The Tennessee Titans tried everything to help make quarterback Marcus Mariota into the player they dreamed of when they drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2015. Now, after another brutal first half, football fans have had enough.
Mariota took the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football. Despite facing a defense that is allowing over 260 passing yards per game this season, Mariota could barely crack 60 in the first half.
As each throw was off the mark and the fifth-year quarterback made one poor read after another, the calls for him to be benched grew louder. By the time the second quarter ended, Mariota needed 16 pass attempts to reach 62 yards and the calls for Ryan Tannehill began.
When the referees are racking up more yards on flags thrown than your quarterback is getting through the air, that’s a sign that it might be time for a change.
The Titans sacrificed draft picks to acquire Tannehill. While he might not be the long-term answer at quarterback, it seems time for Tennessee to try something else and give up on its former top pick.