Doug Marrone Favored to Remain Jaguars Head Coach in 2019

• Sportsbooks’ odds favor Doug Marrone returning to Jaguars
• Jacksonville a disappointing 4-10 after AFC Championship appearance last year
• Is this a coach problem, or a Blake Bortles problem?

It’s safe to say the Jacksonville Jaguars are a mess.

Just a year removed from the AFC title game, Jacksonville needs a telescope to see the playoff picture. They’ve dropped nine of their last 10, an ugly 4-10 mark that has everyone on guard for what’s about to happen next.

Telvin Smith on Doug Marrone’s future with #Jaguars: “Man, I’m worrried about everyone here”

— Tyler Devitte (@TylerDevitte) December 16, 2018

But of all the changes we’re likely to see, sportsbooks don’t see the head coach being one of them.

In fact, despite rumblings Marrone was toast as recently as the end of November, and rumours of front office exec Tom Coughlin returning to walk the sidelines, they expect Doug Marrone to be back in 2019, leading the Jags again.

Think it’s unusual? You should. This is a unique situation that we’re going to get to. For now, the odds.

Odds Doug Marrone is Head Coach of Jaguars in 2019

Odds taken 12/20.

Blake Bortles, Not Marrone the Issue for Jaguars

Perhaps the single most damaging thing to happen to Jacksonville this year is that Blake Bortles reverted back to the pumpkin he’s always been.

Blake Bortles keeps changing week to week. He picked a bad week to play poorly.

Throws a pick-six to #Chiefs DL Chris Jonespic.twitter.com/AGMtg1jWua

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 7, 2018

In 11 games as the starter, he was 3-8, completing 60.4% of his passes for 2,572 yards, with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

While he had his highs – including a 376-yard, 4 TD game in a win over the Patriots – this season has been dotted with low after low.

The Blake Bortles INT by Jenkinspic.twitter.com/apRvAx1Wcd

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 9, 2018

In six games, Bortles threw for under 180 yards, as it became increasingly clear that the guy who starred for the Jags in last year’s playoffs was an outlier from the high-risk, low-reward turnover machine that couldn’t read and react to make the right play in time for his team.

This is the Bortles we’d come to know and bet against over his previous four years in the NFL. And the one that’s been benched for the remainder of this season after Week 12.

This is it. The worst play of the #Jaguars game against the #Steelers.

Blake Bortles stared down the easiest read he had all day with NO pressure at all. Up 10, about in FG range, 11:56 left in the game.

He ignores it, and takes an 8 yard sack. Jags punt two plays later. pic.twitter.com/SKWymROgDZ

— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) November 19, 2018

Mercifully, it appears the Jaguars will finally move on from Bortles, but not without a stinging $16.5 million on the books in dead money for next year, the cost of business for signing him to a three-year, $54 million extension last year and realizing the relationship was irreparable.

What’s the Best Bet?

This one is tough, because the Jaguars front office should be held accountable for making an investment in a quarterback that no one was really pursuing, then not having a suitable plan B – or bringing anyone with any type of ability to challenge for the starter position – if the Bortles experiment went south.

Updated Jaguars QB Depth Chart:

1. Cody Kessler
2. This emoji: ?‍♂️
3. Someone from the stadium pool
…
42. Mark Brunell
…
154. Mark Brunell’s daughter
…
376. A picture of Byron Leftwich
…
722. Tom Coughlin
…
963. A Colin Kaepernick Jersey
964. Blake Bortles

— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) November 26, 2018

Last year, Marrone was able to construct a passable, mistake-free QB offense to go along with a devastating defense for one of the most successful years in franchise history, and easily the best one in the 2000s.

This year, as the defense regressed to above average and Bortles imploded, Marrone had no moves to turn this thing around. His coaching ability lies somewhere in that coaster.

Earlier this week, #Jaguars Coach Doug Marrone was asked if he feels as if he is coaching for his job — “Every day. Same as last year,” he said. On Sunday, in my opinion, Marrone will be coaching to save his job.https://t.co/PyB9iMuiK0

— John Reid (@JohnReid64) December 16, 2018

I would wager ‘yes’ but he’s going to get a small sample to prove what he can. That’s a start.

Success is going to be necessary, or those Coughlin rumblings might again rear their head early in 2019 – and this time come to fruition.