NASHVILLE, Tenn.  – The past six months have been a whirlwind for Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Now, it's time for a break.

And time to begin getting geared up for the 2018 season.

"Obviously, I think everybody is looking forward to some time off," Mariota said following the team's last minicamp practice. "It's an opportunity to spend some time with family, get to just kind of unwind before it gets real busy. At this point in time, I like where the offense is at, I think we've grown a lot since day one. As we continue forward and we get into camp, I think we'll hit the ground running."

Just days after the Titans wrapped up the 2017 season with a playoff game loss at New England, the team made a coaching change.

Mike Vrabel ended up being hired as the team's new head coach, and he hired offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur and quarterbacks coach Pat O'Hara to work with Mariota.

Along the way, Mariota has taken steps along the way to improve his game. He traveled to California earlier in the offseason to work under the direction of quarterback guru Tom House. Mariota and the team's receivers huddled in March in California, where they worked on chemistry and timing. When the offseason program started in April, a crash course on the new offense – and cleaning up technique – began for Mariota, who has worked to widen his base.

For Mariota, who spent a good chunk of last offseason recovering from surgery, it's been an important offseason already.

"It's been huge," Mariota said. "It's been great for me because I've been able to be out here, get the full speed reps, basically just playing the game. When you're going through an offseason when you're recovering, you get to training camp and the game seems a little bit faster, just because I think you didn't have an opportunity during spring to be able to work on – just be out there and playing. To be able to have this offseason to be able to be out there with the guys, I think has been huge for me. I think when July rolls around I'll be in a better spot."

Mariota said he's seen improvements with his technique.

By widening his base, coaches believe Mariota will be able to get rid of the ball quicker, and more accurately.

"It's something that I've really kind of stressed, even before OTAs started," he said. "It's nice to be able to come out here and to see it when you're going through plays. It's easy when you're out there and you can do it during a drill, but once things are flying around and you've got to go through (a) progression, you've got to go through what the coverage is going on. Being able to see how my body reacts, and seeing that I do have that base, it gives me confidence to continue to work on it.

"I think everybody is comfortable, they understand what's expected of them in the offense. Obviously, we can do better, but at the same time I think as we've gotten reps out on the practice field, guys are feeling more and more comfortable.

The Titans quarterbacks are scheduled to return to Nashville on July 22, a few days before the rest of the team reports on July 25.

The first practice of training camp is set for July 26.

Mariota plans to be well rested by then. He said he wants to make sure he has the offense down. Mariota is planning on getting together with the team's receivers again during the break. But first, he'll spend some time back home in Hawaii.

When it's time for camp, Mariota said he'll be ready to go.

As Vrabel said last week, the countdown is on.

"(I) just (want to) continue to get in the offense, make sure that when I get back I know it inside and out," Mariota said. "During this kind of short break, it's an opportunity just to continue what we've done out here on the field. Just continue to build on that. Once training camp rolls around, it can show that we're ready to go.

"I look forward to this time of year. To me, it's an opportunity for all of us. Obviously, it's going to be nice to go just kind of relax, but once July rolls around I just get excited. Just want to get back on the field."