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- NFL quarterback prospect Marcus Mariota received mix reviews for his Oregon Pro Day performance on March 12.
When asked about his performance during Oregon Pro Day on March 12, former Oregon Ducks quarterback and NFL quarterback prospect Marcus Mariota said, “I thought I was OK.”
Marcus Mariota was the center of attention on Oregon’s Pro Day on March 12.
NFL.com’s Bryan Fischer reported on Thursday that Mariota, the former Oregon Ducks quarterback and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner showed off his skills in front of almost 100 scouts, coaches and general managers at the Ducks’ indoor facility in Eugene, Or.
According to Fischer, Mariota threw 65 passes with seven incompletions. “I thought it was OK,” Mariota said afterward. “There were some missed throws here or there. It’s a little different than a game.”
Mariota also told The Oregonian’s Andrew Greif he felt he performed better at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month:
“I thought at the combine I threw it better. Today I think a lot of emotion being back in Eugene and stuff like that caused maybe some nervousness a little bit but at the same time I thought it went well. It was good.”
Analysts agree Oregon QB Marcus Mariota failed to impress during his pro day workout: http://t.co/OItwqGu7Pm via @YahooSchwab #NFL— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 13, 2015
CBS Sports’ Rob Rang estimates Mariota threw eight incompletions. He classifies two of these throws as “truly poor tosses.” Several of the other passes were tipped off receivers’ fingertips while one pass was dropped.
Rang says Mariota’s passes which sailed over some of his wide receivers was not truly indicative of the quarterback’s accuracy. Rang identifies one of Mariota’s receivers as 6’4″, 220-pound Lavasier Tuinei, a former Ducks player.
The other receivers were Daryle Hawkins, Kenny Bassett and Keanon Lowe, per Greif.
For his part, NFL Media Analyst said during the broadcast (per Fischer) that Mariota’s performance was “underwhelming.” He quipped,”The feedback was it’s not a great workout. It is what it is…He threw the ball better at the combine in my opinion. It was a little bit underwhelming.”
Mariota wrote the script for his Oregon Pro Day on Thursday. Cleveland Browns quarterback coach Kevin O’Connell assisted him, per Fischer.
Mariota told Greif he is nothing but praises for O’Connell, who mentored him for six weeks beginning in January:
“It was good to have him out there and he’s been a tremendous help for me. He’s always harped on me with footwork and keeping my base solid wherever I was moving in the pocket. A lot of those things, it’s tough to see on a Pro Day but it’s things I’ve been able to work on.”
Marcus Mariota has private workouts scheduled with 3 NFL teams so far.
Who are they?
–> http://t.co/TVne4MSOoB pic.twitter.com/sfT1v54BVB— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) March 12, 2015
The NFL.com update goes into more detail about the 2015 Oregon Pro Day:
“On the NFL Network broadcast, Jeremiah and former general manager Charley Casserly remarked how rare it was to see a quarterback prospect huddle, call a play, and then run it as part of their script.
“Mariota did this on every snap in order to help alleviate concerns about him not calling a play in a huddle since high school. To that end, Mariota also used a variety of three-, five- and seven-step drops; he did not take any shotgun snaps.
“The workout was probably the most well-attended of the pro-day season so far. There was a strong contingent of folks from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including general manager Jason Licht, and the Tennessee Titans, including general manager Ruston Webster and head coach Ken Whisenhunt. (New York) Jets GM Mike Maccagnan and (Washington) Redskins GM Scot McCloughan were also in attendance.”
Greif estimates there were around a dozen former Oregon Ducks players who participated in Thursday’s Pro Day. Most of them participated in the 40-yard dash, bench press and several field drills.
The Oregonian update says Mariota will now go to the East Coast to visit several teams and accept his Maxwell and Manning awards. Mariota said previously that he has already visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles.
Fischer stresses Mariota is seen as the No. 2 quarterback in the upcoming 2015 NFL draft next month, with his accuracy and running ability as his main assets. However, some are questioning if he can adjust to the NFL as he has been accustomed to Oregon’s spread offense.
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