Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota drew praise across the board upon conclusion of the team’s OTAs and minicamp.
New Titans receiver Harry Douglas, who played with Matt Ryan for his entire career prior to signing on with the team this spring, reported that Mariota showed “unbelievable accuracy” in practices (via ESPN.com).
Douglas is not the only one who is impressed with Mariota. Wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson reported that Mariota has been “deadly accurate” practicing with the team.
“No. 1, it’s his (Mariota’s) accuracy,” Jefferson said back in June, via ESPN.com. “No. 2, he’s come in and grasped the offense. And No. 3 is the way the guys respond to him, the way he’s able to go in that huddle and take control. … I am just giddy about his future going forward.”
Prior to the NFL draft, Mariota was labeled as someone who might struggle transitioning from college ball to the NFL. He will be tried and truly tested once he faces what his head coach Ken Whisenhunt terms the “A-gap blitzers” and professional pass rushers.
The Titans have reportedly studied the offenses of the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles to help tailor a scheme to Mariota’s strengths. He will definitely be one of the rookies everyone has their eye on this year.
As for Douglas, he arrives in Tennessee after spending six years with the Atlanta Falcons. His most productive season came in 2013 when he filled in for an injured Julio Jones, accumulating 85 receptions for 1,067 yards.
We’ll see what value he adds to Mariota and the Titans offense soon enough.
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