Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone: ‘I’ve been criticized even within the organization’

During the 2018 NFL season the Jaguars suffered from multiple injuries, both long-term and short-term widely thought due to how the team conducted training camp in previous seasons.

Due to the high-volume of injuries, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone softened training camp in an attempt to lessen injuries. During the preseason the first-team offense and defense played very few snaps. Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles, for example played only 19 snaps during the preseason — preseason week three against the Miami Dolphins.

Over the past three weeks the Jaguars have lost by an average of 22 points and have allowed over 600 rushing yards. Much of which has brought toughness and preparedness into question. Marrone understands the questions he may receive regarding how well the team prepared over the offseason from not only members of the media or fans, but it has occurred even within the organization itself.

“I’ve been criticized even within the organization of how the team was, and how I trained the team,” Marrone said today when asked about criticisms for the way he prepared the team this summer. “But I go back to I make decisions based on obviously things that have happened. Last year, with the injuries and everything we had, I went out and researched a bunch of other teams and what they do.”

While Marrone admitted saying members within the organization were critical of decisions he has made was odd, he added “I’m sure it’s not the first time it’s ever happened to anyone in my position.” Many coaches have been publicly or privately criticized for a decision they’ve made throughout the NFL. It is nothing new, however admitting it as a head coach has rarely occured.

Even through criticism, Marrone says he does not have any regrets of how he conducted training camp or preparation coming into the season. “Right now, my moment is not to look back and say, ‘I should have done this or should have done that.’ Right now, I look at it as ‘Hey, what’s the best job I can do now?”

The Jaguars have five games remaining in their season and they’ll have to continue to work through their past decisions and move forward. The Jaguars’ first test will come against the Tampa Bay Bucanneers. Their preparation this week will likely be criticized within or outside of the organization once again if they continue to play at such a low standard.