Marcus Mariota to start Tennessee Titans final preseason game
By Will Lomas
In a late surprising turn of events it looks like the Tennessee Titans will play starting quarterback Marcus Mariota tonight.
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I think this is the right move for the Tennessee Titans, and it makes a lot of sense. First of all, according to PFF Marcus Mariota has played 69 snaps this preseason which is just under a normal game number. Putting him in for two or three series will give the Titans a look a where he is at for a full game.
It also gives them a look at where he and the team are improving. For example, Marcus Mariota had a little bit of trouble stepping into the pocket in the first game this year. However, he has clearly taken strides forward and now looks very comfortable anywhere inside or outside the pocket.
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It also gives them one last chance to test some read-option-pass type plays in real time against a quality team. We have seen some of the new wrinkles already, but I would love to see a read option pass where Kendall Wright fakes a screen then goes down field while Dorial Green-Beckham (who fakes as a screen blocker) comes underneath for a quick pass. If nothing is there pre-snap then Marcus Mariota can take the ball and read the defense on a run.
He is such an intelligent quarterback that I have no doubt he will read that correctly and he will find a way to make a big gain on that play.
Also, I think the Titans need to come out with DGB as a starting wide receiver ahead of Hakeem Nicks or Justin Hunter just to make a point. Nicks hasn’t been bad, but he will get an entire game to play tonight whereas DGB will likely only play a few snaps in the beginning.
Justin Hunter on the other hand needs to be reminded that he is expendable. I like Hunter’s potential (as does everyone) but if he can’t start making plays now then he should be shopped for a trade to a lot of teams like the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots or Green Bay Packers who need help at that position.