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Jets’ Sheldon Richardson likes Marcus Mariota
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is enjoying a productive rookie year, And justifying Tennessee drafting him second overall. Though the Titans are 3 9, Including 3 7 in games he played, Mariota has 19 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. He ranks 12th in the NFL with 95.1 quarterback rating. Over his past five games, He has 10 touchdown passes and four picks. In last week’s win over the Jaguars, He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another an 87 yard scramble. He has run for 249 yards this season (8 yards per rush). Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson noticed all of this on film, As he prepares for Sunday’s meeting with Mariota. Richardson admires Mariota’s potential, But knows the Jets have a chance to exploit his inexperience. “You still see rookie tendencies, [like] Holding the ball too long, Richardson told NJ Advance Media. “But that also comes with his young receiving corps, too. So they pretty much hurt him a little bit right there. “He’s hitting open receivers, So he’s still a threat. Very few overthrown balls from short to medium [range]. If they’re not open early, Then he’s holding the ball until someone is open. He’s not always on target, Especially with his deep ball. From medium to short range passes, He’s on point, RELATED: The road back for Revis The Jets’ pass rushers especially Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson love to see a quarterback hold onto the ball. Mariota’s top target is tight end Delanie Walker, Whose 67 catches are more than double the next closest Titans player. Tennessee’s wide receiver leaders this season, By catch total, Are Kendall Wright (33), Harry Douglas (23), Justin Hunter (22), And Dorial Green Beckham (21), Though Hunter is on injured reserve. Douglas is an eighth year pro, But Wright, Hunter, And Green Beckham are in their fourth, third, And first season, Respectively. Richardson, A third year pro, Takes all that into account when he assesses Mariota’s potential. “He’s going to be in the league for a long time, Richardson said. “Rookie struggles like any other rookie quarterback, But the help around him has got to improve, too. You can’t just blame everything on the quarterback, Like everybody wants to. But hey, He’s managing with what he’s got, And he’s doing his thing, For Mariota, That means using his absurd athleticism to run. Sometimes, That has involved read option plays the Titans installed, To take advantage of his skills. Sometimes, It’s just Mariota taking off when a lane opens. “That’s always something to worry about, Richardson said. “You can’t let that slow your rush down. If you get to worrying about that, too, It plays some mind games with yourself, The message from Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers and coach Todd Bowles this week revolves around pass rushers staying in their lanes, And not straying from those areas. If they stray, Mariota might have an opening. This is particularly important for the Jets, Because they play a lot of man to man pass coverage in the secondary. In man coverage, Defensive backs typically have their backs turned to the quarterback, As they run with receivers. Rodgers said that on Mariota’s 87 yard touchdown run last week against the Jaguars, They were playing man coverage. “Guys were running with their backs turned, And they don’t see him until it’s too late, Rodgers said. “They were in a six man rush, And he broke contain and he was out the gate. So that’s something we’re definitely stressing this week, Middle linebacker David Harris said that any time the Jets play man coverage, “It’s the job of the front to keep him in the pocket. If you’re the edge rusher, You’ve got to keep him inside. He’s probably the fastest running back we’ll face this year. You’ve just got to be mindful of it when you’re blitzing, Or the edge [Rusher] Gets behind the line of scrimmage, Richardson and Wilkerson still want to rush Mariota hard and fast, But they must do it smartly, Within the confines of their rush lanes. “Just making sure we’ve got guys in front of him and we’re closing the pocket down on him [From the sides], Wilkerson said. “You never slow down as a rusher just because he’s a running quarterback, Jets report card, As they move closer to playoffs with comeback win at Giants Sometimes, Though, A player with Mariota’s elusiveness manages to get loose regardless of a defense’s best intentions. “You can try as hard as you can, To try to contain him, Said nose tackle Damon Harrison. “But when you’ve got a guy that athletic, He’s bound to break contain on a play or two, Marvin Williams Womens Jersey
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