Jaguars fan survey points to optimism for Liam Coen-era offense

What side of the ball does Jacksonville expect to improve most in the coming season? According to results from a Yahoo Sports fan survey published this week, Jaguars supporters lean toward the offense taking a step forward, even though both units finished in the same neighborhood when it came to overall yardage production and allowed.

In the team’s first year with Coen’s system, the Jaguars’ offense ranked 11th in the NFL in total yards. On the other side of the ledger, Jacksonville’s defense also finished 11th in total yards allowed, a similar finish that can be read two ways: the roster is capable of competing for efficiency and control, but there is room to separate in more meaningful situations.

The separation appears to show up when you look beyond raw yardage totals. The survey backdrop notes that Jacksonville’s defense graded better in two advanced efficiency lenses, yards per play and DVOA. Those metrics matter because they aim to capture how the Jaguars performed once games got into the rhythm of downs and distances, rather than simply counting the volume of yards that happened to be gained or conceded.

The immediate takeaway from the poll is not that fans believe the defense is collapsing, but that they perceive a clearer offensive ceiling. Expectations tend to follow a narrative, and in this case the narrative is Coen’s first full implementation period and what it might unlock for quarterback play, run-game design, and play-calling structure. When both units start from the same yardage baseline, fans often look for the unit that changes its look most.

For context, NFL teams can finish close in total yards for a number of reasons, including schedule, style of play, and how quickly games end drives. The Jaguars’ better-than-typical defense on yards per play and DVOA suggests Jacksonville limited explosive outcomes more effectively than the season’s overall yardage ranking would imply. That kind of profile can keep fans from expecting a major defensive overhaul, while still leaving them believing the offense can be sharper.

There is also a subtle psychological element in how fans set expectations. A league-average offense that ranked around 11th in total yards can feel “good but not complete” to supporters if other elements of the game did not translate into consistent third-down conversion, red-zone efficiency, or game-management advantages. The survey’s framing, focused on which side of the ball fans expect to be better, indicates that supporters see a plausible offensive upgrade as the most direct path to clearer results.

What to watch next is whether Jacksonville’s offensive improvement shows up in the areas that advanced metrics and situational play tend to reflect. If the Jaguars’ offense can move from “middle of the pack in yards” toward more sustained efficiency, it would align with the optimism reflected in the fan survey. At the same time, Jacksonville will be looking to preserve the defensive strengths hinted at by better yards per play and DVOA, because a meaningful leap for one unit is often limited if the other unit cannot hold its end of the bargain.

For now, the survey provides a snapshot of belief rather than a guarantee of outcomes. Still, in a league where incremental gains can be the difference between competing for the postseason and missing it, fan expectations often highlight the areas teams will feel most pressure to improve. Jacksonville’s offense, in that sense, is carrying the heavier spotlight.