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Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

Doug Marrone - Wednesday, October 30, 2019

(Opening Statement) "Just going to update you guys on something real quick – Josh Robinson came to me this morning and retired. So, we put him on [the] reserve/retired [list]. He's been awesome for us. No issues, no problems. I'm going to let him probably talk about it more. I think obviously it's something he's put some thought into, but I have all the respect in the world for him. Tough kid, [he] practiced hard, prepared like a pro. Did everything that we wanted, really. I told him nothing but the best for him, we're always here for him and appreciate him."

(On if the Jaguars have a home-field advantage from a logistics standpoint of traveling to London) "I don't know if the way we do it – I've done it so many different ways in my experience, having gone back and forth both as a player and as a coach. I think you like to feel like you have an advantage when you do it, but I would say that our advantage comes from the guys in the locker room, having done it before. I think [Strength & Conditioning Coordinator] Milo [Tom Myslinski], and [Quarterbacks Coach] Scott Milanovich and the doctors, there's always a lot of science to everything, but it still goes back to the individual player. So, I'd say yes, for the fact that there are players that have done it before, I think that helps. I think that the other thing that helps is when the schedule comes out it's not like, '[sigh]', you know? We understand that we're going to go there and play. So, we're excited about that. That's really how I look at it, because it doesn't really matter. It's not anything we can control. My college coach Dick MacPherson used to tell, 'I don't care if we got to go play in a corn field in Iowa, we're going to go there and play,' and so you have to be ready to play no matter where you go. So, I would say it's probably the guys that have been there, it's a little bit more of an advantage for each individual player."

(On if it's the first time he's ever had a player retire mid-season) "I'd have to think about that. Off the top of my head, I'd say no, but I don't want to be on record, and then all of a sudden [ESPN.com writer] 'DiRoc' [Michael DiRocco] comes in, 'You're a liar, this happened,' and [Florida Times-Union Writer] John [Reid] comes in, 'What are you doing? Why are you lying to us?'"

(On if Robinson spoke to the team this morning) "I think the team knew. I think it was one of those deals, because obviously I wasn't expecting it."

(On what Robinson's retirement means to the depth in the secondary) "With Marqise Lee, when the MRI came back that night, we made a move and brought Tae Hayes up."

(On the severity of K Josh Lambo's groin injury) "I don't see it being as serious. I think he'll be OK. We may back ourselves up and bring some guys in just to cover ourselves, because like you said, we leave and go to London, so we just want to make sure beforehand."

(On if traveling to London adds another element on making personnel moves during the week) "I think it does. When we were talking this week about, 'OK, where are we [with] actives, inactives? What's going to happen? When do we leave? When can we do things?' Because once you go, you're there. And it's not like you can just pick somebody up on Friday and come on it and go play."

(On if the team tells players they work out or might sign throughout the season to stay prepared by getting a passport) "Yeah, they probably do. I would think our operations department does that, because I know it's something that we're talking to with the players all the time."

(On the impact of Texans DE J.J. Watt being placed on IR) "You're talking about a guy that's a Hall of Fame player, that's a great football player. And they have other players on that defense that are also great players, and I just think they step up and play well. They're really good football players. I think they'll rally, they'll step up. We'll get the best of what they have to offer, so that's how I look at it. It's unfortunate, because you always like competing against great players, and J.J. Watt's a Defensive Player of the Year and Hall of Fame player, and I have a ton of respect for him and the rest of the guys on that defense."

(On if Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien reached to him when the schedule came out) "He doesn't care what I think. He doesn't."

(On if him and O'Brien talk during the season) "Yeah we talk."

(On if they talk during the weeks they play each other) "No, we don't usually talk before."

(On what the London trip does to QB Gardner Minshew II's routine) "I spoke to him earlier this week. I spoke to the coaches, too. We have some coaches that haven't gone. I'll tell you a funny story. We're sitting in a staff meeting and I'm like, 'Hey, we have to make sure we get our older players with the younger players and I'm just curious, is there anyone here that's not made this trip before?' And guess who raises his hand? [Offensive Line Coach] George Warhop. I looked at him and I go, '[Shocked look].' He's like, 'Well in the NFL.' I said, 'You were with me in the World League [of American Football]. We made this trip a ton of times – back to the United States, back to London, back to the United States, back to London. We did it in a playoff game. We went from London, to New York, played New York in the playoff game [and] flew back right away and got ready for the World Bowl. I'm like, 'Come on, put your hand down.' You know? And then [Offensive Coordinator] Flip [John DeFilippo] has never gone on a Thursday. So, my point was just to make sure that everyone's talking and my point with Gardner [Minshew II] was I got with him Monday and said, 'Hey listen, find out who trains like you or who you feel Milo will be able to hook you up with someone, and hey, go talk to him and see what your routine is going to be and what your plan is.'''

(On if having personnel who have gone to London before is an advantage) "I think it's the players, yeah. If someone asked me what the advantage is, it's being able to talk to multiple people that have done it. For me to say how I do it, doesn't really concern the players, but I think the players amongst each other, talking about how they do it, is probably the most important thing."

(On what Minshew II improved on the most after the Week 6 game vs. New Orleans) "I think different things are going to happen in games, it'll be up and down, different coverages, different players, different matchups. A lot of it [is] sometimes the players around you, too, and how they play. So, he's just continuing to get better each week. Like I said, he does a good job learning from one game to the next and does a good job in practice. Obviously, it's tough during the game when you're a young player to really make those strides that you need to at times, but he's working hard, so I'm happy with where he is."

