Tag: DOUG MARRONE
Jaguars’ Marrone talks Jalen Ramsey
Jacksonville Jaguars corner Jalen Ramsey called in sick on Monday, and according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Ramsey believes he may have the flu. Last week, the two-time Pro Bowler asked to be traded from Jacksonville, but according to reports, the Jaguars would like to keep the fourth-year player around, so you wonder if Ramsey is doing this to force Jacksonville to trade him.
On Monday, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone addressed the media and had this to say about Ramsey:
(On how you deal with the ‘limbo’ that the team is in regarding Jalen Ramsey as a coach)
Marrone: “I can’t speak for all of the players. I think we all have responsibilities; we all have a job. That’s how I look at it. Other people may not, but that’s basically the mindset that I’m in. I control the things that I can control. I don’t get crazy with the things that are on the outside.”
(On what the player protocol is for being sick)
Marrone: “It’s happened a bunch. They’re sick and they’ll call in, and depending on the type of sickness, they’ll stay away, because obviously you don’t want to get anyone else sick. They’ll go see Dr. [Michael] Yorio and Yorio will get back to us and tell us what’s going [on] and we just take it from there. It’s happened – I don’t want to exaggerate, and say hundreds of times, but it’s happened quite a bit. It’s happened here since I’ve been the head coach a couple times. It’s happened with Myles [Jack], where I was actually in the hotel with him, he stayed there. It’s happened, so to me, it’s nothing as big. But I understand that that’s probably a big story because of the other things that are surrounding it.”
(On when Ramsey is scheduled to meet with doctor Yorio)
Marrone: “Sometime this morning.”
(On if he will wait to game plan with Ramsey)
Marrone: “Right now it’s early, so we’re always game planning with the ones we have unless the doctor says something different.”
(On when he found out that Ramsey was sick)
Marrone: “Just got a message the same way I always have about players [being] sick. I get a message from the trainer.”
(On if he finds the timing of Ramsey’s sickness odd)
Marrone: “I’m not getting into that, odd or anything. If you’re sick, you’re sick, right? What are you going to do?”
Marrone, Jaguars’ players react to two-point try late in game
The Jacksonville Jaguars had a hard time getting into the end zone against the Texans on Sunday, but late in the game with the Jaguars down 13-6, they were able to put together a scoring drive, which ended with Gardner Minshew hitting D.J. Chark in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to one.
However, instead of going for the tie, the Jaguars decided to go for two, which ended up being unsuccessful as Leonard Fournette was denied the end zone on the two-point try, and the Jaguars would lose to Houston on the road 13-12. With the loss, the Jaguars fall to 0-2.
After the game, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone and players gave their thoughts on the decision to go for two.
Jaguars Head coach Doug Marrone:
Q: What went into the decision to go with Leonard Fournette up the middle when Fournette up the middle hadn’t had a lot of success during the game? What was the thinking there on that one?
Marrone: “We had a bunch of different plays called. So in other words, we had a play for Cover 0, we had a play for Red 2. We had a play for single-high man, we had a play for bear man, and really at the end of the day, we were fine with either one. Again, you come up a couple inches short and we lost the game. It was a decision that I made prior to
us getting the last possession. I said that if we returned the punt for touchdown with DD then I was probably going for go for the extra point. They said if we start driving this football and we score with a certain amount of time left, I said I’m going to go for two.”
DE Calais Campbell:
Q: Did every player on the sideline want to go for the two-point conversion?
Campbell: “Yeah, honestly from the angles we saw we were celebrating on the field. We thought that was two points. Obviously, I know it has to be definitive and that’s just the nature of the game. You put it in the referees’ hands, and it could go either way. But we made a lot of mistakes and we didn’t play as good as we could’ve, but we still had a chance to win at the end. So, it’s something we can learn from. We’ll grade the tape, and we’ll try to just keep getting better one game at a time.”
WR D.J. Chark:
Q: Did you like the call to go for two?
Chark: “Yeah. Because that’s the team we want to be. We don’t want to play it safe. We want to go get the win. Even after the call and the way it turned out, I still believe, like Myles (Jack) said, I believe that was a touchdown. I’m going to ride for my team, my coaches and Leonard (Fournette). And I think that we got that.”
