Breaking Down Marcus Mariota

Jan 3, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers in the 2014 NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterbacks Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins, Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers and Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers all came from the same spread option system. So instead of all the madness about Luck, which is a pipe dream at best, these are the quarterbacks Mariota compare most to.

Kaepernick sat for a year and went to a Super Bowl because he is strongly built and has a big arm to use in play action off the 49ers running game. R.G. III was a rookie sensation with his world-class speed to go with his arm talent. But Newton, the biggest and strongest of them all, was brave enough to stay in the pocket and go through his progressions when the time called for it.

Kaepernick and R.G. III have since had the NFL snap back after a year of giving the NFL something it wasn’t ready for. But Newton didn’t face the same snap-back and had more sustained success as a passer. Yet and still, the NFL caught up to Newton by way of injuries he’s had to work his way through as fast 260-pound defensive ends so often bring the pain.