FLOWERY BRANCH GA — When Marcus Mariota He was trying to determine his immediate future as a NFL quarterback in March. was intrigued by the Atlanta Falcons.
They were familiar with the staff going back to Mariota’s time with Arthur Smith, the coach. Tennessee Titans. They offered a reasonable contract, two years, $18.75m and $6.75m guarantee. Most importantly, the Falcons offered the chance to start.
Mariota is a talented quarterback who has a history of weaving. Heisman Trophy at Oregon, to becoming the No. Titans drafted Mariota with the 2nd overall pick in 2015.
After playing for more than four seasons in Tennessee, he was benched and went to the Raiders for two seasons as a backup. Mariota realized that the chances of him starting in the league were rare when he was granted free agency for the second consecutive time.
Mariota was able to do exactly that when he signed in March with the Falcons. The team now has $80 million in deadcap money, money paid to players who are no longer on the team, and $8.6 million of cap space.
Yet, the Falcons remain tied for first in the NFC South at 4-4. This is partly due to Mariota’s play as well as how he fits in with the offense and locker rooms. Atlanta will be playing division rival Carolina at 8:15 on Thursday. ET, Prime Video). Mariota’s future beyond this season is unknown.
Mariota explained, “When i was going into free agency I kind of understood that, if I got the chance to play again it was really going be my last shot.” “Most guys don’t get a second chance.”
Mariota’s ability to do this with a system that he knew and with coaches that he was familiar with was important.
It was a brand new city, new personnel, and a franchise, which, literally hours before Mariota signed for the Falcons, had traded its longtime starter. Matt RyanAfter an unsuccessful pursuit of Deshaun Watson.
Mariota didn’t care about any of it. Mariota knew that this was his chance. To have a real future as an NFL starter — whether with the Falcons, or elsewhere — he had to play well.
Mariota said, “To be in a position to not only keep my job, but also have a chance to have a career here was important for me. And I am glad it’s here with these guys and Coach Smith and staff.” “Because, as I stated before, it was almost like a point of, just wie, redeeming myself after a previous stint that it was that I wanted to go here and prove that it is possible for me to do it,” Mariota said.
Mariota’s ability to do enough is still a question. Mariota has been in games where he looked just like the Oregon player. He made on-time throws, and used his running skills to frustrate defenses.
There have been games that he has had to correct the same issue as Tennessee, such as the one against San Francisco. He completed 92.9% and Carolina respectively. He had three games in which his completion percentage was below 60%, two of them under 55%.
He has attempted fewer that 25 passes this season in a run heavy offense. These games have seen the Falcons go 3-1.
Mariota is inconsistent. He completed 65% of his passes in consecutive weeks only once this season. It’s not all his fault. Sometimes numbers can be distorted. Throwaways in Atlanta’s offense can alter Mariota’s statistics more than other quarterbacks. His 201 pass attempts, which are the second-lowest among full-time starters, are the Falcons’ lowest — they average 33.7 rushes per game and 22.3 pass attempts. Atlanta’s 53.1% rate of designed rushes is the highest in the NFL, and its 46.9% rate of designed passes (including sacks and scrambles) is the lowest in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Chicago’s full-time starters have lower completion percentages than Mariota. Justin Fields, Denver’s Russell Wilson And the Jets’ Zach Wilson.
But, completion percentage is not always the complete story. Mariota is 9th in QBR, at 59.9 ahead of Justin Herbert And Joe Burrow. He will be asked to take longer shots. He is second in the league with 10.09 air yards per attempt, behind only Jameis Winston.
Mariota throws often deep. That logic would indicate a lower completion rate considering that 14.9% have attempted passes with 20 or more yards. This is sixth in the league, and fourth among full time starters. Mac JonesWilson, Fields, & Mariota completed 23.3% his throws of at least 20 yards. He is 32th in the league but has also attempted 30 passes, which tied him for ninth place in the NFL with Herbert.
“Those aren’t the highest percentage, right?” Mariota explained that while you are taking low percentage shots, it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. “Especially when we run the football, it creates just slightly of uncertainty on defense of what you’re trying.
Mariota has completed 33.2% (or more) of his throws of at least 20 yards in his career. He also completed 43% in his time in Tennessee as a starter, which was more than half of the passes he completed in 2016 and 2018. This is evidence that Mariota has potential to improve. Smith also stated that Atlanta must do better in this area.
Mariota was the Falcons’ quarterback when they signed him. They knew that his style would be very different from Ryan’s.
Dave Ragone, the offensive coordinator, said that when it comes down to looking at the position of quarterback, “I don’t think it is one size fits all.” Marcus gave us the opportunity offensively to take different routes and focus on things that were most appropriate for us.