RB Leonard Fournette:
Q: Can you talk about the last play, and from your vantage point did you think you got in the end zone?
“Yeah, I thought I got in when I reached the ball. But apparently, they (referees) thought otherwise.”
Q: When you all decided to go for it I assume most of you guys were thinking ‘Let’s go, let’s win it now,’
Fournette: “Yeah, we wanted to win. At the end of the day, that’s all this game is about is winning.”
Q: When you all decided to go for it I assume most of you guys were thinking ‘Let’s go, let’s win it now,’
Fournette: “It’s up to the Coach. He believed we that we could win it. We believed we could win it. It’s not just that play, but a lot of plays before that on both sides that kind of we could have sealed the game. But like I said, it’s football, things happen.”
QB Gardner Minshew:
Q: Did you like the call to go for two?
Minshew: “Yeah. Felt really good about the call. Had the right look. Leonard (Fournette) was close. I thought he got it. That’s how it goes sometimes. I bet ten times out of ten for him right there to get in there.”
Marrone on Minshew: ‘I think he’s going to be defined by how he plays on Sunday’
Jaguars rookie QB Gardner Minshew was not expected to play much or at all in 2019. However, the unexpected happened. Last week against the Chiefs, in his first game as Jacksonville’s starter, QB Nick Foles suffered a broken left clavicle that will keep him out until at least November. Now, it’s Minshew’s show until Foles comes back or until the Jaguars decide otherwise.
The sixth-round pick out Washington State was impressive against Kansas City last Sunday. Minshew completed 22 of 25 passes for 275 yards, 2 TDs, 1 int. However, this week, Minshew will have to go on the road as the Jaguars(0-1) battle the Houston Texans(0-1) on Sunday.
When asked what his comfort level is with Minshew as the starter, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone has this to say.
“I don’t know,” Marrone said on Friday. “I don’t think I said anything earlier in the week; you know what I mean? Like I said, he’s a unique guy, and I think he’s going to be defined by how he plays on Sunday.”
You wonder what the patience level will be for Minshew. The Jaguars did acquire another young QB in Joshua Dobbs from the Steelers last week, and while the third-year player does not have a lot of experience, he does have more experience than Minshew.
It would be nice if Minshew could have another solid performance, but based on his experience and what we have seen in the preseason, don’t be surprised if he struggles against the Texans on Sunday.
Marrone on Watson: ‘Probably competes for the MVP’
Even in a loss, Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson showed the league that he is special. Against the Saints on Monday night, the third-year quarterback accounted for four touchdowns, including one on the ground, and he put the Texans in position to win before Saints K Wil Lutz made a 58-yard FG at the buzzer as New Orleans defeated the Texans 30-28 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
In his short time in the league, the 23-year-old Watson has proven to be a play-maker, and as he demonstrated on Monday night, has shown the ability to be clutch. In 2018, Watson had five game-winning drives.
According to Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone, whose Jaguars travel to Houston to face Watson and the Texans on Sunday, Watson could win MVP in 2019.
“(Watson)Probably competes for the MVP. I can’t say anything more than that,” Marrone said on Wednesday. “Last week, we saw the 2018 MVP in Patrick Mahomes who played like an MVP. We are going in and playing against another quarterback who has the same amount of skill, the same amount of ability, and I think it’ll be between those two guys who’s going to be the MVP. I’m sure someone else will start playing well down the road, but right now those guys just took it Week 1, but those two guys are playing really well.”
Last season, Watson threw for 4165 yards and 26 touchdowns, and he rushed for 551 yards and scored five touchdowns on the ground, and If Watson continues to play as well as he did on Monday, he would be in the running for MVP. However, Watson does take a lot of hits, and he was sacked six times against the Saints. All that must change if he wants to finish the season healthy, but for now, Watson is definitely off to a great start.
Marrone on Chiefs’ offense: ‘I’d put them up there against anybody’
The Kansas City Chiefs offense was off the charts last season. Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 5097 yards and 50 touchdowns, and became the second player in league history to throw for 5000 yards and 50 touchdowns, the Chiefs scored 565 points, which is third-most in NFL history.
With those numbers, this offense has to go down as one of better offenses in NFL history, and this week, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone talked about the Chiefs’ offense.
