After a nice preseason debut last week against the Atlanta Falcons, Marcus Mariota took it to another level on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. The second overall pick by the Tennessee Titans showed off plenty of touch, timing and the ability to throw on the run in a all-around performance.
Mariota's final line is certainly impressive, completing five-of-eight passes for 59 yards. His line could have been even better had Dexter McCluster not dropped a nine-yard touchdown on third down, costing the Titans four points and Mariota a six-of-nine, 68-yard and one-touchdown outing. Of course, Mariota's performance goes beyond the numbers as well.
St. Louis has a ferocious pass rush with Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn serving as the biggest wrecking balls amongst the group. Tennessee's offensive line isn't in the upper-echelon, which put Mariota to make plays under pressure. Some wondered if he could handle himself in the pocket, maneuvering around and still deliver strikes. He showed exactly that, navigating around the pressure with quick, subtle movements to buy time and keep surveying down field.
Naturally, Mariota also showed off his ability to throw on the run. The most notable play obviously coming when he slipped right past an incoming Donald, rolling out and delivering a perfect strike downfield. It's exactly the type of throw you see from a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers.
Mariota's ADP currently sits outside the top 150, usually the 22nd quarterback off the board in re-draft leagues. If he continues to shine in the preseason, that ADP will continue to climb and he could see himself rise into the Top 110 picks, possibly being seen as a top-15 fantasy quarterback this season.