JAGUARS HEAD COACH DOUG MARRONE
(Opening Statement) “We’ve been remote these last two days. It’s a little bit different for us as coaches, but [it’s] not an issue with getting things done. I talked to [Offensive Coordinator] Jay [Gruden] and I spoke to [Quarterbacks Coach] Ben [McAdoo] and obviously we met offensively remotely on moving forward who gives us the best chance to win right now, today, so we’re going to go with Mike Glennon. Mike will go into this next game [as the starter] and we just feel like he gives us the best opportunity and thought he did some really good things last week and hopefully we can build on them and move forward.”
(On an injury report) “Sidney Jones [IV] will be out there today in a limited role, so that’s a good sign. DJ Chark [Jr.] and Chris Conley will be out there. Dare [Ogunbowale] will be out there at running back limited. I think Dakota [Allen] will be out. [Kamalei] Correa will be out. Obviously, DaVon Hamilton we know about. Brandon Rusnak will be limited today. Abry Jones is designated to return, but he’ll be out there on the side today. Shaq[uille] Quarterman is out there, he’s full. Josh Jones is full. J-Dub, Jarrod Wilson, will be limited. [Brandon] Linder has his normal scheduled day off. [Tyler] Eifert has his normal scheduled day off. Jawaan [Taylor] is better, but we’re going to keep him on the side today. He’ll do walkthrough and those situations but just take some pressure off it so we get him ready to play. Obviously [Ben] Ellefson, he’s out.”
(On taking more risks in the play calling) “I think week to week it changes because sometimes you feel good or you feel like there’s a good opportunity where you can maybe take advantage of something, so we look at that hard during the week. Obviously, we always have things in in all different phases of what we do. I think the other part that comes into play is sometimes just the game management part of it where all of a sudden you’re down and you don’t have enough possessions and then you have to figure out a way to either keep possessing the football, which is the fourth down plays, or trying to steal a possession here or there. That’s my thought of how I go into it because I try to make sure I keep the game in the players’ hands and I don’t take that away from them. That’s one of the things I’ve always believed in my whole life.”
(On if the starting quarterback role will be a week to week decision) “I just think it’s tough to say. It’s just like anyone. You guys have asked me before, ‘Hey, are you finishing the season [with this player]?’ I mean everything in this league is day to day, week to week and I think especially when we’re having the season that we’re having right now and we’re trying to get ourselves focused on Minnesota for a win. I think it’d be naive of me to say that. Every position has to play well from week to week and if we feel like someone else behind them can produce better or give us a better chance to win, then I think we’ll go ahead and make that move. I don’t want to put it just on the one position, it’s really all positions that we’re looking at being able to do that. That’s the truth. When you go out there and you play well, you don’t have to worry about it. You go out there and you play poorly and you’ve caused that by your decisions or what you’ve done with assignments, alignments, you’re missing tackles or whatever it may be, or turning the football over, then obviously you’re going to be in jeopardy.”
(On if the backup quarterback position will be a weekly competition) “I think we’re working through that. There’s so many different things that we’re working through with guys coming back, guys coming off IR, which is all good things. We have some guys going to IR so we’re working out all those situations and when we get out on the field, we’ll see how it goes during the week.”
(On the emergency quarterback situation) “We did discuss that. We actually did discuss that. [Offensive Coordinator] Jay [Gruden] and I had that discussion. We feel really good about what we’re doing from a protocol standpoint, so I think right now we’ll keep it the way it is. We have an emergency quarterback pretty much most of the year, but when that player was injured, then we had to go to other players. That’s the only time we switched.”
(On who the emergency quarterback is) “Laviska [Shenault Jr.]. We have to put that on sheets that everyone has, so that’s not giving away anything.”
(On the decision to start QB Mike Glennon over QB Jake Luton and QB Gardner Minshew II) “I just think that he’s been there, he has experience. He showed that he can protect the football. He showed that he can make throws, take shots, has some accuracy. I thought he played well. I think that he’s been practicing well, and he went in there and played well. Like I told him, I said, ‘Hey, we expect you to play better this week.’”
(On QB Gardner Minshew II’s progress with his thumb injury) “According to the trainer, he told me he’s full.”
(On how players who got increased playing time last week performed) “Nathan Cottrell, we’ve really liked on really special teams for us. He has speed. When we lost Daniel Thomas and started to lose some of our gunners, some of our guys that are disrupters on our kickoff coverage, we brought him up to the roster to be able to fulfill those requirements that we needed as far as the body type and speed. That’s why he’s come up and he’s made plays, he has. He’s going to make plays by his hustle, his effort, his speed, so that’s his situation. With Josiah [Scott] and Luq [Barcoo], I think you saw at times where they were in somewhat of a good position but weren’t able to make as many plays as you need to make when you’re out there playing. It was the first time that they’ve played so you hope that you can see a great increase. Like I’ve always said, practice is fine, you can see those things, but it has to carry over into game days. I think they got their first taste of it. I think anyone that has played a real game, and I’m talking about my whole career, it’s always interesting to watch how they come back and the next one and the next one and the next one because then I think you get a good feel of how that player’s progressing.”
