Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Marrone is familiar with the talent — and subsequently challenge — that Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson presents. He was the first to coach against him in the NFL (dating back to Week 1 of 2017) and will get to see him again on Sunday.
Marrone has witnessed Watson grow from a thrilling bright-eyed, turnover prone, youth to a gunslinger gladiator on the gridiron. The result: a quarterback without a ceiling — one that can win the highest honors individually or as part of a team.
“Deshaun Watson is an MVP-type candidate, a guy that can lead that team to the Super Bowl,” Marrone said Wednesday on a conference call with Houston media. “Someone was asking me today, our reporters, I don’t know what he can’t do. It’s going to be a great challenge for us defensively.”
Last week, Watson wowed the nation with a go-ahead touchdown in which he threw the ball after evading three tackles and getting kicked in the eye. The play proved that, no matter what, No. 4 will find a way. Marrone already knows that.
“I think at the end of the game, if you took a poll and you had to give someone the ball, that’s the guy that people are going to give the ball to,” continued Marrone. “He’s a threat running, he’s a threat extending plays, he’s very difficult to tackle, he has great accuracy.”
Despite the praise, Marrone’s Jaguars historically do a good job containing Watson. Four of the quarterback’s 11 worst career games — in terms of passer rating — have come against Jacksonville.
However, history won’t stop Marrone from stressing over the matchup.
“It’s really going to be a heck of a challenge for us on defense with the way he’s playing,” said Marrone. “They’ve got a lot of good players around him, too.”
In an offensive struggle, Watson and the Texans bested Marrone and the Jaguars in Week 2. On Sunday, they will look to go for the sweep, with a twist: the game being in London.
