NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As more quarterbacks come into the NFL out of college spread offenses, the league faces a big challenge getting them in position to play as successful pros.
The trend is not new, and teams have to bend at least some to accommodate the guys they are bringing in. The clock on quarterbacks coming into the league today dictates that they play quickly and get judged too early.
Marcus Mariota played in a spread offense at Oregon. To their credit, the Tennessee Titans' brass at the time -- general manager Ruston Webster and coach Ken Whisenhunt -- saw that Mariota could do what is needed in the NFL; he just wasn’t asked to do much of it in college.