Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has his fair share of doubters as he enters the fifth and final year of his rookie deal.
Even more so, now that the Titans have brought on former Miami Dolphins signal-caller Ryan Tannehill to serve as an insurance policy and push him.
Since, some have called for Tannehill to be given a shot, while others say him seeing action is inevitable due to Mariota’s extensive injury history.
But head coach Mike Vrabel still seems confident Mariota will prove to be the team’s franchise quarterback.
And the former Oregon Duck has put in all the necessary work this offseason to prepare himself.
“When you make a commitment to the QB you want to make sure that this is going to be your guy for the next 7-10 years when you look at the percentage of the cap quarterbacks are driving,” Vrabel told Robert Klemko of SI.com.
“Nobody is more proud of what Marcus has done in the offseason than me. He’s come back stronger, bigger, with greater understanding of what we’re doing offensively, being able to communicate it to players the field. I don’t look at the lack of a long-term extension as a negative, though that’s what people try to make it. I know Marcus’s demeanor and that won’t change whether he’s on a 10-year contract or its up after the season. He’s that type of person. So I know it’ll work because of how he is.”
Titans general manager Jon Robinson has done a fine job putting the pieces in place for Mariota this offseason, signing players like guard Rodger Saffold for protection and wide receiver Adam Humphries to open up the passing game.
It will be up to Mariota now to show he has what it takes, when the regular season kicks off on Sept. 8 against the Cleveland Browns.
