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Marcus Mariota looked great on the move Wednesday

pickers vodka 847x63NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Some thoughts out of the first OTA practice I’ve seen this summer.

Mobile QB being mobile: Marcus Mariota is being put on the move more, just as we expected in a Matt LaFleur offense. He looked great throwing on the run. I’m not allowed to detail the play, but there was one I’ve been looking for this team to run for some time and I can totally see it as part of their arsenal.

Mike Vrabel said he prefers to rush a stationary target because he didn’t have great wheels to track down a moving one. The Titans will play to people’s stengths and Mariota running and throwing is a strength for him. Vrabel said he, and his coaches, will just need to be sure he takes care of the ball and his body.

One other QB note: Back-of-the-line wide receivers are getting chances with the front-of-the-line quarterback.

Marcus Mariota to Zach Pascal. #Titans

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Vrabel’s line of the day: “Sometimes players tune out coaches. But they rarely tune out teammates.”

Fortnite: Taylor Lewan was among the players who got Vrabel to sign off on a team Fortnight competition. I admit to not knowing the game. But guys from offense and defense are pairing up as teams and a rookie has to play with a veteran. They’ll whittle things down to a winner by the end of the minicamp June 14. Announcements are made at morning meetings about teams that have been eliminated. “RIP,” Vrabel said.

Hail, Michigan: Vrabel said in the podcast I recorded with him Tuesday night that he was a Michigan lean as a recruit for a while before he committed to Ohio State. So I was really surprised when Michigan’s fight song, "Hail to the Victors," played in the mix before practice started.

A smiling Vrabel said Lewan has infiltrated the music system and it wouldn’t happen again.

Out: Kevin Dodd and Phillip Supernaw were not on the field, though Walker said Supernaw was in the building and he was later spotted by a reporter. Rishard Matthews and Jack Conklin didn’t work. DaQuan Jones did some work on his own. Michael Campanaro might not have finished the session.

Fight: There was a pretty good fight. I don’t care much about a practice fight. Lots of reporters tend to make them into a huge deal. They are bound to happen and if no one is hurt they don’t generally matter much.

But the one between offensive lineman John Theus and defensive lineman Matt Dickerson was notable only because we saw a team policy in effect. Vrabel loudly threw them both out of practice and later said fighting gets you thrown out of games, it’ll get guys tossed from practice and the Titans don’t have time for it.

Theus trailed Dickerson into the locker room by 15 or 20 yards and I wondered where their lockers are in proximity to one another and what things would be like once they both got in there.

Anthem: Vrabel spoke to the team about the NFL’s new policy for the national anthem. He said when the time comes they will be able to make a choice under the league’s guidelines with the backing of Amy Adams Stunk and the organization.

Ending deal: Delanie Walker is entering the final year of his contract but said he thinks he can play four more years and would like to retire a Titan.

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