Jaguars Sign LB Marcus Rush Off 49ers’ PS
The Jaguars have signed linebacker Marcus Rush off the 49ers’ practice squad and placed offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi on injured reserve, the club announced today.
[RELATED: Jaguars Interested In Tom Coughlin As Executive]
Rush, 25, went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2015 and had spent the past two years on San Francisco’s taxi squad. He starred during the 2016 preseason, leading the NFL with six sacks during exhibition season. But that performance wasn’t enough for Rush to land a spot on the 49ers’ active roster, and (somewhat surprisingly), Rush didn’t earn a promotion this week even after San Francisco cleared roster space by placing several players on IR.
Poutasi, meanwhile, was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2015 draft, but the new Tennessee regime waived him after only a single season. The 22-year-old spent the majority of the 2016 campaign on Jacksonville’s practice squad, but did end up starting one game after being promoted in mid-November.
Jaguars Interested In Tom Coughlin As Exec
Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell told reporters yesterday that his club would consider veteran NFL coach Tom Coughlin for its head coaching vacancy, but even if Coughlin isn’t selected to lead the team on the field, he could still join the franchise in another capacity. Jacksonville is interested in adding Coughlin to its front office if he doesn’t become the club’s head coach, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), who adds that Coughlin could take the title of VP of football operations.
[RELATED: Jaguars Interested In Kyle Shanahan]
While Coughlin doesn’t have any formal NFL experience as an executive, he essentially acted as the Jaguars’ general manager during his head coaching run with the team from 1995-2002. Wayne Weaver, Jacksonville’s owner at the time, never officially hired a GM, meaning that Coughlin was the club’s de facto personnel chief, so he’s exerted control over a roster in the past.
Of course, if Coughlin was hired to the Jaguars’ front office, he could pose a threat to Caldwell’s status, and though there haven’t been any rumors that would indicate that Caldwell could follow departed head coach Gus Bradley out the door, it’s fair to wonder if he and Coughlin could co-exist. Owner Shad Kahn, in fact, indicated that Caldwell would be an integral part of Jacksonville’s search for its next head coach.
2017 NFL Draft Order Through Week 15
With just two weeks to go, the NFL playoff picture is starting to get clearer. The Cowboys, Seahawks, Patriots, and Raiders have already punched their playoff tickets while the Chiefs, Steelers, Falcons, and Giants are considered near locks by the forecasts at Five Thirty Eight.
Here’s a look at where the draft order stands for the teams not currently slated to make the cut (Note: Ties are broken by strength of schedule):
1. Browns 0-14
2. 49ers 1-13
3. Jaguars 2-12
4. Bears 3-11
5. Jets 4-10
6. Rams (pick belongs to Titans) 4-10
7. Eagles (pick belongs to Browns) 5-9
8. Chargers 5-9
9. Cardinals 5-8-1
10. Bengals 5-8-1
11. Panthers 6-8
12. Saints 6-8
13. Bills 7-7
14. Colts 7-7
15. Vikings (pick belongs to Eagles) 7-7
16. Redskins 7-6-1
17. Titans 8-6
17. Ravens 8-6 (Note: The Titans and Ravens are currently knotted up in terms of both record and strength of schedule. In all statistical likelihood, the SOS logjam will be broken by the end of the season.)
19. Texans 8-6
20. Buccaneers 8-6
Rams, Jaguars Interested In Kyle Shanahan
Two clubs — the Rams and the Jaguars — have already fired their head coaches, and both teams are interested in Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). If Shanahan does land a head coaching job this offseason, Shanahan could aim to team with his father, former NFL head coach Mike Shanahan, placing the elder in a football operations role.
[RELATED: Rams Focusing On Jon Gruden]
Kyle Shanahan, 37, has experienced success at nearly every stop during his career, a path that has included time with the Texans, Redskins, Browns, and most recently, the Falcons. He’s already worked with his father in Washington, when the pair helped turn rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III into the Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the club into the playoffs. This year, his second in Atlanta, Kyle has guided quarterback Matt Ryan to the best season of his career, while the Falcons offense ranks first in the NFL in DVOA.
