Article by Dan Tortora
The Doug Marrone era in Jacksonville looks to be close to the end of its road.
After going 10-6 in his first official season as head coach of the Jaguars, which was 2017-18, it has gone from bad to worse for the Jaguars under Marrone. Jacksonville went 5-11 in the 2018-19 season and are currently 4-9 this season with three games yet to be played.
Watching the way this team is trending downward makes it hard to believe that they were less than a touchdown away of advancing to the Super Bowl just a couple seasons ago, back when they went to the belly of the beast to visit the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Massachusetts in the AFC Championship.
Not all of this, however, can be on Marrone, such as linebacker Telvin Smith announcing on social media that he would not be playing this season, cornerback Jalen Ramsey's constant cries for attention, and quarterback Nick Foles not even coming close to being worth the $88 million contract that the Jaguars decided to give him.
But, Marrone is the head coach.
He is responsible for the overall operation of this team week to week.
Marrone oversees the offensive and defensive schemes. He implements the game plan, runs practices, and monitors the individual and collective growth or regression.
The onus is on him.
As we get further and further from that 10-6 campaign, the Jaguars seem to be losing all semblance of the strength and vigor they had not so long ago.
Jacksonville began this season on a two-game losing streak and have not strung together more than two consecutive wins all season.
They are currently on a five-game losing streak, with the last time they were on the right side of the win-loss column coming back on October 27th, a Week 8 home victory over the visiting New York Jets, 29-15. Their most recent loss came at home at TIAA Bank Field on December 8th to the Los Angeles Chargers, 45-10. Jacksonville has a 2-4 record at home this season.
Going back-to-back seasons without a playoff berth since that AFC Championship run is not the direction owner Shad Khan and company were looking for.
A taste of success has not turned into eating at the big table.
That was all it was, a taste.
And it would be difficult to see this organization rest on the scraps of a season well-gone-by with a coach that has nothing to show on his hook for today's meal.
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