After the Titans removed the interim part of head coach Mike Mularkey’s title this offseason, Mularkey said that he hoped to build an “exotic smashmouth” offense and the team acquired running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry and offensive linemen Ben Jones and Jack Conklin to give them players they hope can help implement that physical style of play.
While the Titans are trying to put that approach in place, they are also trying to help Marcus Mariota grow as he moves into his second season as an NFL starter. If things go according to plan with the running game, Mariota may not have as many opportunities to show that growth in the 2016 season although he says that’s not a problem for him if it works for the team.
“That’s a lot of talent and a lot of excitement,” Mariota said while at a football camp in Williamsburg, Virginia, via the Daily Press. “Now it’s on our shoulders to bring that together, build a chemistry for the season, and hopefully lead to some wins. I told Coach Mike that I’ll hand the ball off 40 times a game if we win games. That’s what’s important to me, to giving us an opportunity to win. Having those two workhorses back there should help us out.”
Hitting 40 rushing attempts a game might be a stretch, but any significant uptick should bode well for both Mariota and the Titans. If defenses are focused on stopping the run, there should be chances for Mariota to make plays down the field with matchups in their favor. Hitting them should lead to more points and leads that would set the Titans up to use their two new backs and upgraded offensive line to run clock on the way to a rise in victories.
