The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially began their search for a new head coach. After the firing of Gus Bradley, offensive line coach Doug Marrone was named interim head coach to finish out the season. Under Marrone, the Jaguars went 1-1 and were close to closing out the season on a two-game winning streak. Marrone had the offense surging in their final two games, but last week against Indianapolis, the Jaguars had too many mistakes and just couldn’t get the job done.
Kyle Shanahan Is the Right Fit For the Jacksonville Jaguars
With many candidates surfacing for the job, lets take a look at a few names that are emerging, and ultimately why Kyle Shanahan should be the next head coach of the Jaguars.
Kyle Shanahan
Shanahan has done an excellent job in Atlanta coaching the Falcons offense. His current quarterback, Matt Ryan, is an MVP candidate and has had a stellar season. Shanahan is a coach that would fit well in Jacksonville for many reasons. Among those, he could develop Blake Bortles into the mature quarterback he appeared set to become. This season was absurd for Bortles, and with a new coach, the fourth year quarterback could be something special next season.
Matt Patricia
Matt Patricia is currently the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. A defensive-minded coach is a route the Jaguars could possibly go if they feel the need to revamp the defense. Although Jacksonville’s defense was suspenseful this season, bigger things could come on that side of the ball with a head coach that has experience with great defenses.
Doug Marrone
The current interim head coach for the Jaguars, Marrone would sound like the right fit for the next head coach in Jacksonville. The offensive-minded coach has what it takes to turn the offense around and get this team going in the right direction. Not only could he, like Shanahan, mature Bortles, but Marrone could also bring in an offensive coordinator that could completely turn the offense around. Getting this offense to all be on the same page should be a top priority in Jacksonville, and that is something Marrone or any coach could handle.
Why Kyle Shanahan Should Get the Job
All in all, my belief is that Kyle Shanahan should take the job in Jacksonville if it is offered to him. Shanahan’s play-calling ability is outstanding and the work he has done in Atlanta to turn that team around this season has been tremendous. Having a quarterback as an MVP candidate, a number two seed in the NFC, and a top-five ranked offense is something that Jacksonville could use in a coach.
Even though there will be many names emerging for this job, Shanahan sounds like the best fit for this team, as he is capable of running an offense that could turn things around for the Jaguars, and sooner rather than later. As the coaching search rolls along, I expect to hear Shanahan’s name more and more throughout the off-season. If the Jaguars aren’t able to tab him as the next head coach, maybe another great offensive or defensive-minded head coach will be the right fit.
For the Jaguars, it will be a long offseason filled with phone calls, interviews, and more. Finding the right head coach is at the top of their list, and trust me when I say it will be a long process. Even though many fans want it to be a quick search, my belief is that it will be drawn out until the franchise feels that they have their right man.
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