New Falcons QB Marcus Mariota has to ‘find my own way’ after Matt Ryan’s race in Atlanta

Atlanta – The Falcons need a full-time quarterback player other than Matt Ryan For the first time since the 2007 season, the Marcus Mariota Understands the importance of the possibility of that substitution.

“These are great shoes to fill, without a doubt,” Mariota said Friday. “I think, for me, something I’ve definitely learned over the course of my career is that you can’t compare yourself to other people. What Matt did here, and what he accomplished here, is really greatness, and for me, to carve my own path.”

“I appreciate what he has done, I appreciate what he has been up to in this organisation, and the best thing I can do is try to give my best and be the best player I can be.”

The 28-year-old Mariota is going into a potential role initially – though he said he wasn’t guaranteed the job – for the first time since the 2019 season, when he was quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and then – offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, now head coach of the Falcons. .

Mariota was prosecuted for Ryan Taneyhill That season he eventually moved to the Las Vegas Raiders, where he made a backup Derek Carr for two years. He played in 11 games over the past two seasons, completing 60% of his passes for 230 yards, touchdowns and interceptions.

2 pick in the 2015 draft, Mariota spent five years with the Titans, playing in 63 games with 61 starts and completing 62.9% of his passes for 13,207 yards, 76 touchdowns and 44 interceptions.

His final season with the Titans was a struggle, though, as he completed 59.4% of his passes for 1,203 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions in seven games. By the end of his time with the Titans, Mariota said he was “beaten up mentally and physically,” and said he’s learned a lot over the past three seasons.

“During my time in Tennessee, we’ve been through a lot of different things. I’ve had training changes, I’ve had an ankle fracture, some of those things that people might call an ordeal,” Mariota said. “At that time in my career in 2019, I was tired. I’m kind of sick of every spin, tired of hitting, not playing well, and at the end of the day it’s performance-based work, and when you don’t play well, things happen. And I understood it.

“The past few years for me have been a wonderful reset. I had the opportunity to take a step back and learn, and I feel like I did and these experiences created so much value for me.”

Part of what drew Mariota to the hawks is Smith, who he believes will always be true to him. With the Titans, Mariota said he wasn’t communicating with Smith enough and was “trying to do everything I could to please the coach.”

Mariota said he now thinks the connection will be better because of the things he’s learned with the Raiders. Smith said Wednesday that part of the reason he wanted to bring in Mariota was because of the trust they had with each other.

“There’s been a lot of growth from him and myself,” Smith said. “Paradoxically, they’re two completely different players, but Ryan Tanehill was in that position when we got Ryan.” “So Marcus is a top-notch talent just like Ryan. He was a first-round pick. He’s in a different place in his career, and I trust Marcus, and Marcus, he’s going to come here and give us everything he has.

“He has a sublime talent, and he understands what’s happened in the past. He’s learned from them, I’ve learned from them, and we’re excited about this opportunity.”

Should he win the job, Mariota will be the first different starting player on the Falcons squad since October 27, 2019, when Matt Schwab replaced Ryan through injury. He will be the first full-time player other than Ryan since former Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington played a key role for the majority of the 2007 season.

Mariota, who will wear No. 1 in Atlanta because his traditional No. 8 is being used by the top target receiver for the Falcons, tight end Kyle BatesHe said the team contacted him as soon as there were talks about Ryan trading. Mariota said Smith asked if he wanted to come if Ryan, who was traded with the Indianapolis Colts on Monday, decided to leave, and Mariota was intrigued.

Soon, Mariota was a hawk.

“At the end of the day, it was even more exciting about the opportunity to be here,” Mariota said. To be with Arthur.