Jack Del Rio Returns But His Quarterback, Coordinators Remain on Hot Seat

Filed under: Jaguars, AFC South

Jack Del Rio got another chance on Monday.

For his part, the Jacksonville Jaguars coach said Tuesday he not only plans to take advantage of that opportunity, but that he perhaps is more prepared than ever to do so.

Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver announced Monday that Del Rio would return for a ninth season, and on Tuesday, Del Rio said he knows not many coaches would have gotten the chance.

"I think it's rare to have a head coach rebuild a team twice," Del Rio said Tuesday, two days after the Jaguars' season ended with a three-game losing streak. "It was absolutely best thing for this franchise going forward."

Weaver said Monday he believed the team was making progress in the last two years under general manager Gene Smith, and that considering that, blowing up the coaching staff would have been insanity.

Weaver also told reporters after the press conference the team likely would have a new coach if it didn't qualify for the playoffs in 2011.

"I think I've made improvement as a head coach," Del Rio said.

Del Rio also Tuesday addressed the status of David Garrard as the team's starting quarterback. Weaver on Monday expressed support of Garrard and Del Rio said he still believes Garrard can continue developing.

"He has been a very good quarterback," Del Rio said. "He's not been elite, but I saw guys like Rich Gannon late in their career become elite. ... We're going to go back and demand even more."

Del Rio added of the quarterback position, "I think we've maybe not been aggressive enough bringing in talent at that position."

Also on Monday, Weaver announced that defensive coordinator Mel Tucker would assume play-calling duties on game-day. Tucker's contract expired after the season, and Del Rio said having Tucker call plays was a way of keeping Tucker on the staff.

"I went into the meeting yesterday with my own list of things to discuss and one of those was my desire to have Mel be here," Del Rio said. "He's groomed and ready for the opportunity to call our defense. Mel is a good football coach."

Weaver also said Monday that while Del Rio has two years remaining on his contract, assistants had not had their contracts rolled over. That means most assistant coaches will coach as lame ducks.

Del Rio said considering that, he would allow assistants to look for other jobs.

Del Rio also said while some of the draft selections early in his tenure -- selections made while James "Shack" Harris was the general manager -- are no longer with the team and perhaps set the franchise back, he doesn't distance himself from those decisions.

"I don't separate myself from Shack," Del Rio said. "I shared in some of those decisions about players that haven't panned out."

Del Rio said the offense and special teams were solid much of the season, and -- as Weaver said Monday -- improvement must be made defensively. He also said he understands the desire for improvement, and that it's a desire he shares.

 

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