Jags’ Marrone: Rookie running back has helped QB Bortles
LSU product Fournette ranks sixth in league with 596 yards rushing.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the next team on the schedule for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here are some highlights from Jags coach Doug Marrone’s conference call with southwest Ohio reporters.
1. Marrone is (not surprisingly) impressed with Leonard Fournette.
The rookie running back from LSU is sixth in the NFL with 596 yards despite missing last week’s game with an ankle injury.
“He’s done an outstanding job transitioning from the college game to the NFL game,” Marrone said. “He’s shown really good versatility.”
The coach called Fournette a three-down back and noted he has done a nice job catching the ball, something he wasn’t called upon to do much at LSU.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and he’s performed very well for us.”
Fournette has been listed as a full participant in practice this week.
2. The emergence of Fournette has helped Jacksonville’s quarterback.
Blake Bortles has endured some tough times in the NFL, but the top-five draft pick is coming off
continued from C1 a decent game against the Rams and a strong performance against the Colts.
“I think when you’re able to establish a run game and get play action going it takes pressure off that position no matter who it is,” Marrone said. “Being able to go back and hand the ball off and not feel like you have to make every play in the game is something I’ve always believed in. Everyone puts the emphasis on the quarterback to make all the plays. We just need him when we call his number to make the plays, and we need other people around him to step up. Our running backs have done a nice job of that.”
Bortles is 21st in the league with a passer rating of 85.4, trailing Andy Dalton by less than two points.
3. Marrone respects the Bengals defensive front.
“This will be a great test for us. I have a ton of respect for Cincinnati up front,” Marrone said. “Marvin (Lewis) and the rest of the staff do a good job. They play hard. They’re really good against the run and pass.”
While the Jags are enjoying a bounce-back year on defense, Marrone noted the Bengals have been better, at least statistically.
“And they’re tough,” he said. “They don’t give up a lot. It’s tough to move the ball. It’s tough to score in the red zone, so it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
That especially goes for rookie Carl Lawson.
“You look at what Carl Lawson is doing on the edge, it’s outstanding,” he said. “Thirty-one pressures, really no one has really done what he’s been doing since like the last seven years.”
4. The coach of the Jags also praised Chris Smith.
After three seasons in Jacksonville, Smith is enjoying a good first half of his first year in Cincinnati.
The defensive lineman has 14 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, as a key reserve for a deep group of pass rushers.
“I was the offensive line coach so I watched him during one-on-ones (last season),” Marrone said. “I thought he gave great effort ... good rushes. I know he was a tough matchup for us. He did an outstanding job.”
Smith played in 19 games for the Jaguars.
5. Marrone is disappointed in his run defense.
The Jaguars are No. 1 in the league in fewest passing yards allowed per game but last in rushing defense. They hope the acquisition of defensive tackle Marcell Dareus from Buffalo helps.
“We thought we were going to be much better at this point in time against the run,” Marrone said. “We put a lot of time and a lot of emphasis on it.”
The Bengals haven’t proven they can run on anyone yet, though. They are 30th in the league in rushing yards per game.
Injury report: Kicker Randy Bullock has been dealing with a back injury all week and may not be able to play Sunday.
Bullock, listed as questionable, missed Wednesday’s practice but was able to kick Thursday when he was listed as limited.
He did not kick Friday. Bullock has made 8 of 10 field goals this year, with his most recent miss coming in Sunday’s win against Indianapolis when he had a 34-yarder blocked.
If the Bengals elect to go into Sunday’s game with Bullock and his back flares up again, punter Kevin Huber is capable of handling kickoff duties. But the longer extra points the league went to in 2015 likely would prevent the Bengals from using Huber in those situations.
Defensive end Michael Johnson also is questionable with the back injury he suffered Sunday against the Colts. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd and linebacker Kevin Minter are out. Contact this reporter at 937225-2396 or email Marcus. Hartman@coxinc.com.