Titans Watch: 34 More Days
August 10th, 2015
Joe’s already called opening day against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 13 in Tampa a “must-win.”
It’s not a must-win for the standings. Duh. But it is necessary for the psyche of a fanbase that’s hasn’t seen a home victory since 2013, and compares Jameis Winston to Marcus Mariota.
Mariota, who was named the Titans starter, still hasn’t thrown an interception in training camp. Yes, Jameis Winston has thrown plenty, including an ugly, needless throw to Alterraun Verner in red zone work yesterday.
But sane people realize practice picks mean little.
Joe finds it odd, however, that the Tennessee defense is proud of itself. Check out this nugget from ESPN.com
“We are doing good; you watch the film and we are in a perfect position a lot of times,’’ linebacker Zach Brown told Jim Wyatt of the team’s web site. “Some of the throws we are like, “Man, did he really just place it there? I take my hat off to him — he is a smart kid. He hasn’t thrown one to us. We are still trying to get him. We have to get him.”
One thing Joe’s really interested in seeing his how often Mariota takes off when he feels pressure in preseason games, and how successful he is when he runs. That combination should shape a lot of how the Bucs plan on defense for opening day.
The Titans open the preseason Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Atlanta.
August 10th, 2015 at 11:36 am
hmmm….
I may just have to go check that game out.
August 10th, 2015 at 11:39 am
My prediction — Mariota throws a pick by his fifth attempt against the Bucs
August 10th, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Let’s go Bucs.
August 10th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
My prediction – Mariota throws fewer INT’s than 80% of NFL starting QB’s this season …including Winston. And before the “Winston Walks on Water!” crowd gets their panties in a wad, that’s not a knock on Winston! Look at Mariota’s body of work thus far …the kid just doesn’t throw many pics, period! Winston does throw INT’s from time to time, because the he takes more chances. Both these young QBs have tons of potential! But not all young players grasp the system and execute it at the same pace. History has taught us that rookie QBs often struggle, and I think both will have their ups and downs in 2015.
August 10th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
I doubt Mariota will throw many picks in the league. I’m not sure he’ll throw that many touchdowns either.
August 10th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
My prediction: Mariota has 30 total touchdowns & 3 picks for the season. Bookmark this and call me out at the end of the season if I’m wrong….
August 10th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
30 TDs and 3 picks!?!? OMG Erik, I’m gonna call you out so hard 3 games into the season when Mariota chucks up his 4th pick. That’s the dumbest prediction I have ever heard about a football player. No offense…well a little.
August 10th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Interceptions don’t count for much in practice…but a lack of them certainly does. It means he is either very smart with his reads, or their defense is really, really bad.
August 10th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Lol Erick from Dirty Athletics is back
August 10th, 2015 at 1:12 pm
And 3 picks? Not even Manning, Brady or Rodgers have thrown that few of ints. But u think a rookie can? Lol
August 10th, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Titan’s Watch? Should change it to Mariota Watch because that’s what it has been.
August 10th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
MM is king of the checkdown. He piled up lots of YAC yardage and many of his deep pass completions were to wide open receivers against worn out defenses.
He was sacked a lot in college as well. If he takes off and runs too often he will get busted up. RGIII didn’t make it through his first season because he was run happy. We shall see soon enough.
I’m not expecting miracles from Winston. He will try to throw into tight windows, which is why so many pics in camp. Camp is the place to find out what he can do and make the adjustments. I just want to see him progress as the season goes on.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
In 3 yrs M.M. will be the much better and more exciting qb then Winston ever willl become..
August 10th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Agree, Mariota will make a few runs and passes. And sooner or later his head will be turned and miss somebody coming at him during run. After a few Times getting his lunch eaten by Large Men the size of dumptrucks, he will learn to throw away or get picked. It’s the NFL.
August 10th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Erik with Clean Athletics Says:
August 10th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
“My prediction: Mariota has 30 total touchdowns & 3 picks for the season. Bookmark this and call me out at the end of the season if I’m wrong….”
Wanna bet?
August 10th, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Ben….Jameis Winston will be in the Super Bowl in 3 years. Meanwhile Mariota might be in an ESPN article that reads: “What the Hell happened?”
August 10th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Mariota will be 27 td 11 picks
Winston will be.24 picks 28 td
Rushing yards 800 mariota
Winston 86
August 10th, 2015 at 3:50 pm
This aint college folks! Scramble all you want – but oh, yeah, ummm… I believe the guys chasing you are a bit faster than you’ve ever seen before. All you Mariota fans that say he won’t throw many picks – well you’re probably right – because he won’t read a defense for crap, will look at his one read, and will run for his life (RG3 anyone?). And best of all – his pick #’s will be way down because he’s… wait for it… in the hospital!
August 10th, 2015 at 4:00 pm
For the record, I didn’t mean 30 passing TD. That was passing & rushing combined… And no thank u on the bet, 87
August 10th, 2015 at 5:01 pm
Mariota will not get 800 yards rushing. He will be injured before he gets to that number.
August 10th, 2015 at 6:07 pm
Maybe the Titans defense is under “go easy on the kid” orders while Bucs D is on a “feast on the kd” order.
August 10th, 2015 at 7:05 pm
Jameis Winston will be right up there with Aaron and Luck in three years (assuming Brady is gone). Mariota will be down there with Bortles service and Geno. It won’t be entirely his fault but it is hard to play QB in the NFL with Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter atop your depth chart. Doral Green-Beckham is a combination of Josh Gordon and Ray McDonald with a little Greg Hardy and Justin Blackmon sprinkled in. He will never play a full season and won’t make it 5 in the league despite his enormous talent.
August 10th, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Honestly, some of you are pathetic. Anyways, back to reality for some of us. This year I believe that Winston will be better, but not because of athleticism by any means, but because he already has the weapons while Mariota has DGB and that is it. Next year will be an interesting draft for them unless they acquire some WRs this year through the wires or trading. Other than that both QBs are doing awesome in their training camps.
“The fact that [Marcus Mariota] seems unafraid to try to make the difficult throw at such an early stage in his pro career is more noteworthy than the interception-less streak,” writes David Climer of The Tennessean.
August 10th, 2015 at 8:24 pm
Destin Johnny is as nuts as erik.
August 10th, 2015 at 9:31 pm
I happen to think Mariota can succeed in the NFL. He’s in a good situation with Whisenhunt. I am a Jameis fan and am rooting for him and the Bucs. I really don’t care about MM one way or the other; good luck to him in his career – except when playing the Bucs. If he doesn’t throw picks, maybe he’ll fumble – like he did a lot in college.
August 11th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Mariotta will fumble a lot like he did in college