Cory's Corner: Marcus Mariota Will Fit At No. 2

 
How confident are you in Tim Boyle?
 
I mean, he's OK. He maintains status quo as the Packers' backup quarterback. He hasn't done anything to lose the job.
 
Then again, you don't lose the backup job unless you aren't as good as the next guy. 
 
Now it's time to pivot to the starting guy. Aaron Rodgers is 36 and turns 37 in December. If he is out for more than three games, Boyle isn't the guy. I don't see him being able to sustain momentum and keep this team afloat.
 
Which is why, if the Packers should look to make a move in the offseason, Marcus Mariota makes sense. Mariota's final game as a starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans was Oct. 13. He was benched because he was completing just 59 percent of his passes, averaged 196 yards a game and threw seven touchdowns and two picks.
 
Many may ask why it would make any sense to bring Mariota to Green Bay? Remember, he was the No. 2 overall pick in 2015. He needs to prove that getting benched and the Titans getting to the AFC title game with Ryan Tannehill isn't a defining mark on his legacy. 
 
He's trying to prove that he can still be a franchise quarterback. And what better place than Green Bay behind one of the best passers in the game? 
 
The toughest aspect will be money. Obviously Mariota will angle to get top dollar, but his value won't be nearly as high as he thinks. The Titans were supposed to be his team, but he failed and lost. Now it's time for him to build back his reputation. 
 
General manager Brian Gutekunst will likely add a pass catcher, a defensive lineman and a tight end in the draft. He cannot forget about the most important position in sports.
 
The NFC will be very tough again next year. If Rodgers will be forced to miss any amount of time, the Packers are in deep trouble. Green Bay cannot afford to lose even one game because of injury. And yes, NFL starting players get hurt every year. 
 
However, not all of them play quarterback. 
 
This could be Mariota's last stand. It's time for the Packers to give him a shot. 

 

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__________________________

Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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2 points
 

Comments (57)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
packerbackerjim's picture

February 15, 2020 at 06:23 am

I have floated the idea of a late round pick to Miami for Josh Rosen. He has 2 years/$5M left on his rookie contract. Weighing in Mariotta’s favor (or not) is MLF is quite familiar with him. The off-season will show how much confidence in Boyle Gute/MLF have.

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Swisch's picture

February 15, 2020 at 09:13 am

Rosen is intriguing in also being an early first-round pick, but one who hasn't really had a sustained opportunity on the field in the NFL.
In other words, although Mariota may improve in the future, we've seen a lot of him; while Rosen seems somewhat of a mystery who may have untapped potential in a big way.
He's had a couple of years on the sidelines of the NFL to learn the ropes, and may be ready to pop into prominence.
Also, Rosen's young enough to succeed Rodgers in a year or two if necessary.
In any case, Mariota would be way more expensive this season than Rosen, it seems, and that would limit us in free agency to shore up the defense.

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Stroh's picture

February 15, 2020 at 03:19 pm

Rosen has actually played quite a bit, but he was completely saddled with terrible players all around him in both AZ and Miami. He hasn't really had even a fair opportunity to be successful.

I'd be on board for Rosen ahead of Marriota. Sitting behind his friend Rodgers would bd exactly what Rosen would need to resurrect a once bright future. If he has any chance for future success he neeeds to take a step back for a couple years, regain his confidence and improve himself as much as possible.

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Coldworld's picture

February 15, 2020 at 04:35 pm

At this point Rosen’s struggles look a lot more explicable than Mariotta’s. But really isn’t the question one of what do we have with Boyle. Last off season he showed arm strength but didn’t strike me as being ready to play. Will he actually improve? If he does, is Mariota better? Low completion rates of that order do not bode well historically. Is Rosen really the victim of circumstances?

Overall I lean towards no thank you. It’s time to draft and develop. If Boyle really develops that’s even better, trade options down the line, but Boyle means we can draft and take time. That might be better than taking in a reclamation project at higher cost and losing Boyle.

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mamasboy's picture

February 17, 2020 at 01:06 pm

True or not, Andy Herman said, in his pod cast yesterday, that Rosen doesn't have a very strong arm. He said that LeFleur favors QBs with a cannon for arm.

