Fansided

Each NFL team’s biggest reason to be excited in 2018

By Brad Berreman

BEREA, OH - JULY 30: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during a training camp practice on July 30, 2018 at the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
BEREA, OH - JULY 30: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during a training camp practice on July 30, 2018 at the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images /

Tennessee Titans – Marcus Mariota and an actual offensive mind

Thankfully for Mariota, Mike Mularkey’s “exotic smashmouth” offense is finally gone. He  completed 62 percent of his passes last year, which was in line with the marks he set in his first two seasons, but he set clear career-lows in yards per attempt (7.1), touchdown rate (2.9 percent) and passer rating (79.3) with a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio (13-15).

Coming in as head coach is Mike Vrabel, with Matt LaFleur taking over as offensive coordinator. LaFleur has spent the last three seasons working for Kyle Shanahan (Falcons quarterbacks coach 2015 and 2016) and Sean McVay (Rams offensive coordinator last year), so there is finally a modern offensive mind to cultivate Mariota’s talent.

One of the most important pieces of LaFleur’s plan is more downfield throwing, after Pro Football Focus credited Mariota with just 53 pass attempts that traveled 20-plus yards downfield in 2017. Here are the new coordinator’s comments from back in February

"It’s extremely difficult to dink and dunk all the way down the field. Defenses are just too good,””Statistically, the teams are getting the chunk plays — the explosives — are the teams that are going produce more yards and more points."

Hints of a faster pace, more read-option and/or run-pass option and more play action should all suit Mariota just fine. He was one of the better quarterback in the NFL off play-action last year, and a faster pace with option plays where his legs can be an asset will bring back memories of the offense he ran at Oregon.

A second-year breakout from wide receiver Corey Davis maybe coming, after he and Mariota connected well during the playoffs, and the addition of Dion Lewis as Derrick Henry’s backfield mate is notable.

Mariota in line for the best season of his career, while the quarterback taken one pick ahead of him in the 2015 draft has increasingly become a serious question mark.

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