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Jaguars hire Greg Olson as offensive coordinator

NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Greg Olson's experience calling plays and his history mentoring young quarterbacks stood out to Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley.

That's why Bradley chose Olson as his offensive coordinator Wednesday.

"He's a really, really good developmental coach," Bradley said following Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Alabama. "I think that's what impressed me. And he has a style and a conviction. I just thought he would be a great fit."

Olson spent the past two seasons as Oakland's offensive coordinator. That followed a one-year stint as Jacksonville's assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach -- Coach Mike Mularkey, Olson and several other assistants were fired after a 2-14 season.

Olson replaces Jedd Fisch, who was fired after two lackluster seasons in which the Jaguars were ranked at or near the bottom of the NFL in nearly every offensive category.

The Raiders weren't much better under Olson's direction. Oakland ranked last in total offense this past season, finishing 32nd in rushing and 26th in passing. But rookie quarterback Derek Carr threw for 3,270 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Raiders ranked 23rd in total offense in 2013.

"We don't get caught up in traditional numbers like that," Bradley said. "We're looking at does the team get better? And the talent he has, do they progress? Do you see improvement?"

The Jaguars will lean on Olson to help develop first-round draft pick Blake Bortles, who threw 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions as a rookie and was sacked 55 times.

Olson also has three other offensive coordinator stops in the NFL: Detroit (2005), St. Louis (2006-07) and Tampa Bay (2009-11). Bradley and Olson worked together in 2008.

His best season came with the Rams in 2006. St. Louis ranked sixth in the NFL in total offense and became the fourth team in league history to have a 4,000-yard passer (Marc Bulger), a 1,500-yard rusher (Steven Jackson) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce) in the same season.

"I remember him from my time in Atlanta when we played him in Tampa and what he did there with Josh Freeman and that young offense," Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell said. "They went 10-6 that year and did a really nice job. Kind of exceeded everybody's expectations and did a really nice job with a young quarterback so I've known about Greg for a long time. I know Gus has worked with him and all the feedback that we get on him is extremely good."

Olson joins former Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone as offensive changes heading into Bradley's third season. Bradley hired Marrone on Tuesday as assistant head coach and offensive line coach. He replaced George Yarno, who left the team last summer to undergo cancer treatment.

"For us, developing the young quarterback and just putting them in position to succeed," Caldwell said. "You combine (Olson) with coach Marrone, and with those two guys working together, it's a lot of experience coming into our room that we did not have previously."

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