Ken Whisenhunt Raves About Mariota Classroom Time
March 24th, 2015
Joe is live in Phoenix at the NFL Owners Meetings dining with AFC coaches today.
Fun stuff, and it got intriguing when Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt talked about Marcus Mariota.
“I spent probably about an hour and a half in the classroom with Marcus and he was very impressive,” Whisenhunt said. “You know, a lot of people said, ‘He’s in the spread offense and he doesn’t have to do a lot.’ But that’s not true. He’s got to change protections. He’s got to adjust his receivers. There’s a lot of things going on that he has to do before the ball is snapped. And then, he has to go through his reads. So I learned a lot about that from the standpoint of spending some time with him.”
Whisenhunt said spread quarterbacks don’t scare him as a group. It’s a case-by-case basis, he said, and Mariota has all the tools he seeks: “leadership, smart, accurate thrower, can extend the play.”
Asked whether Mariota’s quiet demeanor was getting overblown, Whisenhunt wouldn’t answer directly but said he likes to look at the chemistry of how a quarterback interacts with his guys and how they respect him.
“Two and a half hours after the [University of Oregon] Pro Day was over, and five [Oregon] receivers and the center stayed to work with [Mariota] for us, which was a great benefit for us,” Whisenhunt said. “One of the things when you work out a guy individually, it’s hard to get receivers, it’s hard to get bodies to do that. So, those guys staying, that’s a great sign of his leadership ability. So demeanor, whatever you say about that, the guys love him.”
March 24th, 2015 at 10:43 am
Throw’em a bone Joe.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:47 am
Lovie’s taking the good Christian boy. Sorry 87, Jesus wins.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:49 am
That’s right and its smart go ahead and drive up the price knowing your not going to take him. no other team needs to know your leaning defensive end, let em trade up for mariotta. the way fans talk here you would think we were the only ones with a bad team and no one can say with a clear conscious that titans are better than this team, they won a game more than us with all their coaching staff in tact. Whisenhunt is the one who should be bluffing, he is the one who can go in any direction with the 2nd pick
March 24th, 2015 at 10:57 am
Bucrightoff….who should I believe everyone at the combine and NFL owners meeting or you?
That’s a tough call. Hmmmm
Ha ha ha ha ha whatever!
March 24th, 2015 at 10:57 am
Love Mariotta, but winston is OUR guy.
March 24th, 2015 at 10:58 am
Whisenhunt is trying to trick lovie into taking duck
March 24th, 2015 at 11:06 am
87, you know Lovie’s making the pick. And you know you can’t trust him. And you know he loves Jesus and is looking for a Christ loving QB. And Dungy is in his ear 24/7 and you know he’s listening to Papa Tony.
Bright side though is it ensures Lovie gets fired, and we all win in that scenario.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:17 am
Jameis is too slow to play in the NFL. He won’t last behind the Bucs O-line. How long before more ghost fumbles? And FHRITP jokes?
March 24th, 2015 at 11:18 am
still think both QB’s are not worthy of 1st pick. Trade down and getting 1st round DE and LT would be better additions. L.Williams or Fowler with Erving, Collins or Flowers…
March 24th, 2015 at 11:21 am
@MariotaOrWinstonOrWalkdaPlank
…Agreed. Watched more tape of Winston. That was a pretty good line he played behind. Most throws, he had plenty of time to do the big windup and hit the target. Throw some Buc O-Line chaos at him and see what happens. Wont be pretty…
March 24th, 2015 at 11:26 am
Hmmmm, why would Ken Wisenhunt make a public comment about this? I smell a bluff
March 24th, 2015 at 11:55 am
@ bucco brice
You nailed it man! I was looking at some Winston tape and WOW! he had about 6-7 seconds to throw, THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN THE NFL (Unless you’re the Dallas Cowboys, lol)
#MariotaorBUST
March 24th, 2015 at 11:55 am
You heard it here first:
Winston, ironically, will be another Testaverde. Their size, college careers and the talent that surrounded them are similar. Both had howitzers for arms, lacked mobility but known for their leadership. When put behind awful O-lines (see Winston when under pressure last year and Vinny with Bucs) they make silly interceptions and respond poorly.