“When you follow the game, especially the history of the game which I love, and you guys know that I think ‘The Greatest Show on Turf”(1999-2001 Rams) always comes up when people think of offense,” Marrone said on Thursday as his Jaguars prepare to battle the Chiefs on Sunday. “I think normally anyone that follows the game thinks of that Rams team and what they have. And I like to think that I was part of something when we were in New Orleans and really rolling, and they’re still rolling with Drew [Brees]. I think you look at what [Rams Head Coach] Sean [McVay] has done at the Rams, and you look at people around the league, there’s a lot of them, really good offenses that have been around.
“And I think what probably separates Kansas City and puts them up there, obviously a great coaching staff and they have such great players and guys that have developed so quickly. You look at someone that’s thrown 50-plus touchdowns, there’s only three quarterbacks that have really done that, and the other two are Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. So, I think that it starts with the quarterback position and their quarterback’s obviously the league MVP and is an outstanding player. He’s done a great job, and they have some great people around him, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us, and we have to put a lot of work in. It’s a lot of guys. You stop one and then you have another. They’ve got a lot of talent on that side of the football.”
While Marrone is a big fan of “The Greatest Show Turf,” he does believe this Chiefs’ offense is in the conversation as one of the greatest offenses of all-time.
“I’d put them up there against anybody,” Marrone said about the Chiefs’ offense. “Yeah, I’d put them up there versus all those teams. I just don’t know which one is the team that you would think. Like I said, for me, I always think of the Rams offense, but in my mind, I love the history of the game, so there’s a lot of other great offenses that are even going on right now in the league and some in the past. But to answer your question, yes, they’re up there in that conversation and can easily be put up there with the best ones. That’s a credit to them and how they’ve performed.”
With the new rules that favor offenses, teams are going to put up a lot of points. This Chiefs’ offense put up a lot of points in 2018, and barring any injuries, will probably do the same in 2019.
Marrone on Minshew: ‘You want to see him do better’
Thursday night marked the end of the NFL preseason, and for the Jacksonville Jaguars, it is time to focus on a season that could be full of promise, and while things are settled at the starting quarterback position, the backup QB position is not.
At this point, rookie QB Gardner Minshew, who was selected in the sixth round in this year’s draft, is the backup to Nick Foles but based on what we saw on Thursday night and throughout the preseason, the Jaguars can’t feel very comfortable.
Minshew, who started the game and played three quarters, completed only 11 of 26 passes for 79 yards, as the Jaguars fell to the Falcons 31-12 at TIAA Bank Field. In four preseason games, Minshew was unable to lead Jacksonville on a touchdown scoring drive.
After the game, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone gave his assessment on Minshew.
“You want to see him do better,” Marrone said. “It’s always in the back of your mind ‘Well, what if he was with this guy or that guy?’ But you want to see that production. It’s tough. There are times where I felt really good and times where I want to see more. It’s not from his lack of work ethic or lack of his effort or practice; he’s been pretty consistent in practices. A lot of the fans and people out there don’t see the practices every day, and the media doesn’t see him every day. All they’re able to look at is what goes out there on the field, and obviously, you’re going to want more, and Gardner wants more from himself, too, and you’re going to see that.
“A lot of times, quarterbacks and a lot of positions, most of the time, offensively, when you get better guys around you, you’re going to do better. It’s easier to evaluate if you had better guys around you and he doesn’t do well, then it’s easy, and you shouldn’t be around. I wish he was better; I don’t want to say more comfortable with it, but I wish there was more evidence to make it easier for him because he’s worked so hard and deserves it, but it’s what you do on the field.”
When asked if he was comfortable with Minshew as the backup, Marrone had this to say.
“If that’s what is elected to do, then I will be fine with it,” he said. “I learned a long time ago that it’s easy to go in there as a coach and demand, ‘I want better here, I want better here, I want better here,’ and you can go down the list and say that but I’ve always taken a lot of responsibility to make sure I develop players. The number one thing I learned when I came into the NFL and when I took over for the New York Jets, they were hounding me, telling me what it takes to coach in this league. I have to develop players. I understand that aspect of it, but at the same time, we as coaches have to realize we’re not going to have the perfect team. Not going to have the best players at each position and I think what makes the difference in coaches is being able to take these players and make them, as a whole, an unbelievable unit.
