Jaguars Leaning Toward Mularkey

Added on Jan 10, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t just want anyone to be their new head coach. They are looking for someone who knows a thing or two about offense. Enter Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who is scheduled to interview for the vacancy today. And if all goes well, the Jags are expected to offer him a contract to become the franchise’s third head coach.

Mularkey has served as the Falcons playcaller for the last four seasons. His offensive units have ranked in the Top 10 in three of those four years and he is credited for helping develop quarterback Matt Ryan into one the league’s better passers.

Mularkey gained a solid reputation for his creative offensive schemes while calling the plays in Pittsburgh from 2001-2003, earning the moniker “Inspector Gadget.” He parlayed that into a head coaching job with Buffalo during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, going 14-18 before stepping down due to a disagreement with management.

He certainly fits the description of what Jacksonville needs. The team has ranked no higher than 18th in points scored since 2008. The lack of playmakers at wide receiver and instability under center has placed an inordinate amount of pressure on running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who won the 2011 rushing title with a career best 1606 yards.

While fellow rookies Cam Newton and Andy Dalton posted impressive numbers, Blaine Gabbert struggled to adapt to the professional game. In 14 starts, he completed 50.8% of his passes for 2214 yards, 12 touchdowns and eleven interceptions.

No receiver totaled more than 45 catches or 500 yards and Pro Bowl tight end Marcedes Lewis regressed from ten touchdowns in 2010 to zero in 2011. Either Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon or Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd should be a target in the April draft.

The Jaguars are also hoping to retain defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, who took over on an interim basis after Jack Del Rio was fired in November. Should Mularkey be hired, he reportedly said he would keep Tucker on staff. The Vikings have expressed interest in Tucker to fill their open defensive coordinator position.

Source: NFL.com