JACKSONVILLE – Doug Marrone has been clear on the issue and remains so.
The Jaguars' head coach very much likes veteran quarterbacks, and he wanted one in the meeting room with Gardner Minshew II. The Jaguars on Friday morning agreed to terms to sign one in veteran quarterback Mike Glennon.
"For me, there's a comfort level from having a veteran presence in that room," Marrone said.
Marrone, speaking on a video conference with local media Friday, discussed multiple topics – including the Jaguars' virtual rookie minicamp, which began Friday because COVID-19 regulations are preventing NFL teams from holding offseason events at team facility.
He also discussed the acquisition of Glennon, an eight-year veteran from North Carolina State who has spent seven NFL seasons with four teams: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2013-2016), Chicago Bears (2017), Arizona Cardinals (2018) and Oakland Raiders (2019).
"Having studied Mike quite a bit when he was coming out of N.C. State, and having a good background with him, I really feel he's going to help out football team in a lot of different ways," Marrone said, adding that Glennon will: "Bring experience to the room, go out on the field and compete.
"I'm happy with that. I wasn't trying to hide anything. I was trying to make sure that if we didn't do something early in the draft that we were going to get some of veteran presence in there."
Marrone said Glennon had familiarity with the Jaguars' offensive approach under Gruden from playing last season with Oakland. Gruden's brother, Jon, is the Raiders' head coach.
"There are things that are different, but the philosophy is pretty much the same," Marrone said. "I pretty much relied on all the work we did on him coming out and how this guy was going to be able to fit into what we wanted to do and fit into the locker room and quarterback room. I was just looking to be sure we got the best guy for our team."
Glennon joins a position group that includes Minshew, who went 6-6 as a starter as a rookie last season. Josh Dobbs, last year's third-team quarterback, is a fourth-year veteran who has yet to take an NFL regular-season snap. The Jaguars selected Jake Luton from Washington State in Round 6 of last month's 2020 NFL Draft.
Marrone said he feels comfortable with how the players will work with new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo – both of whom are former NFL head coaches with extensive offensive coordinator experience.
"But I always think there's part of learning outside of coaches, from people that are around you," Marrone said.
Marrone was asked how Minshew, who began last season as a backup to since-traded veteran Nick Foles, will handle increased expectations in 2020.
"I don't know," Marrone said of Minshew. "That's really a question for him. I'm just expecting to get his best. He's been in so many tough, adverse situations on his path and journey to the NFL. I'm assuming he'll rely on a lot of that.
"He's done a good job since he has been here of developing a relationship with the players. Everyone else has to be in tune to that, too. It will be interesting how that cultivates, especially at a time when it's difficult to build that chemistry at a time when everything right now is virtual."