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Rak43's picture

February 15, 2020 at 06:25 am

Mariotta was below average in an offense that made Ryan Tannehill look like an All-pro. Read an article by Bob McGinn yesterday where he interviewed several scouts on the backup QB's in the NFC north. According to McGinn they all ranked Boyle first among the division and agreed he had more upside and potential than the rest. They all also agreed that he is an unknown as there is not enough film on him but from what they saw, they think he has a chance to make it. Mariotta could sign and end up the number 3 like Kiser did.

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Lare's picture

February 15, 2020 at 10:01 am

Didn't Mariota have a significant arm or elbow injury?

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CAG123's picture

February 15, 2020 at 11:29 am

Mariotta is the victim of another defensive minded coach not knowing how to use a unique QB. Throughout his entire tenure with the Titans he's never had a system built around his skillset. I wouldn't put much store in someone ranking Boyle the best backup QB in the NFCN I mean who's his competition? Not to say he's bad but that's definitely a favorable stat for him.

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Pilprin's picture

February 15, 2020 at 06:38 am

Not totally against Mariota...but do we have any idea if MLF even liked him in the offense when he coached him? It seems like there may be better options in Rosen or a draft pick. I agree that Boyle is not my idea of a quality back up QB. The only question I have is do you spend a late day 2 pick or day 3 pick on a QB...or do you wait a year and possible go round 1 or 2?

I like from as a Day 2 pick this year...but after that only late round guys like Patterson from Mich intrigue me.

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dobber's picture

February 15, 2020 at 06:49 am

"Not totally against Mariota...but do we have any idea if MLF even liked him in the offense when he coached him?"

Great point. In 2018, when LaF was in Tennessee, that team didn't find consistency on offense until they started taking the ball out of Mariota's hands and feeding Derrick Henry.

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CAG123's picture

February 15, 2020 at 12:39 pm

Yeah but that wasn't MLF offense though it was yet another offense centered around what typical defensive minded coaches want. Mariota doesn't need another stubborn defensive coach he needs a coach and system that will be built around his skillset which he's never had. It was the injury to Delanie Walker the derailed the big plans for the offense.

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dobber's picture

February 16, 2020 at 03:48 pm

But if it was LaF calling the plays, you'd hope he'd be finding ways to maximize what Mariota can do...putting him in position to be successful. He had Mariota throwing a lot of short passes and playing high efficiency ball, but he was still uninspiring. Eventually he put the offense on Derrick Henry's shoulders.

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CAG123's picture

February 16, 2020 at 05:29 pm

Right calling plays in a system that wasn't his Vrabel was there a full year before MLF he already had his system in place. Mariota needs a system built for him not a selective playbook like he's Taysom Hill or something. MLF did what he could with what was given.

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cuervo's picture

February 15, 2020 at 07:34 am

With very limited cash available to spend on new free agents and signing our own FA, spending any of that limited cash on someone you hope never plays is ridiculous.

I understand it's the offseason, but with all the stories of signing a WR, DL, LB, and now backup QB, + Bulaga, +Clark, etc. you'd think the Packers had 90 mio sitting around, not the 20 mio they'll actually have.

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stockholder's picture

February 15, 2020 at 07:05 am

Age 26, Hangs onto the ball to long and leaves the pocket early. Keep Looking.

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dobber's picture

February 15, 2020 at 08:09 am

So he fits right in behind #12?

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 15, 2020 at 02:53 pm

GB wouldn't have to change the offense. So they'd have that going for them.

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Coldworld's picture

February 15, 2020 at 04:38 pm

True, but that didn’t help with our last reclamation project.

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Savage57's picture

February 15, 2020 at 07:08 am

Two people have to want to dance. Why would Mariota look at a stint with the Packers as doing anything more than fattening his wallet? The only way he sees the field is if Rodgers get injured. In a year which his career hinges on proving something to the QB-hungry world of the NFL he can still play, that can't be a very appealing option for him compared to a lot of the other opportunities that are going to emerge with all the moving QB pieces this offseason.

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Guam's picture

February 15, 2020 at 08:55 am

Nailed it Savage. If Mariotta wants to salvage his career, he won't want to go to a place where he will only be the backup. Even if GB wants him, I doubt Mariotta would want GB. Additionally the Packers have starter holes to fill with their FA money and backup QB has not often seen the field with Rodgers under contract.

