NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It's been smooth sailing for Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota and the first team offense during the preseason.
He'd like to keep it going.
In three games, Mariota is 23-of-31 for 319 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. His completion percentage is 74.2, and his passer rating is 104.1.
Pretty good numbers, for sure.
On Saturday in Oakland, Mariota directed scoring drives on all four of the first team's possessions. It's provided a boost to everyone on offense, he said.
"I think confidence is high,'' Mariota said on Monday. "But at the same time, I don't think guys are going to get complacent. We are focused on getting better every single day, and it has to continue to build into the season.
"You can have all this great (success) during the offseason, during the preseason, but it doesn't mean anything. Now we have to take it to the next level and continue it throughout the year."
The Titans face the Dolphins in the preseason finale on Thursday. Coach Mike Mularkey has said the starters won't play more than one series. The Titans open the regular season on September 11 against the Vikings.
So how does Mariota's work this preseason compare to his rookie season?
In his first three preseason games a year ago, Mariota was 19-of-27 for 253 yards (70.4 %) with zero touchdowns, an interception and a rating of 84.2. After playing in Week 4 of the preseason, Mariota finished the preseason 21-of-30 for 326 yards (70 %), with one touchdown and one interception, along with a 102.9 rating.
Mariota then went out and threw four touchdowns in the regular season opener against the Buccaneers.
Mariota said his mindset this week is to finish the preseason on a high note, no matter how much he plays.
"Score, and make the most of it,'' Mariota said. "You only have the opportunity sometimes to play a certain amount of plays, and you want to make the most of them.
"I feel that we have done a lot of good (as an offense) up until this point, and right now I think it is a good way to close things out for the offseason and preseason and kind of start on a good tempo for the regular season."