“It takes a lot of work from assistant coaches and coordinators to do that, but those are the things that you have to do. I don’t think anyone sits up there and is totally happy, there is always going to be better players and you have to love the ones you have and make them great because they want to be great.”
Not a very glowing endorsement for Minshew and you wonder if Jacksonville should and would be in the market for a backup quarterback. Obviously, no team is signing Colin Kaepernick, so you can take his name out of the mix. Would Jacksonville have any interest in Sam Bradford? Brock Osweiler? Matt Cassel? Who knows, but the team may have to do something before the start of the season because Mishew is not the answer right now.
Pederson, Marrone, Zimmer give their thoughts on Luck’s retirement
The NFL is still buzzing after the retirement of Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck. The four-time Pro Bowler called it quits after seven seasons in the league.
Recently, a few coaches around the league gave their thoughts on Luck and his retirement:
Doug Pederson, head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles:
“A lot of respect for [Colts QB] Andrew [Luck] and what he has done in his career as a quarterback, and obviously I’ve been in situations, too, where I’ve been hurt, but obviously not to the extent that he has been.
‘It’s tough. It’s tough. Obviously, you could tell through his comments last night that he put a lot of thought and a lot of conversation with family, friends, coaches, the owner, and it’s a tough thing for him to be able to step away like that. But I hope he gets healthy and wish him the best moving forward.”
Doug Marrone, head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars:
“I know his dad, and I know how difficult it is. I know how difficult this game is and I know how great of a competitor he is. I felt [that] it was unfortunate that injuries take a part of it and I’m sure it must have been very, very difficult for him. Just a loss for the game.”
Mike Zimmer, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings:
“He’s a great player. I wish he would have retired two years ago when we played them. Didn’t we play them two years ago? Whenever, three years ago. No, he’s a great player. I’ve always admired the way he throws the ball, his competitive nature, everything about him. He’s a terrific, terrific player.”
Jags’ Marrone talks the return of Cam Robinson
Jaguars LT Cam Robinson is off the PUP list and will practice with the team, Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone announced today. Last week, Marrone seemed less optimistic about the return of Robinson, who tore his ACL in Week 2 of the 2018 season. If all goes well, Robinson could be ready for the start of the season.
On Saturday, here is what Marrone had to say about Robinson and WR Marqise Lee(currently on PUP list).
“I don’t know if they’re going to be ready for the season, so they’re working hard, the trainers are working hard, everybody’s working hard, but we just can’t get them over the hump, so we’ve got to go and start preparing to play without them, unfortunately. And it could change, but it’ll be tough.”
Today, Marrone addressed the media about the return of Robinson
Marrone: “Cam Robinson is going to be off of PUP [Physically Unable to Perform List], so he’ll be out there on the practice field, he’ll be going through walkthroughs and individual. And it’s like before, I think the other day when we were talking about it, if I seem frustrated or down, I think it’s natural. I mean, I’m not going to sit here and bullshit you guys. I’m not going to be someone different. We all want those guys out there, but everybody’s working hard and the one thing about it, and again I never want to be that guy that stands up here and tries to spin things, I’m not that type of person, but, we got an opportunity to look at some other guys, and some other guys have had an opportunity to put themselves in position to make this team and now we’ll just see the consistency of it. But pretty much the people that we’re relying on are practicing very well. You’re talking about, they’re almost playing a game per day. I think when you look at yesterday’s practice, and you look at our ones, you’re talking about 48-50 plays, normally in a game you’re going to get about 62 plays a game, so you’re talking about are guys are definitely putting in the work.”
(On the surprise of Cam Robinson being taken off of the PUP list)
Marrone: “You’ll have to ask him. I don’t disagree with that. I don’t. I can’t answer that question. I really can’t.”
(On if it was the player or trainer coming to him with the decision to take Robinson off of the PUP list)
Marrone: “Listen, when they tell me someone’s going to be on the field and ready, I am not going to ask a lot of questions to that. I’m going to take that, take what I can, but that’s something that you can easily ask him [Cam Robinson]. And you can request from [Jaguars Director of Public Relations] Tad [Dickman] to talk to the trainers or the doctors.”
