/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54757865/607571362.0.jpg)
The Jacksonville Jaguars took a lot of punishment last season. This year, new head coach Doug Marrone isn’t hearing any of it — and veteran defensive tackle Malik Jackson is right with him.
In an interview with John Oehser, Jackson talked about having a new head coach in Marrone and how the mood has changed in the locker room.
"Marrone's not taking any BS, and I think that's the way it should be," Jackson said. "He's handling this with an iron fist, and guys are conforming, enjoying the time and understanding that we need to win some games ... Going 3-13 is not acceptable.”
When asked about coming from a Super Bowl-winning culture with the Denver Broncos to here, Jackson was candid and didn’t hold back.
“Last year was a really disappointing year, and it made me reflect on myself: ‘Had I done everything I could to make this team better?’” Jackson said. “The answer was no, so this year is a year to really take that seriously and do what I need to do.”
After his first season with the Jaguars, Jackson looks like a bargain. He ended the season with a career high in sacks, 6.5, and was a big reason rookie defensive end Yannick Ngakoue broke the Jaguars rookie sack record with 8 sacks on the season. Jackson was consistently a disruptive force in the opposing team’s backfield for the Jaguars and it doesn’t appear like he’s going to be slowing down, as he got better as the season rolled on.
You can read all of Oehser’s interview with Jackson here on the official team site.