Marcus Mariota And The Bucs
February 19th, 2015
When Marcus Mariota stepped up to Podium-C at the NFL Combine media center to have his much anticipated press conference this afternoon, the very first question (which came from Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune) asked how he would react if the Bucs drafted Jameis Winston.
Mariota seemed to shrug his shoulders, as if to say, “Your bad.”
“That doesn’t affect me at all,” Mariota said. “That is going to be their opinion, that is going to be their decision. All I can really control is how I prepare and get ready for whatever team picks me.”
Mariota insisted in one aspect, he is no different than any other quarterback.
“Any player will stand in front of you and tell you they are confident in their abilities,” Mariota said. “I am no different. I feel like what I have been able to do in college has prepared me for [the NFL] level.”
To hear more of Mariota, click the arrow below. Audio player courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
February 19th, 2015 at 4:48 pm
The Glazers will have Lovie draft Marcus and if Lovie doesn’t produce a winning team then the owners will bring in Chip Kelly to right the ship.
February 19th, 2015 at 4:50 pm
That’s it ladies and gentleman. “Jim” has spoken. Prepare for Mariota’s name to be called.
So let it be written, so let it be done
February 19th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
He conducted a pretty good press conference.
February 19th, 2015 at 5:07 pm
Marcus Mariota is a classy young man that you can trust to be the face of your franchise. No worries with him whatsoever
February 19th, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Eric, I had an opposite reaction to his presser. He seemed very nervous and unsure of himself. Did not speak with an authoritative voice and rarely made eye contact with his audience. it seemed very Josh Freemanish.
February 19th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
I guess he has not talked with TIM TEBOW
February 19th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
I hope the Winston lovers had a chance to chatch Chris Landry with the Big Dog this afternoon on 620…..
Very, very interesting……trained eye, unbiased…..
February 19th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Chris Landry is an idiot.
A day after Licht comes out and says that the Bucs absolutely have “a favorite” right now, Landry guarantees that the Bucs don’t have a favorite. The guy’s a plagiarizing moron that won the football scout lottery somehow and gets to make a living talking about the game. He’s the luckiest man alive and it’s a shame the plagiarism scandal didn’t ruin his career for good.
February 19th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Interesting tidbit, Bucs also interviewed another spread quarterback twice today, comes from a spread option system just like Mariota. Looks too me like Bucs are picking Mariota
February 19th, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Connor Halliday is his name
February 19th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
The Bucs want SPREAD! 1st Chip Kelly was wanted then LOVIE wanted Tedford another spread guy… Somebody with major influence wants a spread system its obvious
February 19th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
OMG did he actually say that he sees his biggest adjustment to the NFL is going to be huddling? ROFL you can’t make this crap up. Imagine if Jameis said that, how the HATERS would be just crushing him right now
Hey Marcus, you stand in a semicircle about 8 yards from the line of scrimmage, regurgitate what the OC just said into your headset and then say “break” and clap your hands. Easy peasy.
Now, let’s get to work on adjusting to the size and speed of the pro game, taking a snap from under center, reading a defense, and making 5 step drops.
LOLing at the people that think this kid is ready to play in the NFL
February 19th, 2015 at 5:51 pm
I read a quick thing on Halliday and it’s striking how similar his and Mariotas football back grounds are. Things are adding up to is taking Mariota
February 19th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
haha we interviewed a 7th rd draft prospect from Washington and that means we’re taking Mariota? This is just getting pathetic
February 19th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
@youpeoplearesodumb:
If you think so.. (actually Freeman was a pretty nice guy coming out of college – huble etc.) got no problem with that
Winston: He plays like Freeman on the field (later years) – thats a problem to me (especially 1st pick) – overlooking coverage in (especially) medium range passes..
but
Freeman was pretty good bombing long throws, just as Winston is – no top notch accuracy, but better deep balls than Mariota absolutely (i think)
+ Winston realy shows los of the same traits that Freeman did, but with better Fooball IQ(yeah, its all just my opinion) – and i dont realy think that´s a knock against him – i think he is an good QB overall, but well overhyped..
and it´s not what i would prefer as a coach (i realy like the thoght process behind building up an sheme.. which doesn´t make me an expert or anything, in the end, football is no rocket science, as many want you make you believe..)
