Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota is making an impression at Organized Team Activities. Not with his arm so much as with his feet.
After practicing against Mariota for the first time, Titans linebacker Zach Brown was surprised by what he saw.
“He is faster than I thought,” Brown told the Tennessean. “He is an athletic quarterback. He didn’t win the Heisman for nothing. One time he took off – I was guarding Delanie [Walker] – and I turned around and I was like, ‘Where is he?’ He is fast. He impressed me. He is still a rookie and he has to learn, but he is a cool guy. I haven’t seen him get frustrated yet.”
Brown, who ran track at North Carolina, is one of the NFL’s fastest linebackers. He knows speed when he sees it. And he’s impressed with the speed displayed by Mariota.
Still, Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt cautions that it’s way too early to get overly excited about Mariota.
“It’s a process. That’s why you want to give him as many reps as you can, to get him more comfortable, get him prepared,” Whisenhunt said. “I guess the best assessment would be some good, some bad, probably probably what you’d expect.”
It’s nice that Mariota has impressed as a runner, but Whisenhunt will only be happy when Mariota impresses as a passer.