(On what the doctors told him)
Marrone: “They just said, ‘Hey, [we’re] thinking about taking him off of PUP and putting him through walkthrough and individual, and seeing where it goes.’ I said, ‘Awesome.’ I keep my mouth shut and that’s it. I don’t want to say anything and then they say, ‘Yeah, you know what, maybe you’re right, maybe we should keep him on PUP.’ I’m not that stupid.”
(On if the doctors told him something different today than previously earlier this week)
Marrone: “Hey listen, I think you need to go do one of those investigative things. I don’t know. I can’t answer a question I don’t know. I just know that he was at a point that they couldn’t get him over a point, and that he was going to stay on PUP, and that’s what I was told and then this morning I was told something different in a good way. Now I’m happy. Now you write I’m happy. Before when guys get hurt and I’m down, I know, but hey, you take it. It’s like when you’re walking down the street, you see 20 dollars, you pick it up, right? No one’s around, you pick it up and you put it in your pocket. You’re happy about it. You move on.”
(On if he’s talked to Robinson since he’s been informed to take him off of the PUP list)
Marrone: “I just found out before I walked in here.”
(On if Robinson took the same evaluation test he talked about on Saturday)
Marrone: “I have no idea. I really don’t.”
(On how slowly he will integrate Robinson back in to practice)
Marrone: “I’m just saying, they said individual and walkthrough, so I think that’s what you’ll see, and we’ll see what he can so. And like I told the coach, ‘Hey, be careful, just watch him. We don’t want any setbacks.’ And we’ll see where he’s at, and bring him along and that’s it. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m just telling you that that’s how it works.”
(On how Robinson’s spirits are)
Marrone: “I haven’t talked to him, I really haven’t. He was working, I’d see him, ‘Hey, how are you doing. How’s your work?’, ‘Going well.’ ‘Keep working, we need you back, let’s go,’ yada yada. Next thing you know, boom, he’s here. He’s going to be on the field.”
(On what Robinson returning changes in regard to the offensive lines rotation)
Marrone: “He’s on the field. I don’t know where he’s at as far as being able to play or anything like that. Obviously, I’m going to keep Cedric [Ogbuehi] over there. We have Josh [Wells] over there. I was thinking about Will [Richardson Jr.] because Will’s played a bunch of right. Now Jawaan Taylor, obviously he’s out, so I’ll probably keep Will over there at right because I really think he’s one of the better storylines for the team. I don’t know if a lot of people have written about it, but he’s really done a hell of a job from where he was last year to this year and that’s a credit to him. [Leonard] Wester played well in the game. We’ve got some things, and we’ll just prepare ourselves for the worst. I have to say it like that, but I think you have to make sure you’re prepared for that, if those guys aren’t ready to go and have people in place.”
Jags’ Marrone: ‘(James)Conner is playing to a Pro Bowl level’
On Tuesday, Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell did not sign the franchise tag, which means that Bell is ineligible to return to the field in 2018.
In Bell’s absence, second-year RB James Conner has taken full advantage of this opportunity. Conner has rushed for 771 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games. He is not only a threat running the ball, but he is making plays in the passing game(39 receptions, 387 yards, 1 TD). According to the NFL Network, Conner has more scrimmage yards, rushing touchdowns, and scrimmage touchdowns through nine games than Bell has had in the first nine games of any single season in his career.
The Steelers offense has not missed a beat without Bell, and according to Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone, the Steelers’ offense is more efficient in 2018.
“You would think that going in, but then all of a sudden when you look at the numbers – basically their offense is more efficient now than it is has been in the past couple years,” Marrone said. “You start trying to look at where it has changed. You see Antonio Brown still has his 10 touchdowns. Ju-Ju [Smith-Schuster] has a high amount of catches. The tight ends are involved. Ben is Ben. He is a great player and has been for all these years.
“You knew how much the focus was on that position for them. Are they going to get the same production? Conner is playing to a Pro Bowl level. I don’t see the change as far as the production. I actually see better efficiency. I know the offensive coordinator up there has really done a nice job.”
Conner just might be playing at a Pro Bowl level. Obviously, you can’t replace a guy like Bell, but at this point, Conner is doing just that.