Vincent Frank
Most extensive action for Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota
Jameis Winston (@TBBuccaneers): 17-32, 221 yards, 2 rush TD in 2 games this preseason pic.twitter.com/G6WaEJdBrt
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 25, 2015
Through two preseason games, it’s readily apparent that Winston has been the more comfortable of these two rookie signal callers. He’s coming off an outing against a solid Cincinnati Bengals defense that saw him complete 8-of-13 passes for 90 yards with a rushing touchdown en route to leading Tampa Bay to a score on the team’s opening possession. Overall this preseason, Winston is completing 53 percent of his passes with two touchdowns (both on the ground) and one interception. Going up against an elite Cleveland Browns secondary (if healthy), Winston has an opportunity to continue his progression heading into Week 1. Though, it’s going to mean even more work with star receiver Mike Evans sidelined for the remainder of the preseason with a hamstring injury.
As it relates to Mariota, he’s been darn good since turning the ball over twice on his first two possessions in the Tennessee Titans preseason opener. Through two games, he’s completed 12-of-16 passes for 153 yards with an interception. Though, it must be noted that Tennessee has kept it simple for the reigning Heisman winner. He’s mainly been asked to throw one-read intermediate passes in the first two games. Considering this week’s outing against the Kansas City Chiefs will be as close to a real game as any in August, it’s highly likely the Titans will ask more of him here.
We likely aren’t looking at either of these signal callers putting up numbers similar to what Andrew Luck did as a rookie back in 2012. Neither player is anywhere near as pro-ready as the Indianapolis Colts starter was during his inaugural NFL season. With that said, they both seem to be on better footing than any of the rookie quarterbacks we have seen since Luck’s rookie class. That has to be reason for optimism for both the Titans and Buccaneers.
