Mariota Opens Training Camp Atop Titans Depth Chart
by Rob Moseley, GoDucks.com
Photo courtesy Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE — There were a few moments, as the Tennessee Titans opened preseason camp Friday, during which players were just sort of standing around. For a follower of Oregon football, that was one thing that jumped out — NFL practices, or at least this one, don’t take place at the Ducks’ breakneck pace.
Which is not to say those moments weren’t illuminating. Because at times during those breaks, as rookie Marcus Mariota rehydrated or chatted with his new teammates, the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from Oregon was smiling and laughing.
A professional career can bring with it some harsh realities, like the rigors and monotony of training camp, in the heat and humidity of central Tennessee. But it’s clear as Mariota begins his career with the rebuilding Titans that optimism is high, and the new face of the franchise is enjoying himself.
“It’s a lot of fun just to be able to be out there with the guys,” Mariota said later in the day. “You’ve got to enjoy it. It’s camp, but we’ve got to make the most of it. We had fun.”
The No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, Mariota will shoulder the task of helping turn around a team that went 2-14 last season under new coach Ken Whisenhunt. That task began in earnest Friday, as Mariota reconvened with his new teammates after breaking the ice in organized team activities earlier this offseason.
Whisenhunt has said Mariota is more advanced then even the Titans expected in his adjustment to the pro game. He showed that off Friday, completing 13-of-18 passes in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills. Mariota didn’t have a turnover, and twice coaxed a defender to jump offsides with his cadence.
After practice, Whisenhunt said he’s specifically been impressed with Mariota’s efforts at “just handling the process of playing the position, whether it’s calling the play in the huddle, taking the snap under center, some of the different checks — concepts that he’s had to do. He’s handled himself well, he’s been good in the pocket, his footwork’s been really good, quick release, he’s seeing things down the field — a lot of the things that you see from a quarterback who’s maybe had more experience in the conventional-type offense than one in the spread, he looks good.”
Mariota’s ability to transition from Oregon’s spread-option to a pro-style offense has been a point of debate in recent months. But the Titans seem poised to take advantage of his existing skillset while also working to expand it — Mariota took snaps in both formats Friday.
In the first 7-on-7 period of the day, Mariota took a snap from under center and checked down to a short completion. The next snap was out of the shotgun, and an ensuing long touchdown pass to Justin Hunter drew cheers and applause from the estimated 1,300 fans in attendance.
“To have the fans out here, and everybody’s heart is racing, excited to be back, I thought he had great poise today,” said tight end Delanie Walker, a 10-year veteran.
Added running back Dexter McCluster: “He’s a guy that came in, learned fast, showed a lot of poise. He showed he’s not afraid to throw it in tight spaces.”
Mariota proved that in a later period of 7-on-7. Before the snap, a fan shouted from the sidelines, “Let’s go, Mariota!” The quarterback obliged by dropping back, checking through his progression and threading a pass through the defense to tight end Anthony Fasano.
“Yeah!” the same fan exclaimed. “Super Mariota!”
It wasn’t a perfect day. The first time Mariota coaxed the defense to jump offsides, he took the snap for what became a free play for the offense but overthrew a receiver. “Obviously there were a couple throws here and there (he’d like to have back),” Mariota said. “But for the most part I think it was a good, solid first day.”
That even temperament of Mariota’s is something Oregon fans know well. The player the Titans drafted in the first round a year ago, left tackle Taylor Lewan, said that sort of attitude can serve a rookie well as he navigates his first professional season.
“We play against the best players every week; every once in a while you play against those good defenses in college, but it’s every week,” Lewan said. “There’s nothing really specific (to progressing as an NFL rookie), it’s kind of just keeping that professional mentality the entire time. Knowing there’s something to work for. Knowing that if you keep in the best shape, come week 14, 15, 16 — that’s like week 20 with the preseason — it’s hard, but he’s going to be all right.”
The Titans have just two weeks to prepare for their preseason opener, Aug. 14 at Atlanta. There’s much for Whisenhunt and his staff to sort out by then, but the identity of the starting quarterback isn’t among them; asked Thursday about the Titans’ pecking order at the position, Whisenhunt asked rhetorically, “You mean after Marcus?”
Indeed, during practice Friday it was Mariota consistently getting the first reps, followed by Zach Mettenberger and then a rotation of Charlie Whitehurst and Alex Tanney. Mariota’s teammates also appear to have embraced his presence as the leader of the offense.
“He’s not a big talker; he’s the type of guy that goes out and performs,” Walker said. “He’s a rookie, so his role’s gonna build as the season starts. I know he’s just trying to figure it out, get a feel for it. But he’s a leader — he’s not a vocal leader, but he’s a leader on the field.”
Asked how Mariota’s presence might have changed since OTAs, Whisenhunt said instead “he’s been good since day one.” That consistency is something Mariota will look to maintain.
“That’s what’s worked for me, just be the same person I’ve been,” Mariota said.
The Titans put their faith in that by making Mariota the No. 2 pick, and now their starting quarterback. He got down to business Friday justifying those decisions.
