Marcus Mariota Discusses Changes to Offense Under Mike Mularkey

Tennessee Titans starting quarterback Marcus Mariota was open with the media Wednesday when it came to dealing with changes he might experience under interim head coach Mike Mularkey.

Ken Whisenhunt was fired Tuesday after two-plus seasons and a 3-20 record with the Titans. Mularkey has coached for 20 years in the NFL—three as a head coach—and Mariota is taking the change in stride, according to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com: “Right now it seems all the same to me, but it will depend on what the coaches want to do. I’ll do my best to execute it,’’ Mariota said.

The rookie already has learned to be political when it comes to talking personnel, but it's also not like he had been playing under Whisenhunt for years.

Mariota has been dealing with a knee injury that kept him out the past two games, and most likely he is just anxious to get back on the field for the 1-6 Titans. According to Wyatt, the quarterback was a full participant in practice Wednesday, and Tennessee expects him on the field Sunday.

Mariota was as efficient and effective as possible in his NFL debut Week 1. He completed 13 of 15 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-14 victory over fellow first-round pick Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It's been downhill ever since. The Titans have not won a game, and Mariota has tossed just five touchdowns to go along with five interceptions.    

A change in scenery could be a fresh start for the rookie. It's hard to say what it will bring, but according to ESPN Stats & Info, it puts the No. 2 overall pick in rare company:

At this point for Mariota it's all about learning the speed of the game and getting better each week. The Titans most likely aren't going to the playoffs, and the focus should be improving.

That's exactly what the former Heisman Trophy winner appears to be doing, per Wyatt: “Coach Mularkey really set the tone this morning, and laid out what is expected of us. Moving forward, we are excited. ... We want to be a physical group and finish what is expected of us.”

More than likely Mariota will have a new coach next year unless the team removes the interim tag next to Mularkey's name. Adjusting to a change in this case will be practice for when it happens again.

Once he is back on the field, look for Mariota to continue to improve each week, which will be a step in the right direction for the Titans. For now, that's all Tennessee fans should expect.