JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG MARRONE
(On LB Joe Schobert’s performance this season) “Individually, I think after the season’s over, we can talk about players individually. I think it’s difficult now to [say]. We’re happy obviously. Joe [Schobert]’s been there. He’s played every game. He’s been available. He’s done a good job with his communication. But at the end of the day, it’s kind of tough. What I mean by it’s tough is that where we are in our record, it’s tough to really get to down to the individual performance because obviously some players have done a good job, but overall, we haven’t. That’s on all of us, so I don’t want to present something like, ‘Okay, this guy did well. This guy didn’t. That’s the reason why we’re here.’ I think after the season’s over, that’s something easily that we can talk about. But Joe’s been available, and I always appreciate that if you’re available and playing. Like anything else, there’s some good plays, some bad plays that you want back, but the consistent from all of us [isn’t there]. Myles [Jack] has played at a really high level as well as James Robinson, but at the end of the day, collectively we haven’t done that. So, it’s difficult to go ahead and talk about one and not talk about some other guys that have done a good job, but I think that after the season, that wouldn’t be a problem at all.”
(On the Colts offense) “I don’t know if the two tackles will be back or the two guys that went in last week against Pittsburgh [will play]. [They] did a nice job when you have [Steelers LB T.J.] Watt out there. [It’s] still the same thing: they’re explosive, they can run, [Colts QB] Philip Rivers still does a good job, he can still push the ball, [Colts WR] T.Y. [Hilton] can still run, [the] tight end’s a good player, and they challenge you. They challenge your coverages, they challenge it. Philip knows where to go with the football. He knows where the weak spots are, and they do a nice job. I know they got caught last week, they had won three or four games in a row prior to Pittsburgh. We know that we’re going up to Indianapolis and they have a ton to play for. I feel like we as a team, even though people on the outside are looking at it like the season’s over, this is it, but we’re not approaching it that way. We’re approaching it as it’s a big game.”
(On what the team did well against the Colts in Week 1) “I think we made some plays on fourth down to change the possession, which was good. You watch that game going back and look at Myles [Jack] made a bunch of plays in a row to really help us. I think there’s some things that we have to do a better job of, especially in their screen game. I thought they did a really good job against us with their screens and they’ve continued to do a good job throughout the year. We’re going to have to play well and then obviously with the matchups. We had two picks in that game. CJ Henderson and Andrew Wingard had two picks in the game. CJ Henderson had a bunch of pass break ups that game which really helped us. We’re going to have to play well at those positions and try to duplicate the same thing. PBU’s, turnovers, those are the things that helped us in the first game.”
(On the starting at quarterback on Sunday) “We’re just going to keep it the same with Mike [Glennon] and Gardner [Minshew II] will be ready.”
(On if younger players will get more playing time this week or if he’ll stick to the starters) “We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that the players that are out there give us the best chance to win from the first snap to the last snap.”
(On an injury update on RB James Robinson) “I was holding out hope. I really was, but it doesn’t look like he’s going to be up for our game. I think that’s safe to say that he’ll be out. I could never, ever say enough about that guy. I mean I really can’t about how hard he tries. He wants to come back. He wants to play. I think he’s short of some type of record by like 20 something yards. If anyone deserves to get that [he does]. [It’s] 35 yards. So, he’s out. Collin Johnson’s out. The only one I’m not sure about is DJ Chark [Jr.]. That’s the only one that I don’t have a good feel for that could go either way. Everyone else though should be fine.”
(On watching the NY Knicks) “As a kid growing up, I know Christmas is gone, I used to love watching the Knicks every Christmas day. That was one of my deals, but those days are over.”
