JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG MARRONE
(On watching an opponent’s game on a TV broadcast for film study) “I think around the league, a lot of times now, there’s a lot of microphones being pointed at the field. I think most teams, and it’s not a big secret, always go through the game copies to get cadence, to get alerts and calls, and just match everything up. That’s where I think you can kind of keep a book on each coordinator and each team. This way, as the years go by, coordinators may change jobs but you’re just looking at that lingo and if you can catch something, whether it be hand signals or anything like that. I think people are always looking at that. I don’t think that’s a big secret in this league. To answer your question, everybody does that. Now, do I do that? No. We have people that go through all the games like that.”
(On the Ravens versus Browns game on Monday) “I wound up being able to watch some of that game live. I look at the games obviously differently. I really felt [like I was] on the edge of my seat and it was exciting, there was drama. [Ravens QB] Lamar [Jackson] goes out and they show him going to the locker room and then he comes back. It was almost like a perfect script to an unbelievable game. I just took a step back in that moment and just really appreciated it like a fan and really enjoyed the game, honestly.”
(On if having no fans in the stadiums has helped in picking up other team’s cues and cadence when watching film) “Yeah, but a lot of times internally your people are putting mics on players, so you’re always getting internal stuff, whether it be the center, whether it be a guard, or whether it be a nose guard or a three technique. I mean most teams, according to their website and things like that, they put that stuff on players. You guys have probably seen some of that on receivers or whoever it might be. But there’s a lot of things that are going on communication wise that I think you could pick up. That’s why you’re constantly trying to change those things so no one’s getting a beat because all you have to do is just break that once. You have to be careful as a coach because you go in there and you say, ‘100 percent of the time when they make this signal, this is what they’re doing’ and you tell the players that and then all of a sudden, they don’t do it. Well, now you’ve lost trust and now they’re not sure about the game plan. Now they’re not sure what’s right and what’s wrong. I’ve always just tried to maintain a balance with all of that.”
(On facing former Jaguars and current Ravens DE Calais Campbell and DE Yannick Ngakoue) “Half [of] this team I don’t even think was here when they [Ravens DE Calais Campbell and DE Yannick Ngakoue] were there [in Jacksonville]. I think in this league, there’s so much transition, coaches, players moving around that these things happen. Everyone knows what I’ve said in the past about those two players. I have a ton of respect for them, I really do. I hope that they’re doing well personally and everything and I hope they’re happy. I think anyone that coaches and coaches their players, whether they stay, whether they leave, whatever goes on, at the end of the day, you just hope that they’re happy. There’s always the competitiveness where you do always want to play well against your team and your team wants to play well against you, but I have a ton of respect for those guys. You can’t get two better guys in a building than those two.”
(On QB Gardner Minshew II getting the start this week) “I think when you’re a coach and you name someone that’s going to play and go in there and you put whoever on the field, I think you’re always going to have full confidence. I don’t think you’re ever going to get someone that’s going to say, ‘Well, I’ll put him out there and I have my fingers crossed or I hope he doesn’t [mess up].’ You know what I’m saying? I think that anyone that you’re putting out there to do a certain assignment, whatever it may be, special teams, defense, offense, you have to have that type of confidence in them.”
(On his son Mack’s high school team, Bolles, playing in the State 4A Championship game tomorrow) “Hey listen, I’m focused on this one. I just told my son [that] all the pressure’s on you for this Christmas holiday, or family holiday. I said, ‘I’m not pulling it home this year, so it’s all on you whether we’re going to be a happy family or a miserable family.’ That’s exactly what I told him too last night.”