(On DE Adam Gotsis) “He’s been solid for us all year. I think that he’s been solid on his production pretty much all year, and I’m talking about when he has the ability to make plays because sometimes you don’t always get that opportunity. We manage him a little bit during the week. He takes a day [off] to keep him going. Like I said before, because of some injuries we have increased some of the snap counts for some of the players. Adam’s a guy that he plays the big end for us but we’re looking to get things inside, looking to see where we can get things because fundamentally, he’s a good football player. He has good strength, he has good hands, he can play low, he can take on double teams, he can hold up versus the tackles in the league, so I think he’s been real solid for us.”
JAGUARS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JAY GRUDEN
(On WR Collin Johnson earning more playing time) “He definitely stepped up his game, which is great to see. We’ve been trying to get him on the field a little bit more. With both DJ [Chark Jr.] and Chris [Conley], it’s been hard to get him out there, get him the reps, but to see him step up in those guys’ absence was great to see. So sure, I think we’ll check to see how Chris is doing in practice today, same with DJ, but we won’t hesitate to get him in there if it plays out like that.”
(On the physical attributes of WR Collin Johnson) “He definitely has a straight-line speed that you like to see. I think we’ve been working with his routes. Coming in and out of breaks I think has been something he’s been working diligently on for the last 10, 12, 15, 20 weeks or what have you, so he’s continuing to work that. [Wide Receivers Coach] Keenan McCardell’s doing a great job with him. As far as finding the hole, he has a natural feel. He’s a smart kid, has a good feel for the game of football, so that’s not the issue. I think [it’s] more so man-to-man releases, coming in and out of breaks. He’s a big, tall, long guy so that sometimes is something he has to continue to work on, but we love his skill set. I think as a young football player you can see what type of career he may have if he continues to work.”
(On involving the tight ends more in the game plan) “They’re always part of the program. We try to anyway. We’ve just had some young people in there. Ben [Ellefson] unfortunately got a little dinged up last week, Tyler [Eifert]’s been a little bit dinged up, James [O’Shaughnessy]’s has been a little bit dinged up, so that hasn’t been quite the matchup that we would typically like to work. I think the more we get going hopefully Eifert starts to feel better, James starts to feel better with his knee, and we can get them more involved in the game. But yeah, you’re right, that’s something that we need to try to get more into the game plan.”
(On seeing TE Tyler Eifert play as well as he did when they were both with the Cincinnati Bengals) “A little bit, yeah, he makes some flashes. He’s done some good things for us. Like I said, he’s kind of been beat up his whole career, unfortunately. He’s had a lot of different nagging injuries. When I saw him as a rookie right out of college, he’s a little bit different than he is now. He’s older obviously. He’s had those injuries, the back, the foot, the knee. All these injuries kind of had a little bit wear and tear on him, but he definitely still can come in and out of cuts. He’s got great hands. He’s got a great feel for the game, so yeah, I think there’s still a lot of good football left in Tyler.”
(On choosing Mike Glennon as the starting QB) “I think his poise, I think the time that he’s had in the National Football League has helped him. I can remember him in college at NC State. I think [he] didn’t have a great offensive line but he’s always had a great feel for sitting in the pocket, wait until the last second to deliver the ball, and he will take some hits because of that and possibly throw some air balls because of that. But he’s got a great feel for the pocket, good understanding of the game, concepts, defense, protections. I think the receivers and everybody liked his urgency in the huddle, communication. All that stuff plays a major role pre-snap. I think Mike [Glennon] is probably our best option right now. Post-snap, I think all three of them do some great things and obviously Mike showed some flashes of being really productive for us and the best option this week.”
(On OL Brandon Linder’s performance this season) “He’s a rock on the offensive line for us. When we lose him, [Tyler] Shat[ley] steps in there and does a great job, but Brandon [Linder] is a leader of that offensive line, communication, protections, all that good stuff. That center position is critical in any offensive, especially ours as far as protections, and Mike [Glennon], and the run game, the pass game, ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage, and re-IDing at the blink of an eye. He’s great. He’s a big, physical guy in there and gets a lot of movement, so really not a lot of flaws in Brandon’s game other than he’s missed a couple games which really ticks me off, but he’s a great player.”
(On how comfortable he would be using WR Laviska Shenault Jr. as the emergency quarterback in a game) “Not very, not very at all. That’d be an awful situation for us and we would probably get beat like Denver did. I think they scored three points which is quite amazing, so I think they should all get a plaque in the Hall of Fame for scoring three points without a quarterback. It’s no fun. I mean there’s nothing we can really do except direct snap and run the ball between the tackles or some zone reads, all that stuff. Not a lot of options there. Occasionally maybe it’s okay.”
