JACKSONVILLE – Doug Marrone's not quitting.
Not on the Jaguars.
Not on the season.
Not on himself.
And while the Jaguars' head coach knows about the team's record through seven games, and while he figures people may not understand his approach, know this:
He doesn't care.
"I'm not going to B.S. anyone: I'm kind of fired up," Marrone said Tuesday morning.
Marrone, during his only scheduled media availability of the 2020 bye week, talked about multiple topics during the 20-minute session. He detailed how COVID-19 protocols will affect the team's schedule this week and he talked about possible changes in personnel or scheme. He also said he has spoken to Owner Shad Khan this week, adding that it's routine for the two to speak weekly during the season.
"We've talked every week," Marrone said. "We communicate each week. Each week, there are a lot of things we go through – what's going on, what are we doing moving forward … a lot of those conversations.
"It's not like there's no communication. We'll talk this week just like we normally do. We communicated [Monday]. We'll talk again on Wednesday. This has been what's going on since I've been here."
Mostly on Tuesday, Marrone emphasized that the Jaguars' 1-6 start – and the current six-game losing streak – hasn't diminished his motivation.
"I know you guys are probably saying, 'What the hell is going on? How can this guy be fired up? They just lost six in a row,'" Marrone said. "I understand that. I totally do. But I'm going to bust my ass, man – I'm telling you."
Marrone, in his fourth full season as the Jaguars' head coach, took an aggressive approach in a 39-29 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday. The Jaguars went for two points following three of their four touchdowns and attempted four fourth-down conversion, with two of those attempts coming as the Jaguars rallied from a 16-0 deficit to take a 29-22 lead late in the third quarter.
Marrone on Tuesday said he will think "outside the box" when considering the team's approach after the bye.
"I'm going to look at some things," Marrone said. "I want to challenge these coaches and challenge these players. I'm going to do whatever I can to get the best out of this team and the best out of these players. I'm sure people are going to mock me for that or say whatever the hell they want, but I really don't give a ----. I'm fired up. I'm going to go after it.
"However it falls, it falls. It's open for me. I've done crazy stuff before."
Marrone referred to his final season as a head coach at Syracuse when the staff changed the offense in the final week before the 2012 season – his final season as the program's head coach. The Orangemen finished 8-5 that season and tied for first in the Big East Conference.
"We just went in a whole different direction and it worked out," Marrone said. "I'm kind of fired up, man. Let's go."
Marrone cautioned that timing will limit the extent of changes.
"At the end of the day, the dramatic changes that maybe people might be looking at on the outside … you're talking about basically you're going to have one practice and you're going to be getting ready for a game plan," Marrone said. "If you're sitting there and people are saying that you want all these dramatic-type changes going through and everything … that's not possible.
"But that doesn't mean we can't make changes and adjustments and win football games, and that's what we're going to do."