(On preventing the team from giving up on the last game of the season and if he’s ready for the season to end) “I think it’s hard to say. It’s been tough, it’s been challenging. I think to answer the question with the first one, the one foot outside the door situation with the players, they haven’t been like that. They’re not going to change this week. I really believe that as we go forward. As far as for me as a coach, when you’re not doing well, you don’t ever want it to end. You want to try to keep getting opportunities and try to keep winning. I think that’s what’s important, so that’s the competitiveness that you want. You don’t want to say, ‘God, I can’t wait for this to be over and then we’ll see what happens’ and then kind of reboot, reboot, reboot. Shit, I like to keep competing every single week and keep playing, keep playing. We just run out of opportunities to practice and get better and do things. We have one opportunity to perform on Sunday. That’s how I’ve always approached it. I don’t like looking at the end because it’s sad no matter what type of year you have, especially in this league because there’s so much change. Like I said, I take things day by day. I don’t try to look too far [in the future] and I don’t try to look too back in the past. I just try to do the best job I can so the players and the coaches [do too]. I told the team today, I’m not taking responsibility for holding it all together because that’s something that one person can’t do. But I give a lot of credit to the players and the coaches. I’ll say it again, we’ve not had one issue, zero with anything. You guys are out there, you see how they come out. They come out and practice. They work hard. It’s just the results aren’t there, and I understand that.”
(On if he will be emotional at this weekend’s game) “You know me. I’m just such an emotional guy. I love hugging and touching and touchy feely. No. I’ve always approached this game the same way I’ve approached it in an approach of doing the best. I think that obviously there’ll be change. I don’t know [how]. I’m not informed of anything like that, but obviously there’s going to be a lot of change going on. But my whole focus is [to] try to get this win. I don’t know how I’ll feel after the game. Honestly after the game, I might look at it differently, but right now I’m putting everything into trying to get this win and ending the season with a win. That’s where all my emotion and everything is generated. I’ve always said the one thing I’ve always been able to do my whole entire life, maybe that’s because you grow up in the Bronx, I’m able to block shit out, literally just really focus in and kind of really hone in on what the opportunity is and what the job is and not let anything else really come into play. That’s how I feel like I’m approaching this week and [it’s] no different than I’ve approached every week.”
(On if players and coaches will be able to block out the outside factors as well as he can) “I don’t think so. I think that’s a great gift that I have. But no, I do address it. That’s the one thing I think I’ve learned throughout the years as a head coach is you address things that, kind of like how you guys say, you think they might be feeling. ‘You might be feeling this way, but we’ve come this far. This is what we need to lock in on. This is what we need to do for each other.’ That’s how you’re talking to the coaches and you’re talking to the team. You can’t control what’s going on when they’re not here. You really can’t, but you do have somewhat of a control over the environment and the atmosphere that you want to put the players and coaches in. That’s what I try to make sure that I recognize, the issues that may be occurring with everyone. I try to address them. I try to give them an example [of] how I address it personally. Not everyone’s going to think the way I do, but that’s the type of management style that I’ve always had with the team. Just trying to make sure that you address these things, understand, show them that I know a lot of people are going through a lot of stuff, but this is what we need to do for each other. I think that goes a long way, where some people will go the other way and not ever address it and it just hangs out there and then people don’t really know how to focus on what they need to do because there’s so many other outside distractions. I think that’s something I’ve learned throughout the years, a long time. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve had mentors or people when I was a player that would just come in and just tell you exactly what’s going on and cut through all the BS.”
(On if he’s had these conversations with his family) “They’ve been out of town. They’ve been with my mom on Christmas and they’re up visiting her [his wife’s] parents.”
(On if his family left the dogs with him) “Of course. I have to take care of two dogs.”
(On the decision to start QB Mike Glennon this week) “We just feel like it gives us a good chance [to win] and we can operate and see where it goes. Honestly, I don’t think any one decision on the quarterback, or any other position, is really going to move the needle one way or the other. If it did, then obviously we would make it, but we don’t feel that way. Let’s go in there and let’s try to take advantage of some things.”
JAGUARS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TODD WASH
(On if this was the most difficult season he’s had as a coordinator) “Not only as a coordinator but probably my 28 years of coaching. It’s been a tough year. Obviously, we do really appreciate the players and that kind of stuff. It just didn’t turn out the way we wanted it. I think they’re [an] extremely hard-working group and I think we have a good coaching staff, but it just didn’t turn out the way we wanted it [to] this year. It’s been frustrating, but at least hopefully we can go out on a good note versus Indy.”
(On the difference in the Indianapolis Colts from Week 1 to Week 17) “A lot of it is their passing game has changed a little bit I think as the season went on. There’s some different personnel groupings that you’ve seen more of earlier in the year you’re not seeing as much of now. But for the most part, obviously they’re still a run first offense and they try to play action you. That part is very similar, but you’re not seeing as much of somethings as you do of other things now.”
