The Sports Xchange

In news as surprising as sunrise and sunset, quarterbacks were the hot topic for several NFL teams as 23 clubs were scheduled to begin this week’s organized training activities (OTAs) Tuesday.

Only 22 teams actually worked out, as the Houston Texans pushed their start date to Wednesday due to bad weather and flooding.

And now a word on those quarterbacks.

For Tennessee Titans rookie Marcus Mariota, the second overall draft pick this year out of Oregon, progress is just being able to call the play in the huddle. That is one of several things he did not do while running the Ducks’ prolific, up-tempo offense, and scouts were concerned how quickly and how well he would pick up the NFL game.

In his first OTA Tuesday, Mariota called plays in the huddle, took snaps from over center and pretty much looked like an NFL quarterback.

Oakland’s Derek Carr, already considered the key to the Raiders’ turnaround, was able to do only rudimentary things at practice because of an injured finger on his right hand.

Passing is not among those rudimentary things, such as taking snaps and pitching the ball. While Carr is not totally ready, Christian Ponder was quarterbacking the first unit.

In Cleveland, 12th-year veteran quarterback Josh McCown took snaps with the first team and plans to stay on top of a Browns depth chart that includes controversial Johnny Manziel, who returned from rehab but is being kept away from the media.

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year in 2012, is now a father, and there is a suggestion that a more mature attitude will help him play back to that first-year form.

In San Diego, prolific veteran quarterback Philip Rivers opened camp still not under a new contract with the Chargers, but at least he was under center.

Here is a closer look at teams that began OTAs Tuesday:

–Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota admittedly has a lot to learn in becoming the Titans’ franchise quarterback, but the rookie already is able to take command of the offense.

There were concerns — and probably still are — that he might have trouble in the NFL after running an offense at Oregon that never huddled and never gave him a direct snap over center.

However, Mariota appears to be learning those things quickly. He said his most important challenge is to know how to call the play in the huddle.

“Being able to articulate it, if you’re kind of stumbling over it or the coach has to correct you, the older players are just going to kind of look at you and not respect that,” Mariota said. “So being able to communicate and show that you have confidence and that you can go out there and practice (is crucial).”

He is already working to earn teammates’ esteem.

“A couple of times today when he ran 30 yards down the field when the play broke down, that’ll get their respect pretty quick, those kinds of things,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “Just the way he plays and the way he carries himself. You saw that in college. That was one of the things we saw when we went to Oregon to the pro day. You could see the way they respected him. … Guys like having guys who can help them win, and I think they see that in Marcus.”

Mariota said taking command of the offense won’t be an issue for him.

“I don’t think it’s difficult. I think it just depends on who you are as a person,” Mariota said. “You’ve been around the facility a little bit and if you develop the relationships to where guys respect you, you’re able to communicate and express what you feel needs to be done. I thought it went well today and that I was able to do that.”

–Oakland Raiders: As the Raiders began their second week of OTAs Tuesday, starting quarterback Derek Carr was able to take some snaps during drills on running plays, showing he can hand off and pitch out despite an undisclosed injury to his right (throwing) hand.

As for throwing the ball, that hasn’t happened yet. Free agent addition Christian Ponder took the snaps as the starting quarterback for the second week. A source close to Carr maintains the injury is minor (ESPN reported it was an issue with the ring finger) and that he could be back in action soon.

The Raiders have another week of OTAs remaining before their mandatory minicamp June 9-11. Regardless, Carr has missed time getting his timing down with new wide receivers such as Michael Crabtree and top draft pick Amari Cooper, as well as Rod Streater, who missed most of last season with a broken foot.

“He was able to take some snaps, and we’ll bring him along,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. “I think things are progressing.”

It is Del Rio’s policy to not disclose injuries in the offseason.

Streater admits to some frustration because he missed so much time with Carr last season, and now that he is healthy, Carr can’t throw.

In the meantime, Ponder, a 10-game winner as a 16-game starter with the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 and reunited with offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, is getting the work with the first team over Matt McGloin.

Ponder signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and realizes his status at No. 1 is only temporary.

“My job, I understand, is the backup, and I’m here to help Derek and help this team out,” Ponder said. “It’s exciting for me to be out there right now taking first-team reps, but I know this is Derek’s team right now.”

The Raiders also made off-the-field news Tuesday, signing their seventh-round draft pick, cornerback Dexter McDonald.

–Cleveland Browns: Quarterback Josh McCown looked assertive and in control on a muggy afternoon at the team training complex in Berea, Ohio, where he is taking snaps with the first string and intends to stay there.

In the wings is 2014 first-round draftee Johnny Manziel, who was in alcohol rehab from January until April.

McCown is 17-32 as a starter while playing for the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Naming McCown the starter for now eliminates the distractions of a quarterback battle. Manziel still could win the job with an impressive training camp and preseason.

Manziel is running the second-team offense. He has not been made available to the media since the end of the 2014 season.

