Raiders’ backup QB Marcus Mariota to regularly feature in playoff push
The Las Vegas Raiders’ thrilling road victory in Dallas on Thanksgiving was a thing of beauty for most on a day of celebration. Quarterback Derek Carr was instrumental in the victory, while his backup Marcus Mariota also had a hand in the Raiders’ 36-33 win.
The former Tennessee signal-caller has been called upon throughout the season to mix up Vegas’ offensive schemes and it’s fair to say Mariota has been effective. The 28-year-old scored a pivotal rushing touchdown on Thanksgiving, putting the Raiders up 23-13 at Jerry World.
Sitting at 6-5, just outside the wildcard spots, Las Vegas will continue to use Mariota, according to interim head coach Rich Bisaccia.
“I think you saw [offensive coordinator] Greg [Olson] do a great job of this week, we had him in there multiple times and he ends up scoring a touchdown for us because of his athletic ability and what he can do in certain situations, but certainly what we are asking him to do,” Bisaccia told Vegas media on Monday. “Without giving too much away, I think he is hopefully going to be a part of the packages as we go forward. He practices like he’s preparing to play all the time. And the other thing is, it’s really hard to take No. 4 (Derek Carr) out from behind the center as well, especially if he’s playing the way he played on Thanksgiving Day.”
Some quarterbacks can become frustrated when snaps are taken away from them, though Mariota’s fellow quarterback Derek Carr isn’t most QBs. The Fresno State product is known as a standup teammate and Bisaccia echoed those sentiments Monday.
“I think on the touchdown, you saw Derek might have been the first or second guy out there to congratulate him. So, I think Derek is about the team,” he said. “Derek is about doing whatever we can do to put ourselves in position to win a game. I think you see it by the way in which he prepares, by the way in which he plays, and they certainly have a professional relationship with respect to each other’s job and what they are trying to do to help us win.
“So, I don’t feel like that’s an issue in any way. I just feel like they are certainly competitors, but I certainly think they want to do whatever they can do to help us win games.”
The Raiders, Carr and Mariota will get an opportunity to show what they can scheme when Washington arrive in Sin City on Sunday.