Patience and Precision: Jaguars Prepare for Shanahan’s 49ers

The Jacksonville Jaguars return to the field this week riding the momentum of a hard-earned 17-10 win over the Houston Texans. That victory, however, is only the beginning of a tougher challenge for the Jaguars. A showdown with the San Francisco 49ers, one of the NFL’s most structurally sound and fundamentally disciplined teams. For head coach Liam Coen, it’s a test not just of talent, but of patience, preparation, and execution.

Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers bring a style that is as deceptive as it is effective. Known for his precision as a play designer, Shanahan thrives on forcing defenses to hesitate. His wide-zone concepts, paired with gap schemes and layered play-action, disguise intentions until the last possible second. Coen, who saw Shanahan’s units up close during his time with the Rams, knows exactly how disruptive this approach can be.

“Very well coached in all three phases,” Coen said Wednesday. “Offensively, they’re detailed. The illusion of the run with the formations, keepers, boots, and play passes—it’s all pretty clean. I have a ton of respect for Kyle, not just offensively but as a coach overall.”

Fred Warner and the 49ers’ Defensive Blueprint

If Shanahan sets the standard on offense, San Francisco’s defense enforces it with relentless speed and discipline. Much like the Houston Texans, whom Jacksonville just survived, the 49ers rally to the ball and punish mistakes. At the heart of that effort is linebacker Fred Warner, a player Coen called one of the most complete defenders in football.

“The athletic ability, the length, his ability to dissect schemes—he plays with patience and still has the speed to redirect and make plays in coverage,” Coen explained. “We’ve got to make sure we get a hat on him in every possible scenario.”

Warner’s presence is amplified by San Francisco’s defensive philosophy. The 49ers lean heavily on quarters and cover-six shells, daring opponents to string together long drives instead of hitting explosive plays. It’s a design that demands opponents stay disciplined—every greedy decision risks becoming a turnover.

“It makes you as a play caller and quarterback, have to be meticulous,” Coen said on Wednesday. “You’ve got to keep taking what they give you, and when opportunities downfield do appear, we have to capitalize—something we didn’t do last week.”

Lawrence Calls for Discipline After Houston Win

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence echoed that sentiment after reviewing the Houston game. Though the Jaguars won, their offense stumbled with penalties, missed assignments, and inefficiency on third downs. For Lawrence, the fix is straightforward: execute the basics more consistently.

“We’ve got to correct the penalties and stop shooting ourselves in the foot,” Lawrence said on Wednesday. “Last week wasn’t our best offensively, but we’ve shown we can be explosive. It’s about how we respond, how we get sharper in the passing game, and how we stay consistent.”

For Jacksonville, this matchup isn’t about reinventing its identity—it’s about discipline. The 49ers are built to exploit mistakes and test patience. If Coen and Lawrence can match San Francisco’s precision with their own, the Jaguars have the firepower to compete. But if the same errors from Houston surface again, the 49ers’ margin for punishment will be unforgiving.

This week, the Jaguars’ challenge is simple to say but difficult to execute: trust the plan, play with discipline, and prove they can outlast one of the league’s most demanding opponents.

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