Jaguars HC wants to instill winning mentality in his team after 2022 season
The Jacksonville Jaguars are finally in a place they should feel comfortable in again, which is why Doug Pederson wants them to switch up their thinking
The Jacksonville Jaguars just won the AFC South for the first time since 2017. This past year was only their second time ever winning it, so it's fair to say they are a bit new to this.
But that doesn't mean they shouldn't change their way of thinking or their mindset toward the other opponents and themselves.
The Jaguars are now the team to beat in the division. Sure, some of the other teams may not feel that way, but the Jaguars should. Even head coach Doug Pederson wants them to think that way.
"You definitely want them to think that way," Pederson said at the NFL Combine. "I want them to feel that kind of pressure, where you have to perform weekend and week out. You know, in this past year, we were just playing to win a game. And, then ultimately we find ourselves, you know, winning more games at the end of the season, putting ourselves in a position to win the NFC South. But now those are the expectations that I as the head coach, expect our football team to have. And, that will start, you know, April 17 when we start our offseason program."
The division started in 2002, in which this last season was the 20th anniversary of the AFC South. The Jaguars just won it, and by the looks of the other teams, have a chance to win it again next year.
So why shouldn't they have that mindset?
Pederson wants them to instill that because he wants to instill a winning culture in Jacksonville, something that hasn't been there in a while if ever. I think by him saying he expects his players to feel and think that way, sets them up to be more confident too.
The Jaguars looked like a completely different team the last six games of the season. They had one of the better offenses in the league, and the defense shined in moments too. That is what I think we can expect to see from this team come August, when they try to defend the division crown.
Watch out for the Jaguars in 2023.
Featured Image Via Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
