JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars sacked offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and quarterback Blake Bortles one day after the team's seventh consecutive loss.

Coach Doug Marrone fired Hackett and benched Bortles on Monday, making sweeping changes to one of the league's worst offenses.

“I felt I needed to make a change to get us an opportunity to win some games,” Marrone said. “It's not a knee-jerk reaction. I really feel like at the end of the day we've got to try to get better production out of our passing game or more consistent production in our passing game.”

Marrone promoted quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich, a Butler graduate, to play-caller, and backup quarterback Cody Kessler to starting QB.

Milanovich spent five seasons (2012-16) as head coach for the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts before landing in Jacksonville last year. Kessler lost all eight starts for Cleveland in 2016.

Milanovich has a consistent track record.

He won a Grey Cup in the Canadian Football League during his first season as head coach of the Toronto Argonauts and was named the CFL Coach of the Year.

Milanovich got his start in coaching after spending several seasons as a back-up quarterback in the NFL. His first stint on the sideline came with the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 2003 as a quarterbacks coach.

In 2007, he was hired as the quarterbacks coach for the Montreal Alouettes and in 2009 was promoted to assistant head coach.

Milanovich won CFL championships with Montreal in 2009 and 2010.

Milanovich also has an XFL title under his belt as a back-up to former Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Tommy Maddox in 2001.

Marrone expects Milanovich and Kessler to energize a lackluster offense when the Jaguars (3-8) host Indianapolis (6-5) on Sunday.

“Hopefully (Kessler) can stay healthy and win some games for us,” Marrone said. “My plan is for him to go in there and play.”

Staying healthy could be a challenge for Kessler considering Jacksonville will be without three starting offensive linemen, including left guard Andrew Norwell (ankle) who was placed on injured reserve Monday. Norwell joins center Brandon Linder and left tackle Cam Robinson on IR.

Bortles didn't throw for 150 yards in four of the last six games. He had 104 yards through the air against Pittsburgh two weeks ago and 127 yards against the Bills. Marrone benched Bortles twice in two years, only to give him the job back both times.

Now, though, it seems Bortles could be done in Jacksonville.

Finances might be the only reason he sticks around. The fifth-year starter signed a three-year, $54 million contract in February and is due to count $21 million against the salary cap in 2019. Cutting him would cost Jacksonville $16.5 million against the cap.

But it's clear Marrone has lost faith in Bortles, who regressed this season.

Marrone felt Hackett should have done more, too. Marrone and Hackett had been together for nine years, including stops at Syracuse (2010-12), with the Bills (2013-14) and in Jacksonville (2015-18).

Hackett ended up being the first scapegoat in Jacksonville's ultra-disappointing season. He failed to get Bortles and the offense to play anywhere close to the level they did early in the season or in 2017. Injuries have been the biggest issue, but not enough to save Hackett's job.

“Obviously, you feel terrible, especially as an offensive player,” center Tyler Shatley said. “I feel like a lot of that's on us. He had great game plans and stuff; we just have to execute better.”

The Jaguars rank 22nd in the NFL in total offense, averaging 346.5 yards a game, but have been on a steady decline the last two months. They rank 29th in points, averaging a paltry 17.9 a game.

Marrone could have made other changes. The defense looks little like it did in 2017, prompting some to question coordinator Todd Wash's future, and special teams have been a non-factor all year.

But Marrone opted to address the offense.

“Any time you're losing, it's not just on one person,” Marrone said. “It's on everyone, and obviously when I say that I understand and take responsibility for that. It starts with me as the head coach. ... Obviously none of us are doing a good enough job right now. We have an opportunity to play five games and get back on track and break this losing streak.”