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Ex-NFL scout says: Trevor Lawrence is a bust and he continues to show us why

Former NFL scout Daniel Kelly continues to pounce on Jaguars rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Jaguars’ quarterback (QB) Trevor Lawrence continues to show flashes of greatness that made the football world fall in love with him. However, the mental lapses of judgment (that are impossible to fix) and the circumstances guarantee his failure in Jacksonville.  

Lawrence is the classic heart-breaker – – just when you think you might have something, he goes out and does something stupid. 

As I was watching the Jaguars and the Broncos on NFL Game Pass, I have to admit, in the first quarter he had me a little nervous. Lawrence looked as smooth as butter in the pocket and when throwing the football. He was throwing darts all over the field and he was 6/9 for 71 yards. 

Then things started to inevitably fall apart as is becoming his signature in Jacksonville – – and I exhaled as the offense he led once again could only go 4-11 converting third downs (espn.com). 

The more I watch of Lawrence, the more this stuff is becoming clear to me. I have never bought into him to begin with, which helps me see through the false narratives and excuses so many like to wrap him in. Yes, he has the big arm – – I get that – – but he also is unreliable from the neck up and he has consistently shown it during his time in Jacksonville, and I have been evaluating and documenting it every step of the way.

At times Lawrence holds the ball too long and at times he tries to will his throws to happen, and he relies too heavily on that strength, which gets him into trouble and it will continue to. 

It does not matter that Lawrence looks great part of the time or not. The hesitancy to pull the trigger and the overconfidence in his arm naturally comes out at all the wrong times. It is who Trevor Lawrence is. It is not a rookie thing. 

Lawrence threw another two interceptions against Denver and according to my charted calculations and the voice of the announcer covering the game, Lawrence flirted with another four picks on dangerous looking passes. When those numbers are combined with the three picks he threw last week (along with two more additional dangerous passes against Houston) – – anyone can start to see the problem that will eventually bring his time in Jacksonville to an end.

Lawrence has thrown five picks in two weeks that could have easily been 11. 

These are the kind of numbers have bust written all over them. BUST…BUST…BUST…I have been screaming it since before the draft and I will continue to use whatever ink I have left to scream it as loud as I can, and it will age like a fine wine.

On the first pick Sunday, Lawrence perfectly illustrates another reason he will continue to struggle. Once again he held the ball a little too long as he was sliding left. Denver’s defensive back stepped right in front of the pass and made the interception. This is exactly the difference between college and the NFL. In college he was able to get away with this when he did not have to rely on timing routes, but no way will this work in the NFL.

For the second consecutive week, Lawrence got progressively worse as the game went on. The key is getting constant pressure on his ass and taking the lead. If any team team in the league does that he begins to panic and he becomes more hesitant and he tries to force things more, which plays right into the defenses’ hands. Easy money. 

Lawrence does not know how to stay within himself and fight back. 

Not to mention, Lawrence continues to lack the necessary touch on passes at times throughout the game, and he puts too much heat on short passes his receivers drop. This is yet another problem he has had since day one in Jacksonville. 

When you combine his glaring deficiencies with the lack of talent around him, Lawrence being a bust in Jacksonville is a sure-fire bet you can bet your house on. It will be years before the Jaguars will be able to build a talented roster. 

By that time Lawrence’s body, ego and his hair will be so messed up, it will not matter anymore. 

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated Detroit Lions and he is a contributing evaluator for Draft Diamonds. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @danielkellybook and his Facebook page is WHATEVER IT TAKES NFL TALK. 

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