Mariota Sharp Despite Mixed Bag Performance by Titans

It may only be the preseason but football is back!  I have already seen the overreactions on Twitter regarding last nights 31-17 loss to the Packers at Lambeau.  This forces me to be the voice of reason and trust me, nobody wants that to be the case.  It’s just the preseason, there’s very little to see here, move along.  With that being said there were a few takeaways of note to keep a further eye on the rest of the preseason.

Mariota Is A Quick Study

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was sharp in his very limited action yesterday.  I don’t think anyone really expected many snaps from the first stringers but Mariota made the most of his.  Mariota completed two of three pass attempts for 42 yards and a four-yard touchdown pass to roster hopeful Darius Jennings.  It’s worth noting Mariota was also showing off his running ability after he scooted for seven yards.  The biggest takeaway from Mariota’s performance was how quickly he picked up on the new scheme.  This is his third head coach in four seasons and he appeared to already have an excellent grasp on LaFleur’s offense.

Luke Falk Pushing For Backup Duties

Rookie quarterback Luke Falk came into the game and showcased exactly why the Titans made a point to draft him.  Falk came in and put up a respectable stat line completing 10 of 19 passes for 105 yards and touchdown.  His night was more impressive than current backup Blaine Gabbert.  Gabbert completed 9 of 15 passes for 76 yards.  What was most impressive was that both quarterbacks displayed good poise in game action and no turnovers were committed.  Falk just appeared to display a better command of the offense.  Either way, the battle for who will be the backup to Mariota is one to watch the rest of the preseason.

The Rest Of The Training Camp Questions Are Murky

Some of the more pressing questions about what the Titans are going to do going forward were left even murkier than before.  The running back battle was left with no answers either.  Derrick Henry was more efficient in the running game but Dion Lewis held a slight edge in snaps played.  Neither did anything to stand out from the other.

On the defensive end, the secondary was solid but failed to do anything impressive.  The pass rush was a bright spot, second-round draft pick Harold Landry stood out in particular.  Landry was frequently in the Packers’ backfield, managing to sack Packers quarterback Brett Hundley and forcing a fumble.

What To Watch For Going Forward

In short, look for the Titans secondary to improve as the preseason continues.  All eyes should be on the backup quarterback battle and the running back battle for more clarity going forward.  Will Rashaan Evans make his NFL debut next week?  Lots of questions left to answer, and that just makes the preseason more exciting.