Rookie Mini Camp got started for the Tennessee Titans on Friday at Saint Thomas Park, and during the open portion of the workout, the Marcus Mariota era in Music City has officially begun. They will spend the weekend getting to know each other, and their new surroundings before veterans show up next week for OTA’s. I’ve had enough of Deflate Gate and am more than ready to get down to the business of Titans football.
This morning, I am going to stick mainly with reports from on-field reporters talking about on-field activities.
Marcus Mariota ‘a little anxious’ in first Titans practice – Jim Wyatt The Tennessean
"The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and second overall pick put on his red No. 8 uniform and started slinging footballs at Saint Thomas Sports Park as the Titans kicked off a rookie minicamp.“It felt good. I was a little anxious. It’s been a long process, and to finally get on the field, you have that feeling,” Mariota said. “I just want to be myself, and that is getting to know the guys and putting in the hard work and learning the offense and trying to execute it."
Video: Marcus Mariota already looking for Dorial Green-Beckham – Paul Kuharsky ESPN
"Green-Beckham said he reached out via text to Marcus Mariota right after he was drafted and intended to get close with his quarterback in a hurry. That includes not just time on the field and in the locker room, but lifting, too.“I told him, every time you’re in the weight room, make sure you bring me,” Green-Beckham said."
Mariota playing under center not a problem for Titans – Marc Sessler Around The NFL Reporter
"“I don’t see that as a problem,” Whisenhunt said of Mariota lining up under center. “He’s put a lot of work in. He seems pretty good. I mean, until we get into a game and you get the A-gap blitzers in there or people are pressuring, you don’t know how they are going to handle it.”Whisenhunt said Mariota made his share of “good plays” in the session, adding: “There’s obviously parts of it that he’s very comfortable with and other parts where it’s new to him.”"
Titans’ Mariota makes good impression on Lewan – John Glennon The Tennesseasn
"Lewan said just after the NFL draft that Mettenberger still thought of himself as the starter and that teammates did as well. But Lewan doesn’t want that misinterpreted as having an agenda for Mettenberger over Mariota.“That’s not the case at all,” Lewan said. “If people want to put stuff out there like that, that’s fine. I mean, in this locker room, I have nothing against Marcus at all. I’ve just known Zach for longer."
Tennessee Titans rookie mini camp notes – Evan Kaplan ESPN
"Titans Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team will incorporate some of the things Marcus Mariota does well into their offense this season. One concern with Mariota as he enters the NFL is the percent of snaps he took out of the shotgun/pistol formation while at Oregon. Excluding kneel downs, he did not take a single snap from under center while in college."
Marcus Mariota under center as Tennessee Titans open rookie minicamp, but ‘it’s still football’ – AP via Oregon Live
"The Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 2 draft pick overall was happy to be back on the field during the first day of rookie minicamp on Friday. Taking some snaps under center is part of the process for the quarterback who played in the shotgun in college.“I got to be under center for the first time, so that was different for me a little bit,” Mariota said. “It’s still football, and you’ve got to be able to execute whatever the coaches are asking you to.”"
Next: The Dorial Green-Beckham You Should Be Using