Tennessee Titans: Is Marcus Mariota Exceeding Expectations?

The Tennessee Titans have finished their first week of training camp and Marcus Mariota has looked impressive. During his first week he has yet to throw an interception.

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Spoke to a Titan who was initially skeptical of Mariota: "He can really spin it. Been looking guys off since Day 1. We got the right one."
— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) August 5, 2015

Coming into training camp there was the notion that Mariota was going to need time to develop and was more of a project for Tennessee. Early in camp he is proving that he might not need as much time as expected.

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On Friday NFL Media Insider Ian Rapport of NFL.com said Marcus Mariota has been “essentially flawless” during camp.

“Mariota is actually years ahead of expectations,” Rapoport explained. “The former Oregon star has received high marks for his leadership, mental acuity and ability to pick up the playbook quickly.”

During scrimmages Dick LeBeau and the Titans defense have focused on throwing many different types of blitzes and pressure schemes at Mariota. So far he has been able to handle everything that’s been thrown his way.

"“He’s been consistent,” Whisenhunt said. “He’s good in the pocket and he makes good decisions. We’ve had a number of pressure periods which is, I think, important, because that’s what you’re going to see when you’re a young quarterback. So all of this that he’s getting I think is great work, it’s valuable, and I’ve been pleased with how he’s handled it.”"

Jul 31, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes against Titans defensive lineman Karl Klug (97) during his first day of training camp at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

On why the defense has yet to register an interception on the rookie, cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson responded:

“He’s throwing it where only his receivers can catch the ball. That’s good for us because it gives us a chance to make plays on a quarterback who’s very protective of the football, and that’s always somebody you want to try to get the ball from.”

It’s always a great sign for a rookie quarterback when he makes an early impression on his teammates during training camp. There is no doubt in my mind that Mariota will face some difficult times as a rookie, but it is good to see him flashing his potential early.

The Tennessee Titans have not had a solid reliable quarterback since Steve McNair. Maybe Mariota can become the next great quarterback in the Music City.

There is no doubt that the early reports from training camp has Titans fans buzzing with excitement. No matter how the season exactly turns out the renewed excitement in Nashville will make the Titans an exciting team to watch in 2015.

Next: Are The Tennessee Titans Playoff Contenders In 2015?

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