(On what it would take for QB Gardner Minshew II to earn back the starting role) “Well the tough thing right now for this football team is we’ve gone through obviously three quarterbacks and we’re talking each week to a different guy as a starter and they’re getting the reps and the other guy’s not. Gardner hasn’t gotten first-team reps in about four or five weeks or what have you. It’s nice to have some stability at the position. We worked with Mike [Glennon] last week. We thought he did a good enough job to possibly win that game. We came up a little bit short, but we want to see how he progresses in game two and possibly game three. That’ll be up to [Head Coach] Coach Marrone, but to change quarterbacks every week is not easy for any of the quarterbacks. I don’t think anybody’s given up on Gardner at all. I think this is just a matter of watching Mike after his first game in three and a half years, how well he did considering that. Let’s see what he does in game two against a very good Minnesota Viking defense.”
(On where the offense would be without RB James Robinson) “Oh shoot, that’d be pretty difficult. He’s done great. We really lean on him quite a bit. He’s been close to 100 yards many times. He’s helped us out in the play action game. The Collin Johnson touchdown was a play action pass which helped sucked the linebackers up and get Collin behind them. Without that threat of a running game, we’re dropping back and throwing it a lot and we have zero chance, so James is quite pivotal in our offense as far as being able to keep defenses honest, and the production that he has both in the running game and the passing game. I don’t think he came out but two or three plays last week, which we probably have to do a better job of keeping him fresh, getting some people in there to give him some breaks. But he’s a great player and obviously we love him as a person.”
(On undrafted rookie talent such as RB James Robinson slipping between the cracks) “I think the running back position, there’s a lot of them that have very similar skill sets in college. There are a lot of them that are 210, 220 pounds and maybe not run a 4.4 or 4.3 and maybe 4.5-ish type range. There’s a lot of them so you figure you want to draft other positions then maybe wait until free agency or late rounds to get a guy like James. Then when you get them in there, it’s about opportunity. I’m sure there’s a lot of guys on the street that could probably perform pretty well if given the opportunity. Fortunately for James, he got an unbelievable opportunity. We lost [former Jaguars and current Buccaneers RB] Leonard [Fournette], we [released] Leonard obviously, [Devine] Ozigbo got hurt, and obviously [Ryquell] Armstead left the team for a while. So the door was his, the opening was right there for him and when that happens you have to take advantage of it. Not a lot of people can, but James did that. There’s a lot of luck involved and then most importantly when you get the opportunity, you have to perform like James has.”
JAGUARS QB MIKE GLENNON
(On his performance last week and finding out he’d be the starter again this week) “I think looking back at the game, there was a lot of good things, made some good throws and then a few throws [I’d like] to have back. Obviously, you look at those 2-point conversions and those could’ve been difference makers in the game, so both plays you wish you could have back, but that’s part of the NFL. You have to move on to the next week. As far as the conversation, there really wasn’t much. [Head Coach] Doug [Marrone] just told me, ‘We’re going with you again this week.’ It was left at that. As far as week to week, I mean I understand it. It’s a performance-based industry. All of us have shown flashes and it’s about consistency and I get it.”
(On if being named the starter boosts his confidence) “It’s good to have the respect of the coaches and for them to say that that’s great, but at the end of the day, it’s about going out there week after week and stacking good performances. That’s one out of however many games we’ve played, that’s one out of 11. So, [we] have five games left and hopefully [I’ll] continue to build on things we did well and improve on the things I didn’t. It’s good to hear but like I just said, anything can change in a given week and [I’m] just going to take it one week at a time.”
(On the chemistry in the quarterback room) “I think it’s really good. Up until last week, my role was to kind of help them and I think I’ve done [that]. I’ve been there for them, had their back, and tried to relay my experiences and knowledge. Now that the roles have changed, everybody has each other’s back. There’s no taking sides or all that. It’s just kind of next man up. I helped them, now they help me. It’s a good group. They’re both really good guys and I’ve enjoyed working with them.”
(On if the last games are valuable as game tape even though there isn’t a possibility to make the playoffs) “I think that’s kind of what the NFL is. Every week, your film is your resume. You want to do your best for your current situation but that’s just kind of how it works is for your future employment as well. It matters what you put on that tape. I don’t know if statistically we’re out of the playoffs or what but we’re here, we’re going to try to get a win, get back on that winning side. At the same time, you always want to put out good tape and I think guys are aware of that.”
(On if a high effort level is a plus to have on tape when the playoffs aren’t on the line) “To me, it’d be more of a negative if you’re not putting the effort in. I mean come on, we’re professionals. This our job. You better be giving it your all every week, so that’s just what the standard should be. It shouldn’t be whether you’re in the playoff race or not. It should be every week you’re giving it your all because that’s what your job is to do. I think it’d be more of a negative that if you’re loafing because you’re out of the playoffs. That’s not the right way to go about it.”
