FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — FalconsCoach Arthur Smith said that his quarterback is doing well, and he appreciates it.
“I think he’s doing a nice job, quarterback rating and completion (percentage) be damned,” Smith said.
In his first year as Atlanta’s starting quarterback, Marcus Mariota’s completion percentage (57.7 percent) ranks 30th in the NFL. His passer rating (78.8) ranks 27th. Mariota’s completion percentage is the lowest of his eight-year NFL career, a career that includes a season in which Smith benched him while Mariota was the quarterback in Tennessee and Smith was the Titans’ offensive coordinator.
The Titans were able to count on seven years of NFL experience for that season. Ryan TannehillMariota will be replaced on the bench. The Falcons (2-3), have rookies Desmond RidderIf they are ready to make a difference, they can wait in the wings.
It doesn’t sound like they do right now.
“The completion percentage, eh, whatever,” Smith said. “I worry more about situational football, turnover margin, making sure we are clean in the red zone. There are a lot of ways to look at it, but I do have an appreciation for guys who won’t take negative plays regardless of their stats.”
Mariota has managed the Falcons’ offense well on this front. Atlanta is the league’s ninth-best place for zero- or negative-yard plays (31.6%)
“I am not worried about statistics. I never have been,” Mariota said.
