ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky had the worst take yet on Tennessee Titans quarterback, Marcus Mariota, and the phony quarterback controversy in Nashville.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky really ran one out of his own end zone with what is undoubtedly the worst take on Tennessee Titans quarterback, Marcus Mariota, and the phony quarterback controversy in Nashville.
A report from last week after Tennessee’s first preseason game, courtesy of ESPN’s Dianna Russini, said that Mariota was “not a lock” to be the team’s starter in Week 1, which was contrary to everything the Titans have been saying this entire offseason.
As I stated then, and I state now, take that with a grain of salt. The report simply makes no sense when you compare it to what head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson have adamantly said in the past.
Well, Orlovsky is the latest reporter/talking head to throw his hat into the ring of nonsense.
He states something as simple as a lackluster showing in the Preseason Week 2 game for Mariota, combined with another strong showing from backup quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, will be enough to propel the former Miami Dolphins signal-caller into starter’s reps as soon as, get this, Preseason Week 3!
I 100% could see Tannehill starting week 1. If he has another really strong game, and MM doesn’t-Tann will start week 3 pre season game.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 14, 2019
Yikes. I’d venture to guess that Orlovsky is really coming to the rescue of Russini, who got some heat on Twitter for her report. However, if that’s the case, Orlovsky is just a phony, much like NBC Sports’ Chris Simms was in his most recent take on the quarterback situation in Nashville.
If that’s not Orlovsky’s reasoning for saying such an outlandish thing, then it’s an even worse case of him being a phony.
The media has been quick to jump all over this non-situation after just one preseason game, and anyone who tells you it is about more than that one game simply isn’t speaking the truth.
There was no talk of a quarterback controversy or competition prior to the Titans’ first preseason game. None.
So, with a media that is desperately seeking attention via a quarterback controversy, the talking heads out there seized on the Titans after one preseason game. A preseason game, may I remind you, that saw Mariota play in one series, while Tannehill played most of the first half against backups.
Of course, Tannehill had bigger numbers than Mariota, as the Titans backup threw 16 passes to Mariota’s eight. Tannehill finished with 12 completions for 130 yards and two touchdowns, while Mariota completed four of his passes for 24 yards in a drive that ended with a turnover on downs.
If we’re using the ridiculous logic of looking good against backups, then Mariota and Tannehill should be looking over their shoulder at third-string quarterback, Logan Woodside (15-20, 138 yards, two touchdowns), who had bigger numbers than both.
Do we see how silly this is?
This is the entire basis of the media’s narrative at the moment, and in this particular case, Orlovsky’s aforementioned tweet. It’s nothing more than a pathetic attempt to create buzz around something that doesn’t exist, credibility be damned.
The Marcus Mariota double standard
And, if small sample sizes are enough to get this uninformed media all riled up, where were they when Tannehill had a poor practice against the New England Patriots on Wednesday?
These are very unofficial stats, but at least some ballpark numbers for team drills vs. #Pats:
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) August 14, 2019
-Mariota 9-for-13, 0 picks. There was a dropped pass and a throwaway, couple "sacks"
-Tannehill 6-11, 2 picks, at least one throwaway, one or two "sacks"
If it was Mariota who had thrown two picks, you’d undoubtedly hear someone like Orlovsky say, “OMG, Mariota looked terrible today! He won’t be the starter for much longer! OMG!”
Not a peep on Tannehill, and most likely that’s because Orlovsky has no clue what happened at Wednesday’s practice because he doesn’t spend an ounce of time actually paying attention to the Titans.
Or, it could be because of the fact that this particular small sample size doesn’t fit the narrative that the media is desperately trying to force.
Especially considering one Tannehill int was a pick six ... https://t.co/HNF39WvSB5
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) August 15, 2019
Whatever way you want to put it, it’s a phony, drummed-up narrative that has no basis in fact or reality, whether you want to talk about small 2019 sample sizes, or past performance from either quarterback.
Marcus Mariota is the Titans’ starter right now, and he will be when the season starts. Until then, he will continue to have small sample sizes in limited reps because, you know, that’s the kind of action starters see in the preseason.
Don’t let uninformed people make you think otherwise based on Tannehill’s bigger numbers, which mean next to nothing during the preseason.