Tennessee Titans: Too Soon To Call For Ryan Fitzpatrick

Aug 17, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (4) rolls out of the pocket in the third quarter of a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The Tennessee Titans have now fallen to 0-2 in preseason and with clear signs that improvements are needed. While preseason receives mixed opinions from some on its validity, it still gives fans a chance to get a glimpse into the team. When it comes to quarterback in Tennessee, fans are still restless.

Looking through social media sights, it’s clear that some fans are already calling for Jake Locker to be demoted and for Ryan Fitzpatrick to be given the opportunity to be the starter in Tennessee.

So is this actually needed or even possible?

The answer I sit on comfortably as of right now is: no.

It simply doesn’t make sense to demote Locker yet after two preseason games. While preseason gives insight, it is not the best definitive proof on the failure or success of a player. So while some believe Locker has been shaky or so-so in his performances thus far, it’s just not enough to pull the plug just yet.

Jim Wyatt recently shared an interesting statistic on Twitter. Locker has the lowest passer rating of all three QB’s after two weeks and obviously many factors play into this. The defense each of them is playing against is much different, the number of snaps varies greatly, and with so much going on in preseason games, it’s not a solidified starting rotation just yet.

Jumping the gun and trying to call for Fitzpatrick is simply the wrong route to go as of right now. Locker still deserves the chance to prove himself in the regular season and undermining his confidence is just not the way to go about it. There is no denying Locker has competition and who knows in time maybe a switch will be made, just not right now.

While Locker may be on the hot seat with Fitzpatrick waiting in the wing, at this time Locker really has nothing to worry about, especially in terms of preseason play.