Transcript: Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone and Jaguars RB James Robinson

JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG MARRONE

September 11, 2020

(On his thoughts on the moment of unity in last night’s game and if the team has any plans to do anything similar on Sunday) “We’ve been talking with the players and I’ve talked about what message they want to get out there and I think we’ll have that prepared obviously between now and game time. Again, I understand that. I did not see the actual start of the game last night because I was busy and then I wound up putting the game on later. Anytime you can show unity in these times where people can come together peacefully, I think that makes us stronger and that hopefully will make our message stronger as a league, so I’ve always encouraged that.”

(On if there’s a certain script he wants to start the game with on Sunday) “I think everyone that’s playing these games now, you want to see everyone get off to a fast start from an offensive standpoint or a defense [defensive standpoint], you want them to get off to a fast start and get off the field and [it] starts with special teams. I think you do that, and you just get ready to adjust as the game goes on of things that maybe they haven’t shown or haven’t done. You have to be prepared for that, but I think everyone pretty much is, on both teams. I can’t really speak for Indianapolis, but any game that you see I think both teams are chomping at the bit to get on the field, especially when you don’t have a preseason.”

(On if he expects new RB Dare Ogunbowale to play on Sunday or if he will call up another player to the active roster) “So tomorrow at four o’clock basically, we have to submit anything to the league. After four o’clock tomorrow, there’s protocol in place in case of any symptoms of COVID to be able to move [people around on the roster]. We have a lot of options, so we went out and we tried to get Dare [Ogunbowale] ready to go. I feel very comfortable where he is and I feel very comfortable where if we need to do anything at tight end, we can do something there. Nathan’s [Cottrell] been playing running back here so obviously we know what he can do, and we feel comfortable with him. So, we’re not in a bad situation. Actually, I just came off the field and the game plan was, ‘Hey, let’s get together this afternoon. Let’s talk about it, see what the best fit is, see where everybody is health-wise first and then make some decisions of what we’re going to do as far as active.’”

(On the game plan is still to have a committee of running backs or if RB James Robinson will be the featured back with RB Chris Thompson as the third down guy) “I don’t know. I think Chris [Thompson] has had that label put on him [as] a change of pace, third down guy. I think he has excelled in that role because maybe people look at his skill set, but I have no problem with him getting as many carries as you need to, same with James [Robinson] being in there on third down or Nathan [Cottrell] or Dare [Ogunbowale], from what I’ve just looked at [from] him. So, I think one of the things about the running back situation or the running back room is you have all these players that really could fit into all the different categories. Each of them brings a little bit different skill set. I think as you get going and really see what they can do in a game, we’ve seen a lot in practice, we have a good feel for what’s going to happen, and see how they go about their business in a game, which obviously Chris we’ve seen. He’s healthy, which is great. With James, I watched every snap [of him] in college a couple weeks ago when he was really doing a good job in practice and feel comfortable there. Nathan’s been with us. Then with Dare, obviously I’ve seen a lot of tape on him and we’re a little bit familiar with him from a standpoint of he was with [Offensive Coordinator] Jay [Gruden] in Washington. Then he was with Coach Warhop, our offensive line coach, in Tampa, so there’s a little bit better insight for me who hasn’t been with that player.”

(On if he watched every snap of RB James Robinson’s college career because he thought he could be the featured back) “For me, what happened was, during the whole acquisition process, you’re watching tape, trying to get a good feel and sometimes, whether it’s right or wrong, my time is really built into players that have draftable grades. [I] try to watch every person I can and then later in the week as you get closer to the draft and I’m up to date on all the other players, I’ll try to go to board and kind of take a peak at these guys and really kind of look at the highlights. Maybe I can get a game, but I can’t do as thorough of a job because of time. So, when I watched the highlights, I liked it and that’s fine and you go ahead and acquire the player. You bring him on the team and then you watch the first couple of days and we’re in our pajamas, [as] I like to say. They’re running around and you expect them to look good but then once the pads came on and then I saw the physicality. I think what really got me right away was pass protection because that’s normally a thing that you don’t really see a lot in players coming out of college because the style of offense or what it may be. But all of a sudden, he’s stepping up there and he’s doing a hell of a job in the protection. You watch the way someone goes about their business and James [Robinson] is all football. He’s really a man of few words, doesn’t really say much, but really picked things up quickly. [He] really had a good feel so you now you start saying, ‘Do I think he’s better than what goes on?’ So, for me, I want to know who this guy is. I mean I really want to get in and study him. So, I go back and tell the video crew and I go look, ‘I want all of his games. I want all of his carries. I want all of his protections. I want all of his catches. I want to get a feel for this player, a better feel, to see if what I’m watching is who that player is or is this something different.’ When I went back to the film, I saw a play that steadily improved as the season went on at Illinois State. I watched his style. I watched how he ran. I watched all the things he can do and then I went back and just started watching him in practice. Then, a lot of the meetings were like, ‘Hey listen, this guy’s a free agent. Do you think he’s ready for a Sunday?’ All I kept saying was, ‘Look I watched everything and there’s nothing that’s showing us that he’s not going to be’ and that’s why I feel very comfortable about where he is.”