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Stroh's picture

February 15, 2020 at 03:29 pm

Marriota is NOT going to find a starting job in the NFL right now. His faint hope of that in the future os to sit and learn behind an established starter for about 2yrs and hope he does well in preseason and limited opportunities while regaining some confidence. Then he MIGHT reenter FA looking for a chance to compete for a starting job. Right now he has almost no chance of a starting job.

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Guam's picture

February 15, 2020 at 04:01 pm

While I would agree that Mariota is unlikely to start, does Mariota know that? These guys have big egos and I would be surprised if Mariota would be willing to go to a situation where he has little chance to play.

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Coldworld's picture

February 15, 2020 at 04:42 pm

Even if he did realize it, age and cost argue for not repeating the experiment. Draft now and develop behind Boyle for a year or so. Frankly I don’t want Rosen or Mariotta starting over Boyle next September at this point if Rodgers gets hurt.

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Coldworld's picture

February 15, 2020 at 04:43 pm

duplicate deleted

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Jonathan Spader's picture

February 15, 2020 at 10:01 am

Mariota hasn't had the opportunity to sit behind a QB like Rodgers. He was thrust into his role as a starter right away amd wasn't given much to work with for OL, TE and WR. In GB you can learn from Rodgers, you have familiarity good or bad with MLF. You have Aaron Jones at RB. Davanate Adams at WR with more weapons to come.

Problem for Mariota is competition. At QB you have a lot of veteran names floating around. You have an influx of QBs to be drafted. All Mariota has going for him is he was a 2nd overall pick. Since that time he hasn't had much for production and has been frequently injured.

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dobber's picture

February 15, 2020 at 10:29 am

" All Mariota has going for him is he was a 2nd overall pick. "

...and youth. Someone will take a shot at him based on that.

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Lphill's picture

February 15, 2020 at 07:18 am

Speaking of Tim Boyle what happened to his number 1 fan Johnny Logan?

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Packerpasty's picture

February 15, 2020 at 03:21 pm

yah, where did that guy go??

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Demon's picture

February 16, 2020 at 02:02 pm

Wasnt it Dash that was championing Boyle as the Packers next HOF QB.

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dobber's picture

February 16, 2020 at 06:43 pm

Speak not that name...

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Wildcomet's picture

February 15, 2020 at 07:41 am

This seems potentially like a good fit to me. Mariota obviously struggled last year but had a pretty good year in 2018 with LaFleur calling the plays. While he's obviously not Rodgers they have some similarities in terms of playing style so Mariota could learn a lot from Rodgers and if he gets injured Mariota could come in and the offense wouldn't have to change much.

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dobber's picture

February 15, 2020 at 09:36 am

I would argue that since his second year, Mariota has been backsliding -- not precipitously, but incrementally -- each year. He had a career high in completion percentage with LaF in Tennessee, but wasn't compelling. Frankly, I see Mitch Trubisky just a little further along.

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albert999's picture

February 15, 2020 at 10:16 am

Boyle is more than competent and no reason to think he wouldn’t be just as good or better than Marcus
Spend effort time and money on other positions

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dobber's picture

February 15, 2020 at 10:30 am

...there's also little reason to think he WOULD be as good or better than Mariota. Where Boyle wins is cap hit.

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Coldworld's picture

February 16, 2020 at 07:50 am

I agree Dobber. However, Boyle is not clearly worse. Let’s start fresh behind him. Neither of these may be a starter in future. Let someone else overpay Mariota and build behind Boyle while he is cheap

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Leland's picture

February 15, 2020 at 07:47 am

GB has many needs and doesn't need to spend extra cash on a qb of Mariota's talent. Boyle knows the system. He beat out every other qb, including T. Hill, that GB had. There's no guarantee that Mariota would win more games than Boyle if Arod went down. Draft a qb, pickup a reasonable vet and let the competition begin.

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jannes bjornson's picture

February 15, 2020 at 09:41 am

Here's the story: McCarthy's guy, Callahan was chosen over Hill in 2017. Boyle was with Kizer and Rodgers in the 2018 QB room.

