Defense on alert for Titans QB
Team bracing for Mariota’s tendency to run; TE Hurst helping raise awareness
A right elbow injury forced Marcus Mariota to sit out the Tennessee Titans’ win against the Houston Texans on Sept. 16, but the ailment has not altered the Ravens’ assessment of the fourth-year quarterback.
“He’s had the little, whatever his arm injury [was], but he can make all the throws,” free safety Eric Weddle said Wednesday. “He’s obviously dangerous in the open field, extending plays, moving the chains.”
Mariota has not missed a start since that Week 2 game, but it appears that the elbow is still an issue. He did not throw for more than 130 yards in three of his four starts and has more interceptions (four) than passing touchdowns (two).
Mariota is on pace for career lows in passing yards (2,704) and passing touchdowns (eight). But he is projected for career highs in rushing attempts (88) and yards (488).
Mariota’s tendency to run with the football has not escaped the attention of the Ravens.
“When he scrambles, he can definitely make the pass, but he’s definitely going to look to run more than not,” middle linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “He’s good at getting out of the pocket, avoiding the sack. So for us, [we need to] try our best to just keep him in the pocket, and when he does get out, just have a good plaster defense.”
Weddle echoed that sentiment, adding, “He’s actually done a lot more running with the ball than last year when we played against him. Knowing that, we just have to always be on-call with our assignments and playing good team defense and eliminate the big plays. Obviously, [it’s about] the same thing every week, week-in week-out. But he does present some challenges offensively, because he’s so athletic, so explosive in the open field with running the ball, that you don’t want him ruining the game for you, especially on third down.”
In last year’s meeting, which ended in a 23-20 win for Tennessee, Mariota completed 19 of 28 throws for 218 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He rushed only three times for six yards with two carries gaining 0 and -1 yards.
Despite Mariota’s apparent leanings this season, Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale was unsure whether the defense could gain a tactical edge Sunday.
“I don’t know if it’s an advantage or not,” he said Thursday. “I know it’s not helping my sleep much. I think what has happened is, I talk about a series of events, and it’s a series of events for them as well — what type of game they’re playing, who they’re playing, how that team’s rushing them, things of that nature.” Rookie Hurst opens up about mental health: Wednesday was World Mental Health Day, an annual observance of mental health issues and education, with the goal of mobilizing efforts against the social stigma. Hayden Hurst did his part. “#MentalHealthAwareness you never know what someone else is going through,” Hurst wrote in a tweet, the Ravens rookie tight end’s first personal message since the season started. “Everybody fights their own fight. Just know you aren’t alone! Reach out to someone if they are struggling, your words could change a life or save one.”
It is a personal crusade for Hurst. He battled depression and anxiety when he was a minor leaguer in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization. He told Bleacher Report that he would avoid people by staying in his room at the Pirates complex. He would tell his parents everything was fine when he knew it was not.
His uncle and cousin, he said Thursday, died by suicide. Both struggled with depression. Mental health problems run in his Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota dives for a touchdown in a 26-23 overtime victory by Tennessee over the Eagles on Sept. 30. Mariota led the Titans with 10 carries for 46 yards against the Eagles, but was limited to 10 yards rushing in last week’s los to the Bills. family. He said they do not burden him as they once did, but it is a weight that never truly lifts.
“I know it’s not really something that you just get over,” he said. “It’s always going to be there.”
The NFL and NFL Players Association hosted a symposium on mental health in May that aimed to raise awareness and encourage athletes to seek help and support for their mental well-being. Hurst said professional athletes have become more willing to address their mental health and talk openly about the importance of it. NBA stars Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan last season were widely praised for opening a dialogue about mental health.
“You can’t be afraid to talk about it,” Hurst said. “Everyone suffers from it. Like I said in mytweet, everybody fights their own fight. So the more we talk about it, the more comfortable we are with it. I think it’s just going to help people.”
He hopes he can help, too. He said Thursday that he and his mother, Cathy, are finalizing the paperwork for a mental health organization tentatively called the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation.
They want to make it easier to do what Hurst struggled with for so long: speaking up, seeking help, being honest when something is wrong.
“We’re really excited about it,” he said. “I think, hopefully, we can change some lives.” Young absent: The Ravens had only four cornerbacks for Sunday’s 12-9 overtime loss at the Cleveland Browns, and their hopes of having every hand on deck for Sunday’s game at the Tennessee Titans do not look optimistic.
Slot cornerback Tavon Young did not practice Thursday after participating in Wednesday’s session. Young, who made his first interception of the season against the Browns and has 17 tackles and two sacks, was listed in the team’s injury report Thursday as dealing with a hip ailment.
The defense has played the past three games without rookie cornerback Anthony Averett (hamstring), who sat out his second consecutive practice. The only healthy cornerbacks are Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith and Cyrus Jones (Gilman), who was re-signed Monday.
The other new absence at practice was running back De’Lance Turner, who is bothered by a balky hamstring. The undrafted rookie left Wednesday’s session early.
Nose tackle Michael Pierce (right foot) missed his second straight practice.
Wide receiver John Brown (not injury related), Carr (knee), defensive back Anthony Levine Sr. (hamstring), free safety Eric Weddle (not injury related) and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (not injury related) practiced fully after sitting out Wednesday. Outside linebacker Tim Williams (right hamstring) was limited for the second consecutive day. Jefferson’s near block: Rookie kicker Greg Joseph’s 37-yard field goal that fluttered through the uprights to propel the Browns to victory Sunday was partially blocked by the right hand of Tony Jefferson, the strong safety and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said Thursday.
“Just coming out of my stance, I kind of slipped,” said Jefferson, who rushed in from right edge. “I think if I wouldn’t have done that, I probably would’ve had an even better opportunity to fully block it. I just didn’t get the job done.”
Rosburg, the team’s associate head coach, pointed out that while Joseph’s kick got through despite Jefferson’s hand, kicker Justin Tucker’s 48-yard attempt at the end of the second quarter was turned back by Browns rookie cornerback Denzel Ward.
“Their guy got four fingers on it, and our guy got three,” Rosburg said. “That’s the difference between winning and losing sometimes. That particular play turned out to be a huge factor in the game.” Extra points: Ward’s block of Tucker’s field-goal attempt marked the third blocked kick or punt for the Ravens in the first five games, which Rosburg called “an unacceptable number.” “First of all, it was a really good play by their player,” he said. “He got a great get-off, and we had an edge issue. We just weren’t completely solid on our edge. We were a little too tight. By the time we punched, he was clear of us. It’s one of those situations where a matter of inches makes a huge difference.” … Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was pleased with Hayden Hurst’s NFL debut against Cleveland after missing the first four games of the season because of a stress fracture in his foot. “That first week, if you look at it, you have a rookie who has never played in a league game coming off of a major injury,” he said. “He was knocking a little bit of rust off last week, and then man, I was excited because he practiced really well yesterday. I think he’s on the [rise].” … The “Sunday Night Football” Bus will visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore, 11 West Mount Vernon Place, on Friday at 3 p.m., Comcast and NBC Sports announced Thursday. More than 90 members of the club will get guided tours of the bus for a chance to use interactive displays and participate in photo opportunities. “Sunday Night Football” will also give the youth branded footballs to decorate and display. … A pair of Titans starters in inside linebacker Will Compton (hamstring) and strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (elbow) did not practice for the second straight day. Starting left tackle Taylor Lewan (foot) was upgraded to full participation after missing Wednesday’s session. Starting inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard (shoulder) was limited for the second consecutive day, and he was joined by former Ravens outside linebacker Kamalei Correa (foot).