(On what worked on defense against the Colts in Week 1 and if they have a similar game plan with different personnel, especially in the secondary) “I think any time you plan an opponent twice, you have to change things up regardless if it’s the same players or different players, so we’ll do some things differently. There are some things that worked relatively well last time we played them, but I’m sure they’re going to work and prepare against those things. So, we have to change those things up a little bit and just, once again, do the best we can to be able to get our players in position to make plays and when they’re in those positions, they need to make the plays.”
(On being disruptive on defense) “That’s one of the things we’ve been talking with our group this week about is we need to get up and we need to be physical at the line of scrimmage. We have not done that the past couple weeks and that’s something that we have to emphasize when we go out and practice today as a coaching staff and the players obviously have to put a lot of emphasis of getting their hands on them at the line of scrimmage and trying to disrupt the timing. We all know what [Colts QB] Philips Rivers can do, so we have to be able to disrupt the timing of their passing game.”
(On if the personnel turnover and youth of the team was the cause of the problems this season) “I’m not going to sit here and make excuses for anything. Our season went as it went. I like the players that we have, but at the same time, we were young, but there’s other young teams in the NFL. To me, I didn’t do enough or really, I didn’t do a good enough job to put these guys in position, regardless who’s on our roster and how old they are. I need to do a better job and I didn’t get it done.”
(On what he will take away from this season) “I think we changed a lot of stuff within our system this season, did some different things, and that kind of stuff, so I know I’m going to take that moving forward of what we can do and add and take away from our package. I think that’s important. I know for sure I’m going to take away the relationships we built with our team, our coaching staff, and that kind of stuff. It was a tough year not just because of COVID, but obviously the wins and losses. We have really tight, tight group and that’s something that I will always remember about this season and take with me when we get done.”
(On if going through adversity makes a better coach) “I think you do as long as you put your head down and keep working and not make excuses, you’re constantly trying to find ways to win, ways to put your players in position. I think if you’re doing that, you’re going to learn a lot as a coach. I think the players are going to learn obviously handle adversity, how to react though adverse situations and that’s only going to make all of us better.”
(On handling his uncertain future in Jacksonville) “As a coach, I’ve never been fired before to be honest with you. If it happens, it’ll be the first time it’s ever happened so I’m sure that will be a little bit of a strange situation to go through. But Jacksonville’s a very special place. Both my daughters graduated from [high school] here and my son has obviously started high school here, so it’s always going to be a special place if that happens. But it’s part of our business, there’s no doubt. There’s critics all over there if you’re doing well or you’re doing bad. You take it all in stride and you just move on.”
(On CJ Henderson’s rookie year) “Obviously, we’ve seen a tremendous athlete. Everything that we prepared for in the draft, physical side, the ability to run, play in our system, is exactly what we thought we were getting. You can see his play making ability when he was on the field, athletically, learned our system extremely well. Obviously, the injuries and that kind of stuff set him back a little bit this year, but he has a bright, bright future I think with the Jags.”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JAY GRUDEN
(On RB James Robinson’s season) “That’s amazing really [when] you go back and look at where he came from. The opportunities he had in training camp were few and far between and then when he did get them, to take advantage of them like he did and then be thrust into the starting role Week 1 and to accomplish the things that he did is just unbelievable really. It’s a hell of feat for him. I’m happy for him, proud of him. I know he has a great career ahead of him. It’s been a pleasure coaching him that’s for sure.”
(On if he thinks RB Dare Ogunbowale will step up again in RB James Robinson’s place this week) “I do. This is a hard-working guy. He’s smart. He loves the game. He’s been on a bunch of different teams, not a bunch, I know three or four at least, and he just plays hard. He’s good in the passing game. He’s a good pass protector. He’s a good runner, and I think this opportunity will suite him well. I think he’ll take advantage of it like he did last week.”
(On WR Laviska Shenault Jr. and QB Mike Glennon connecting last week) “It was good to see Laviska get behind the defense. That’s something that he’s going to have to continue to work on in his craft. I think a great offseason for him will be important where he can get his body right and really work on his routes, his get offs, his finishing speed. He has a great future in the NFL for sure. There’s a lot of things he can work on, but to see him have some success early in his career has been exciting and I think the future is very bright for Laviska.”
