The first Tennessee-based company that quarterback Marcus Mariota signed a sponsorship deal with after being drafted by the Titans was Saint Thomas Health.
The choice of the huge nonprofit health system for somebody who may need their services never looked so inspired as it does this week after he suffered through a team-record 11 sacks in Sunday’s 21-0 loss to Baltimore.
Staying healthy has been a concern for Mariota in his three-plus seasons in the pros, during which he has played just one full campaign, and getting dumped just one sack short of the NFL record by the Ravens isn’t likely to improve his chances of lasting the remainder of this one.
Just three weeks after returning from an elbow injury that sidelined him for parts of two games, Mariota was forced to run for his survival Sunday while managing to complete 10 of 15 passes for 117 yards. The 11 sacks amounted to 66 negative yards.
So dominating was the Ravens’ pass rush that the Titans converted on just one of 11 third-down attempts, were forced to punt on all nine offensive series and never set foot in the red zone.
Characteristically, Mariota singled himself out for needed improvement right off the bat. “It’s a combination of a lot of different things,” Mariota told reporters at a press conference in Nashville. “I can do a better job of stepping up in the pocket. I put our guys in a bad spot trying to run around too much. Those are things I have to do better.”
Of course, he might not have to “run around too much” if he had the luxury of staying in the pocket. But when you are sacked on 42.3 percent of drop-back attempts, as Mariota was Sunday, according to Yahoo.com, and the Ravens are credited with nine “hurries,” at some point self preservation takes over and running around becomes both instinctive and highly advisable.
Yes, Mariota can improve on getting the ball out quicker under duress. To be sure, he can get better at making some of his reads. But the Titans can — and need — to do a much better job of taking the heat off their quarterback, too.
They are tied for last in the NFL in rushing touchdowns, and their leading running back, Derrick Henry, ranks 43rd in yards per carry (3.3). Against Baltimore, Mariota was the Titans’ leading rusher with 25 yards.
Meanwhile, the receivers have been a bigger concern. Mariota’s favorite target, dependable tight end Delanie Walker, was injured in the season opener with Miami and is out for the season. Wide receiver Rishard Matthews — No. 1 on the team in receiving TDs last season and No. 2 in receiving yards — left the team. And Nick Williams, who was running as the No. 3 receiver for a time, dropped a wide-open touchdown opportunity against Buffalo and was cut two days later.
The Titans’ inability to develop a consistent long passing threat has allowed defenses to come after Mariota, and in light of Sunday’s game, the Ravens aren’t going to be the only ones blitzing in numbers.
As the Titans (3-3) prepare to play the Chargers (4-2) in London, they need to “stick to the process,” Mariota said. “You can’t lose sight of the fact that it’s a long season …”
Unless the Titans figure out a way to better protect their quarterback, it figures to be be a very long season indeed for the team, and a short one for Mariota.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.