(On what he’s seen from RB James Robinson that makes him think he can handle the pressure of the NFL) “What I haven’t seen is how someone might handle success on Sunday yet because that hasn’t happened. I can say how I think he’ll handle not being successful on a play on a Sunday. But as far as what he’s done in practice during the week, he’s handled his business like a pro. I talk about probably a higher level of maturity as far as being a pro, where a lot of times everyone’s kind of finding their way. When you watch James [Robinson] in the building, there’s a confidence about him but not a cockiness. I think there’s a really good balance for him and nothing seems too big, nothing seems to small. I mean just a lot of things that if you just take yourself out of the football end of things, like watching him run, watching him cut, if you take yourself away from it, you’re looking at someone that, at least from my view, is very high character, very team oriented, very much trying to do it the right way, really being a good example because like I said, he’s not a ‘rah rah’ type guy. He’s a very business approach type guy and I think anyone that’s covered him at Illinois, you guys probably know more than me.”

(On if he would feel comfortable putting RB Dare Ogunbowale in the game on Sunday) “I would and I think the reason why [is] normally, [if] I don’t know someone and you just bring someone in and there’s been no experience in the offense or no experience of anyone that’s been with the player, then I would tend to play it a conservative approach and just really wait. But I think from a standpoint of how well he knows the offense already because there’s a lot of carryover between where he has been. Not so much of being with [Offensive Coordinator] Jay [Gruden] because that was awhile ago, but more so with [Offensive Line Coach] Coach Warhop at Tampa. Then going back and watching the film and watching the games of him playing special teams and being able contribute there. Knowing that I can bring this player up and get him snaps is really how I look at the game day roster. So, to answer your question, yes, I would feel very comfortable with him in there.”

(On how to pronounce RB Dare Ogunbowale’s last name) “Seriously? You’re going to do that to me? Thank you, Tad, way to step in with the save. That’s what I’m talking about. That’s a good wingman right there. I did talk to him about it and I’m waiting for the flip card, you know how it has the pronunciation on it. I’m like, okay, I’m going to get this down now because people call him Dare, people call him ‘D.O.’ and he’s good. The good thing about it is he’s a really great guy. He understands that. Sometimes you want to be respectful and you want to make sure, anyone, I don’t care who you are, head coach, that you know how to pronounce it. I take a lot of pride in being able to pronounce names because I’m from the Bronx and I have the worst grammar and I have a lisp and there’s lot of issues I have. So, I’ve got to work probably twice as hard to pronounce names, even O’Brien is tough for me. I have to practice that.”

(On if he watched RB Dare Ogunbowale’s sister play in the Final Four) “No, but I do support women’s sports. I just want to make sure I make that point. I mean I follow Syracuse women’s basketball quite a bit and obviously I’ve been at great schools like Tennessee and Georgia, where we’ve had great women’s programs. I was with Marques Colston when his girlfriend, at the time, was the starting point guard, I believe for Stanford. So, if it was on again, yes, I would watch it but if I don’t really have a connection or I’m not sitting at home, I did not watch it.”

JAGUARS RB JAMES ROBINSON

September 11, 2020

(On if he was heavily recruited going into college and who else he considered signing with after the draft) “I would say coming out of high school, I didn’t have that many offers. I didn’t go to a lot of camps when I was in high school. I just didn’t like to. I felt like it really didn’t do anything for me. After the draft, [Running Backs] Coach [Terry] Robiskie called me before the last pick and said that he was going to try to get them to draft me, but he wasn’t going to make any promises. I said, ‘Okay’, but at that point I was just looking to get on the field somewhere. Another team that called me was the [San Francisco] 49ers and that was really the only two.”

(On his mindset coming into camp not getting the majority of the snaps and knowing there were not going to be any preseason games) “Coming in, my mindset was just find a way to get on the field and special teams was what was in my mind. So, when I came in, I was just looking to do a lot of things right on there and get on the field that way, but also come in and compete and show what I can do at the running back position.”

(On how he would describe his personality) “I’m a very quiet guy. The interview with [Offensive Coordinator] Jay [Gruden] that you guys have probably seen, he said I’m a quiet guy, so everyone says that around here.”

(On the importance of his coaches as a rookie, especially without any preseason games to learn from) “It’s great. I mean they teach us a lot of stuff. A lot of people do say that not having preseason games makes it hard and [you] can’t really know what someone can do in a live situation. But with the practices we’ve had, I think I’ve done enough to show what I can do. A lot of guys say my vision is great. Just having those guys and them teaching me different ways to learn stuff helps out a lot.”

