Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone has respect, and that’s crucial
By Luke Sims
Doug Marrone has a lot of work ahead of him to convince Jacksonville Jaguars fans he was the right choice and he can rely on a base of respect and support he’s built up over his years in the NFL.
By all accounts quarterback Drew Brees is a nice guy. So it isn’t shocking to hear him sing new Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone’s praises. But he went a step further in describing his feelings for his former offensive coordinator.
Those words tumbling out of a future Hall of Fame quarterback and arguably the best passer in NFL history are big for the Jaguars and big for Jags fans. Promoting Marrone wasn’t particularly popular, especially as he was attached to the former, failed Gus Bradley regime. Getting buy-in from one of his former players – especially such a respected player – should go a long way.
The Jags are in flux and they think they can do well with Marrone picking up where Bradley left off. Marrone brings a different flavor as a head coach and will shake things up a bit while keeping the core structure strong. That is what executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin wants and it is what general manager Dave Caldwell wants.
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It may seem odd to outsiders, especially after a 3-13 season, but the Jaguars believe the team is strong and can become winners quickly. The Jags are banking on Marrone having a little bit of the magic that helped turn the New Orleans Saints into contenders and, ultimately, Super Bowl champions.
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The talk around Marrone has flown fast since his hiring by the Jaguars. He has the support of the front office and his former players are expressing their support for him as well. It may not be the kind of shakeup that current Jags players like Jalen Ramsey wanted but it is a step forward.
In a few years it’s possible every Jags fan may be saying they love Doug Marrone too. Hopefully he can get it done.