Rough water can’t capsize Marrone
JACKSONVILLE — Regardless of how bad this season has been, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone still finds time to laugh.
He still shares quirky tales from his past that this week that included Marrone recalling how the house he grew up in as a child in the Bronx used to shake from the public transit buses that sped by frequently.
But don’t get the wrong impression. Losing has impacted Marrone. With three games left in the season after Thursday night’s loss to the Tennessee Titans, he doesn’t deny there is mounting pressure.
That happens when your team has underperformed significantly after entering the season as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Asked earlier this week if he’s heard anything from Jaguars owner Shad Khan or team executive Tom Coughlin regarding his future with the franchise, Marrone politely said: “No, I haven’t spoken to anybody. Especially on a short week. You can ask that question next week.”
Marrone runs his team like a sea captain. When they sail off course like this season has been, he takes full responsibility.
And whether they win their next three or finish out with a losing record, Marrone said he’s not going to drop his head or make excuses. He does vow to work nonstop until the season ends on Dec. 30 at Houston to get all the flaws fixed.
“You either get it done or you don’t,” said Marrone, whose contract runs through the 2021 season after he was given a two-year contract extension in February after leading the Jaguars to the AFC title game.
“If it’s not good enough for the people you work for, then hey, they’re going to let you go. We all know that. It’s nothing to hold your head down about or nothing to feel bad about. You can’t sulk, you can’t complain about injuries, you can’t blame others. I have the responsibility to get this turned around. It’s not going to be a lack of effort. It’s not going to be a lack of working. Like I said, I love this place. I love Jacksonville. It’s my home. I plan on being here for a while, meaning in the city.”
Despite starting with a 3-1 record, their season unraveled from poor offensive execution, defensive coverage busts, injuries and players lacking discipline, highlighted by 24 personal foul calls. In Week 12 at Buffalo, running back and offensive captain Leonard Fournette left the sideline and ran across the field to exchange punches with Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson.
Fournette served a one-game suspension by the NFL before returning this week for the Titans game.
“I just think the penalties are one of many things for me,” Marrone said. “That’s how I look at it. It’s disappointing. The team reflects the head coach and obviously I’ve done a really poor job in that phase. You don’t have to look at anyone else.”
Desperate to win, Marrone fired offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and benched Blake Bortles after their seventh consecutive loss. Cody Kessler was set to earn his second consecutive start on Thursday night after leading the Jaguars to a 6-0 victory against the Colts last week.
“I felt I needed to make a change to get us an opportunity to win some games,” Marrone said.
He was also in favor of changing the defensive front rotation that ended Malik Jackson’s 56 consecutive games streak of starting. Last week, rookie safety Ronnie Harrison earned his first career start in place of veteran Barry Church, who was benched because of repeated coverage busts.