(On if former Washington QB Dwayne Haskins has a future in the NFL) “Well, yeah. He’s a good quarterback. He’s a first-round draft pick and unfortunately it hasn’t worked out the way anybody really thought, including myself. I never thought he’d be released this early in his career, but he has one of two ways to go. He can either learn from this and rebound and take advantage of the next opportunity and work his tail off or not. But I fully anticipate that they’ll have some really good people around him, talking to him. The next opportunity he gets, I’m sure he’ll be ready to go.”
(On if he would coach QB Dwayne Haskins again) “Yeah. I mean big quarterbacks that can rip it are hard to find. I think there’s a lot of things he needs to work on obviously as all young quarterbacks do. We’re looking at the youth of quarterbacks that we have with Gardner [Minshew II] and Jake [Luton]. They have a lot of talent, but they have to continue to work at their craft. That’s the same thing with all young quarterbacks. If he continues to work in the offseason and work on his mental and physical approach to the game diligently like pro quarterbacks are supposed to do, then sure, he can do it.”
(On the possibility of staying in Jacksonville next year) “I like Jacksonville. It’s my first time being here, and I actually bought a place here, so I love the area. Obviously, this is a one game at a time approach and one season at a time approach for all coaches. We understand if you don’t win, especially if you go 1-14 or 2-14 or 1-15, odds aren’t in your favor you’re going to stick around very long. The staff have worked extremely hard. Coach Marrone has done a great job with what he’s had to work with and everything. But the future is up in the air without a doubt. First, [we’re] going to work hard the last game and whatever happens happens, but I do love the area that’s for sure and I would love to coach these young guys again.”
(On what QB Gardner Minshew II needs to work on) “Again, the demands of being a professional quarterback in the NFL are very high. [Last year], he was young. He didn’t get a lot of reps last year in training camp. He ended up playing a lot and doing some good things. This offseason, we didn’t have really an offseason program so to speak and threw the new playbook at him in training camp and had some issues. We weren’t able to throw the ball as consistently as he wanted to. We had to rest him a little bit and [he] didn’t have success. The offense in general hasn’t had the success, so we tried different people and then he hurt his thumb. As young quarterbacks go in this league, you have to continue to work on your craft, physicality, your physical craft and your mental craft. He has to continue to work and buy into the fact that this a grind. The quarterback position is like no other in pro sports. This a non-stop, 365 days a year job that you have work on your craft, your feet, your arm, your throwing angles, you’re studying, studying defenses, blitzes, fronts coverages. It should never stop if you want to be great and he has a chance to do that. He’s young. He’ll learn from his experiences that he had moving forward and hopefully he’ll take advantage of it and the next time he gets one, he’ll roll.”
(On OL Cam Robinson’s performance this year) “I’ve been impressed with Cam [Robinson]. He’s fought through some nagging injuries and played and done some good things. We’ve been in some known passing situations where he’s had to pass block some pretty good pass rushers and he’s battled his tail off. In the running game, he’s shown more pop and explosiveness out of his stance this year and I think he’s going to continue to get better. He fought through, again, some injuries too early in his career and I think you can see his physicality starting to shine. I think he’s at a position where he’s only going to get better and better and better. The sky is truly the limit for Cam with the athletic skill set that he has and the power that he has. Now, when he puts everything together, fundamentals, seeing different fronts and looks, I think he has a chance to be a great one. Again, I think he’s going to be a heck of tackle in this league for a while.”
(On the tight end position moving forward after this season) “You’re always looking to add pieces to the tight end room. It’s a tough position to find though nowadays. The tight ends that can block and be effective in the passing game are few and far between. Usually you get your big grinding, blocking type guys that aren’t very effective in the passing game or you get your smooth, athletic guys that aren’t very effective in the running game. That’s a tough position to find, so you’re always looking for somebody. You see the difference in Kansas City and San Francisco when they have [49ers TE George] Kittle and [Chiefs TE Travis] Kelce how good they can be when those guys are in the game, both in the running game and the passing game. That position is one of the most important positions to have a good offense in my opinion. Tyler [Eifert]’s done a nice job. James [O’Shaughnessy] has done a nice job. Obviously, we’ve added Ben [Ellefson] [who] did some really good things as a rookie free agent until he got injured. So, I’ve been impressed. Tyler Davis is an up-and-coming player. He has the physicality and the speed to maybe be effective in both, but he has a ways to go as a young player like a lot of these guys do. At that position, you’re always looking for pieces because you can line up in one tight end sets, two tight end sets, three tight end sets, and really put a lot of pressure on the defense. That is one [position] this team will be looking for to add more pieces.”