Shanahan has interviewed for a head coaching vacancy once before, as he met with the Bills in 2015 before Buffalo hired Rex Ryan. Additionally, the Shanahans have been viewed as a package deal in the past, as several clubs were considering the pair during the 2015 offseason. In that scenario, Mike Shanahan would have become a club’s head coach, while Kyle would have taken on offensive play-calling duties.
Mike Shanahan, meanwhile, has been linked to the 49ers in recent weeks, although subsequent reports have downplayed any chance of Shanahan landing in the Bay Area. Shanahan, 64, interviewed for the 49ers’ head coaching vacancy in each of the past two seasons, and was thought to have finished second to Chip Kelly for the job earlier this year. Shanahan has never worked in a front office capacity, but he has exerted personnel control over his rosters as a head coach in his previous stops.
Jags GM: HC Won’t Have To Start Blake Bortles
Addressing the media today following the firing of head coach Gus Bradley, Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell indicated that the club’s next coach won’t be forced to start quarterback Blake Bortles.
[RELATED: Jaguars To Consider Tom Coughlin]
“There won’t be any mandates for anybody who comes in,” Caldwell said. “There are no untouchables for anybody in this organization, including myself. Regardless of how people got here, they have to live up to their abilities. I do still believe in Blake very much, but the head coach will have a lot of input as to who the quarterback will be.
“I want the right perspective,” Caldwell added. “We hold him [Bortles] in high regard of what we think his capabilities are. I still believe he has a very high ceiling, but I want to be realistic about it, too. I think a new head coach can bring a different perspective as to what he believes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s somewhere in the middle.”
Bortles, 24, has regressed in his third NFL season, as he’s completed less than 58% of his passes for 3,279 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. The 2014 first-round pick ranks 30th in yards per attempt, 29th in passer rating, 21st in DYAR, and 24th in DVOA, while Pro Football Focus has graded Bortles as just the No. 28 quarterback this year. Jacksonville’s entire offense has stagnated thanks to Bortles’ play, and offensive coordinator Greg Olson was handed his walking papers earlier this season.
Whether or not Bortles can be the Jaguars’ franchise quarterback is an open question, but the team has a critical financial question — Bortles’ 2018 fifth-year option — on the horizon. Jacksonville will need to decide whether to exercise Bortles’ option, which should be worth around $12MM, by May 2017. The option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Jags could pick up the option and later release Bortles (provided he hasn’t suffered a catastrophic injury) following the 2017 campaign.
Jaguars GM: Tom Coughlin Is HC Candidate
Will Tom Coughlin return to the sidelines as the Jaguars’ head coach? Today, GM Dave Caldwell told reporters that the former Giants head coach will be on the team’s candidate list as they look into candidates this offseason. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Name Doug Marrone Interim Head Coach]
Back in October, the 70-year-old strongly hinted that he wanted to coach again in the NFL. His 12-year run with the Giants didn’t end as he had hoped, but he did help guide the team to two Super Bowl victories as head coach. There aren’t many coaches left in the league with Coughlin’s hard-nosed disciplinary style, but the Jags may feel that their young team is in need of some tough love. Of course, before coming to New York, Coughlin had the distinction of being the Jaguars’ first ever head coach and held that position from 1995 all the way through the 2002 season.
The Jaguars, of course, canned coach Gus Bradley after Sunday’s loss, but Caldwell claims that Bradley would have been fired regardless of the game’s outcome. And, despite Blake Bortles‘ struggles, Caldwell says he still believes in him “very much,” though the next coach will have a lot of input as to who the quarterback will be. Doug Marrone, who has been appointed as the team’s interim head coach, will also be considered for the job.
Jaguars Name Doug Marrone Interim HC
The Jaguars announced that Doug Marrone will take over as head coach on an interim basis. Yesterday, the Jaguars canned Gus Bradley following a loss that knocked them down to 2-12. 
For the last two years, Marrone has been working under Bradley as the team’s offensive line coach and assistant head coach. He now has an opening back into the head coaching realm, a position he has not held since his bizarre departure from the Bills a few years ago.
After guiding the Bills to a 9-7 mark in 2014, Marrone opted out of his contract. Marrone’s agreement with the Bills allowed him to receive his full $4MM salary for 2015 even after leaving, so that likely played a role in his decision. Marrone expected to land another head coaching gig elsewhere that offseason, but the Falcons, Bears, Jets, and 49ers all passed after interviewing him. In January 2015, Marrone agreed to sign on with Jacksonville.
