Jake Locker is no sure thing to win the Titans’ starting quarterback position, according to one of the Titans’ backups.
Titans sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that his goal is to get the job “from day one.”
“I’m going to make Jake work that much harder, make Charlie [Whitehurst] work that much harder, cause I’m coming everyday. And I’m bringing my best effort and my hardest work to the facility everyday to show that I shot be the guy playing,” Mettenberger said.
Mettenberger isn’t trying to stir up a quarterback controversy, he’s just saying that he wouldn’t be doing his job if he weren’t working every day as if he plans to start.
“I think that’s the approach any guy worth his salt has,” Mettenberger said. “You’re not only thinking about the short team, but you also have a long-term view of yourself as a player and a person. We don’t play this game to ride the bench, you don’t play this game to just get a paycheck – at least the good ones don’t. You play this game because you love it, you love competing, and you wanna play. That’s what I’m doing.”
Realistically, it’s almost impossible for Mettenberger — or any sixth-round draft pick — to beat out an established starter, even one with some questions about his long-term viability like Locker. The far more likely scenario is that Locker opens the season as the starter, Whitehurst opens the season as the backup, and Mettenberger opens the season third on the depth chart.
But Locker has struggled to stay healthy, and there are questions about whether the new coaching staff believes in him as the long-term answer. Mettenberger almost certainly won’t be the Titans’ Week One starter, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he’s the Titans’ Week 17 starter.
Approximately a snowball's chance in hell of being the week 1 starter.. but I still like the attitude. IMO, he will get his chance.
Great attitude! I agree he has no chance to start right away, but who knows if we start the season 0-4 he might get the chance.
"Mettenberger almost certainly won’t be the Titans’ Week One starter, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he’s the Titans’ Week 17 starter."
Yup.
Yup.
I'll be rooting for him to start, unless Locker becomes completely legit this year.
This is typical July talks. These guys better be saying all these things, otherwise why are they all here...
It's not as if he has much competition in front of him... I'd be optimistic, too.
Hopefully Mett prepares like he's the starter, because we all know that Locker isn't capable of making it through a whole season.
I don't care what anyone says, but Mett will be a legit starter in the NFL.
I don't care what anyone says, but Mett will be a legit starter in the NFL.
Mett could be, if he gets the chance. Hopefully we don't have to find out tho
I'm pulling for Locker, I like him and think he has the tools. It's his durability that has been the issue. I want to see him get 16 starts, but that's unrealistic. I could see Mett getting some starts, and yes, he better have this kind of attitude.
I thought he was coming off surgery from Nov that was going to keep him out nearly a year though?
I thought he was coming off surgery from Nov that was going to keep him out nearly a year though?
This is definitely beating a dead horse. We've already argued what we expect of locker this year. That said, I would really be excited to see Mettenberger out on the field in the regular season.
I hope that's true. Week 17 will be the Titan's final game of the season. I hope we've wrapped up the division and a first round bye. We rest some starters and give Met a chance to play.
Durability isn't Jake's only issue.
He also can't throw from the pocket. Wildly inconsistent.
Mettenberger better keep his helmet on- even if Jake is healthy.
He also can't throw from the pocket. Wildly inconsistent.
Mettenberger better keep his helmet on- even if Jake is healthy.
Is it likely that Mett could be the backup and go in for Locker? Didn't we pay Whitehurst a decent bit of money to be a backup? I hope we can find our franchise QB for years to come and I honestly hope it is Mett, but I don't really see him getting playing time this year.
Mett is the 3rd guy til his knee is right. He could leapfrog Whitehurst easily, that guy sucks.
Stupidly, yes.
When the FO makes a bad decision, I like to refer to them as "They." When they do something good, I refer to them as "we."
So.. yes. I would say THEY paid Whitehurst a decent bit of money to be a backup.
I do like the argument that he was, partly, brought in to help inform players on what Wiz likes and some of his terminology... since the staff was unable to prep anyone early on.
Whether true or not, I do appreciate the idea. It is clever.
I still don't see a scenario where Locker goes down and Clipboard is the first to trot on the field.
Or at least not for more than clean up duty for the remainder of the game.
If Mett proves to not be completely incompetent, he will be the one playing in the event of an injury.
Or at least not for more than clean up duty for the remainder of the game.
If Mett proves to not be completely incompetent, he will be the one playing in the event of an injury.
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