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Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota Finally in the Fold

By Russell S. Baxter

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May 26, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans first round draft pick quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) works out with titans wide receiver Jacoby Ford (10) during OTA at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been an offseason of waiting when it comes to the National Football League.

But here we are focusing on a quarterback that is getting ready to start his NFL career.

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Theresa Walker of the Associated Press (courtesy of The Tennessean) has the news that the Tennessee Titans and quarterback Marcus Mariota, the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, has inked his deal and will be available when both rookies and veterans report for training camp on July 30 at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville.

“We look forward to him starting his career on time with his teammates when we open camp next week,” stated Titans general manager Ruston Webster on Tuesday. “This is an exciting time for the Tennessee Titans organization, and we look forward to a bright future.”

Mariota, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Oregon, is the third quarterback drafted by the franchise in the first round in the past 10 years. The team used the third overall selection in 2006 on Vince Young and in 2011, spent the eighth pick in the draft on Jake Locker. The latter retired this offseason after just four years, although the club did not make any attempt to re-sign the unrestricted free agent.

Via a statement, Mariota appeared happy to finally be under contract. “I am very grateful and honored to have this opportunity,” Mariota said in a statement. “I look forward to the future with my teammates, and I’m truly excited to be part of this team.”

When you finish 2-14, the franchise’s worst mark since 1994 when the Houston Oilers won two games, you know there is plenty of blame to go around. For our purposes, we’ll just look at the issues on the offensive side of the ball.

Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

This past season, head coach Ken Whisenhunt employed three different starting quarterbacks (Locker, Charlie Whitehurst and rookie Zach Mettenberger) and also played a fourth (Jordan Palmer). The result was a combined 20 touchdown passes and 19 turnovers, while Tennessee quarterbacks were sacked a combined 50 times.

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The Titans are also hoping that free-agent additions such as wide receivers Harry Douglas and Hakeem Nicks, as well as rookies Dorial Green-Beckham and Tre McBride, can help a club that ranked 29th in the NFL in total yards gained and 30th in the league in scoring in 2014. Tennessee also finished 26th in the NFL in rushing yards per game.

So the Titans, a franchise that hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2008 and enters this upcoming season with a 10-game losing streak, now has their latest first-round quarterback signed and sealed.

Now they hope he can deliver.

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