Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is no stranger to injury.
Of course, this is partly due to the past failures of some of those around him, but it’s also important to note the quarterback isn’t afraid of taking risks either.
Since being drafted in 2015, Mariota has been known for his ability to use his legs to make plays, and for making some gutsy decisions on the run to help the team move the chains.
General manager Jon Robinson wants him to proceed with caution in 2019, and avoid taking unnecessary hits that could land him on the sidelines once more.
Robinson recently spoke on the topic with MMQB’s Albert Breer.
“The thing I’ve stressed to him, and I know our coaches have stressed to him is, ‘Let’s live to play another play,'” Robinson said of Mariota. “Don’t take that hit. If you feel the pocket coming down on you and you take off running, and the ‘backer is coming off of coverage and he’s coming screaming at you, throw the ball away. It’s OK to punt, we’ll get another crack at it. That’s the main thing, it’s stressing to him-to try as best as possible, like all quarterbacks do, to avoid getting hit.”
Fortunately for the quarterback, Robinson has made some solid moves between free agency and the 2019 NFL Draft to give him some added protection and more reliable targets to open up the passing game so he’s not forced to run as much.
As Mariota enters the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, staying healthy will continue to stay at the top of the priority list as he moves forward into the season.
