Mariani keeps impressing

Mariani keeps impressing

George Ferguson — [email protected]

If the third game of the NFL's preseason is considered to be a full dress rehearsal for the regular season, then Tennessee Titans' rookie wide receiver Marc Mariani looks like he's ready for the big stage.

On Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C., Mariani, the former Havre High standout, performed at a high level yet again. Saturday was Mariani's third preseason game with the Titans and he was directly responsible for Tennessee's only touchdown.

Playing with second-string quarterback Kerry Collins, Mariani sparked the Titans with two big catches on a drive which resulted in Tennessee's only touchdown of the night. In the fourth quarter with the Titans trailing 6-0, Mariani caught a 22-yard reception while tip-toeing down the sideline to keep the drive going. Then, a play later, he was in the slot and caught a short slant from Collins and turned it into a 37-yard catch and run. Mariani carried three defenders with him at the end of the play, and the Titans scored on the very next play.

On the night, he had just those two catches, but he went over 100 all-purpose yards for the third straight game. He also returned three kickoffs for 64 yards as Tennessee fell to the Panthers 15-7.

The third preseason game is one in which the starters usually play extended minutes, but Mariani was once again playing most of the game, covering both punts and kicks in the first half, before returning kicks and playing receiver for much of the second half.

Mariani is currently in a battle with third-round pick and former USC star Damien Williams for the No. 1 return job, and in his Sunday press conference, when asked about who has the upper hand, Titans' head coach Jeff Fisher responded by saying: "At this point, they both can do it."

The Titans have to trim their roster from 80 players to 70 on Tuesday, and final cuts will be made this coming weekend.

Mariani's final preseason game will be Thursday night when the Titans host the defending world champion New Orleans Saints at LP Field in Nashville.

Note: Fans can follow Mariani in his final days of training camp as he attempts to secure a spot with the Titans for the regular season with the Havre Daily News and online at http://www.havredailynews.com.

If the third game of the NFL's preseason is considered to be a full dress rehearsal for the regular season, then Tennessee Titans' rookie wide receiver Marc Mariani looks like he's ready for the big stage.

On Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C., Mariani, the former Havre High standout, performed at a high level yet again. Saturday was Mariani's third preseason game with the Titans and he was directly responsible for Tennessee's only touchdown.

Playing with second-string quarterback Kerry Collins, Mariani sparked the Titans with two big catches on a drive which resulted in Tennessee's only touchdown of the night. In the fourth quarter with the Titans trailing 6-0, Mariani caught a 22-yard reception while tip-toeing down the sideline to keep the drive going. Then, a play later, he was in the slot and caught a short slant from Collins and turned it into a 37-yard catch and run. Mariani carried three defenders with him at the end of the play, and the Titans scored on the very next play.

On the night, he had just those two catches, but he went over 100 all-purpose yards for the third straight game. He also returned three kickoffs for 64 yards as Tennessee fell to the Panthers 15-7.

The third preseason game is one in which the starters usually play extended minutes, but Mariani was once again playing most of the game, covering both punts and kicks in the first half, before returning kicks and playing receiver for much of the second half.

Mariani is currently in a battle with third-round pick and former USC star Damien Williams for the No. 1 return job, and in his Sunday press conference, when asked about who has the upper hand, Titans' head coach Jeff Fisher responded by saying: "At this point, they both can do it."

The Titans have to trim their roster from 80 players to 70 on Tuesday, and final cuts will be made this coming weekend.

Mariani's final preseason game will be Thursday night when the Titans host the defending world champion New Orleans Saints at LP Field in Nashville.

Note: Fans can follow Mariani in his final days of training camp as he attempts to secure a spot with the Titans for the regular season with the Havre Daily News and online at http://www.havredailynews.com.