JACKSONVILLE – There's no normal around Jacksonville this week.
Doug Marrone knows that's true for the city and the Jaguars, so the Jaguars' head coach said he will take the same approach this week as he did entering last week's regular-season opener.
He won't try to make normal from an abnormal situation.
And he'll try to have the Jaguars' prepare as best as possible in circumstances that remain stressful and anything but usual.
"I think when things are going on around you, it's hard to say if things are going to be normal," Marrone said Wednesday as the Jaguars (1-0) prepared to play the Tennessee Titans (0-1) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Jaguars remained in Houston through Tuesday following Sunday's 29-7 victory over the Texans because of the ongoing effects of Hurricane Irma. NFL teams normally return home immediately following road games.
"The first priority was to make sure to take care of the players, to make sure everything was safe," Marrone said. "Yesterday [Tuesday], when we came in town, we told players if there were any issues to make sure they made us aware – no matter what it may have been."
The Jaguars returned to practice Wednesday, the normal first game-planning and practice day of the week's opponent.
"We understand things are going on around us," Marrone said. "We understand we have a job to do. I wouldn't call anything normal. People are trying to rebuild and we will rebuild. I can't short what's going on on the outside. …
"You talk about and we understand we have to practice. We focus on what we have to do in the moment."
Marrone said the Jaguars blocked hotel rooms for players if the effects of Irma made them necessary. He said one coach used that option.
"We just basically tried to make sure we're supporting them in any way we can, and make sure they had everything they needed," Marrone said.
Marrone said throughout last week as Irma approached and the team traveled to Houston that he saw no point in trying to pretend the situation wouldn't be a distraction.
"I don't try to ignore the things that are going on on the outside," Marrone said. "We address it and think about the people who don't have power, the first responders, and we also think about the rest of the state. A lot of us are very fortunate, obviously, so we think about the rest of those people."
Jaguars President Mark Lamping and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry announced on Tuesday that Sunday's game will be played in Jacksonville.
Also Wednesday:
*Cornerback Jalen Ramsey (ankle) was the only player listed as not expected to practice on the Jaguars' pre-practice Wednesday injury report. Running back T.J. Yeldon (hamstring) and quarterback Blake Bortles (right wrist) were listed as being expected to practice. …
*Marrone discussed defensive end Calais Campbell being named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 1. Campbell, who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in March, registered a career-high and franchise-record four sacks with five quarterback hurries in a 29-7 victory over Houston this past Sunday. "Calais would be the first to tell you he doesn't get all of those sacks unless the coverage aspect is there," Marrone said. "What we're trying to get the team to understand is we play as one. That's what I saw on Sunday." …
*Marrone on Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau: "I've always thought he's been the toughest coordinator to go against when it comes to a standpoint of protection. He does an outstanding job with his packages. I've always thought he was one of the top defensive coordinators in the league." LeBeau, in his 28th season as an NFL defensive coordinator, is in his third season in the position in Tennessee. He was the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator from 1984-1991 and 1997-2000 and the Pittsburgh Steelers' coordinator from 1995-1996 and 2004-2014.