I simply prefer the Mariota style of QBing.. like his skill set also, would like the Bucs to “get up to date” offense and letting this SuperMariota-kid doing his thing – he CAN be successfull for damn sure (just like winston) – it´s just about HOW you gonna do it..
Safe efficient approach?
Great face of the franchise – a guy, you can proudly cheer for, because “he has it in his heart” and is a good football player??
Hell yeah, give me that QB! 🙂
February 19th, 2015 at 5:57 pm
If we had interviewed a 7th round pro style prospect you Winston blow Hards would be saying the same thing, connect the dots. We’re interviewing spread option quarterbacks
February 19th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Why would we be wasting our time interviewing spread option quarterbacks if we don’t plan on using the spread option, think about it.
February 19th, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Mariota is an intelligent, articulate and mature young man (aside from having all the physical skills you would want in a QB). All important qualities to have in a QB and the face of your franchise! Especially the intelligence and maturity. Young QB’s are going to get frustrated at times as they learn how to play in the NFL. A mature QB doesn’t allow himself to get overly frustrated or try to force the natural progression. A less mature QB get’s angry, upset and tries to do things they shouldn’t. It seldom works out well!
February 19th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Connor Holliday makes more sense as a backup plan to trading down…..Unless we are considering drafting Mariota & Holliday…..running a spread option offense with Holliday as backup……sounds crazy…but Washington & Carolina drafted two QBs in one year…
February 19th, 2015 at 6:17 pm
Make way for Mr. Chubbie little hands…our next QB….eat all the crab and fish you want….low fat/ low carbs. Just make sure you pay for them.
February 19th, 2015 at 6:33 pm
it’s nice to know that after an afternoon of looking as lost as josh freeman on the field, he will be able to give really crisp interviews. it will also help me to know he is super wholesome while he struggles with being in completely over his head at the pro level.
February 19th, 2015 at 6:36 pm
*by “he” i mean the super nice super clean and well spoken marcus mariotta, who will spend his rookie year grasping things that winston has been doing since high school (like huddling, regularly hitting secondary reads, and taking non-shotgun snaps) unless we completely reconfigure our team for him
February 19th, 2015 at 6:53 pm
It doesn’t take a GED to figure out how to huddle and take snaps from under center! Its easier instead of catching the ball its handed to you….Yeah real hard adjustment
February 19th, 2015 at 7:50 pm
There is a difference between confidence and arrogance.
Mariota is confident…has an “I owe the team” attitude.
Winston is arrogant…has a “the team owes me” attitude.
Don’t be surprised if Winston holds out…and then busts.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Mariota might lull the other team to sleep.
Could be his secret weapon.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:10 pm
Yeah…here is the choice….a guy 15 lbs lighter with a frame to put on twenty pounds of muscle, or a guy 20 lbs heavier that is there after losing 20 lbs, that still that came in flabby. Which guy has more to add to his frame? And which one looks to have a potential “eat your way out of the league” issue. Oh yeah, I remember, no worries…the guy has a history of personal self-control….
February 19th, 2015 at 8:21 pm
Wonder if Chip Kelley is regreting not accepting the Buccanner job now. He could have Mariota and work his magic with him. How many other coaches in the NFL will be able to change their schemes to successfully fit Mariota’s skill set?
February 19th, 2015 at 8:24 pm
Bonzai,
That same argument can be spun differently. MM thinks “I” need to do better vs Winston thinking “we” need to do better.