(On how important it is for him to be a role model for his hometown) “It means a lot. For me, I think it’s just great because I know there’s a lot of kids that obviously have the same dream. A message from me to them is to keep working and you never know what can happen and never take a day off.”

(On if it’s hit him that he’ll be starting in an NFL game on Sunday) “I don’t really think so. I always kind of go about things the same way. I’m quiet, so I don’t really let things get to me. So, I mean no, it hasn’t.”

(On what it means that all his hard work has paid off and he is now a starting NFL running back) “I would say it didn’t pay off just yet. I mean I still have to play, but it means a lot for me and my family. I’m in a position to try to take care of them, well, I will take care of them, but it’s a long season and I still have to continue to work hard and just go out there and help my team.”

(On his family’s reaction to him making the team and then being named the starter) “They were pretty excited. They actually found out before me. I was on FaceTime with them and they were seeing stuff all over social media. I was just sitting in the hotel room watching TV, FaceTiming them and they kind of just erupted after that.”

(On if he’s nervous to face a high level of competition on Sunday against the Colts) “No, not at all. At the same time, I have ten other guys on the field with me that’s working for the same goal and that’s to win. So, no, I’m not nervous at all.”

(On if there is a reason why he’s quiet) “No, I think I just grew up not saying much at all and [I] just kind of stuck that way.”

(On if he hears DE Josh Allen talking to him on the field) “I kind of just laugh and smile and really just waive it off.”

(On if he thought he was going to get drafted after his performance at the Combine) “Yeah, once I left, I felt like I did pretty well and I would have good chance of being drafted. Honestly, everyone wants to get drafted, but towards the end, it wasn’t really looking good. So, I was waiting on a team to call and pick me up and the Jaguars did and I’m thankful for that.”

(On switching his number from No. 38 to No. 30) “I just thought 30 looked better. I did ask for a number in the twenties. I actually wore 25 my whole life and never had a different number in football, but obviously there’s guys that have 25. Chris Thompson wore 25. Rock [Ryquell Armstead], I was talking to him about what I number I wanted. He was like, ‘Get in line’ because he had the number tattooed on his wrist too. He was waiting for it too, so I was like, ‘Oh man.’ I was trying to get one in the twenties, but he asked me if I wanted 30 and I said, ‘Yeah.’’

(On his hobbies) “I like to play video games. I play Warzone and Madden2K and all those, but outside of that, I got into golfing while I was back home before I got here. I go shoot around sometimes, play basketball with my family.”

(On his golfing hobby) “Before I got here, I started to get pretty good. But then obviously when I got here, [I] had to go to work so I haven’t been playing. So, we’ll see how it is once I get back.”

(On how he processes his journey in such a short amount of time) “I just think of it like it’s still football. You still have to go out there and do what you have to do, do what you do in practice so it relates over to the game. That’s about it.”

(On the bonds he’s created on the team) “I would say with the running back group, we talk a lot during practice if we’re not in. [We’re] talking about all kinds of stuff, but still focused obviously. Other than that, we haven’t really gotten together outside of football just yet. Some guys are in a hotel, some guys are trying to move into a new place, so that’s it.”

(On what he thinks are the three best aspects of his game) “I’d say vision, making the first guy miss and I would say my acceleration through the hole.”

(On if there are any plays that really exemplify what he can do on the field) “I feel like I’ve had a lot of runs that kind of look the same. I guess there is one my junior year that I really liked against Western Illinois. I’d say that one.”

(On what can get him riled up or talking for hours) “I don’t know. Maybe if I’m playing a game with some of my friends then we get to arguing about them not helping out or something.”

(On what motivates him recently) “I would say just my family. Obviously when I didn’t get drafted, it was sad for all of us. I think, for me, it was more of just trying to do something to help out my family and show that I wasn’t going to let me not getting drafted bring me down.”

(On if it’s been tougher to build chemistry with his teammates with COVID-19) “No. I think we have some time between meetings and practice to talk to each other, so we use that time well. I’m pretty sure once we get together off the field, it’ll be fine. It won’t be awkward or anything.”

(On if he’s ready for Sunday) “Yeah, of course.”

(On his reaction to former Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette being released) “When it happened, it was right before a team meeting and so everyone in the room was kind of just shocked because obviously he’s been practicing with us the whole time. It kind of just happened, but I would say a lot of people were just shocked. After that, it was just kind of like the next guy up and I just kept going out there and doing what I can.”

(On if any of the coaches told him specifically that he was going to be the number one running back) “No, no one really said anything to me. We had some guys in the room that were on special teams and then it was me, Chris [Thompson], Rock [Ryquell Armstead], and Ziggy [Devine Ozigbo] all in the room. Ryquell, he got sick again I think and then Ziggy [got injured]. It was kind of just like three or four of us from there and it kind of just went up from there. Everyone just kept moving up.”

(On his dog names and breeds) “One’s Benji and one’s Lenny. One’s a husky mix and [one’s] a bull mastiff mix.”