JACKSONVILLE – Press Taylor is ready for the opportunity.
"I'm obviously very excited," he said.
Taylor, officially named the Jaguars' offensive coordinator last week, joined senior writer John Oehser recently for a 2022 offseason O-Zone Podcast – and discussed multiple reasons for his excitement. Among them:
- A chance to work with quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
- A chance to work again with Head Coach Doug Pederson.
- A chance to be an NFL offensive coordinator.
Taylor – entering his first NFL coordinator job and his 10th NFL season – said he also is looking forward to working with what he considers a front-line offensive staff, which includes two former NFL offensive coordinators: quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy and passing-game coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.
"I really like the mixture of personalities and philosophies that are coming together," Taylor said. "A lot of guys, we have some sort of ties. But it's going to be a lot of different ideas. The group is low-ego, high output. People don't seem to care who's going to get credit. Everybody just wants to contribute.
"That's what you want to be around."
Taylor, who spent last season as a senior offensive assistant with the Indianapolis Colts, spent the first eight seasons of his NFL coaching career from 2013-2020 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He worked under Pederson with the Eagles from 2016-20 in roles that included pass-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
"That's a big part of it," Taylor said. "Obviously, Coach Pederson and I can speak the same language, having been in the same offense for five years. … Having familiarity with one another is important. We have a great relationship already coming into this thing, but it's important we're in lockstep.
"If he and I are not having great communication, it's going to show up on the field."
Taylor also discussed working with Lawrence, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft and a player many consider one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory.
"He was probably the No. 1 overall pick since he was a freshman in college," Taylor said. "The talent was very obvious. I had a chance to speak with Trevor once everything was finalized, a chance to introduce myself and talk about how excited we are to have a chance to work with him.
"We have to find the plan that best suits him to have the success he's capable of having. That's something that's exciting."
To listen to the entire O-Zone Podcast with Taylor, please click here, or check it out below.
