Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill "really excited to have an opportunity"
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans (2-4) coach Mike Vrabel made the switch official Wednesday. The team will move forward with Ryan Tannehill as the starting quarterback over Marcus Mariota. Tannehill, 31, makes the first start of his career in Tennessee this Sunday, Oct. 20 against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers (2-4). "I didn't know what was going […]
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans (2-4) coach Mike Vrabel made the switch official Wednesday. The team will move forward with Ryan Tannehill as the starting quarterback over Marcus Mariota.
Tannehill, 31, makes the first start of his career in Tennessee this Sunday, Oct. 20 against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers (2-4).
"I didn't know what was going to happen when I signed here," Tannehill said. "Obviously, love playing the game, love being on the field, love competing with the guys in this locker room. Really excited to have an opportunity to go out and compete and, hopefully, lead this team to wins."
Marcus Mariota, the team's second overall draft pick in 2015, had been the entrenched starter for Tennessee since his arrival in Nashville. A dismal road performance against the Denver Broncos (2-4) in Week 6, though, and a career rife with inconsistency saw Mariota benched in the third quarter of that game and Tannehill relieve him. The switch did not affect the outcome of the 16-0 loss at Denver but the hope from the coaching staff and organization is that it will provide a boost to an offense that is languishing in the midst of a pivotal year.
Currently, the Titans' ranks 28th in points per game (16.3), 27th in total yards per game (290.5) and 29th in third down conversion rate (29.49%).
"We're trying to get a little spark, trying to evaluate what we're doing and how we're functioning as an offense," said Vrabel. "Wanted to give (Tannehill) some time with Taylor (Lewan) and Nate (Davis)' progression and, kind of, what we were doing. Just felt like now was the time."
Tannehill was brought in via trade this offseason with the Miami Dolphins as an insurance policy for Mariota, who had missed eight total starts over the course of his five-year career due to various injuries. The stated objective by Vrabel and his staff when they were hired before the 2018 season was to maximize Mariota's skill set and modernize the offense in Tennessee. Changes in the coaching staff, horrid offensive line play and a clear regression in his abilities under center made the decision to bench Mariota a necessary one if the Titans are to salvage this year.
Tennessee will host the Chargers this Sunday having lost both of their divisional games and two of their three conference match-ups to this point in the 2019 campaign.
