Marcus Mariota shines in ESPN insider ranking
By Will Lomas
While analysts were quick to crown Jameis Winston as the best quarterback in the draft, ESPN insiders (as well as many others) have started to think that maybe it isn’t as clear cut as all of that.
In fact, in an ESPN insiders piece ranking the quarterbacks (which is behind a paywall so I can’t reveal too much) Marcus Mariota actually came out ahead of the 1st overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
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One mystery defensive coordinator said this:
“What don’t you like about him?” a defensive coordinator asked. “He is athletic, smart, he studies, he’s a leader, a good kid.”
Which lines up exactly with what fans have been hearing about Marcus Mariota from day one with the Tennessee Titans. And hearing it from a defensive coordinator makes it even more impressive.
One offensive coordinator said this”
“He will be a little bit of a manager, not make too many mistakes,” a personnel director predicted. “I think he is a 3 who can project to a 2, but he is going to a situation where they do not have a lot of talent around him.”
Now if you are curious with the numbers there, the preface says that a “3” is defined as:
“Tier 3 are quarterbacks who are good enough to start but need lots of support, making it tougher to contend at the highest level.”
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And a “2” is defined as:
“Tier 2 QBs are less consistent and need more help, but good enough to figure prominently into a championship equation.”
So essentially what he is saying that he has all the tools to be lead this team to a championship, if the pieces are there.
Even at his lowest (which is likely what fans will get in his rookie year without any dominant offensive mismatches) he is a player that will keep them in every game and will only fail if his surrounding talent doesn’t live up to expectations.
Slowly but surely writers and coaches are saying what seemed like common sense throughout the whole draft process. Having a coach in an “NFL system” is theoretically great, but there is no substitute for leadership, hard work, athleticism, and (maybe most importantly) the ability to endear yourself to the media and NFL through humility.
We won’t know anything at all really until bullets start flying in preseason action in just about three weeks, but there is every reason to be optimistic if you are a Tennessee Titans fan.
P.S. If you aren’t an ESPN insider, there are some great articles behind that paywall from some great writers. Consider it.