Winston, Mariota start NFL rivalry in historic Week 1 meeting
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston looks to throw during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night at Raymond James Stadium. JASON BEHNKEN / STAFF By Ira Kaufman | Tribune Staff Published: September 8, 2015 TAMPA — Credit the NFL schedule-maker for having a flair for the dramatic.Under normal circumstances, a Week 1 matchup between a pair of 2-14 clubs wouldn’t cause much of a stir. But when the Titans and Bucs meet at Raymond James Stadium Sunday afternoon, two rookie quarterbacks will be in the national spotlight.Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston and Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota, the first two players off the draft board four months ago, respectively, share more than a Heisman Trophy. When they hit the field for their vaunted regular-season NFL debuts, Mariota and Winston will be gripping more than footballs.They hold the fates of their franchises in their hands.“Jameis is going to be looked at a little differently than Marcus, only because he was taken first,” said former Bucs quarterback Vinny Testaverde, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 draft. ”He’s probably facing a little more pressure than Mariota. As a rookie, you have to learn to deal with that. But coming from Florida State, he’s probably accustomed to what’s coming his way.”On the brink of this historic matchup, both quarterbacks will dutifully remind everyone this game isn’t about them.That’s called diplomacy, NFL-style, but Winston and Mariota realize they are destined to be linked forever heading into the first season-opening duel between rookie starting quarterbacks selected 1-2 in the same draft.“That’s taken on a life of its own — and we realize that,” Bucs coach Lovie Smith said of Sunday’s intriguing game within the game. “Jameis knows his role and what we’re asking him to do. Let all that take care of itself. You just be a quarterback. Make good decisions, be Jameis Winston, and we’ll be OK with that.”Mariota, who directed a prolific, up-tempo offense at Oregon, was impressive in the preseason, completing 21 of 30 throws for 326 yards with a 102.9 passer rating. He will not, however, be speaking with Tampa Bay reporters on today, after the Titans declined a request for Mariota to participate in the weekly opponent conference call.“It is about us, it is about the Tennessee Titans and that’s all that matters to me,” Mariota told reporters in Nashville on Monday. “People will obviously try and make debates and opinions about what is going on, but I am focused on what our team has to do. I don’t play defense, so I don’t play against Jameis. Obviously, people will continue to make that debate, but you can’t focus on it.”Winston’s preseason play was more uneven as he hit on 23 of 47 passes for 311 yards. He was intercepted twice and sacked seven times behind an offensive line that could start two rookies on Sunday.“I’m in it to win games and be the face of someone’s franchise,’’ Winston said at the combine. “This is no competition between just me and Mariota because one thing about me — I plan on winning the Super Bowl. So it’s going to be me versus Peyton Manning and Jameis versus Tom Brady.’’So who will come out on top Sunday?“I think Jameis Winston will win the battle when it comes down to this Week 1 showdown, but Marcus Mariota will win the war, in terms of having the better overall rookie season,’’ said Gil Brandt, a longtime Cowboys executive who now writes for NFL.com. ”I see Mariota finishing with a better passer rating and completion rate than Winston.”Fellow NFL.com analyst Charley Casserly likes the visitor’s chances as the Bucs seek to snap a nine-game home losing streak.“I am going with Tennessee,” Casserly said. “I don’t see this as Mariota versus Winston. I see it as Titans (defensive) assistant Dick LeBeau against a rookie quarterback. LeBeau’s record against rookie quarterbacks is 19-2.”Winston dropped only one game during two seasons with the Seminoles, winning a national championship as a freshman.Mariota flourished within a spread offense at Oregon, but Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt has focused on his skills as a pocket passer. While Tampa Bay’s defense will try to keep Mariota from breaking containment, LeBeau has a reputation for confusing inexperienced quarterbacks by disguising coverages.“He’s a good football player,’’ Whisenhunt said of Winston. “We put a lot of work into he and Marcus and I have a lot of respect for Jameis Winston and what he’s done. He’s performed at a high level. He’s performed at clutch times with Florida State in big games. I’ve seen him do some of those things on the football field at the pro level. I’m under no illusion that this guy will not be a good NFL quarterback.”Former Bucs coach Jon Gruden, now an ESPN analyst on “Monday Night Football,” still ranks Mariota more favorably than Winston as a pro prospect.“Ken Whisenhunt has put him under center a lot and he looks like he’s in rhythm,” Gruden said. “I think he’s impressed a lot of people with the way he’s thrown the football, and a lot of people are shocked that he hasn’t taken off in the run yet. I think that’s when you’re going to see the greatness of Marcus Mariota. He is a double-edged sword. I like the way they’re bringing him along. If I was a Titans fan, I’d be really, really happy.’’[email protected]Twitter: @IKaufmanTBO