Winston will be a serviceable QB but never fully live up to his #1 overall billing and will occassionally squeak his teams into the playoffs but never have enough to take a team all the way. I believe the upside with Mariota is much higher, as well as the downside. The Bucs are years away from competing for a SB and thus should take Mariota with the expectation that his talent will grow with a young offense.
March 24th, 2015 at 11:59 am
LOL so now we’re making jokes about the winstons team and how he had success? so playing in a prostyle offense behind a good offensive line is more of a risky pick than playing in a gimmick offense hahahaha i cannot wait for the draft so the debate is over and the skills show up in the preseason for both
March 24th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Shivermetimbers: way to generalize. They were also both black QBs from the south right?
March 24th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
It appears that most of the people on this site completely talk out of their arss. To say that Winston is not mobile is truly a joke. I will give that Mariota has better straight line speed and may be the better pure athlete. However, Jameis is not a statue back there. He moves the way a QB is suppose to while keeping his eyes down field. Just go back and watch his run during the OK State game and tell me he can’t move.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Whisenhunt: (to be read fast)….”Step right up folks, don’t be shy…I have for auction (trade) a fine specimen, hardly used. Doesn’t talk much…. seems to play football and perhaps otherwise only travels to church and back. Demeanor, you ask?…is he overly quiet you ask?…I won’t directly answer that…but what I can say is that the guys seem to like him. Can’t you just see him there on your team? What might you be willing to give in return? Your first rounder this year and next in addition to a second and some other players to sweeten the deal perhaps? Make the trade now… You’ll be glad you did.. I promise you won’t hear a peep out of him”…….total smokescreen.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
I have been saying at least twice on this site that Winston had elite college talent around him.
With below average NFL talent in front of him (o-line) he will look nothing like what folks saw at FSU.
All this “throws his receivers open” is bunk because in so many cases he had an inordinate amount of time to throw….
March 24th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
What are you talking about….Famous Porky Jameis is slower than the Big Poodle!! At least Glennon is smart enough (and just barely agile enough) to keep from getting killed behind the Buc’s O line. If you think Famous Porky is going to have time to set his feet and heave the ball…you are sadly mistaken. He was playing against boys in college…the MEN of the NFL will kick his Famous Porky butt!
Watch the film in the Oregon game where the ref out runs Jameis on a broken play!! That is sad….can you imagine the Big Poodle covering a Buc’s practice and outrunning Famous Porking down the side line!!
Greg Schiano
March 24th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
MariotaOrWinstonOrWalkdaPlank Says:
March 24th, 2015 at 11:17 am
Jameis is too slow to play in the NFL. He won’t last behind the Bucs O-line. How long before more ghost fumbles? And FHRITP jokes?
———–
Lol Winston is faster than Brady. Mariota has well documented fumble problems, lookup Mariota’s ghost fumble TD against UCLA he was lucky the ball bounced back to him.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Winston will find life in the NFL much different than playing in that mighty ACC. I foresee many sideline temper tantrums, like when he and his Noles were getting pounded by Mariota and his Ducks, and muliple suspensions. Baseball here he comes. PICK MARIOTA
March 24th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
LOL P’Cola – that was good.
Yea – Whisenhunt is talking up Mariota – yet strangely – he will not be drafting him – even if no acceptable deals are offered.
Tennessee would have Winston’s name on a card to King Goodell in about 10 seconds if we were stupid enough to not take Winston – but they will not be drafting Mariota. It’s either trade down or Leonard Williams for the Titans.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
@MarshallU
Not to mention that mighty SEC that he also went undefeated against while in college.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Mariota’s going to have a lot more days sitting on the bench alone with his helmet on while his team is getting crushed like what Ohio State did to them while playing their 3rd string QB.
