Jaguars' Jalen Ramsey on Doug Marrone's future: 'I ain't worried about nobody but myself'
The Jacksonville Jaguars started so promisingly in 2018, but after a 3-1 start, they’ve lost nine of their last ten games. And while everyone on the team shoulders some responsibility for that, a lot of the blame will fall on coach Doug Marrone. His job is definitely on the line, but not everyone is concerned about him. Well, at least Jalen Ramsey isn’t.
Jalen Ramsey’s only worried about what he can control
After Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Washington Redskins, it was clearer than ever that big changes are needed in Jacksonville. And those big changes usually start with the coach. But cornerback Jalen Ramsey isn’t too concerned with Marrone’s future. When he was asked about it after the game, Ramsey (who is known for his big talk) put it all out there.
Asked if he is worried about coach Doug Marrone's job security, #Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey said: “I ain’t worried about nobody but myself.”
— Phillip Heilman (@phillip_heilman) December 16, 2018
That might seem cold, but Ramsey’s earned it. The team has been circling the drain but he hasn’t slowed down. He’s got 57 tackles and three interceptions on the year. But after he made those comments about Marrone, he seemingly realized how they’d be taken, and clarified on Twitter.
Why worry about something you have zero control over and I don’t care are two different sayings & meanings! Y’all are sad forreal. God bless
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) December 17, 2018
Doug Marrone’s not sure about his future
Jalen Ramsey may not be worried about Marrone’s future, but Marrone himself has no idea what it might hold. After Sunday’s game, he was asked whether he thinks there’s still a chance to convince the Jags front office that he should coach another season. Here’s what he said, via NFL.com:
“I don’t know,” he said. “That’s not a question for me. I’m just going to keep coaching as hard as I can. I don’t make those decisions.”
You could argue that Marrone might deserve another chance. This is only his second season coaching the Jags, and last year he took the team to the AFC championship game. Things have majorly fallen apart in Jacksonville this season, though. Quarterback Blake Bortles was benched less than a year after signing a three-year, $54 million contract. Marrone has tried other options at QB, but the offense has remained ineffective. And the defense hasn’t been much better. Marrone might deserve a chance to try and improve the team in 2019, but no one knows if he’ll get it.
‘Tis the season
It’s definitely “every man for himself” season in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also had a great start followed by a sharp, disappointing drop-off. The Bucs started 2-0 and then went 3-9 in their next 12 games. With the fizzling of FitzMagic and QB Jameis Winston’s continued ineffectiveness, it looks like it might be the end of the line for coach Dirk Koetter.
Tackle Demar Dotson had some thoughts on that after the Buccaneers’ 20-12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. And those thoughts sounded very much like Ramsey’s. Via the Tampa Bay Times:
“It’s every man for himself at this moment. I’m not going to worry about saving Dirk’s job, I’m worried about saving my own. So that’s the way I look at it.”
It’s that time of year. Changes are coming to some of the NFL’s worst teams. It’s just a matter of when.
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