Marcus Mariota’s career in the NFL started quickly and then ended in Tennessee, with injuries and constant changes in training that stunted his growth. This led to Ryan Tannehill supplanting him as the Titans starter last season.
Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have loved Mariota since winning the Heisman Trophy in Oregon. Their praise is well documented, as both were TV analysts when Mariota entered the project. The Raiders signed Mariota this offseason to support – and possibly compete with – quarterback Derek Carr. Mayock said the plan was to ‘rebuild’ Mariota from the ground up after the 26-year-old underwent operation during the offseason to repair some lingering injuries.
Mariota, Carr and the quarterbacks walked into the Raiders’ training facility a few days ago, and Gruden liked what he saw of his new caller from the start.
“I was impressed,” Gruden said Thursday on a conference call with reporters. “The first thing with Marcus was to be healthy. He had a shoulder problem, he had an ankle problem. It is a real honor for him to have been able to do his injury rehabilitation all this distance. social and the distraction of finding the doctor and being safe. He did a great job getting back to health and learning our system. It will give the best chance of being Marcus Mariota. “
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In the absence of OTA due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mariota has hit the Raiders’ vast playbook hard during the offseason in order to get to know Gruden’s complex system well. So far, it doesn’t look like the odd offseason has hurt his development in the system.
“It was awesome,” Gruden said of Mariota’s understanding of the playbook. “I think being and being in the same chat room with Derek Carr every day really helped him. Derek is great. advanced and very fast mentally. Marcus is too, he learned it very quickly and he applied it here the last few days. “
In good health, Mariota has been a good starter in the NFL. After a strong rookie season, Mariota was excellent in the second year, totaling 3,426 yards, 26 touchdowns and just nine interceptions in 2016 before suffering a broken leg. In his third season, Mariota took the Titans to the playoffs and led them to a comeback victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where he caught his own pass and ran it for a touchdown and pitched. the winning block match for Derrick Henry.
The Titans never bought Mariota and refused to build an offensive system around her dynamic athleticism and ability to play, instead indulging in a ground and pound attack that only required Mariota to make any moves. Tight shots in third place to receivers who lacked the ability to pull apart consistently.
Mariota can beat teams with her legs, extend play and be very effective in an attack with an innovative player like Gruden. He’s also a proven leader around whom his teammates tend to rally (see victory back to Arrowhead).
When he’s healthy and confident, he’s the perfect quarterback for the modern NFL.
Mariota also made a strong impression on rookie Henry Ruggs.
“He’s a great guy, a great team guy, a great leader and it looks like things are going pretty well,” Ruggs said Thursday. “With us rookies we are always learning, so he’s very helpful in guiding and helping us.”
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Gruden and Mayock believe in Mariota. Mayock had him as a No.1 quarterback on his draft board in 2015. They don’t pay him just to hold a clipboard. He will come and push Carr like never before.
It’s Carr’s team heading into the 2020 season. But with the necessary weapons finally around him, now is the time for Carr to prove he’s a franchise quarterback and pass the Raiders through. at the upper level.
If he stumbles at any point and the attack stalls, Gruden won’t be afraid to turn to Mariota. That’s why he’s here.