(On if the team is planning on taking QB Nick Foles to London) "I'm planning to, yeah."

(On how tough it was to see WR Marqise Lee placed on IR) "He's such a good football player, and he's tough and he brings an element to that room with toughness. He's one of those guys that always has a smile on his face, nothing's ever bad. So, he brings a ton of energy, and it's just hard. It's the hard part about the game. Unfortunately, injuries are part of it, and this is his second one. But he and I spoke, he's going to fight his ass off, and come back, and be ready to go, stronger and better than ever. So, he's got a great mentality [and] we're here for his support, because I'm sure it will be hard. It's hard on all these guys that get injured and [are] not able to contribute, so it's always difficult. I always feel bad. The reason why I say is because what people don't see on the outside is how hard these guys work to get to a point. And then all of a sudden you have an injury and you're like, 'Gosh I did all of this work.' And then people don't really see the work, the rehab, brutal, to get back. That's always tough."

(On CB D.J. Hayden's injury status) "I think we're going to wait and see. I think we're going to take it day-by-day, and we have all the way up to game time. I just think it's a matter of just resting and everything calming down. And if it's gone down, he's ready to go. So, like I said, he'll be listed as questionable and then we'll see where he is."

(On his thoughts of Texans QB Deshaun Watson's TD pass after being hit in the face) "I think there's a lot of things – I mean, he's playing like an MVP candidate, he really is. What does he have, 16 touchdown passes, five rushing touchdowns? He can scramble, he can get away, I mean it's amazing his escape ability. And then is he escaping? I he running down field? Is he escaping, and then extending the play and throwing it down field? I don't know what he doesn't do well, I really don't. And I think it's going to be a great challenge for our defense, it really is. I mean, he is playing as well as anyone. If you're in there today, and I'm sure you guys all have fantasy football teams, but if you had a real football team and you wanted to put a ball in someone's hand at the end of the game, he'd be the guy you probably would want to put it in to. So, it's going to be a great challenge for us."

(On the progress DE Dawuane Smoot has made this season) "The other day, the sack, I mean, I may have made that sack, only because the [offensive] line went two separate ways. There was a mistake, obviously, but he is really doing a good job. And it's amazing from when he first came in, and where we were then, and trying to see where he was going to fit and what he was going to do. And then watching him kind of transition into a veteran-type player that worked extremely hard and did everything that we asked him to do and then was able to get on the field and then started to contribute. I mean, he's really doing a good job. He's contributing both in the run and in the pass rush, so I feel really good. He's worked really hard. It's different, he's upbeat, he's ready to go and he's helping our football team, so I was excited for him. And sometimes I'll say, 'Hey, remember when you first came in here?' and bust his chops a little bit, but he's doing a really good job and he does a good job for us. He's working his defensive snaps and he helps us on the scout team, so he's doing a really good job on both ends. That's the thing that no one ever writes about, because it's not going to sell papers or get hits, is what the job of those scout team guys do for not just our team, but for every team. These guys come in and they've got to give us a good look. A lot of times part of the reason why you are so successful is because of the way those guys work and the look that they give, and we're fortunate to have a bunch of guys that work really hard."

(On if he suggested that Smoot should go back to eating meat) "Let me tell you something. I'm a meat guy. I'm still trying to figure out those [Impossible Burger from Burger King] commercials. Like, it's not meat, it is meat. I'm like, 'I don't know.' I'm so confused. I like that stuff. I was just looking at the New York Times, just put a bad review on Peter Luger Steakhouse, that was a little disappointing. I like to make my own steaks, though."

(On if he got an earful from his father in law about the pitch play against the Jets, if the pitch play is still in the playbook and if Leonard Fournette is getting frustrated with his lack of touchdowns) "Yes, [I got an earful]. It was bad for him, bad from my wife. I told my story. We are a product of everything. The story is that in 2001, I am at the University of Tennessee and we had beaten Alabama six times. We go to Alabama and we are playing there. It is the cigar game, so it is a big game. We go in there, we are on the goal line and we run it three straight times – plays that I like and put in and we get stuffed. I did not do a very good job of that. Another play that was in the game plan, which I had not put in was a toss play. It goes to Cedric Stephens, a kid we had from Clarksville. A good kid, a great player. From what I remember it was a fourth down and we are like, 'We are going to go for it, and we are going to call a pitch.' I knew I did not like the play, but I did not want to say anything because my other three plays got rocked. We pitch the ball, he goes in there to the pylon for a touchdown and we beat them for the seventh straight win. I am one of those guys that I do not know everything and things can work and I appreciate what they do, so I keep an open mind to things. That is why I am not one of those guys [to say], 'We are never doing that.' But that one you might not see for a long time, at least until after I am done coaching. You might see [the pitch play], but not in that formation."

(On if Leonard Fournette is frustrated about not scoring) "I talked to Leonard the other day. We were talking about things, and he is in a good place. I think it is just one of those things where you look at the articles of how many carries and what he should have and what it should equal to and things of that nature. He wants to help, he wants to produce, and he wants to win games. If you give him the ball on the 1-yard line and we are not scoring, it is a lot of people that are responsible for that. There are a lot of people that take a lot of pride in it and there is no doubt that we have to do a better job."

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