The Tennessee Titans have a long, arduous NFL path ahead of them.
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt's squad finished last season 27th in the league in total defense and 29th in total offense. They haven't reached the postseason since 2008 and haven't won a playoff game since 2003.
There are holes all over their roster and Whisenhunt and executive vice president and general manager Ruston Webster have their work cut out for them in their efforts to return the Titans franchise to its former glory.
The first and most important step the two must take is finding and installing a franchise quarterback. While there is talk that the organization remains high on last year's sixth-round pick, Zach Mettenberger, it seem the Titans front office may have their sights set on a certain Oregon quarterback with the second pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
"The Titans need a franchise quarterback, and I know Mariota has already made a favorable impression on the brass in Tennessee," writes Charlie Campbell of Walter Football, who has the Titans selecting Mariota in his latest mock draft offering.
It's unclear how or when Mariota was able to impress them, but the fact that he has isn't entirely surprising considering his Heisman pedigree and prodigious physical skills.
"The 6-foot-4, 211-pounder has a strong arm, size and excellent mobility," writes Campbell. "As a passer, Mariota has the physical ability to do it all, but could use some refinement in his mechanics, footwork and pocket passing. He isn't a developed pocket passer entering the NFL. Pocket passing is teachable with a good student, as the Panthers and 49ers proved with Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick. Mariota will require that kind of time investment."
Mariota comes into the NFL with questions about the spread offense he operated in at Oregon. It allowed him to display that elite athleticism, but also didn't often require much from him in the way of reads.
It sounds like Whisenhunt and Webster may think there are enough raw materials there to work with and that they can turn the athlete into a pocket passer.