(On DT Doug Costin’s progress) “I think that there’s production in that position. I think that the experience that he’s getting is going to be really valuable for him as far as the future and how he keeps working. I think that he’s done well against the run and he’s had some bad [moments]. I always say this, if you ever played, you’re going to get beat, but he’s been very consistent in the way he works at it. His snaps obviously have gone up and that’s another thing that you’re looking at to see where that production level is in it. Doug [Costin]’s a little bit like James [Robinson] as far as when he came in here with not a lot of opportunity, to continue to work, and I’ve always said this, to a point where we’re sitting there saying, ‘Hey listen, do we put him on the practice squad thinking that no one’s going to see him because we haven’t played any preseason games?’ We made a decision that let’s not even take our chances, let’s put him on there [the roster]. We saw something that we liked obviously in that period of time we’re in training camp and then just waiting for the opportunity to put him out there. I think that he’s performed at a good level, a level that is doing well. I think that if we can get a little bit more of the pass rush, develop that, but please don’t write that because when you say that about a player, then all of a sudden, they start thinking, ‘I have to start rushing the passer every time’. I’m happy with the progress. When you get anyone that’s a free agent, he comes in and he starts playing better than some of the other players you have, that’s a big plus, or minus depending on how you look at it.”
(On simulating Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in practice this week) “This is how I look at it, I think it’s not difficult to simulate the actions, meaning the scheme, the schematics of it. What is difficult is the speed of it and I think that’s the one thing that you see with [Ravens QB] Lamar [Jackson]. You know he has a good arm and he can throw, but the speed of him on the field, he always looks like the fastest guy on the field and that’s a credit to him. A 3,4-yard gain turns into a 16-yard gain the other day. You’re just like, ‘Hey, do they have a good angle on him?’ I think what’s hard to simulate is those angles and the way you have to come to kind of corral him or try to keep him in a web that you can get him down. I think at this stage of the year, the physicality of knowing that and why should I [get a good angle], you can see that on film. You’re not going to be able to produce that during the week because you’re trying to get your players to be healthy for the game. I think that’s the main thing that’s tough because you don’t practice [like that]. This was always difficult; I’ll give an example. I was an o-line coach, later in the year, my tackles would have to go against those speed rushers so what I would do after practice, I’d line up some of our scout team wide receivers out there just to feel the speed coming at you. I think that’s the one thing that happens during the course of the year is that you start losing that speed in your practice because your team’s going through the season and you have bumps and bruises. I think that’s what’s tough to simulate because if you take the wrong angle, him or [Ravens RB J.K.] Dobbins, they have some speed. You take the wrong angle and you don’t go the right track, they can take it to the house at any time.”
(On who is simulating Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in practice) “We’ll have a couple guys back there I would think. Jake [Luton]’s been working on his 40 time, so he’s increased it a little bit. In order I think to simulate him [Ravens QB Lamar Jackson], you’d have to go out there and get truly an Olympic sprinter. If you were in a college program, you might go and ask someone on your team to go ahead and simulate that and run around. I remember in college when we played Boston College and they had Doug Flutie, we would just run him around and have the defense run and chase him all over the place. I think it’s hard. I think everyone has a difficult time doing that, so we’ll take a good look at that and get somebody back there with a little bit more speed at times where we need to do that.”
(On what to say to players if they do everything right to contain Ravens QB Lamar Jackson but it still doesn’t work) “You have to respect it, but you have to come back and figure it out. I used to always tell the players when I was a position coach, once in awhile you just have to tip your hat and say that’s a hell of a play. I think the first thing you do is evaluate what could I have done better to stop that play. This guy made a great play, how many great plays can they make in a game and then try to limit those plays. If you ever feel like you’re going out and there and all of sudden you’re like, ‘Ugh, I can’t do this, can’t do that’, it’s going to be a bad day, not a long day, a bad day to do that. What’s interesting [is that] schematically they do a very good job of they have a lot of things going on. He [Ravens QB Lamar Jackson]’s a big weapon, but they have other weapons. They have linemen pulling one way, running the opposite way, or him holding the football. They put a lot on you as far as making sure that your eyes are right and your responsibility’s right. I think that’s one of the things, it’s almost like if you’re playing a wing T or a triple option team. The first thing you have to make sure you’re right on is your assignments and then obviously the execution and be able to make the play.”
(On using Offensive Quality Control Coach Denard Robinson to simulate Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in practice) “That’s a good thought. Maybe we’ll look into that. We’ll give you the credit for it.”
