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ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this Sept. 25 photo, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) fumbles the ball as Oakland Raiders defenders Jihad Ward (95) and Denico Autry (96) close in during an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. >> Marcus Mariota needs to get comfortable at home so he can match his NFL road success.
Music City has been the Tennessee Titans quarterback’s own personal house of horrors in his evolving pro career. Mariota is just 1-7 at home and has turned the ball over 17 times, something that must stop if the Titans are to start winning games in Nashville.
Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Wednesday Mariota’s turnovers have been the difference in some games.
“I couldn’t tell you exactly the reason why there’s more turnovers here than on the road,” Mularkey said. “It’s the same game. He’s playing the same. I can tell you that at a later date. I don’t know why, right now, that’s a big difference.”
Mariota has turned the ball over at least once in each home game with five fumbles and 12 interceptions since he came to the NFL last season. This season, he has five turnovers in just two home games.
The contrast with how he protects the ball on the road is so drastic that Mariota looks like a different quarterback. He had only four turnovers in six road games as a rookie and has yet to lose a fumble with only two interceptions combined in three road games this season.
Mariota is coming off a 30-17 win at Miami with no turnovers and three touchdown passes and a rushing TD. That marked his fourth game with four TDs, tying him with Giants quarterback Charlie Conerly (1948-49) for the most such performances over a quarterback’s first 17 starts.
Mariota has no idea why he’s played so much better on the road, but has a chance to figure things out when the Titans (2-3) host the winless Browns (0-5) on Sunday.
“I have to play better at home,” Mariota said. “We have to be able to come here and play well and to get some wins.”
Not turning the ball over would be a good place to start.
Mariota had two turnovers returned for touchdowns in the Titans’ season opener, a 25-16 loss to Minnesota. He was intercepted twice by Oakland in a 17-10 loss Sept. 25, the latest home loss for a franchise that is 1-9 since drafting Mariota with the No. 2 overall pick out of Oregon last year.
“It’s always on your mind when you have to make a decision, when you have to make a quick decision,” Mariota said of protecting the ball.
Mularkey said the Titans’ competition also plays into his quarterback’s turnovers.
“We’ve played some pretty good teams here, as well, starting off with Minnesota, who hasn’t lost yet,” Mularkey said.
Browns coach Hue Jackson has his own quarterback issues with his starter Robert Griffin III out injured and both Cody Kessler and Josh McCown limited in practice Wednesday by their own injuries. He couldn’t answer why Mariota has been so different at home than the road but noted the quarterback is settling into the game and the Titans’ system.
“This is a very talented player,” Jackson said. “He has some talent around him and he understands how to play the game. I think you guys will be excited. I just don’t want to see that this weekend, that’s all.
Notes: Titans safety Da’Norris Searcy, who missed the last two games with an injured ankle, practiced fully Wednesday and wasn’t on the injury report. LT Taylor Lewan (shoulder) was limited along with CB Cody Riggs (hamstring). Punter Brett Kern (illness) and NT Al Woods (pulled calf) did not practice.
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Online:
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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker
While I do like Mariota he is not the only Hawaii football talent. We have other former Hawaii high school and college talent. It seems we get a lot of boring stories about Mariota not performing up to par. Yes, has had some struggles and I do root for him. But I root more for the former UH stars from Hawaii who gave of themselves to the home team. In the most recent event Kenny Niumatalolo and his Navy team upset the other UH team (University of Houston) that happened to be highly ranked. I did not see a single news item of that from our local paper. That would have been more interesting than this current article regarding Mariota’s recent slump. We can’t expect him to be Superman. His former coach of Oregon who is now coach at San Francisco is having a continued spiral as an NFL coach. So please, SA, cover more of the OTHER former Hawaii athletes especially the former UH players. There’s enough accolades to go around.
Mariota has been inconsistent most of the time. Coaching change might get better results from him.
The Titan’s defense is what has kept them in the games. Marcus has show flashes of how potent their offense can be. The offense just has to be more consistent with a high level of play. The good news is their next three games are definitely winnable. If they were to win three in a row … watch out. Confidence is a dangerous thing.
give marcus a little time to grow–only his 2nd season and he is playing the best of the best–look at aaron r and T brady–they sat and didnt play immediately–MM is getting the opportunity to play the first opportunity to play–my hope is that he can adjust + stay healthy + elevate and go beyond his talent and tap into something that will make him elite. no pressure >>> less pressure is the best–guidance is needed–if you are grumbling about the coaching or the guidance–maybe that is flawed or not a good fit
Go Titan!
Go Marcus!