March 24th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
Nothing said here is news that we didn’t already know. Of course if you listen to the Mariota haters here they would tell you none of this is true and Mariota is a terrible QB who can barely tie his shoelaces.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Say what you want about Winston, I absolutely loved how he handled his receivers and running backs when they were down. He was a true leader who inspired his team on many occasions. You can bet when his team is down, he won’t be on the sideline with his helmet or with a towel over his head.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Mariota is incredibly talented. I see in him a cross between Russell Wilson and Steve Young…only taller, stronger and faster than either of the other two!
Waterboy…speaking of getting “crushed”, what was the score of that Oregon/FSU Rose Bowl game again?
March 24th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
@Jeagan1999
TELL HIS A$$!!!
MARIOTA OR BUST
THE FUTURE IS COMING!!!!
March 24th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
@Jeagan
How many National Championships did Oregon win?
March 24th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
@ Pickgrin
Thanks Pickgrin…..I enjoy your posts as well. I do believe Mariota will fall somewhat, but I believe that a QB needy team may still trade up for him.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Waterboy….I never said anything about Mariota winning a National Championship. I’m well aware he did not….in fact I’m happy he did not because I am a diehard Ohio State Buckeye fan!!! I just find it a little ironic that you would consider Oregon’s 42-20 loss “getting crushed”….but not FSU’s 59-22 loss to Oregon in the Rose bowl a few days earlier!
March 24th, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Mariota!
March 24th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
You Mariota people have become a joke to me….I laugh at all of you.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Oooooooh Ahhhhhhhhh Mariota.
“Mariota or bust!”
“Mariota is going to be the pick I’m telling ya”
This is pure stand up comedy.
Some of you Mariota lovers have given in and came to the realization that the pick will be Winston. As for the stragglers…well perhaps they’re just a little slow to figure things out. They’ll catch up eventually.
March 24th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
I’ve posted this before but will post it again. There’s a lot of people that watch football but don’t know football and get caught up in stats and the overall outcome of the game without really looking at or evaluating the individual players. Watch this film breakdown of the two QB’s in that game. This guy did a great explaining the spread-option scheme and showing how the type of reads and throws that they make are not the same as what they will be expected to make at the pro-level.
The Film Room Ep 03: Marcus Mariota vs Florida State (2015 Rose Bowl): https://youtu.be/TCcm2Vl4TNs
The Film Room Ep 04: Jameis Winston vs Oregon in the 2015 Rose Bowl: https://youtu.be/PYa6S6UA0MU
March 24th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Waterboy…I don’t even know why we’re talking about Mariota anymore…
Somebody please explain why we are still talking about a QB that won’t be picked by our team.
March 24th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
I’ve cut back way back from wasting my time and even engaging in these debates like I used to but occasionally I’ll come out here and get sucked in.
March 24th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
[…] already shared Whisenhunt’s early breakfast nugget, when he explained to Joe and other assembled media that Marcus Mariota did fantastic, impressive classroom work with the […]
March 24th, 2015 at 4:23 pm
Ok maybe Whisenhunt believes all this great things he said about Mariota. However, everyone accuses Lovie of smoke screens It may actually be true because Lovie, despite being a good Christian, seems compelled to lie about all things regarding his team. He is blowing a lot of smoke even though we have the 1st pick.
However, Whisenhunt truly does have a reason to blow smoke. They have the 2nd pick and there is a good chance they could get a kings ransom from Philly or some other desperate team for that pick. If Whisenhunt likes Mariota then he is just being honest. However, even if he thinks Mariota is going nowhere, he would still rave about him in the hopes that someone would make an RGIII type offer. Of all the teams in this draft I think TN and Wash have the most reason to proclaim their love of Mariota, real or not.
March 28th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
[…] told Joe and other assembled media at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix this week that he would make Mariota his Day 1 starter. But Joe talked to a trusted NFL source later that day, and the source told Joe that […]