(On OL Andrew Norwell playing this week) “I think there’s a good chance, there really is. I think he’s worked really hard. His mindset right now is he’s playing, so something would probably have to happen to him during practice during the week for him to not [play]. But right now, that’s what the plan is.
| JAGUARS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JAY GRUDEN (On QB Gardner Minshew II returning as the starter this week) “We’re excited to have Gardner [Minshew II] back in there, he’s a full go. Hopefully, we’ll give him something that he’s comfortable with and let him play. I think the big thing with Gardner is [he has a] different style, demands a little bit different type of ways to go about the offense. He moves around a lot back there in the pocket, so our receivers have to get back used to that for off-schedule plays, which happen once or twice in the game. [It’s] just a matter of getting back used to him and calling plays for him to get him back comfortable in the pocket.” (On QB Gardner Minshew II wanting to come back earlier from his injury) “Well, I think there’s a difference between somebody saying they want to and then actually showing that they’re ready. I think that’s the one thing we were trying to figure out as a staff: is he ready physically to get back there? There wasn’t really a whole lot of proof that gave us that. Mentally, Gardner [Minshew II] is a competitor. He’s going to want to play whether he has a broken thumb or broken leg, whatever, he’s going to try to play. But from the way we looked at it, we didn’t think he was quite ready with the reps that we saw him get. Now, we feel a little bit more comfortable obviously and [Head Coach] Coach Marrone decided to make the switch back to him. Hopefully, we’ll get a good couple days of practice here, let us see him stroke it in practice and go from there.” (On putting together a game plan when switching between three quarterbacks this season) “It’s hard because I think you sit in meetings and people understand what we’re talking about on a chalkboard and with the film projector, but when they get out there live, how much is too much and what can they handle, what can’t they handle? So, that’s been the biggest challenge for me. You want to simplify some things, but you also want to try to have some creativity, some different formations, and different concepts. [There’s] probably put too much on their plate, all of them. I’m trying to make sure these guys are comfortable. That’s the number one thing with Gardner [Minshew II] this week, but it has been quite the challenge to know what these guys are comfortable with and what they can execute.” (On how much the playbook is adjusted when switching from QB Mike Glennon to QB Gardner Minshew II as the starter this week) “They all should be able to run a lot of the same stuff, just you have to be a little bit more aware of what Gardner [Minshew II] can do with his legs. He’s a little bit more athletic, so there might be some more things that get him outside the pocket so to speak, more so than maybe Jake [Luton] or Mike [Glennon] who aren’t quite that athletic. We try to cater to his strengths and go from there. We put in quite a few plays from training camp until now, so [we’re] picking and choosing the different ones we’ve run before, the best way to attack this Raven defense, which obviously is pretty good.” (On dealing with off-schedule plays as a coordinator) “You don’t deal with them. You just hope they happen positively in our favor for us. You see some of the great ones, [Packers QB] Aaron Rodgers and [Chiefs QB] Patrick Mahomes, I don’t think they script those off-schedule plays, but they happen, and they usually happen in a favorable manner. Hopefully, our receivers understand Gardner [Minshew II]. Sometimes he’ll break the pocket and we have to do a better job around him to get open and escape. It’s scramble drill, it’s whatever you want to call it. We have to get open for him and our line has to continue to try work and stay on their blocks. A lot goes into that, but hopefully our guys will all understand that and react.” (On if they practice off-schedule plays and scrambling) “Well, you never know what’s going to happen. You’d like to have everything: you have great protection, great routes, and deliver the ball on time. That’s what our goal is, but obviously that doesn’t happen every play or hardly ever sometimes. We have to do a good job of trying to just adjust and keep talking it through. You never know what play is script and then you blow the whistle and have the guy run around to it. It could be a play action pass, it could be a quick game, it could be a true drop back. Our guys just have to understand that if they don’t get the ball and timing of the play, they have to abort and make something happen.” (On WR DJ Chark Jr. this season) “I mentioned this a little while ago, DJ [Chark Jr.]’s a great kid, working very hard. We’ve tried