AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Titans

Colts

• Per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Colts DT DeForest Buckner said he was happy to end up with Indianapolis even if he knew he would be in high demand somewhere this offseason: “I was lucky enough to catch the eye of [Colts GM] Chris Ballard and the Colts. … Going through the negotiation process was stressful. But I knew that if I wasn’t getting an extension (in SF), I’d be getting an extension somewhere else.”
• Colts second-round WR Michael Pittman Jr said his role as the “X” receiver in the offense should be pretty simple: “Run slants, run go’s and posts.” (Joel Erickson)

Jaguars

Jaguars HC Doug Marrone said he’s been “tracking” new assistant LBs coach Tony Gilbert, who is a former Jacksonville linebacker from 2003-2007, for a while now. 

“I’ve been tracking Tony for a while,” Marrone said, via John Oehser of the team’s official site. “He started out in junior college and was able to get on at UCF and helped them with the linebackers. I really felt good about getting Tony on board here, and he’s excited to come.”

As for the Jaguars also hiring former RB Denard Robinson as an offensive quality control coach, Marrone believes his experience as a quarterback, running back, and receiver will pay large dividends. 

“I really think he has a great skill set as far as knowledge of a guy that has played quarterback, running back, receiver–he can do a lot of different things, his knowledge of those positions. We feel really fortunate to have him,” Marrone said.

Titans

Titans radio announcer Mike Keith still thinks that the team has a real shot to sign free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who he believes is waiting for the right time to make a decision.

“Oh, I think there’s a real chance because the Titans have cap room, they certainly have a connection from Mike Vrabel’s time in Houston,”  Keith explained, via TitansWire.com. “They have other connections within the team that are reaching out to him — Johnathan Joseph, former teammate from the same hometown, Taylor Lewan reaching out on social media, other players saying they’d love to have him. If you’re Clowney, the Titans certainly make sense if the dollars make sense… but the Titans have clearly left the door open publicly that they have interest in Clowney. Now, will what they want to pay and what he wants to get paid match up?  That I don’t have any idea, but I wouldn’t rule the Titans out in this, no.”