If McCown does start the season opener against the New York Jets in MetLife Stadium, he would be the 23rd different quarterback to start for the Browns since they returned to the NFL in 1999.

–Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III has been on his twitter account acting like a proud new father, which he is. Now coach Jay Gruden and, well, pretty much anybody who watches the Redskins want to see how RG3 acts on the football field.

Griffin’s private life was often lived in public ever since he was the critical factor in turning Baylor’s moribund football program into a bowl perennial. He was so excited about the baby that he tweeted the news of her arrival, complete with a photo and her own hashtag.

“He woke up me at 3 in the morning with a text and photo after she was born,” tight end Niles Paul said. “That’s a different responsibility as a man.”

“He’s doing fine,” Gruden said of Griffin. “He’s just gotta put practice after practice together and show the consistency that we’re looking for. Robert’s got a great work ethic. That’s never been a question. He comes to work every day trying to get better. Robert’s a confident guy.”

Although injuries were a big part of his downfall the past two years, there was more to it, including issues between he and departed coach Mike Shanahan and even Shanahan’s replacement, Gruden.

“It’s been a couple of crazy years,” said Griffin, whose contract option for 2016 the Redskins picked up last month. “It shouldn’t be about who likes who, who doesn’t like who, and who said what. I haven’t been up to par the past couple of my years. To have that consistency with the staff and the offense only helps. You gotta be true to who you are. And right now, I’m a 25-year-old young man who can do a lot of different things.”

–San Diego Chargers: Quarterback Philip Rivers, who wants a new contract, was on hand for Tuesday’s first OTA this week, but veteran star safety Eric Weddle was not.

Weddle, an All-Pro last season, wants an extension on a contract that is scheduled to pay him $7.5 million this year. Like Rivers, he wants a deal for more money, and he is clear he seeks something long term. However, the Chargers aren’t in a rush to extend Weddle’s contract, so their four-time defensive captain is resting instead of getting reps on the first day the veterans could join the rookies.

“I wasn’t shocked not to see him out there,” Rivers said of Weddle.

The difference between the two players deciding whether to attend the OTA was that the Chargers approached Rivers about an extension. Rivers declined initially but has changed his tune.

“I’m willing to listen to anything,” he said.

Rivers did not hide his displeasure of possibly moving his large family to the Los Angeles area, if that is where the Chargers’ search for a new venue leads them. However, he said Tuesday that it would be “awesome” if he finished his career with the Chargers.

–Kansas City Chiefs: Coach Andy Reid kicked off his third season of OTAs with the Chiefs on Tuesday, and 79 of 90 players on the roster took part in the workout.

However, the team’s main focus is putting together a reliable offensive line. There could be four new starters compared to last season, including guard Ben Grubbs and second-round draft choice Mitch Morse.

“We are going to find the five best guys; that’s what we are trying to get to,” Reid said. “I really don’t care where they play. I just want the five best. Then, we line up and play.”

Two of the five “best guys” will be Grubbs at left guard and third-year left tackle Eric Fisher. In the mix for the other three spots are Morse (center/guard), Zach Fulton (center/guard), Jeff Allen (guard/tackle), Donald Stephenson (guard/tackle), Paul Fanaika (guard), Derek Sherrod (tackle) and Eric Kush (center).

“I don’t really care,” Reid said. “Find the best guys and go with it.”

The biggest name among the 11 players not working Tuesday was outside linebacker Justin Houston. Last year’s NFL leader in sacks (22) has been absent throughout the offseason program, spending his time working out and preparing at home in Georgia.

Also missing the first OTA was safety Eric Berry; his 2014 season was cut short when he was diagnosed in November as having Hodgkin’s lymphoma with a tumor in his chest. Berry received treatments in Atlanta from December through early May. The Chiefs have not publicly put a timetable on his return.

–Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins opened their OTAs Tuesday with perfect attendance, including Ndamukong Suh, the high-priced free agent defensive tackle who traditionally skipped spring workouts while with the Detroit Lions.

Coach Joe Philbin was glad Suh chose to participate.

“That being part of the team is important, contributing is important, being out here for practice is important,” Philbin said. “The big thing that we’ve talked to the team about since April 20, the things that we’re doing today are going to make a difference in September, October, December, January, February.

“Even though the season seems a long way off, September 13, there are still a few more months before we get there. Everything we do is important.”

To that end, the Dolphins should be glad quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the passing offense were sharp.

Tannehill, who had career bests last season in touchdowns (27), interceptions (12), passing yards (4,045), completion percentage (.664) and passer rating (92.8), was under moderate pressure from the veteran defensive line.

However, for the most part, the pass-catching crew, led by wide receivers DeVante Parker, Jarvis Landry, Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills, as well as tight ends Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims, did a nice job. They seemed in sync with Tannehill, who is entering his fourth season, and not many balls hit the ground. Parker, the first-round pick from Louisville who is physically imposing at 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, continued his ritual of catching darn near everything thrown his direction.

