Jaguars HC Doug Marrone complimentary of team's waiver wire additions

Jacksonville signed four players off of the waiver wire over the weekend, and on Monday head coach Doug Marrone gave his thoughts on each player.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were awarded four players off the waiver wire over the weekend, adding players to their offensive and special teams units. Each player the team was awarded ultimately has the potential to carve out a role over the next 16 games due to lack of depth at running back, tight end and returner.

As Jaguars head Coach Doug Marrone does his best to prepare his new players with the regular season at his doorstep, he spoke Monday about what he sees in each player and why the team thinks they can contribute.

Running back Devine Ozigbo:

“Obviously, when we looked at him we like what we saw. He’s a big, tough runner. He had a really good preseason. A lot of other people were trying to get in on him, claim him, so we were fortunate to be able to get him here,” Marrone said.

The Jaguars head coach was complimentary of his team’s new rookie running back, noting that while the team felt comfortable with Leonard Fournette and Ryquell Armstead, it wanted to add another new face to the unit.

Marrone’s comment on Ozigbo’s popularity on the waiver wire held true as Field Yates of ESPN reported Monday that two other teams attempted to add Ozigbo to their squads.

Another coveted player on waivers over the weekend: RB Devine Ozigbo. The Browns and Lions also tried to claim the new Jaguars RB, per source. He had a nice preseason with the Saints.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 2, 2019

Tight end Seth DeValve:

“In 2017, you look at the film. He really had a hell of a year. He was third in receptions that year, really did a good job. I know there were some coaches up there [in Cleveland] that were probably trying to keep him,” Marrone said.

It was no surprise to see the Jaguars add a tight end in the mold DeValve because they lacked a dynamic pass-catcher outside of injured rookie tight end Josh Oliver. DeValve is a prototype move tight end who is much more of an explosive option than released tight end Ben Koyack was, and Marrone said as much himself.

“Good football player. We thought it was an upgrade for us. It’s a guy that gives us a little bit more speed, plays a little bit more [special] teams. We think he’ll be able to contribute more.”

Running back/returner Tyler Ervin:

“I like him. I like the return ability. I like the speed. I like the changeup when we’re putting him in the backfield. I think you can do a lot of things with him because he has that speed,” Marrone said.

Reading between the lines, Ervin will at least be given an opportunity to see what he can do as a returner. Ervin is also a completely different type of player from Fournette, Armstead and Ozigbo, so there is a chance he may be included in certain packages and situations.

“I think that’s something that can help us and I think that can help us on teams, not just as a returner, but at a lot of different positions,” Marrone said about Ervin’s speed.

Long snapper Matt Orzech:

“With Matt [Orzech], we were in Baltimore. We felt good and just felt like we could get…we liked him. We thought he could come in and help, thought he could help us from a protection standpoint,” Marrone said.

The Jaguars spent a few days in joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this preseason, and Marrone and the Jaguars brass must’ve really liked what they saw in person. Some were surprised by the release of long snapper Matt Overton, But Marrone made it clear the team thinks Orzech will be an upgrade.

“We made a decision to go with him. We saw him in Baltimore, we played against him. We were tracking him, watching him, and at the end of the day we just felt that he was better.”