Titans: It’s Manziel Vs Mariota

By Randy Sharber | Sep 19, 2015

The Titans go on the road again tomorrow to face the Cleveland Browns.

Many want to build this up as Manziel vs Mariota. To a certain extent it is. But more importantly, this is a big game for the Browns and for the Titans. There are not too many wins that can be circled on either of these teams’ schedules. I guarantee you that fans on both sides have circled this a must win for their respective teams.

The Titans had a great week last Sunday. The Browns were terrible last Sunday. Usually team’s fortunes seem to flip flop in the NFL from week to week. So this scares me that I have so much confidence in the Titans to get the win this week. But I do.

Mariota is a better quarterback than Manziel. That is where the game will be won. All other things with these two teams seems to be fairly equal. Neither team has a huge advantage from a personnel wise standpoint.

The Titans may have a slight edge, but not much. The running back situation is interesting this week. Bishop Sankey actually looked like a running back last week. It is the first time in his career that he looked like he possibly could get the job done. Sankey is bigger and stronger, and actually, he just ran harder. His job depends on it.

More from Marcus Mariota

But the real x factor this week could be a guy that was a Cleveland Brown three weeks ago. Terrance West gave the Titans a tough, hard nosed couple of runs that pumped up the Titan’s offensive line. Look for him to want to put it to the team that traded him to the Titans. The Browns traded him for a few footballs and a few mouthpieces after just one year.

Defensively, look for Titan’s Dick LeBeau to give Manziel fits. LeBeau will come at Manziel with everything like a snow storm coming over the lake at Cleveland in February. It will be fast and furious. Manziel made a beautiful throw early last week to complete a touchdown, and then turned the ball over three times.

Browns starter Josh McCown suffered a concussion last week. I do not think he will be ready to go even in a secondary role today. So it is in Manziel’s hands. Look, this guy is a competitor. He is dangerous with his legs, and infectious with his team mates when things go well. The Titans can not allow him to be successful early.

On the other side of the ball, Mr Perfect will probably have a little tougher day than he did in Tampa Bay. But I think it is still going to be enough. The short, quick passing game is hard to defend off of the zone read look Mariota gives.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt had a masterful plan last week. It was a surprise to us all. I don’t think he can catch the Browns as out of position defensively as the Bucs last week, but if this offense executes like it did last week, they will hang thirty on the Browns. If the Titans score 3o, they will win big.

I just think this is going to be more about the run game, and a little less about Mariota. If the Titans can run the ball effectively, it will hold that linebacking corp just long enough for Mariota to hit Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter in stride on the slants. These two could have big days.

The Browns secondary is better than they played last week against the Jets. They are going to be nasty this week. It could play into the Titans favor on some double moves by Hunter and Harry Douglas.

Look for Delanie Walker to play even though he injured his hand last week. This guy is old school Titans. He tapes it up, rubs some dirt on it and plays a la Steve McNair and Eddie George. He is a mismatch against Cleveland’s defensive backs. If he does not play, the Titans have more Tight Ends than a crossfit gym in Los Angeles.

This game will have a lot of national interest. The two Heisman Trophy winners will settle it on the field. Again, you are never as good as you look from week to week in the NFL, and you are never as bad as you looked the week before. But I like my chances with Mariota over Manziel.

More from Tenn Truth

Home/Marcus Mariota