The Jaguars show interest in Gary Kubiak as new OC
By David Levin
The Jacksonville Jaguars search for a new offensive coordinator just got a little more interesting now that Gary Kubiak appears to be a free agent.
After being told he would not be coming back to the Denver Broncos as the team’s offensive coordinator, there is plenty of interest arounf the league in Gary Kubiak. The Jacksonville Jaguars are right in line with other franchises in need of a makeover on that side of the football.
Kubiak is no stranger to the Jaguars, having coached their AFC South rivals, the Houston Texans for 10 seasons from 2006-2016.
Per a story on Bleacher Report, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter broke the news on his Twitter account.
"“The 57-year-old Houston native has served as a senior personnel advisor for Denver since his retirement from coaching after the 2016 season because of health issues,” Tim Daniels writes."
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It was believed that Kubiak would be the leading candidate to become the new offensive coordinator for Vic Fangio, who was hired away from the Chicago Bears to replace Vance Joseph as head coach. A difference in how the coaching staff would be structured and a philosophy on offense led to the decision Kubiak would not return to the team.
What is Denver’s loss could be the Jaguars gain.
Jacksonville spent last week interviewing both Darrell Bevell and Todd Monken for the offensive coordinator job. Monken held the same position in Tampa Bay last season. Bevell was the offensive coordinator in Seattle from 2011 to 2017 and was on the same staff with Gus Bradley, the former Jaguars head coach and Dan Quinn, the current head coach in Atlanta.
Monken was the wide receivers coach in Jacksonville from 2007-10 under Jack Del Rio.
"“Jacksonville finished the 2018 regular season ranked 27th in total offense (302 yards per game) and 31st in scoring offense (15.3 points per game),” Daniels added.“While the front office will need to address numerous personnel issues on that side of the ball, starting with finding a better quarterback than Blake Bortles, bringing on Kubiak would likely provide a boost from a scheme standpoint.”"
Former Broncos' HC Gary Kubiak still has an interest in being an offensive coordinator, it just won't happen in Denver. One team interested in bringing in Kubiak is Jacksonville, per sources, but there is plenty of interest in the man who was expected to become the Broncos' OC.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2019
The Jaguars would like to energize their running game as well, which averaged 107.7 yards per game this past season after leading the NFL in 2017 with 141 yards per game. Whoever takes over as offensive coordinator could have a healthy Leonard Fournette again as the focal point of the offense.
Next. Jaguars: Four veteran quarterback options for 2019. dark
The 2017 first-round draft pick was hampered by injuries last season that forced him to the bench for seven games and a one-game suspension for being invovled in a fight in a 24-21 loss to Buffalo in the second half of the season.