Tag: Steve Mariucci

Former NFL HC believes Panthers’ QB situation will be ‘fluid’ in 2022

Steve Mariucci suggested that the Panthers’ QB situation may not have a sure solution throughout the 2022 season.

“Fluid” is definitely a word that can be used to describe how the Carolina Panthers went about their business under center in 2021. You all remember the highly-acclaimed multi-quarterback system head coach Matt Rhule devised for the second half of last season, don’t you?

Good times!

Well, former NFL head coach and current NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci thinks those “good times” will keep on rolling into 2022. While getting a peek at Panthers training camp earlier this week, Mariucci said that he believes Carolina’s quarterback situation will be an unstable one.

“And then, Matt Rhule said something interesting, too,” he stated. “‘We are keeping three quarterbacks.’ Well, they have to because they drafted Matt Corral in the third round, right? From Ole Miss. They gotta keep that guy. And a lot of teams don’t keep three quarterbacks on the active roster anymore. They keep one on the practice squad, right?

“So, anyway, this is a real, true quarterback battle,” Mariucci then said of the competition between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. “It’s gonna be interesting. Stay tuned because I think it’s gonna be fluid all season.”

Given the fluctuating state of the franchise since owner David Tepper purchased it back in 2018, “fluid” probably isn’t a word anyone wants to hear—especially at this position. Since the injury-plagued tail end of Cam Newton’s first Panthers tenure that very season, the team has started seven different passers—Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Will Grier, Teddy Bridgewater, PJ Walker, Sam Darnold and Newton (again).

That mark is very likely to hit eight, as Mayfield has continued to establish himself as the favorite in this ongoing battle. Can the former No. 1 overall pick, however, prevent that number from getting to nine before season’s end?

As “Mooch” said, stay tuned.

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Steve Mariucci: Jury still out on Giants QB Daniel Jones

Steve Mariucci says the “jury is still out” on New York Giants QB Daniel Jones, but admits he’s been dealt a raw hand.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is entering his fourth year as the team’s starter and, depending on how things pan out, it could be his last.

New general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are willing to give Jones one more shot to succeed this season after owner John Mara publicly admitted that the team did ‘everything to screw this kid up‘ his first three years in the league.

True. Jones has had to operate under an unstable framework that saw the Giants go through two head coaches, three offensive coordinators and an unusually high amount of injuries and illnesses. Jones himself missed games due to injury each the last three seasons.

Former NFL head coach and current NFL Network analyst, Steve Mariucci, chimed in on Jones’ prospects of success as he entered the final year of his rookie contract. That is, unless the Giants exercise his fifth-year option.

“Like any quarterback you have to have a supporting cast,” Mariucci told Newsday this week. “It was a shame that Saquon Barkley was hurt and it’s a shame that they had some offensive line failures. That roster needs to improve, let’s face it.”

The Giants have very little cap room to go on a free agent splurge this offseason, but they do have quite a bit of draft capital that they can utilize to change the direction and face of the club.

“There’s nothing fair,” Mariucci said, “It’s just how it is. He’s got to do the best he can with what they have.”

And what they have is very little at the moment. That could change is Schoen can bring in an impactful rookie class. They can improve their sagging offensive line significantly through the draft as this is a strong class for ‘hog mollies.’

“If Daniel Jones has a better offensive line, has some more weapons on offense, maybe,” Mariucci said. “And then it comes down to him not playing catch-up so the defense has to keep him in games or keep it close so he is not having to throw the ball so much.

“We’ll see how that goes. The jury is still out. I’m rooting for him.”

So are we all, but expect the Giants to have a strong Plan B if Jones continues to falter.

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Steve Mariucci: Giants’ Saquon Barkley could win NFL MVP

Former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci believes New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley could win the NFL MVP Award in 2020.

The NFL MVP Award is usually saved for the league’s top quarterback, but it’s not exclusive to that position. Since 1987, seven running backs have managed to win the award over the top quarterback, and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci believes Saquon Barkley could be the next to accomplish that feat.

