1. Marrone is (not surprisingly) impressed with Leonard Fournette.Â
The rookie running back from LSU is sixth in the NFL with 596 yards this season despite missing last weekâs game with an ankle injury.
âHeâs done an outstanding job transitioning from the college game to the NFL game,â Marrone said. âHeâs shown really good versatility.â
RELATED:Â A.J. McCarron speaks after botched Bengals-Browns trade
The coach called Fournette a three-down back and noted he has done a nice job catching the ball out of backfield, something he didnât do much at LSU.
âHeâs done everything weâve asked him to do and heâs performed very well for us.â
Fournette has been listed as a full participant in practice this week.
2. With the emergence of Fournette, Jacksonvilleâs quarterback hasnât been as bad.Â
Blake Bortles has endured some tough times in the NFL, but 2014âs No. 3 is coming off a decent game against the Rams and a strong performance against the Colts.
âI think when youâre able to establish a run game and get play action going it takes pressure off that position no matter who it is,â Marrone said.
âBeing able to go back and hand the ball off and not feel like you have to make every play in the game is something I've always believed in.
âEveryone puts the emphasis on the quarterback to make all the plays. We just need him when we call his number to make the plays, and we need other people around him to step up. Our running backs have done a nice job of that.â
Bortles is 21st in the league with a passer rating of 85.4, trailing Andy Daltonâs mark by less than two points.
Sports Today: Finally something for Bengals and Browns fans to get upset about together https://t.co/AcepRukVqj pic.twitter.com/CNpHI2n0JY
â daytonsports (@daytonsports) October 31, 2017
3. Marrone respects the Bengals defensive front.Â
âThis will be a great test for us. I have a ton of respect for Cincinnati up front,â Marrone said. âMarvin and the rest of the staff do a good job. They play hard. Theyâre really good against the run and pass.
While the Jags are enjoying a bounce-back year on defense, Marrone noted the Bengals have been better, at least statistically.
âAnd theyâre tough. They donât give up a lot. Itâs tough to move the ball. Itâs tough to score in the red zone, so itâs going to be a great challenge for us.â
That especially goes fro Carl Lawson.
âYou look at what Carl Lawson is doing on the edge, itâs outstanding. Thirty-one pressures, really no one has really done what heâs been doing since like the last seven years.â
4. The coach of the Jags also had praise for Chris Smith.Â
After three seasons in Jacksonville, Smith is enjoying a good first half of his first year in Cincinnati.
The defensive lineman has 14 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, as a key reserve for a deep group of pass rushers.
âI was the offensive line coach so I watched him during one on ones (last season),â Marrone said. âI thought he gave great effort. Good rushes. I know he was a tough matchup for us.
He did an outstanding job.â
Smith played in 19 games for the Jaguars.
âI really liked him and thought he did a great job and worked his butt off.â
5. Marrone is disappointed in his run defense so far.Â
The Jaguars are No. 1 in the league in passing yards allowed per game but last in rushing defense. They hope the acquisition of defensive tackle Marcell Dareus helps.
âWe thought we were going to be much better at this point in time against the run,â Marrone said. âWe put a lot of time and a lot of emphasis on it.â
The Bengals havenât proven they can run on anyone yet, though. They enter the game 30th in the league in rushing yards per game.
READ MORE:Â Bengals avoid disaster, but now what?Â
About the Author