(On the method when drafting tight ends) “I think that depends on the player really. I think if you see somebody that’s really athletic and actually physical enough in the passing game or in the running game, then he’ll go high, really high. If there’s a clump of guys that might be good at one thing and not good at two things, then you can wait and maybe take the second or third or fourth best guy later on in the draft. It’s supply and demand really. If there’s only a couple good ones coming out, you better take one or you’re going to be shut out. If there’s a lot of them, you can wait.”
JAGUARS QB MIKE GLENNON
(On getting another start this weekend) “Every opportunity you get to be a starting quarterback in this league, I don’t take for granted. Kind of what I hit on earlier in the year, you never know when this chance is going to come again. So, kind of just the same mindset, mentality that I’ve had is enjoy it, try to make the most of my opportunity, and try to end the season on a high note. There hasn’t been a whole lot on the field, but it would be good way to go out, to start the season with a win, end the season with a win, and move on to 2021.”
(On Head Coach Doug Marrone’s statement of the team sticking together amid the circumstances of a losing season) “Unfortunately for me, this will be the third team I’ve been with that’s ended up with the number one pick. It’s never really been an issue that I’ve seen, but I think this group has handled it as well as any group I’ve been a part of. I think it’s a young group and maybe, in a good way, they don’t know any different. But they’ve handled things the right way and I think he’s absolutely right to be proud of the fact and the way we’ve handled this tough season. No one’s showing any quit. No one’s pointing any fingers. No one’s looking forward to next year. Everyone’s just kind of taking it one week at time, giving it our all. We’ve come up short, but it hasn’t been for a lack of effort or hard work.”
(On Colts QB Philip Rivers) “It’s pretty cool. Obviously, I went to NC State, [Colts QB] Philip [Rivers] went to NC State. [I] got to know him very briefly over the years but kind of followed his career because of that. It just seems like wherever [he goes], when he with the Chargers, now with the Colts, he just finds a way to get it done. He’s a competitor. He’s fiery. He’s fun to watch, fun to see in person because you see that kind of competitive spirit he brings. He’s done a great job there in Indianapolis this year and obviously they’re going to be gunning for us to get a spot in the playoffs.”
(On a scouting report on NC State this season) “They were kind of underrated going into the season, had a lot of injuries last year, didn’t have much expectations, but had a really good year. [They] played two quarterbacks. One got hurt. [NC State QB] Bailey Hockman’s been playing. He’s done a great job. He transferred from Florida State. They have good receivers. I could go on and on because I work out at NC State in offseasons so I know all the guys. [NC State WR] Thayer Thomas, [NC State WR] Emeka Emezie, they’ve done a really good job. The running backs are good. I don’t know the defensive guys quite as well. Hopefully, they put on a good show against Kentucky and end the season with a win.”
(On summing up the season) “It’s been a wild season. I mean I wasn’t even on the initial 53-man roster, but that’s just part of this league, the ups and the downs. But I think for me personally having been in the league, just stayed the course, be a pro, come to work every day, do your job. I think that mindset and mentality has helped me in my career and hopefully helped our team. Maybe it hasn’t shown in the wins, but hopefully it’s helped in the locker room and with Gardner [Minshew II] and with Jake [Luton]. It’s been an interesting year.”
(On what he learned about himself this year) “Deep question. I don’t know. I think to me it’s just to stay the course and, like I said, kind of treat every day [the same], be a pro every day, and good things can happen when you do that. Coming in to get cut wasn’t fun, but to end up starting in five games is exciting for me and I’m glad I handled it the way I did.”
(On Head Coach Doug Marrone keeping the team together this season) “As a coach, sometimes they’re searching for things to say and things to do and it’s just hard. I think he’s handled the situation really well. To come up with speeches after loss after loss isn’t easy and he’s done a great job of it. You talk about the players have done a good job, but I think he deserves a lot of credit for that as well. To come in every day, we’re a reflection of our coach and the matter of his leadership. He’s done a great job being a leader and keeping us focused on each and every week and going out trying to get a win.”