While making an appearance on NFL Total Access earlier this week, Mariucci was asked to predict the 2020 NFL MVP and he did not hesitate, immediately naming the New York Giants running back.

“Six running backs have made MVP in the last 25 years, but they did something special like rush for 2,000 yards or break the rushing record like LT did with 28 rushing touchdowns,” Mariucci said. “But Saquon is versatile. He had 91 receptions and a bunch of yards rushing as a rookie. He’s going to go over 2,000 yards again. He’s got a chance. If that team can get better and have a winning season, Saquon Barkley.”

Although Barkley did struggle through a high ankle sprain a season ago, the numbers he put up during his rookie campaign are more representative of what he’s capable of producing.

With Jason Garrett now taking over as the Giants’ offensive coordinator, fans can expect an even larger dose of Barkley on a game-by-game basis. Like Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, Barkley will become the featured piece on offense and everything will run through him.

“I like watching running backs and learning from them. It’s cool to be able to go back and see some plays that I’ve watched before, now actually be on this side and actually understanding the play behind it, how it works for [Ezekiel Elliott],” Barkley said in May. “For me, I’ve just always believed and was always taught to believe in yourself. I feel like every year I’m going to try to improve and with the help of not just Jason Garrett’s offense but with my work ethic and my team that’s around me. Not only myself as an individual, I feel like we can be more productive on the offensive side of the ball and obviously all three phases of the game, playing complementary football.”

If he can stay healthy, there’s little doubt Barkley is capable of putting up MVP-like numbers, but in order to walk away with the award, the Giants will have to win some games.

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Tom Izzo faces former NFL coach Steve Mariucci on Fox Sports: The Home Game

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo faces off against Steve Mariucci on Fox Sports: The Home Game, Thursday at 11 P.M.

Michigan State Basketball coach Tom Izzo is set to face off against former NFL coach Steve Mariucci. For the uninitiated, Fox Sports: The Home Game is a pop culture trivia show on FS1 produced remotely.

Tom Izzo and Steve Mariucci were both born in Iron Mountain, MI. Mariucci coached in the NFL for 14 years including a stint with the Detroit Lions during the 2003-05 seasons. You can catch this show tomorrow night Thursday, May 21 live at 11 P.M. on FS1.

Here is a description of the show per Fox Sports PR:

“Host Chris Meyers is joined each week by two guests who compete against one another to answer sports and pop culture trivia questions. This week, Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo goes up against former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci in a test of their friendship that dates back to their high school days in Iron Mountain, Mich.”

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Steve Mariucci on Giants’ Joe Judge: ‘Who?’

Like many, Steve Mariucci had absolutely no idea who Joe Judge was upon being hired by the Giants and doesn’t believe he will succeed early.

Add former NFL head coach and current NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci to the long list of ‘insiders’ who have no idea what the New York Giants have in new head coach Joe Judge.

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t know how Joe Judge was,” Mariucci said in a recent interview, via NJ Advance Media. “Did you? Did anyone? His press conference was very impressive. He’s going to have to rely on some good players.”

Mariucci, who coached both the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, has been on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to rosters. He inherited a veteran roster in San Francisco and a young group in Detroit.

As a result, he was 57-39 over six seasons in San Fran with four playoff appearances. In Detroit, he was 15-28 over three seasons and ended up getting fired.

Mariucci sees the Giants as being more on a scale with the Lions teams he coached rather than his 49ers clubs.

“I had some guys in San Francisco that were grown men and had been there, done that, who knew how to train and were serious pros. In Detroit, I had a lot of young guys, who had no idea and nobody to look up to or lead the way,” he said.

For the Giants to get back into contention, Mariucci simplified things.

“They have to build that roster back up,” he said. “Because they aren’t the same roster as the Eagles or Dallas.”

Mariucci is right. The Giants simply need to continue to upgrade their roster if they have any designs of rejoining the winning ranks of the NFL.

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