Mariota is a quarterback with a unique ability. Sometimes his movements look more like a boxer performing a feint, or a point guard using jab-steps or shoulder-shimmy fakes. It is enough to knock a defender off their feet for a second.
Both have been done often this season, including Sunday against Chargers. In the middle of the third period, linebacker was at the Los Angeles 46-yard mark. Kenneth Murray Jr. Mariota did not bite on Murray’s play-action. This meant that Murray was still in the passing lane as Mariota rolled right.
Mariota feigned an upfield play. Murray moved inside, allowing Mariota to pass. Kyle Pitts A 9-yard completion is required and a first down is allowed.
Smith said, “Certainly, he has that instinct. And it’s how his been successful in the league and certainly coming up from Oregon.” He has a great feeling for space.
It was his childhood soccer that taught him how to maneuver defenders. Even today, he will go back to a game and say, “I did.” That?” When he sees himself moving another defender or, in his best example, from 2022 when he fell against the Rams and then jumped back up.
Mariota stated, “Sometimes,” “I really cannot explain it.”
Atlanta’s success is due to that feeling, which Smith’s offense has used to design runs, zone reads, and pre-snap motion. Pre-snap motion has been used by the Falcons on 329 plays. This is fifth in the league. It takes time to manage that offense. Add the Falcons’ play-action plays, which are second in the league and account for 48.3% of Atlanta’s dropbacks, and it can be a daunting task for many quarterbacks.
However, his ability to run or extend plays makes him extremely dangerous. In Week 8, he chose to run in overtime against Carolina, resulting in a 30-yard gain on his eventual winning drive.
Mariota is running more in Atlanta than ever before. He is now four carries away and 53 yards from his 2018 career-highs. He is a key component of the Falcons’ top five rushing offense.
Cordarrelle PattersonAccording to the Falcons running back, he said that watching Mariota run makes him “fired up” because of his style. He said they share something in common: Being hit is okay.
Patterson stated, “I just respect his a lot of different ways.”
Mariota was determined to become a pocket passer when he first entered the NFL. Toa his father and Matt his brother (who is currently playing in an English league as a quarterback) kept telling him that it was okay to run. To continue to apply the methods that worked well in Oregon for the pros. Mariota stated that playing this way is “a little more like me.”
“To have a mobile quarterback in this type offense, where we run a lot of the ball, defenses need to ask themselves if he is going to take off. “Is the back going take off?” receiver Drake London said. “Or is he going sit back and throw it to us? It gives us many different ways to get and disperse the ball.
Mariota is also more comfortable in his starter role. Mariota stated that he was adapting to his new role as a starter, running and passing, early in the season. In the past three weeks, he’s slid a lot to avoid getting hit, as he didn’t do so earlier in the season.
He is also more careful with the ball. Mariota lost three of his first five weeks’ interceptions and fumbled seven more times. In the last four games, he has only lost one. He has thrown four of his six interceptions in the first month and two against Carolina in Week 8, both on deep pass attempts, in the five previous games.
Mariota had to learn to do this offense, but he feels it suits his abilities.
Mariota stated that they do a great deal of hiding some run stuff I do. But also allowing me to play free in pass game, doing different things, such as play-action stuff or keepers stuff. It doesn’t necessarily have to be one thing. Because we do so many different things, I feel it allows me to express my talents and do what is best for me.
Another part of this isn’t known. Mariota’s calm presence is invaluable, especially for young teams. When running back Caleb Huntley Mariota settles his nerves after he enters into a game.
Mariota’s easygoing personality was a great asset to his team. Mariota might feel energized after a play. He might be more motivated than his teammates when he returns to the huddle.
Smith stated, “With Marcus, you’re going to find the truth.” “That’s what makes people like him.”
Mariota’s demeanor infused the locker room nearly immediately and hasn’t stopped since.
“His attitude on the field is easygoing, reassuring, but also very assertive,” offensive lineman. Chris Lindstrom said. He is an amazing player and a joy to be with. He is someone you just love because of the way he approaches work.
Although it may not seem like much, little things like this do matter. Mariota is loved by teammates and coaches.
London stated, “We have all faith in you.” “We have all faith in you, so we’re going to ride with you no matter what.”
This is not what the long-term picture looks like. The half-season is still to go. If he is on the team by the fifth day next league year, he will receive a $3,000,000 roster bonus. Mariota understands this. Mariota knows this because he has been there, both as a backup and starter, as well as a quarterback who helped his team reach the playoffs.
What is Mariota’s role in this year’s NFC South standings? Smith will be the main judge. He pointed out one thing: the Falcons’ standings in the NFC South.
Smith stated, “To be right there we are”, “in the middle”