Titan's Mariani makes push as WR

Marc Mariani Making a Push At Receiver
by Jimmy Morris on Aug 7, 2012 3:58 PM CDT in Tennessee Titans

There has been A LOT of talk about Marc Mariani on this site this offseason. A lot. I have been on record as saying that there is an outside chance that he won't make the roster. Some people call me crazy because of that.

Well Mariani has been making a push as a receiver in camp this year. In fact, he was one of the players that Mike Munchak singled out to Jim Wyatt after yesterday's work with the Falcons. Here is what Munch told Wyatt: "I thought some guys made some big-time catches,’’ Munchak said. "Mariani made some big plays. He got open and got off the ball well. You see guys starting to step up a little bit."

The good news for Mariani is that there is no way he is getting cut because of the uncertainty surrounding Kenny Britt. The Titans cannot afford to cut Mariani when they have no idea what they are going to get from Britt- even if he was not playing well. Mariani might have some upside at receiver, but I still don't see how he going to get on the field very much at receiver. Who is going to play ahead of? Nate Washingon? No. Kendall Wright? No. Damian Williams? No. Lavelle Hawkins? No. I just don't see where you find the snaps for him.

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If he really breaks out, I think he can certainly push Hawkins for playing time. Williams, too, if he doesn’t become more consistent. Plus, I imagine Wright won’t get a full starter load at WR, at least not right away. There are plenty of snaps out there for him if he can earn them.

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I guess he'll get some time in the 7 WR set we'll be utilizing this season But seriously, one of the philosophies that seems to be an underlying theme in the Munchak era is “playing the match ups.” Perhaps Mariani has a couple of traits that Williams, Hawkins etc do not have and thus give the Titans some kind of match up advantage. I have no idea what those traits might be though. Maybe he follows directions really well? Maybe he has nice handwriting? Maybe he does a really good Fisher impersonation?

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He won't be gettting much playing time this season. I am happy he looks good out there, but we are reading way too much into camp reports and a scrimmage if we think that means Mariani is moving up the depth chart. But hey he’s white and quick so that means he’s automatically the next Wes Welker. He’ll be known as a heady player for years to come.

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... The head coach also singled out wide receiver Marc Mariani.

“I thought some guys made some big-time catches,” Munchak said. “Mariani made some big plays. He got open and got off the ball well. You see guys starting to step up a little bit.”

At the end of June, Munchak also complimented Mariani for his improvement as a receiver. The third-year pro is having a good training camp, and he had a good day against the Falcons with a handful of catches in team drills and a pair of nice grabs in 7-on-7.

“I think we did a lot of good things,” said Mariani, a seventh-round pick in 2010. “Especially in the receiver room, we were playing with speed and confidence. I think we had a pretty good day.” Mariani’s abilities as a return man will make him a valuable commodity. He’s beginning to prove to those in the organization he could also help at wide receiver following a season when he had only five catches for 24 yards. “There was a time where I put so much pressure on myself, it wasn’t clicking as well as it should,” Mariani said. “I am just out here having fun. I am trying to get better every day and do all those things, but I am just having fun and trying to play fast and trying to play with confidence. “I’ll make little mistakes here and there, but I am trying make plays. My goal is to be here on Sundays and making an impact, and that is what I am working for.”

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