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dobber's picture

February 15, 2020 at 10:31 am

That's a very short story.... ;)

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Slim11's picture

February 15, 2020 at 03:30 pm

Hill and Boyle were never in Green Bay at the same time.

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Leland's picture

February 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

My bad, you are correct

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rememberWhitehurst's picture

February 15, 2020 at 08:30 am

Rodgers is the starting QB for at least three more years. They are not going to spend any significant money on a backup QB now.

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Stroh's picture

February 15, 2020 at 03:31 pm

That's another reason Rosen is a perfect fit for the Packers. He has a very low salary for a couple more years.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 15, 2020 at 09:37 am

If there's little garunteed money, I'm fine letting him compete with Boyle for the backup spot. But we haven't had very good luck with finding failed starters to be backups. So I'm not too optimistic.

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Jonathan Spader's picture

February 15, 2020 at 10:44 am

Who is a failed started we tried as a backup other than Kizer?

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scullyitsme's picture

February 16, 2020 at 09:18 am

I think most here would agree, Kizer was enough.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 16, 2020 at 05:43 pm

Seneca Wallace. I won't make a list. Go ahead and look for yourself.

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Ferrari-Driver's picture

February 15, 2020 at 09:54 am

I would prefer to sit tight on a backup until Gute finds one in the draft with potential long term replacement as a starter. We are ending the window with Rodgers and I would hope we can push for at least one more Super Bowl appearance. Spend that draft capital on players who will improve the offense/defense for a final run or two.

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PatrickGB's picture

February 15, 2020 at 09:55 am

I am intrigued with Rosen. He should have done better than he has. Yet, If this team really is looking, down the road, for a stopgap or injury (God forbid) replacement for Rodgers, Rosen could fill in. But I don’t see him doing well enough to be a franchise QB.

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Dzehren's picture

February 15, 2020 at 11:48 am

$5 to $10 million on a back up QB is too steep when your paying QB1 $35 Million. Pack should look to draft a QB to develop with minimum cap repercussions.

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GLM's picture

February 16, 2020 at 09:38 am

Exactly...draft a QB to develop and compete with Boyle as the #2. No money to spend this year on a veteran backup.

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marpag1's picture

February 15, 2020 at 02:01 pm

If I remember, it's this sort of rationale that once lead the Packers to sign Akili Smith.

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Hematite's picture

February 15, 2020 at 02:44 pm

Marriota was overrated from the get go.
I'll take Boyle before him.
We don't even know what we have in Boyle yet.

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Stroh's picture

February 15, 2020 at 03:10 pm

At this point Marriota has more than proven he's not a starting QB, much less a Franchise QB. Thats good for the Packers and Marriota. He can now settle into a role as a career backup. He might pick up some things and might get another chance, but I never saw it
anyway so I doubt it.

If he's willing to accept 2M per the Packers should pursue him. If he wants 5M, keep Boyle. I have nearly as much faith in Boyle to keep the Packers afloat as I do Marriota.

2 points
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Art's picture

February 15, 2020 at 05:21 pm

For all those that want to wait to draft THE QB of the future I was just wondering what round do you expect to find THE QB of the future? Seems to me most all of the really good ones are drafted in the early first round by teams that finished with terrible losing records. I'm hoping we don't have a season with such a losing record that results in an early first round selection. And odds are against another Rodgers falling to the late first round let alone day 2 as some have suggested. So I'm not against looking at options and evaluate vs Boyle.

2 points
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pooch's picture

February 15, 2020 at 05:28 pm

Bart Starr 16th round Tom Brady 6th round Joe Montana 3 round Brett Farve 2nd round

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jannes bjornson's picture

February 17, 2020 at 10:59 am

Correct, when the Packers needed a QB they passed over Montana three times. They got Favre with a one pick and Bart was a guy they took a flyer on

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flackcatcher's picture

February 16, 2020 at 06:29 pm

I'm with the draft crowd here. You never know what might happen when the draft starts. Outside that, keep Boyle. League chews up QB who have never had the time to develop. (Changing the rules on team practices and OTA did more damage to development of young QB in the modern NFL than any other act the players and owners have done.)

1 points
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