MM is passive, Winston is aggressive. Either attitude can succeed or fail depending on the teammates. Brady and Rivers are fiery like Winston is, Eli and Wilson are calm and composed like MM. Both personalities can and have worked.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:25 pm
Do people really think that our current receiving core can run a spread offense? Get outta here!! Implementing such a drastic change doesn’t consist of getting a spread QB and that’s it. Mike Evans and Vincent might be the worst spread receiving duo in the league.
If we draft Mariota, it’s because we think he can be a good pocket QB with the ability to run and move in the pocket, not to run the spread. My guess though, and all signs point to, Jameis is our guy. Everyone but Winston haters know it… and even they probably know it, just refuse to believe it.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:30 pm
ADown…what signs? There is so much smoke and misdirection that no one likely knows or has truly decided. At most, there may be leanings…trading down wouldn’t even be too big a surprise…if the compensation was adequate.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:34 pm
That dull, monotone demeanor is really gonna fire up the troops in the 4th quarter against a division rival when the game is on the line. That is, of course, if he gets the whole “huddling” thing down.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:35 pm
Stupid question…
February 19th, 2015 at 8:52 pm
Tons of teams run a “spread offense” in college, and a good number of NFL teams do too at times. The factor that differentiates Oregon from other teams is not the spread, it’s the pace. The pace is doable at times in the NFL, but not consistently. Time of possession is a big deal in the NFL.
February 19th, 2015 at 9:17 pm
Supersam Says:
February 19th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Why would we be wasting our time interviewing spread option quarterbacks if we don’t plan on using the spread option, think about it.
____________________________________________________
I did and it’s still stupid to try and interpret what’s happening.
February 19th, 2015 at 10:04 pm
Where’s your source bucaneerbonzai? Winston says the tram owes him? Where are you getting that
February 19th, 2015 at 10:39 pm
I can’t wait til the day everyone realizes Mariota will be a failure just like Johnny Manziel on the field. Then, everyone will jump on the Winston wagon. Manziel had the same hype like Mariota because he’s an exciting player to watch on the field. Realistically, when looking at Winston tape, he had more clutch tight window throws than Mariota. Since Lovie is almost on the hot seat, he has to take the only ready NFL QB available, which is Winston. Sorry Mariotagang.
February 19th, 2015 at 11:42 pm
@P’cola…if Chip was here we wouldn’t be drafting top 5.
February 20th, 2015 at 8:23 am
If Lovie is concerned about ball security. Then Mariota will be the pick. Winston is a turnover machine in a weak conference. The NFL defenses will pick off Winston regularly. His delivery is slow and he stares down receivers.
Mariota has a quicker release point and delivers the ball out faster. That is huge in the NFL. The QB position in the NFL is all about making correct decisions. If Winston had to get in shape for the combine that should be very telling.
February 20th, 2015 at 10:00 am
Yungry:
It doesn’t take a GED to figure out how to huddle and take snaps from under center! Its easier instead of catching the ball its handed to you….Yeah real hard adjustment
———————–
going under center changes every one of your mechanics and actions after that point. the timing of every dropback and every route is different. it’s a big part of RG3’s struggles, to look at one particularly highly touted QB from an all-shotgun spread system. taking the snap is one thing, but then you have to learn to sync your dropback with your WR’s routes. so now you’re doing several things you never did naturally in college. in between doing your pro-style pre-snap read and thinking about which step and which foot to be on when you release the ball, you are having to secure the ball. oh by the way, you are also no longer getting your plays from giant boards on the sideline with cartoon characters on them.
February 22nd, 2015 at 1:44 am
Hey Pawel. Have you ever even seen an Oregon Duck game? Mariota is nothing like Manziel. Manziel is wild and freestyle quite the opposite I’d say. One thing is true, Mariota is exciting to watch. No matter what though, if you’re a #Winston guy you’re a #Winston guy and if you’re a #Mariota guy you’re a #Mariota guy. There’s no changing your mind. Credit to @BigDogwdae