Marcus Mariota received a rave review from one of his predecessors after his breakout season in 2016.
Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon said Mariota's "future is really bright" after watching the Tennessee Titans quarterback from afar. Moon pointed to Mariota's work ethic off the field and how he takes care of his body.
"His future is really bright, because I know how he works on and off the field, putting the time in," Moon said, according to titansonline.com. "And I've heard about how he is in the meeting rooms, and working on his body. He'll continue to do that, and that will help him take the pounding NFL quarterbacks take."
Moon spent 17 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City. The Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997 and became the Tennessee Titans in 1999.
Mariota set career-highs in passing yards (3,426), touchdown passes (26) and passer rating (95.6) in 2016. He helped the Titans reached nine wins, their best win total since the 2011 season. The Titans were in the race for the AFC South title until Week 17.
Mariota never really seemed to get rattled on the field, and it's his even temperament that Moon said will help him reach even greater achievements during his career.
"He doesn't get too high or too low. And I always look at that in quarterbacks, just to see how they handle themselves, whether they are having prosperity or dealing with tough times," Moon said. "And you really can't tell the difference with him, and that is a great sign not only for him, but also for his teammates. They don't need to see a guy who is going to be erratic. You want your quarterback to be a steady influence, and that's what Marcus is."
Mariota played in 15 games in 2016, but missed the final game after suffering a broken right leg during Week 16. Mariota missed four games with two separate knee injuries during his rookie season in 2015.
Moon said the key to Mariota's success is remaining healthy.
"My biggest concern is his injuries - he's just been hurt the last two years. He hurts his knee as a rookie, and this year he breaks the leg," Moon said. "The biggest key for him is to stay healthy, because that's the biggest thing a quarterback can do for his team is to be there every week."
Mariota will have a year of experience playing for head coach Mike Mularkey and offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie. Moon said the continuity with the offensive philosophy will also help Mariota's growth.
"He will have command of that offense next year because he's been in it. He is intelligent enough to handle everything he has been given, and you'll see the progression," Moon said. "I definitely think the future is bright for Marcus and the Titans."
-- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreycarnold
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