Friday, the Tennessee Titans got their first look at quarterback Marcus Mariota since making him the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Tennessee kicked off its rookie minicamp, and while there wasn't much to see given limited media availability, there were some impressions.
Titans get their first look at Marcus Mariota Friday
The Tennessee Titans got their first look at quarterback Marcus Mariota when their rookie minicamp kicked off on Friday.
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mariota himself said that he was anxious, but that he is “getting comfortable,” according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt said Mariota “stood out” and looked comfortable, but also noticed the anxiousness, according to Wyatt.
In a more thorough report, Wyatt said that Mariota was sharp during drills, though he wasn't going up against the defense. He was "on target with the vast majority of his passes," but he did throw behind his man on a few different occasions. There were also some communication issues, and Curtis Riley managed to pick off one of Mariota's passes.
Mariota completed 5 of 6 passes working timing routes with receivers and 11 of 15 passes working mid-range routes with receivers and a running back. Jarrett Bell of USA Today said that Mariota "looked the part of the major talent that inspired to the Titans to draft him." Bell noted that Mariota showcased fluid footwork, consistent velocity and accuracy.
You're not going to hear a whole lot more about his performance, given that media was allowed in for only 45 minutes and the Titans have multiple closed practices throughout the rookie minicamp. But once training camp rolls around, there will be plenty to say about Mariota and Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- how these two quarterbacks ultimately perform will dictate how competitive these teams are in the end.
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