Zach Mettenberger Is The Future For The Tennessee Titans?
By Les Bailey
Dec 7, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) nocks the ball loose as Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger (7) attempts to pass during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee Titan Head Coach, Ken Whisenhunt has indicated all along that he intends to stick with his young Quarterback, Zach Mettenberger in 2015, and has no interest in drafting one of the two top QB’s with his second pick in the NFL Draft. With a 2-14 season in 2014, and finishing last in the AFC South, the Titans obviously have other needs that are more urgent.
The Titans finished the 2014 season 29th in total offense, and 27th in total defense, so drafting Jameis Winston, or Marcus Mariota with the number two pick probably makes no sense. So why cloud the picture with yet another young Quarterback to train.
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What does make sense however, is finding a veteran backup Quarterback in free-agency who could mentor Mettenberger, and be available to take snaps in a game if the 23 year-old out of LSU goes down to injury again.
With an unusual amount of coaching changes around the league since the end of the season, team strategies change, and undoubtedly, there will be a veteran available who the Titans could bring in that could help bridge the gap.
I’m somewhat of a Colin Cowherd disciple, and believe that if you want to win a Super Bowl, you must have a great Quarterback. The Tennessee Titans are not going to the Super Bowl anytime soon, so why not use the number two pick in the 2015 Draft to get more picks later on, or trade for a good back-up Quarterback, or both.
Most good Head Coaches in the National Football League agree, that you can’t coach speed, and natural talent. With that being said, the other possibility for the Titans with the second pick, is the best player/athlete available on the board at any position. They need help everywhere.
Zach Mettenberger has all the tools needed to succeed in the NFL. At 6’5”, and 224 lbs, he is big enough to see over the defense, and has the arm strength to make all the necessary throws at this level.
In seven 2014 starts, Mettenberger was 107 for 179 with eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He was sacked 18 times, and had an 83.4 QBR. The kid spent most of his time running for his life, and still turned in some pretty good numbers.
He was sacked eight times in his last outing against the New York Giants in week 14, and never saw another snap in 2014.
Mettenberger started the day with a sore shoulder after taking a hard sack by JJ Watt in the week 13 game against the Houston Texans. The Titans got down 17-0 in the first quarter against the Giants, so it was open season on the young Quarterback.
Jake Locker ran for his life for the rest of the game after replacing Mettenberger, and the Titans went down 36-7 to the G-Men, who broke an eight-game skid.
So I agree with Coach Whisenhunt! The Titans traded up in the 2014 NFL Draft to take Zach Mettenberger, and think they should stay the course and let the youngster develop.
Use your number two status this year to acquire some players that can protect him so he doesn’t get hurt again, and gets that much-needed time to see if he is indeed, an NFL caliber Quarterback.