NFL teams
Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

After 33-16 loss to Raiders, Jags owner meets with players, coaches

NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan met with players and coaches on Monday night in the wake of his 54th loss since he purchased the team at the end of the 2011 season, according to a source close to the team.

The Associated Press first reported news of the meeting.

According to the source, the meeting was at the team facility, and the tone was not confrontational. Rather, Khan was trying to figure out why the Jaguars (2-4) are not winning more games and what, if anything, he could do to help.

The source said Khan asked several players their opinion of why the team has struggled this season, and several other players spoke on their own. The source declined to name the players.

The meeting came one day after the Jaguars lost 33-16 to the Oakland Raiders at EverBank Field in what was arguably the franchise's worst loss during coach Gus Bradley's four-year tenure. Defensive tackle Malik Jackson and cornerback Jalen Ramsey were ejected, and receiver Marqise Lee was penalized for using a racial slur. The Jaguars managed only one touchdown and 344 yards against what was the league's worst defense in total yards and passing yards entering the weekend.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr outplayed Blake Bortles, who was the third overall pick in the 2014 draft. Carr, taken 33 spots later in the same draft, has thrown for more touchdown passes (66) and fewer interceptions (28) than Bortles (55 TDs, 44 INTs) and is further along in his development than Bortles.

The Jaguars went 2-14 in Khan's first season as owner in 2012, and he fired coach Mike Mularkey and general manager Gene Smith after the season. He hired general manager Dave Caldwell, who in turn hired Bradley, and the trio embarked on an ambitious rebuild.

The Jaguars went 4-12 in Bradley's first season, 3-13 in 2014 and 5-11 in 2015. Khan said after last season that a winning record was "everybody's reasonable expectation" in 2016. Caldwell spent $127.6 million ($57 million guaranteed) to beef up the defense by signing Jackson, cornerback Prince Amukamara and free safety Tashaun Gipson. The Jaguars also used six of their seven draft picks on defense, including Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack in the first two rounds.

Jackson, Amukamara, Gipson and Ramsey have all played well -- especially Ramsey, who is drawing opponents' top receivers each week -- and the defense has made major strides in 2016. However, the Jaguars are 2-4 because their offense has underperformed.

Bortles set single-season franchise records in passing touchdowns (35) and passing yards (4,428) in 2015, and receiver Allen Robinson caught 80 passes for 1,400 yards and a franchise-record 14 touchdowns. Both players have struggled so far in 2016, and the Jaguars are on pace to set a franchise low in rushing (76.7 yards per game).

Khan has used $76 million of his own money to help finance improvements to the city-owned EverBank Field. He spent $11 million to renovate the locker room and weight room as well as $20 million to help purchase and install the mammoth video boards on both ends of the stadium, and he is splitting the cost of a $90 million project to renovate the club-seat areas and construct an indoor practice/multipurpose facility and 5,500-seat open-air amphitheater outside the stadium's south end zone.

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