It goes without saying that the offseason is a crucial time for players to get prepared for the new year, especially when nursing an injury. Fortunately, quarterback Marcus Mariota was able to avoid having to do so for the first time in his career.
This can pay huge dividends for his development as the Titans' franchise player. According to Jason Wolf of the Tennessean, Mariota will focus on keeping himself healthy for the entire 2018 NFL season:
“I think it comes with playing the game, having experience,” Mariota said. “Obviously there’s a time when the journey’s ending, and you have to just understand that and either get down or throw the ball away. I think the last three years I’ve kind of learned when that time is. Obviously there’s a time and a place to try to extend plays and try to get a first down; at the same time there’s also opportunities for us as quarterbacks to protect ourselves, and we have to understand that and understand the situation.”
There is no doubt that being a mobile quarterback comes with its fair share of risks. This style of play often exposes Mariota to more hits than normal quarterbacks which ultimately adds to the rigors that come with playing a full season. That was certainly the case when he spent most of last offseason nursing a fractured right fibula. That said, Mariota has gotten a taste of what it is like to focus on just football rather than dealing with an injury and he is looking to keep it going for years to come.
Just because he plans to be a bit more self-aware, does not mean there will be any significant changes to his play style. Mariota's ability to create plays with his arm and his legs makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Limiting him to the pocket would be a restriction on his dynamic skill set. However, Tennessee must still be wary of the number of hits he takes moving forward.
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