NASHVILLE
Authentic Chukwuma Okorafor Jersey , Tenn. (AP) Tennessee offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie might have been the happiest person at practice
watching quarterback Marcus Mariota look like, well, Mariota.
The quarterback brushed aside a safety with a stiff-arm on his way to a big run.
When Mariota is running, the Titans are usually all smiles because their offense shows signs of life.
Article continues below ... ”That’s what we know he’s capable of doing, and when he’s capable of doing that, it helps our offense again I’ll tell you probably 80 percent,” Robiskie
said Wednesday. ”I hate to say that
http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/arden-key-jersey , but if he can’t do that or he’s in position that he can’t do that or that don’t
happen, we’re not the offense we’re trying to be.”
Mariota ran a career-high 10 times for a season-high 60 yards to help the Titans earn their first playoff berth since 2008. Better yet, teammates saw a
swagger in Mariota as he got off the ground and stared down a defender to make
them confident their quarterback is feeling good, possibly even as he did before
a broken right leg ended his 2016 season a game early.
”That’s old Marcus, before the injury,” Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey. ”That’s him. This is the Marcus I been waiting to see — him using them
legs and making things happen. We need to see that more out of him going
forward.”
Titans coach Mike Mularkey loved Mariota’s body language, and now the Titans (9-7) need their quarterback who won the 2014 Heisman Trophy to keep running
Saturday when they visit Kansas City (10-6) for an AFC wild-card game.
”We’re at that point right now when every man needs to do whatever he can
49ers Jeremiah Attaochu Jersey , whatever it takes, to make this thing go,” Mularkey said. ”It was good to see what he did the other night. Obviously,
it helped us win the football game. I think it helped him gain a little
confidence too that he can do more.”
An NFL quarterback needing a confidence boost sounds unusual, but Mariota’s third season with the Titans has easily been his worst statistically with a
career-low 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Mariota has a career-high five
TDs rushing, but the quarterback who missed six quarters in October with a
strained left hamstring had his lowest average per carry yet at 5.2 yards per
attempt.
The Titans dropped from third in the NFL in rushing last season to 15th this season.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid has seen enough of Mariota after the quarterback led a game-winning drive late last season to know they have to be careful when he
starts running.
”You don’t ever get tricked by that kind of speed that he has,” Reid said. ”When he kicks that thing into overdrive
Cheap Tracy Walker Jersey , he can go, so you have to stay very disciplined with him. That will be one of the challenges for my defense.”
Mariota, who converted four first downs with his legs in the fourth quarter of last week’s 15-10 win over the Jaguars , said he just took advantage of how
Jacksonville was playing the Titans. Mariota says running came partially from
feeling better and simple necessity.
”At this point in time, every guy is probably not going to feel 100 percent,” Mariota said. ”It’s just that time of the year. With the magnitude of these
games, you’ve got to win these games. You’re going to find a way to make a play
and hopefully help your team win.”
Mariota has heard a lot from friends and fans on how he stiff-armed Jaguars safety Barry Church. So does he think he has his ”swagger” back just in time for
his NFL playoff debut?
”It was just me being me
Authentic Jason Sanders Jersey ,” Mariota said. ”Again, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. This is the time in the season where you’ve just got
to lay it all on the line.”
Notes: Derrick Henry said Wednesday he was not happy at all with his performance last week with 28 carries for 51 yards. He took a screen 66 yards
for the Titans’ lone offensive touchdown. But Henry said he didn’t feel like a
workhorse back and ”kind of felt soft.” Henry says he hasn’t stopped thinking
about that game since the game ended and has been working hard to be better. …
RB DeMarco Murray (right knee), CB Logan Ryan and S Da’Norris Searcy (illness)
and CB Brice McCain (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.
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