Jaguars 2019 Season: Doug Marrone one of many NFL coaches on the hot seat

Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone walks into the 2019 season knowing he must do a better job than last year.

I agree with Will Brinson’s assessment of Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone. His seat inside TIAA Bank Field is warm. And he and his coaching staff know they must do better than last season’s 5-11 team.

When you breakdown 2018, there were missed opportunities, bad play-calling, a lack of effort from some players and injuries that decimated the offense. But when it comes down to pointing fingers, it all starts with the coaching staff. And for that reason, the man who led the Jaguars to the AFC title game two seasons ago is on the hot seat.

In Brinson’s latest story, he talks about coaches who are feeling the heat long before the regular season starts. While many Jaguars fans will jump to the conclusion the analyst believes Marrone will be fired, it is far from that.

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"“This is not a list of “who should be fired.” Please don’t confuse it with that. It’s a list of people who have warm seats because of their situations,” he writes. “I’m not saying these coaches will have a bad year, nor do I believe these are bad coaches. The NFL is just a harsh business, and the margins are thin.”"

There have been enough changes over the offseason here in Jacksonville to give us hope things will be better in 2019. Until we see a change in live-action and in games that mean something, we aren’t sure what will happen. But signs are pointing up instead of taking a nosedive. Brinson believes the situation in Jacksonville, which is still a question because of the offense and changes on defense, warrants Marrone to be placed on this list.

"“When the Jags cratered to 5-11 last year, it was somewhat surprising that the front office/coaching core remained intact. So much of the blame for last season was dropped on the quarterback (Blake Bortles), and his replacement (Nick Foles) will have plenty of pressure in 2019,” Brinson wrote."

It’s not just the offense that is questionable this coming season. Changes in personnel and injuries are now a concern. The defensive line should be one of the best in the league. The linebackers are a bit of a concern. The news this week was not good.

"Per Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, “Linebacker James Onwualu will miss the season because of a knee injury, leaving the team pretty thin at that position as the preseason begins on Thursday.”"

Marrone talked about it with the media in Baltimore, referring to it as a “significant injury.”

The Jaguars cannot get past the 2018 season if the injury list continues to mount. While the focus has been on changing the culture of the offense, Brinson said the defense needs to step forward again for the team to have success. It all starts Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens.

"“The defense also has to return to its AFC Championship Game form if the Jaguars want to make a leap up in the AFC South standings,” he adds. “Going 9-7 or better would almost ensure Marrone’s safety, but it’s easy to imagine the reset button being pressed in Jacksonville if this team goes out and finishes 7-9 or worse.”"