2015 NFL Draft: Bowl Game Player Standouts Part 2
By Andy Miley
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scores on a 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against the Florida State Seminoles in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Oregoon defeated Florida State 59-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
QB: Marcus Mariota, Oregon
The quarterback makes quick reads by either getting rid of the ball in a hurry or full sprinting down the field. He has bouncy feet, moving around well in the pocket, and is extremely accurate within ten yards of the line of scrimmage. Mariota is downright scary when he full sprints away from pressure in the pocket, passing accurately down the field hitting receivers in stride. It’s almost like the quarterback prefers a heavy rush, so he can take advantage of the defense’s back-end. It is concerning when he tries throwing across his body as the ball flutters too much and is more likely to be intercepted.
The young signal caller gets over excited, at times, as he missed a wide open receiver by over 15 yards down field. He reminds me of a more athletically talented Colin Kaepernick. Mariota reads the backside defensive end and decides whether he should throw or run. When the quarterback decides to run, he is quite good at pitching the ball to a trailing runner to continue the play. This offensive weapon makes defenders miss in the open field and is more than capable to sprint 60 yards down the sidelines on the way to end zone. I’m not sure how comfortable Mariota will be running a pro style offense though.
Next: Mariota's top challenger for No. 1 pick