World News – USA – The Long Journey: Marcus Mariota regains confidence in his long-awaited return

When the Las Vegas Raiders signed Marcus Mariota this off-season, General Manager Mike Mayock was the first to remind reporters that he graded the former Oregon Duck as the top quarterback in the 2015 class.

« The more I recorded, the more I appreciate what he should be doing in the Oregon version of the proliferation crime, » Mayock said in 2015. « He reads combination routes, cares a lot about football and wins games. « 

Mariota’s Heisman trophy season in Oregon was special, and many hoped it would bring equal levels of torch and speed to the NFL, including Mayock. After selection no. Overall led by the Tennessee Titans, the Flyin ‘Hawaiian led his team to the playoffs and had some notable climaxes, but with multiple manager changes and injuries, Mariota seemed to lose its magic somewhere along the way and eventually lost the starting job to Ryan Tannehill at the Year 2019. All athletes experience their share of ups and downs, but Mariota dejectedly stepped into the free agency’s pool and looked elsewhere for a fresh start.

Shortly after opening the free agency’s window, Mayock saw the opportunity to sign the quarterback, whom he calls No.. 1 designated. 1 signal caller in the 2015 NFL Draft. When Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden realized Mariota still had unteachable skills, they signed the then 26-year-old determined to rebuild his confidence.

« He needs to get well, » Mayock said before the season started. « We need to rebuild him a bit, regain his confidence and build him from the ground up. I think it will be a while before he’s healthy and where he wants to be, but we’re excited about the quarterback room. « 

After taking Mariota to the injured reservation and rehabilitating a strained chest for nine to ten weeks, Mariota was eventually activated and slowly worked his way back in the field. Day after day, no. 8 went about his business, was the consummate professional he is, preparing for his moment in a game, whether it came or not.

At the start of the game, Derek Carr crawled straight into the red zone and tried to play with his feet towards the pylon or let something happen to his arm, but neither did either. Carr stopped and immediately grabbed his groin. Then he hobbled out of bounds and doubled over in pain. While Carr hobbled into the locker room, Mariota was jogging out onto the field the next time he drove and was ready to play at the level he was once known for.

The former duck looked elusive and electric, but more importantly, it went snugly with the passports. Mariota’s first touchdown pass came with a 40 yard bomb on Darren Waller, who ended the game with nine receptions and 150 yards plus the aforementioned touchdown. He finished the game with 226 yards, a touchdown pass, a touchdown run – reminiscent of a touchdown during his 2014 Heisman season – and 88 rushing yards.

Unfortunately, the Raiders couldn’t get away with victory in extra time, but Mariota did whatever was asked of him and more, especially with limited training this off-season.

« It just shows the kind of player and soccer character he has, » Gruden told reporters after the game. « We switched gears aggressively and Marcus [Mariota] came in and did a great job. I’m really proud of it and I think it’s just an exclamation point as to why we signed it. I just wish we could have won the game for him. « 

While Mariota is the kind of person who would happily trade his success for the team’s success, this was a big moment for him on his journey back to the field and he shouldn’t be overlooked because of the bottom line.

« It’s been a long journey to be honest. I’ve kind of been through everything from injuries to surgeries to mental failures to a matter of trust and I really appreciate the Raiders and the entire organization for helping me with this. I tried to get my bearings again and they gave me the opportunity to take some time, they were patient with me and I just appreciate the fact that they were willing to do it.

« It’s part of being an athlete, you’ll go through some ups and downs, and I think the staff did a great job keeping me updated and through [the adversity]. . When it comes down to it, it’s still ball. I just loved being out there again, it was fun to play but unfortunately we just didn’t play enough. « 

Derek Carr’s injury status has yet to be determined, but if he can’t play the Miami Dolphins next week, Mariota appears more than ready to play again. It has been a long way to this point, but it is evident that Mayock and Gruden have achieved what they set out to do: rebuild Mariota’s confidence. On national television he has proven that his NFL journey is far from over and that he is able to play at a high level as he used to.

The death of Waller’s former Ravens teammate Lorenzo Taliaferro was tough on Thursday night with the narrow end of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Despite the inspiring play from backup QB Marcus Mariota, Silver and Black fall to Los Angeles in extra time.

Marcus Mariota takes over the duel against another quarterback from Oregon in the second half for the injured Derek Carr.

Before the Raiders take the field at Allegiant Stadium, take a look at the inactive players for today’s game.

© 2020 by the Las Vegas Raiders. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the express written permission of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, NFL, Justin Herbert