(On Titans QB Ryan Tannehill’s revitalized career is something to model his career after) “I think that would be a great example. He did a little more, he got his team to the playoffs last year and made a playoff run. But I think anytime you’re kind of a guy that has started a little bit but hasn’t played a lot recently, these opportunities are great opportunities for the future. Kind of going back to what I said last week, it’s still the same mentality for me to go out there and enjoy it, let it rip, and worry about next year when that time comes. [I] try to stay in the present as much as possible and worry about next year whenever that may be.”
(On when his ‘let it rip’ mentality started) “I think last week I felt it more than I had in the past. Kind of what I hit on before, it’s just different situations I’ve been in. [I] played a little in Tampa and then they went on to draft Jameis [Winston]. When you’re younger, you’re thinking about those kinds of things more. When I was in Chicago, there was the whole Mitch Trubisky situation. As much as you try to not think about it, it’s only human nature I think to kind of think about those kinds of things. Now, I’m at the point in my career where I just don’t worry about that as much for a number of reasons. So, I feel good, I felt at ease playing the other day, and I’m going to do that again on Sunday.”
(On his comfort level playing with this offense) “I feel good. Honestly, the whole week at practice last week might have been even better than I thought and that’s carried over to today just making the play calls, seeing it. For not really having run the offense in a couple months, I felt good, I felt comfortable, and honestly felt like I had been in it. That was good and hopefully we’ll only continue to improve this week.”
(On DJ Chark Jr.) “He’s a great player. I think watching from a distance last year I knew the name, I knew he was a good player. But when I got here this year, it was probably three days into camp where I remember going up to him like, ‘I didn’t know you were this good.’ I mean he can make a lot of plays. I’ve been with a lot of good receivers and he’s up there, so I’m excited to get the opportunity to hopefully play with him this week.”
JAGUARS RB JAMES ROBINSON
(On what it would mean to be elected to the Pro Bowl an as undrafted rookie) “I think it’d mean a lot to me and to my family as well. But I mean it’s nothing I can control, so we’ll see if it happens.”
(On if expected to be a contender to make the Pro Bowl) “Coming in, I didn’t really think too far ahead about that, but I knew what I could do and it was just getting an opportunity to do that.”
(On the physical toll of being a running back) “Being in there, it’s not as bad as it seems or it looks. When you have the linemen pushing you forward, it kind of makes it easier on your body.”
(On the potential of receiving the Rookie of the Year award) “No, I don’t think about it. It’s the same thing with the Pro Bowl. Coming in, I didn’t think about any of that. [The] biggest thing for me was to get on the field and just show what I can do and that I can play.”
(On if having success as an undrafted free agent has given him a chip on his shoulder) “It was nothing I could control really. I mean I did what I could while I was in college and I mean it was on [teams] to draft me and they didn’t but I mean I can’t get mad about it because I knew I would go somewhere. I just kind of blow it off. I’m here now so it doesn’t matter.”
(On what had to happen for him to get his opportunity to be the starter) “I don’t really know. I mean a lot of stuff has happened and yeah I got an opportunity but if things were different, you just never know how it would turn out because it hasn’t happened.”
(On the offensive line’s role in his success) “I give it all to them, the tight ends, the receivers. Last game on the drive with that touchdown, I wouldn’t have scored if it wasn’t for them, so I give all the credit to them.”
(On his relationship with the offensive line) “We talk. We always talk in the locker room, doesn’t matter what it’s about, it’s not even about football most of the time. But other than that, yeah we talk a lot.”
(On taking care of his body in an NFL season versus in college) “I think it’s more of just like making sure you ice, get in the hot tub, cold tub, just those things. Those things help out a lot. I know in college we didn’t have a hot tub, but we had like a big pool. But it’s different. I have a lot of resources here that I can work with, so I mean I use them, and it helps out a lot.”
(On when he’ll realize the difference in maintaining his body at the professional level) “Once I play like a college season I would say. It’s Week 12 coming up so it’s basically a college season. We have a lot more games because five games is a lot of games left. I think it’s just longer and everyone always tells me to take care of my body and that’s what I have to do. They say do it early and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
(On reaching 1,000 yards rushing this year) “It would mean a lot. Every back wants to get over the 1,000-yard mark and I mean it’s a goal for me, but without the linemen or anything I don’t think I’d be close to that.”
(On the team’s approach to the final five games) “Go get a win. I mean not just a win but if we can win the rest, do that and I think that’s the biggest thing because losing these close games sucks. I think it’s just we have to have that winning mindset and I think that’s what we have and there’s just some weird hump that we can’t get over. We’re going into this game trying to get a W.”
