Jaguars EVP Tom Coughlin Speaks for First Time This season

Tom Coughlin, the Jaguars EVP of Football Operations spoke to the media on Wednesday to address many topics affecting the team and organization.

I’m not sure what to make of Tom Coughlin’s press conference other than it’s a bit shocking that the executive vice-president of football operations for the Jacksonville Jaguars talked a lot about many things but did not address the most important things pertaining to this football team.

The Jaguars get set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, a game that Coughlin called upon the loyal fans here in Jacksonville to come out and support their football team. What wasn’t lost on the media in attendance and those who watched the press conference on live stream – like me – is that this is a team needing some shot of adrenaline.

Having Coughlin speak a day after head coach Doug Marrone told the media he had been criticized inside the build at TIAA Bank Field abut his decision making concerning team practice and the players on the roster, looks more like a need to clear the air, which the former Jaguars and New York Giants head coach missed on.

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The media asked Coughlin about the coaching staff, especially Marrone, the contract situation with Yannick Ngakoue and the situation with Jalen Ramsey that eventually led to his trade to the Los Angeles Rams. Coughlin refused to speak about any of those topics.

What we do know is he may have a different opinion about Ngakoue than others do, which may lead to the former Pro Bowl pass rusher playing somewhere else in 2020. He said Ramsey was playing elsewhere, so there was no need to address the fractured relationship between himself, the player and the team.

Above everything else, he did not give Marrone, a person he has had a close relationship with, a vote of confidence, which may have spoken louder than anything he did not say on Wednesday.

"“We know as an organization, we put ourselves in a hole this season,” Coughlin said in his opening statement, “And specifically not performed as planned in the second half of the last three divisional games.”"

Those three games, all losses by 20 points or more, have shown how inept the defense has been of late, especially with the run game. Jacksonville has surrendered 216 yards or more in those three contests.

"“I offer no excuses,” he continued. “It’s important to keep in mind that we have five games lest to play and we are committed to do our very best to prepare, to practice and to put ourselves in the best possible situation to win five games.”"

It’s a mantra that may ring hollow for some of the fan base that is tired of the losing that has accompanied this franchise for the majority of their 25 years in the NFL. It is also an odd time to have Coughlin talk about the direction of the franchise, especially when everyone in the organization is under fire to turn things around.

"“We need everyone on board, and all pulling in the same direction. And by everyone, I mean ownership, organization, coaches, players, scouts, staff, our great fans and our entire community,” Coughlin added. “Everyone must be on board to help us win. It is not easy to win at this level, but a team must avoid making it more difficult for ourselves with costly mistakes and errors.”"

This was the first time that Coughlin has spoken to the media since the end of the NFL Draft. The only other time he has made his feelings known was in a release regarding the Ramsey trade. When it was asked about his assessment of Marrone and the job he has done, Coughlin was just as noncommittal as he had been throughout the press conference.

"“Well, as I keep saying we have five games to go and then there will certainly be an evaluation of every one of us. Of everybody.”"