to target him and it just hasn’t happened, whether it’s a protection issue, whether he’s been covered, whether it’s been a poor throw, whatever. It just has not happened the way we anticipated it happening in training camp. He had a great training camp. He’s a great player and we just have to try to continue to figure out ways to get him the ball, whether it’s in the slot, whether it’s outside, whether it’s in a stack. Wherever it might be, we have to try to figure out ways to get him the ball and he has to continue to work on his craft as well. I think everything goes hand in hand. The production hasn’t really been there for anybody from a standpoint of what we expect, so we just have to continue to demand more and hopefully we’ll get more.” (On WR DJ Chark Jr.’s frustration in his lack of production) “I think everybody’s frustrated, not just him. I think all of our receivers are frustrated. Our tight ends, our quarterbacks are frustrated. The whole team’s frustrated. You lose 12 in a row, you better be frustrated. But now, it’s a matter of coming back to work and continuing to work on your craft, not pointing any fingers, don’t blame the quarterback, don’t blame the receivers, don’t blame the line, don’t blame the defense, don’t blame the coaches. Let’s just go in here and everybody come back and work and let’s get better. We have a young football team. There’s no question about it. We’ve gone through three quarterbacks, different tight ends. We lost our third down back. We’re down two different backs in the backfield as far as getting open. It’s been quite the challenge. Laviska [Shenault Jr.]’s been in and out of the offense, DJ [Chark Jr.]’s been in and out of the offense, so [we’re] getting these guys ready, prepared in different spots. Keelan [Cole Sr. has been] playing slot for the first time in his career. It’s been a challenge, but these guys have come to work. They practice hard, they work hard. Production hasn’t shown, but I think in the long run, [if] we stay on this course, these guys will get better and better because of this situation now.” (On the offensive line and OL Andrew Norwell coming back from injury) “I think Andrew [Norwell] coming back is huge. I think he’s called ‘Big Nasty’ for a reason. We love his tenacity in the running game and he’s physical. He’s a good pass protector. Obviously, [Ben] Bartch did a good job for his first game, really filling in for a starting role, did a good job. [Tyler] Shatley’s been solid at center so we’re okay there and A.J. [Cann]’s done a good job at right guard. I think having Andrew back is going to be a big plus for our interior running game. They’re [the Ravens] a powerful team upfront, very difficult to run between the tackles, but having Andrew in there will help out a lot.” (On the lack of depth on the offensive line) “I think we’ll have to decide on who that extra guard is, whether it’s KC [McDermott] or whoever it might be, so that’ll be a big challenge. Hopefully our guys stay healthy, but we’ll get somebody ready. We have guys in here that have been practicing and [are] ready to roll if they’re called upon.” (On if it’s an advantage facing previous teammates, former Jaguars and current Ravens DE Calais Campbell and DE Yannick Ngakoue) “Probably. They’ve seen them so that’s good. Still, Calais [Campbell] is a huge man and very productive, very active still. Obviously, Yan[nick Ngakoue] does a good job with his outside pass rush, so it’ll be challenging. They have a good front. They give you a lot of different looks, again, odd fronts, even fronts, different guys blitzing in A gaps and B gaps and C gaps, safeties coming, nickels coming. It’s quite the pain in the neck. Those guys are definitely good pass rushers, but there’s a lot of other guys we have to worry about as well.” (On if they have specific drills to practice for CB Marlon Humphrey, who leads the league in forced fumbles) “We do ball security drills every Thursday. Our guys have done a great job of protecting the ball. I think we’ve had a couple fumbles. Mike [Glennon] fumbled one time and Gardner [Minshew II] had a couple fumbles early. But for the most part, our running backs and receivers have done an excellent job of hanging on [to] the ball in traffic. We just have to continue to preach that: two hands on the ball. [Ravens CB] Marlon [Humphrey], he does a great job. He’s forced nine fumbles already this year. [He’s] very productive, very similar to [Bills CB] Josh Norman. I had him [in Washington]. He did a great job of the ball punch. It’s just something we have to be aware of in practice. Make sure we get two hands on the ball and hold it tight.” |