The Jaguars face the Titans on Saturday and finish the year against the Colts on Jan. 1. The Jags currently have the third-worst record in the NFL, putting them behind only the Browns and 49ers in this year’s draft order.
Jaguars Fire Gus Bradley
Today’s fourth quarter comeback by the Texans cost the Jaguars more than a win. It also cost head coach Gus Bradley his job. The Jaguars have announced that they’ve relieved Bradley of his duties as head coach. Owner Shad Khan released a statement on the team’s website:
“I thanked Gus Bradley today for his commitment to the Jacksonville Jaguars over the past four seasons. As anyone close to our team knows, Gus gave his staff and players literally everything he had. Our players competed for Gus and I know they have great respect for him, as do I.
Gus also represented the Jaguars, the Jacksonville community and the NFL in nothing less than a first-class manner as our head coach. That counts for a lot. It is unfortunately evident that we must make a change. I thought it would be best to do it immediately after today’s result so Gus can step away, relax and regroup with his family during the Christmas and holiday season.
Dave Caldwell agreed and will now be charged with exploring all options to hire the best head coach possible to lead what I feel is an extremely talented team and reward a very loyal and patient fan base in Jacksonville.”
Bradley was considered an excellent signing by the franchise following his success in Seattle from 2009 through 2012. Serving as the team’s defensive coordinator, Bradley’s defenses improved during each of his four seasons. During his final season in Seattle, his squad allowed only 15.3 points per game, which was the best mark in the NFL.
“He’s got a brilliant football mind,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said at the time (via ESPN.com). “He’s got a way of reaching people and touching people and getting the best out of them, coaches and players alike. He’s got everything that you’re looking for.”
Unfortunately, that “brilliant football mind” didn’t translate to wins on the field. In his three-plus seasons with the Jaguars, Bradley compiled a 14-48 record. His .226 winning percent is the second-lowest mark in league history. This will be the second major change on the Jaguars coaching staff this season, as the team fired offensive coordinator Greg Olson back in October.
Fortunately for the Jaguars, it appears that Bradley is the only casualty at this time. Based on Khan’s statement, it appears that general manager Dave Caldwell will retain his job. The team hasn’t won more than five games since Caldwell was hired in early 2013, but the team has had some success in the draft. Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, Aaron Colvin, Telvin Smith, Dante Fowler, Jalen Ramsey, and Myles Jack are among Caldwell’s selections.
ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets that Caldwell is planning on announcing an interim head coach during tomorrow’s press conference. Both Jason La Canfora and PFT’s Mike Florio point to offensive line coach Doug Marrone as a natural fill-in. Marrone led the Bills to a 15-17 record between the 2013 and 2014 season.
Julius Thomas Suffered Fractured Tailbone
- The injury that landed Jaguars TE Julius Thomas on IR was a fractured tailbone, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). The Jags could save $4.7MM against the cap if they were to cut Thomas, who has disappointed since Jacksonville made him the highest-paid tight end in the game last March.
Jaguars Interested In Josh McDaniels?
The Jaguars — and more specifically, Jacksonville general manager Dave Caldwell — are thought to have interest in Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, according to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. The Jaguars haven’t definitively signaled that they’ll fire incumbent head coach Gus Bradley, but with Jacksonville sitting at 2-11, the team seems likely to make a change once the season ends.
[RELATED: Jacksonville Jaguars Depth Chart]
McDaniels, of course, has already had one go-round as a head coach, as he led the Broncos from 2009-10. After beginning his Denver tenure with an 6-0 record, McDaniels proceeded to post a 5-17 record from there on out, losing the team amid reports of micromanagement. He was fired midway through the 2010 campaign, then spent a year with the Rams before returning to the Patriots.
Recent reports have indicated that McDaniels is likely to pursue head coaching vacancies this offseason, and McDaniels himself has stated he’d “love” to be a head coach again. However, some observers believe that McDaniels might stick in New England as a “coach-in-waiting” ready to take over when Bill Belichick retires. Either way, the Jaguars figure to have competition if they pursue McDaniels in the coming weeks, as he’s already been mentioned as a candidate for the Rams’ coaching vacancy.
Now 40, McDaniels was linked to the Titans and Dolphins vacancies last offseason, but never officially interviewed for either position.