NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Marcus Mariota has some big things working against him.
No. 1 is a Rams defense run expertly by Wade Phillips, 12th overall and sixth against the pass.
Next is a coaching staff that often seems reluctant to fully trust him and let him open things up, and that was completely thrown off a game plan in Arizona when the QB twisted a knee.
And then there are his weapons. Even the best have let him down with mistakes recently, but after Delanie Walker and Rishard Matthews, who can he trust? Eric Decker will be in the right spot for sure, but he’s not getting the sort of separation that gives Mariota very big windows. Corey Davis seems to be fighting himself. Taywan Taylor is not consistently dependable.
Oh, and he’s got a left hamstring that I reported two weeks ago remained an issue and a potential offseason