| JAGUARS QB GARDNER MINSHEW II (On earning the starting role back late in the season and if that brings pressure) “I wouldn’t say there’s a ton of pressure right now. I don’t think anybody really expects much of a 1-12 team, but we expect a lot of ourselves. We’re going to go out there, try not to let what’s going on this season determine what happens these next three games. We’re going to go try to have a lot of fun, make the most of them, put some good stuff on tape.” (On his reaction to being named the starter for Week 15) “I was excited, ready to go. I mean going into the week, I was kind of expecting it, ready to roll. [I’m] just glad to be back in the saddle.” (On facing former Jaguars and current Ravens DE Calais Campbell and DE Yannick Ngakoue and the entire Ravens defensive front) “The front, they do a really good job mixing up their looks. They send pressure a lot of different ways and they have a lot of guys that rotate in that can do some good things. They have a lot of different personnel packages. It’s a very talented defense and something we’re looking forward to playing against.” (On if he saw the Ravens vs. Browns game on Monday) “I watched it on film. I stayed up for like a quarter of it and then I was asleep, but it definitely seemed like one worth watching. I was asleep probably 9 o’clock, so didn’t make it near that late [the fourth quarter].” (On why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson went to the locker room in the fourth quarter in Monday night’s game) “I have no clue, man. I try not to dive in anybody else’s personal business like that. I believe in whatever he said.” (On having OL Andrew Norwell back on the offensive line this week) “It’s huge, Larry. We’ve been missing [An]Drew [Norwell] a good bit these past few weeks. Not that ‘Old Bartchy’ [Ben Bartch] hasn’t done great in his place, we’re very proud of what he’s done. But anytime you get a guy like Andrew Norwell back in the lineup, it’s a big boost for your team. I think it’s huge for our communication on the offensive line. That’s a pretty cohesive unit I guess really no matter who’s in there but especially when you have one of your leader and veteran guys like Andrew.” (On OL Ben Bartch’s nickname) “I think that’s a Gruden-ism.” (On the team possibly having a new quarterback after this season) “That very well might happen, but that has nothing to do with us playing the Baltimore Ravens or the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts. I can control what I can right now. Whatever happens down the road, we’ll face it as it gets here, but we’re not going to put the wagon in front of the horse right now.” (On if he sees the rest of season as an opportunity to get good performances on tape) “I look at it as going out and trying to be the best I can for my teammates who deserve a win after a long, long season.” (On getting starter reps in practice again today) “Not being in that huddle with the one’s for like seven weeks, it felt like forever. But man, it felt good to be back out there, just see everybody, really just get in the flow of the game and I’m excited to continue to build on it.” (On WR Collin Johnson’s progress) “I think the thing always with Collin [Johnson] has just been experience. I think the more reps we get him, the better he’s going to get. I think he’s very talented and he’s really still transitioning, learning how to play in the NFL. But he’s learning fast and I think that’ll only get better with time.” (On talking trash with former Jaguar and current Ravens DE Calais Campbell this weekend) “I’m not going to talk trash to [Ravens DE] Calais [Campbell]. I know Calais. Calais is too nice of a guy, like I know it’s not real coming from Calais. We’re too cool, I hope. Now [Ravens DE] Yannick [Ngakoue]’s going to be out for blood, but Calais, I think he’s going to take care of me. I hope. It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s always fun playing against former teammates. It’s one of the cool things about the league and it makes it a lot of fun.” (On RB James Robinson’s consistency) “It’s huge. I think it takes a lot of pressure off when you’re not having to throw it against two high safeties every time and you’re able to have success running the ball. He may get some one-high [safety] looks and is still having success there. It’s huge. Personally, I really enjoyed it on my fantasy team. He’s carried me into the playoffs deep right now, so need to keep feeding him.” (On getting RB James Robinson to talk more) “Same guy, steady hand.” (On WR DJ Chark Jr.’s performance last week) “We have to find ways to get DJ [Chark Jr.] the ball. We have to just get on the same page. That’s some stuff we’re working through this week.” (On Ravens cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters) “They’re very good. I think they’re two very different players. I think [Marcus] Peters, he’s kind of a ball hawk. He’s a gambler. He’s going to take risks and most of the time he’s right when he does it. He’s very good. He’s always around the ball. Then Marlon Humphrey, he’s just so gifted athletically. He’s so big, so long, and physical. I think he produces mismatches and kind of makes your guys a little uncomfortable when he’s out there.” |
