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Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

Doug Marrone - Sunday, September 16, 2018

(Opening statement) "It was a good game, and it's good to get away with a win. I think what really was important for us, I was talking to the players about how people talk about last year; I think the one thing last year that I try to remind the players of is how we've gotten our fans and everyone back into it. We were really excited to open up here at home. That was a big thing for us and obviously the crowd played a big part in it. Our players feed off of that. I just want to thank the fans for showing up, thank our fans for their enthusiasm. I thought the assistant coaches did a great job. I felt real comfortable with the plan. We were really focused all week. I thought the players did a nice job executing the plan. I thought the quarterback played well. We were able to win. Like I told the players, it's the second game of the season. We've got a lot of work in front of us. We've got a division opponent next week. We'll enjoy this win, and we'll make the corrections, and we'll move on." 

(On the aggressive play calling and how pleased he is with the execution) "We felt comfortable during the week. There were a lot of good signs and tells what was going on, so we felt good about what we were trying to do. When you feel that way, you just have to go out there and execute and we were able to go out there and do it. So it's a credit to, like I said before, the assistant coaches doing a good job and the players doing a good job executing." 

(On his evaluation of Blake Bortles) "I think everyone will see all the good things. I think one of the things that is probably going to get missed is that first series, they had a free hitter coming, blitzing. [Bortles] was able to step to the side, make a miss, make the play down the field, get the third down, and I've said it before, probably too many times, we kind of lose sight of what he can do with his feet. I think that he made some really good throws today. I thought he played with a lot of confidence. He knows and understands that he has to do that every week. He catches a lot of [expletive] and today he's going to be OK. Everyone is going to be happy. Tomorrow he's going to have to come back and start working because we'll be evaluating each Sunday, and he understands that. Again, he did a nice job today."

(On when the decision was made to keep Leonard Fournette out) "He had a good week. We put a lot of work into it, and it was a point of Leonard wanted to go, and it was that risk-reward and you try to not get caught up in the game, you know what I'm saying? Rather than take a chance where you can be out. It was minor, a little thing pulling at it, and we couldn't get that little thing out. We woke up today. We talked about it today with him over here about 12 p.m., worked on it. We worked on it pretty aggressively during the week. Our thoughts were really optimistic about it. At the end of the day it was my decision. I just didn't want to take a chance." 

(On if Leonard Fournette will play next week) "I'm just going to enjoy this win. Come on, you can't do that to me. Don't ruin my next three hours?" 

(On if he built the game plan this week to be without Leonard Fournette) "No. No we didn't. We felt comfortable with T.J. [Yeldon]. I kind of got a little nervous when Gene [Frenette, Florida Times-Union columnist] asked me on Friday, 'Hey, would you feel comfortable going into the game with just two running backs?' I was like yeah, and then I started thinking about it and I'm like, 'Oh [expletive], maybe not.' You know what I'm saying? I kind of went back and we brought Brandon [Wilds] up just in case. We really thought it was going that way. We planned like he would be there knowing that T.J. and Corey [Grant] would be able to do some of the same things." 

(On if they would have been as aggressive passing if Leonard Fournette was here today) "Yeah, like I said, we didn't know about Fournette until Saturday." 

(On who made the call to throw the challenge flag) "We've got a system set up, like I've said before. I've talked about it before when people have asked me who are those people up there. I just say I really don't want to do that because when I make a mistake it will kill them, and when it's something good like this others take credit all the time."  

(On how this win compares to others, given it's the Patriots) "It's the home opener. It's a win. We felt comfortable going into the game. I can't explain it any other way. We felt good about the plan. We felt good about where we were. Our players did a heck of a job during the week. Sometimes as a coach you can tell. You never know how they are going to play. I've made that mistake millions of times like we probably all have, but I thought there's certain times, situations during the week, they were focused and I think they learned that you've got to be that way to beat a good football team and we beat a good football team. The schedule is a tough schedule." 

(On how important it was to keep the continuity going when Cam Robinson left the game) "Continuity gets a little overblown at times, in my opinion, as an offensive line coach. I think that's the one thing you always look to. Is it important? It is, but we try to do a good job, like I said before, [Offensive Line] Coach [Pat] Flaherty did a good job and [Assistant Offensive Line Coach] Tony Sparano Jr. When we're doing like the one-on-one stuff with games, things that really need that continuity, we'll mix it up in there. Josh Wells is a guy that has really worked his ass off to really get up there. He came in and did a heck of a job today, obviously, and the guys up front did a nice job today." 

(On how Dante Fowler Jr. approached the week and his strip sack today) "He was good. You know last week when he was suspended I talked to him and he was just working out and training and getting ready to go and he was excited to come back and play. Probably not as much to get out there and play, but importantly being around his teammates. That's the worst part about suspensions. It's not necessarily the game or anything like that, it's that you're not part of your family or your team. He came in and had a good week. He was ready to go. He made a big play in the game and those are the plays you have to make and take the ball away from them at times." 

(On Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole) "It was part of the plan, catch and run; we knew that was going to be big. Keelan made an unbelievable play on the sideline. Everybody saw that. He's a guy that has been really steady for us, really worked his butt off. I think Dede is probably, I would say, from last year to this year, from looking at people who have really stepped up as far as being professional, I think Dede has made the best change or biggest change at that. Obviously, it's helped this football team and it's helped him as a player. I know I appreciate that. The first year is tough. You're trying to find your way. That second year you kind of get set in a way, and he's been good right from the beginning, very focused and has done a nice job for us." 

(On if Corey Grant will be more involved in the future) "We'll see what fits us best. When you say 'see more of Corey Grant' it sounds like we maybe don't like him or have him part of it. That's never been the case with Corey. We know we have a guy with some special talents and skills, and we've always felt very comfortable with him. He's on our roster and we look each week at the players on our roster that give us the best opportunity. I felt Corey did a great job today with probably a larger role than normally he had."

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