30-27, the previous Sunday on a field goal on the game’s final play.

“It does encourage you that you can play with these guys if – quite frankly – you eliminate a few mistakes,” Pederson said. “Things could be different. We’ve given ourselves opportunities. We just now have to capitalize on them.

“I don’t see our guys getting down. I don’t see our guys being dejected on the sideline. There’s a great communication on the sideline, a lot of encouragement like, ‘Hey, we will make that play the next time.’ It’s just a feeling of, ‘It’s close.’ We just need that one play go get us going.”

Among the Jaguars recent issues: Slow starts offensively, with the unit producing 58 first-quarter yards and no first-quarter points in the last three games. Pederson on Monday said one issue offensively affects multiple areas.

That issue is third-down efficiency, with the Jaguars through nine games converting 31 of 98 third downs for a percentage of 31.63 – 30th in the NFL. They have converted four of 19 third downs in the last two games – one of nine against the Packers and three of 10 Sunday.

…