“DeVante was great today,” Tannehill said. “You’ve been seeing it the past few weeks … but today you got to see him make some tough catches with defenders on his back, in traffic, and that’s what you want to see, that a guy with a big body is able to make strong catches with his hands in traffic.”

–Atlanta Falcons: Coach Dan Quinn was elated for the team to move into phase three of the offseason program with the start of OTAs on Tuesday.

“It was an awesome day out there to get connected with our whole team at once,” Quinn said. “As we get started into our next phase of our offseason program, phase three allows us to get a chance to work with everybody together. The emphasis going into today, we had a lot of third-down work and some two-minute (drills). I thought the guys did a good job for our first time doing that as a whole group.”

With music blaring and the tempo high, the Falcons appeared to move around the three practice fields with a purpose.

“No. 1, we wanted to really learn how to practice fast against each other, but doing it safely,” Quinn said. “When we become a really good practicing team, that’s when it will carry over into the game. The No. 1 priority was just the tempo and attitude that we’re trying to practice with.”

While the drills are non-contact, Quinn saw some benefit in the units being able to line up against each other.

“Outside linebackers going against tight ends,” Quinn said. “Guards and centers going against defensive tackles. Wide receivers going against (defensive backs). That type of competition when you get to go back and forth against somebody, that’s really what will make us (improve). That’s one of the things I was most pleased about as we got started in the practice today.”

The Falcons have installed most of their attack and are now working through it for the second or third time for some of the players.

“I think generally you can see when a guy really has his details down,” Quinn said. “That’s when he plays his fastest. It’s often times when they are still learning the playbook and still getting it down, there is a little hesitancy. Fortunately, the speed of that is picking up, which allows us to play a little more freely.”

Quinn is clearly emphasizing running to the ball and creating turnovers.

“All the calls that we have are designed to go after the ball,” Quinn said. “That’s really the mindset.”

–Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Despite using the No. 1 draft pick to take Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, the Bucs will focus on the other side of the ball until they play up to coach Lovie Smith’s standards.

The Bucs finished 25th overall in total defense (368.9 yards per game) and points (25.6 per game) in 2014. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier didn’t get much help in the draft. LSU linebacker Kwon Alexander is the only defensive player selected by the Bucs in the past two years.

As they went through the first day of this week’s OTAs on Tuesday, Frazier looked forward to significant improvement on defense in 2015. A year ago, the Bucs players were learning the Tampa 2 system. But perhaps just as important, the coaches were learning about their new players.

“You have a better feel for the players and what they can do,” Frazier said, “what their strengths and weaknesses are. This time of year, a year ago, everything you’d seen was on tape in another system. You were trying to project how they would fit into the system we were going to introduce.

“Now, we have actually seen Lavonte David, Danny Lansanah and Gerald McCoy play and function in our defense. We kind of know what their strengths and weaknesses are within what we do so we can better utilize their gifts, their talents and have a better understanding of what they are best at doing. Sometimes that only happens through experience. That experience should help me, should help our defensive coaches and our players as well.”

The Bucs did show some signs of improvement in 2014. During the last 10 weeks, they allowed 20.6 points per game despite missing a few key players such as McCoy and David for a few games.

Former Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Bruce Carter may have been the most important addition. He led all players at his position with five interceptions last season. The Bucs also signed Cowboys defensive tackle Henry Melton and Bears safety Chris Conte, both of whom played for Smith in Chicago.

–Cincinnati Bengals: As the Bengals opened their OTAs on Tuesday, it became clear the timetable for the return of weak-side linebacker Vontaze Burfict from January microfracture knee surgery is unknown.

Coach Marvin Lewis conceded that Burfict’s rehab will last into the summer. Training camp opens July 31, and the team will be sure Burfict is ready before he returns to the practice field. On Tuesday, he was in attendance and did some running the rehab field.

It was no surprise then that the Bengals signed linebacker A.J. Hawk after he was released by the Packers, and then they selected linebacker Paul Dawson in the third round of the draft. Hawk not only lined up on the weak side Tuesday, but he also flipped to the strong side during the workouts. Although his experience in Green Bay was in a 3-4 defense, he has no issues with playing the Bengals’ 4-3.

Hawk told the team website, “We had some games at Green Bay we were never in the 3-4. You’re in nickel packages, which is like a 4-3, a 4-2 or whatever. Football is football, I think, when it comes down to it. Something that is different is if you’re an outside backer in a 3-4 you’re a D-end basically that has to drop. So the guy who is transitioning from a 4-3 D-end to a 3-4 outside backer, yeah, that’s a tough transition. But the inside spots, they’re not exactly the same, but it’s still football. It’s not hand down, hand up and that whole thing.”

Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga also was on the rehab field, although he is expected to be able to practice Wednesday. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is making sure numerous players get reps after the experience of 2014 when he was forced to utilize backups because of several injuries.

“One thing I learned last year is you have to make sure the backup guys are ready to go so there’s going to be some guys working in with the first group, second group,” Guenther said. “We really don’t have groups right now. We have 11 guys out there.”

Taking Maualuga’s spot Tuesday was Vincent Rey.