Tennessee Titans dominate PFF rookie rankings
By Will Lomas
It has been a long time since the Tennessee Titans have had a performance as dominant as they did against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While not every team will be as easy as that, you have to remember that every team in the NFL is tough to an extent. There are no teams that are cakewalks and the team the Titans faced on Sunday were as excited as they could be since it was their home opener against a rookie quarterback and a young team.
More from Titans Draft
- Tennessee Titans suspiciously quiet about major draft need
- 3 needs that are being overblown by Tennessee Titans fans
- Tennessee Titans must be careful trading down in the 2023 NFL Draft
- Tennessee Titans should only spend their premium draft picks on offense
- Tennessee Titans connections may be crucial for a draft day trade
So, while the Titans won’t get much credit for their domination of the Bucs, a win is a win in the NFL. Where they are getting recognition is with their young rookies. PFF especially has taken note of how well the Titans young guys looked in their Week 1 debut and their top 10 list is littered with Titans. Look at what they had to say.
“1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans (+2.3)
The numbers do flatter a little, but it was the assured performance which stood out for Mariota. If his career is to be compared to Jameis Winston, then round one certainly went to the former Oregon QB.”
-No doubt Mariota had the best debut of any rookies this week, so this shouldn’t be a surprise.
Live Feed
FanSided
“5. Jeremiah Poutasi, RT, Titans (+2.0)
After looking out of his element through most of preseason, the tackle out of Utah looked like a confident veteran in his first week. You might point to who he was up against, but this is the NFL, and there are no easy assignments. He showed strong work in the run game as well.”
-I really didn’t notice Jeremiah Poutasi for better or worse on Sunday, and that has sort of become his calling card. After watching the film, Poutasi’s strength is clear and he moves his feet better than I expected. While he doesn’t decimate people in the running game or lock them down in the passing game, he is already leagues better than Michael Oher.
“5 to watch: Deiontrez Mount, OLB, Titans: Looked good, but playing time (just 29 snaps) may hold him back.”
-Poutasi made the Titans the only team with two players in the top 10 and Mount made them the only team with three players on the top 10 (plus five). Mount has a stellar game by any expectation. After doing almost nothing in the preseason, he looked very athletic intercepting a screen pass from Jameis Winston and nearly picking another throw down the field.
Mount will play a lot this season to relieve Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan, and it was huge for the Titans that he had a big day last week.