Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota will take the starting quarterback position for the Tennessee Titans this season, and coaches are focused on not overwhelming the Heisman Trophy winner at training camp.
At a Thursday press conference, Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt answered easily when asked if he had an order determined for
quarterbacks, The Tennessean reported: "(You mean) after Marcus?"
He said it's important Mariota not be overwhelmed as he makes the transition to the NFL.
"Just like any other team, we've got millions of great plays you think are going to work," Whisenhunt told The Tennessean. "But it doesn't do you any good if you've got too many. You've got to find that balance of giving him enough, yet being diverse enough that it keeps teams off balance a little bit."
Whisenhunt added that the Titans will leave leeway to take advantage of "one of his best assets" – playing fast.
Mariota edged past Zach Mettenberger for the starting quarterback position, who was drafted by the team in 2014.
Still, Andy Benoit of
MMQB.com said there’s plenty about Mariota that should be making the Titans nervous as the season nears.
"The track record of run-oriented college quarterbacks in the NFL is not good," he said bluntly, pointing to Johnny Manziel and Robert Griffin. "Drafting Marcus Mariota No. 2 overall represents a crapshoot by the Tennessee Titans. Sure, the former Oregon quarterback is a tremendous athlete with size and lauded intangibles. That’s important. But it’s also irrelevant if he can’t meet basic NFL quarterbacking requirements. Like dropping back and making multiple reads from the pocket. Mariota is an unknown in this realm."
Fans online were excited that the season opener game in September between the Titans and Buccaneers will feature Mariota up against quarterback Jameis Winston.
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