If Doug Marrone, the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has his way, Blake Bortles will throw as little as possible during the season. In speaking with the media this week, Marrone, who will be in his first full season as the team’s leader, said he wants to get back to “old school” football. The idea of this team becoming a run-first offense could become more of a reality.
Per John Oehser of Jaguars.com, Marrone made his comments on Friday.
“Marrone, asked how many times a game quarterback Blake Bortles will ideally throw next season, said his answer was simple: “Zero.” He said he wasn’t joking about this, and he wasn’t smiling when he said it. “For me, I’d like to run the ball every play,” Marrone said. “I want to go back to the old way. I want to change the game.” Marrone added that he didn’t know a specific ideal number for Bortles’ passing attempts next season.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars have had a hard time establishing the run game since 2011. The team drafted Leonard Fournette with the fourth pick in the NFL back in April. Bortles had a subpar season last year and will start with a new scheme in place. All of these factors play right into the notion of changing the team’s philosophy. Running the football means less chance of Bortles having to read and react and make the wrong call.
Does this mean the Jacksonville Jaguars want Blake Bortles to become a game manager? That’s to be determined. I envision him more of an Alex Smith-type player this season than some like Ben Roethlisberger – a quarterback who can take chances and get away with mistakes.
Per blackandteal.com, since the 2013 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars ran a west coast offense under Gus Bradley. The result was not good. Consequently, the Jaguars’ offense ranked twenty-third in total offense last season. In 2015, when Bortles had a monster season, the team ranked 10th in total offensive in the NFL. The idea of moving to a more defined running game is also something executive vice president Tom Coughlin used effectively in New York while coaching the Giants.