How’s that for a debut, Mr. Mariota?
Going up against fellow 2015 draft pick Jameis Winston, Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota did something no other first-year signal caller has accomplished in his NFL debut since Fran Tarkenton back in 1961. The No. 2 overall pick threw four touchdown passes — all in the first half — in a surprising 42-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For Mariota and the Titans, it was early validation that their relationship may go swimmingly. It was also validation for Mariota, who many pundits indicated wasn’t prepared to take the reigns of a NFL offense.
Mariota’s overall numbers outside of the four scores might not have been stellar. He completed 13-of-16 passes for 209 yards. Hardly enough attempts to get an appropriate gauge of where he stands as a rookie. It was, however, his ability to lead the Titans to points on a consistent basis that was so impressive. The Oregon product put up three touchdown-scoring drives of 50-plus yards. That in and of itself shows us just how much he has improved after many indicated he was too green to make an immediate impact as an above-average starter in the NFL.