JACKSONVILLE – Doug Marrone has no doubt Tyrod Taylor is an issue this week.
If he did have a doubt, it went away Tuesday.
When a reporter on Wednesday asked the Jaguars' head coach about the issues that Taylor – the Buffalo Bills' starting quarterback – presents with his mobility and elusiveness, Marrone laughed.
"What's funny about that: Last night my wife called me and asked me the same question," Marrone said Wednesday as the AFC South Champion Jaguars (10-6) prepared to play the Bills (9-7) in an AFC Wild Card playoff at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.
"I'm telling you the truth. She's like, 'This guy, he's dangerous.' I'm like, 'Yeah.'''
Taylor, a seven-year veteran, started 14 games for the Bills this season, completing 62.6 percent of his passes for 2,799 yards and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions. He also rushed for 427 yards and four touchdowns with a 5.1 yards per carry average.
The Jaguars struggled at times this past Sunday to contain Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, who rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries in a 15-10 Titans victory in Nashville, Tennessee. Mariota helped clinch the victory with a 13-yard fourth-quarter scramble.
"He's done a lot of things that have given us problems," Marrone said of Taylor. "When plays get extended, or the quarterback runs, it's been a challenge for us."
Marrone said Taylor's strengths extend beyond his legs.
"A lot of people in my opinion don't give him enough credit," Marrone said. "He's done a very good job with the football. He throws an outstanding deep ball. He's very good at intermediate routes, throwing that ball.
"Because he's such a great athlete, because he can escape, a lot of things that are written are about those aspects of it. They are unique and rare, and we understand that. But we're not losing sight of how good he is with the football and how well he has thrown the football."
Also Wednesday:
*Left tackle Cam Robinson (abdomen) and defensive tackle Abry Jones (back) were expected to practice Wednesday, according to the Jaguars' pre-practice injury report. Both players missed their first starts of the season this past Sunday in the regular-season finale at Tennessee. …
*Wide receiver Marqise Lee (ankle), tight end Marcedes Lewis (ankle) and linebacker Donald Payne (quadriceps) were the Jaguars players not expected to practice Wednesday. On the pre-practice injury report and expected to practice were quarterback Blake Bortles (right wrist), linebacker Lerentee McCray (knee), Robinson, Jones and wide receiver Allen Hurns (ankle). …
*Marrone said expects Hurns' ankle to be better this week than last week. The veteran receiver caught three passes for 38 yards against Tennessee in his first game after missing six weeks with ankle injury. "Allen has played a lot of football and has been very productive," Marrone said. "We're obviously excited about having him back." …
*Marrone said the Jaguars are preparing as if Bills running back LeSean McCoy will play. The six-time Pro Bowl selection sustained an ankle injury last Sunday against Miami and is considered day-to-day with the injury this week. "We're going to prepare like he's playing," Marrone said. "You have to be ready for their best and prepare for it." Marrone added of McCoy, "He's a guy who can change the field, break tackles, take it to the house. He's excellent coming out of the backfield receiving. He's a Pro Bowl runner. He has all the ingredients and he's very, very dangerous on the field." …
*The Bills rank 26th in the NFL in total defense, but allowed 16 or fewer points in four of the last six games. They finished tied for ninth in the NFL with 25 takeaways and finished with a plus-9 giveaway/takeaway ratio. "It's one of those things, like we always talk about – not being able to turn the ball over," Marrone said. "When we haven't turned the ball over, we've been able to play well." The Jaguars committed seven turnovers in two losses – to San Francisco and Tennessee – to end the regular season. …
