Shortly following the Jacksonville Jaguars loss to the Houston Texans, owner Shad Khan released a statement. Head coach Doug Marrone along with Tom Coughlin and Dave Caldwell will be staying with the team for the 2019 season. The move isn’t too surprising, as there have been recent reports that Marrone would keep his job. Khan’s statement does make it official, and now there will be added pressure going into 2019. Caldwell and Coughlin will need to make a good pick at quarterback. Also, Marrone will likely be coaching for his job the whole season.
A statement from #Jaguars owner Shad Khan says that coach Doug Marrone and GM Dave Caldwell will stay for the 2019 season. Not a surprise but now official. His statement: pic.twitter.com/oLgU5VP8F5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2018
Doug Marrone and Front Office Staying in Jacksonville
It appears that Nathaniel Hackett was the sacrificial lamb for the Jacksonville Jaguars this year. Add in the bad play of Blake Bortles, and you have a front office that is willing to give the coach another chance. If anything is surprising, it’s that the general manager, Caldwell is staying. Caldwell chose Bortles and was in on the decision to keep the majority of the coaching staff after Gus Bradley was let go.
But Marrone knows he needs to improve the product on the field.
#Jaguars Doug Marrone’s comment on returning as Head Coach in 2019 –
“I do believe I will be able to get this right… like I said before I apologize to the fans… when you’re the head coach and don’t win games you make it hard on everyone.” pic.twitter.com/gkCu1MzNkK
— Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) December 30, 2018
Marrone is now 17-17 in regular season games as the head coach (dating back to the final two regular season games of 2016 as interim head coach). The defense is still a top five unit, but the offense has been lethargic this season. After the Jaguars Week Four win against the New York Jets, the offense went down right with the start of the losing streak.
One of Marrone’s supposed calling cards is his discipline. But as of Week 16, the Jaguars were the second most penalized team in the NFL. Let’s not forget a few players getting into legal trouble in London this year. One thing is for sure, Doug Marrone has his work cut out for him in 2019. Though Khan is keeping Marrone and the front office, he’s not happy and neither is the fan base. A lot of things need to change for December of 2019 to be a happy one for Jacksonville.
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