Tennessee Titans: Quarterback Thoughts For 2015 Draft Day
By Les Bailey
Tennessee Titans Head Coach, Ken Whisenhunt continues to tell anyone that will listen that he wants to see more of his 2014 sixth round draft pick, Zach Mettenberger, but some serious issues surrounding who will call the signals in 2015 is a concern. The big question on everyone’s mind is, how he will go about solving this problem.
I continue to read articles at outlets around the internet that seem to suggest that the Titans need to concentrate on offensive and defensive lines during the 2015 NFL Draft, and during Free Agency, but the quarterback situation is just as dire.
As we saw in 2014, playing in the AFC South, and facing the Houston Texans, and J.J. Watt twice a year can be harmful to the health and welfare of your quarterback. It will only get worse if, and when Jadeveon Clowney gets healthy and returns to the lineup.
The Texans single-handedly put the Titans success in the hands of 32 year-old Charlie Whitehurst. How did that work out?
Zach Mettenberger has all the necessary tools to be a successful quarterback in the National Football League, but even going back to his days at LSU, has continued to have injury problems.
Mettenberger tore his ACL at the end of his senior season at LSU. Questions were also raised about a back condition that hindered Mettenberger in college at LSU (spondylolysis) during the draft process.
Although a little help in the running game could be monumental in giving Mettenberger more options, the facts are, it takes time to build an offensive line, and during that period, who ever is under center in Tennessee, will need to scramble, and make quick decisions.
Who is next on the depth chart?
The 2015 Draft
I don’t think that Marcus Mariota is an option in Ken Whisenhunt’s scheme of things, especially after watching the Heisman Trophy winner’s performance against Ohio State in the National Championship Game.
The Titans would need to run the Read Option type of offense that former Washington Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan installed for Robert Griffin III. It was great the first year, but defensive coordinators around the NFL are catching on, and that option is quickly becoming a moot point.
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass on Jameis Winston, he could be an option if you are willing to take a chance on his off-the-field antics. He has proven on the field, that he can play, and is the best pro-ready quarterback in the draft.
Winston is not plug-and-play like Andrew Luck when he came out of Stanford a few years back and will make some rookie mistakes.
He anticipates well, has a strong arm, and can beat man coverage. He gets confused with zone coverage, and doesn’t read midfield options well.
After the years with Kerry Collins, and Vince Young, I’m not sure that Jameis Winston is what Titans fans want to see.
Free Agency
There are twenty-one quarterbacks who are available through Free Agency this year, including Jake Locker. The list is not impressive, and not a cornucopia of talent, but there are a couple of options however, that deserve a look. This one is my favorite.
Colt McCoy
I liked what I saw from Colt McCoy when he beat the Dallas Cowboys back in October in Arlington. McCoy has some holes in his game, but he is rugged, has an okay arm, can scramble, throw on the run, and understands the pro-style offense. His arm strength is a question mark.
I don’t put much stock in any quarterback who has went through the revolving door at the Dawg Pound and think Colt McCoy deserves a look.
The Washington Redskins are high on Marcus Mariota, and a draft-day trade that included a first-round pick, could put McCoy in a Titans uniform, and a pick at five which would give Tennessee a shot at Leonard Williams, or Danny Shelton.
Both are top-ten picks, but with Jacksonville and Oakland having the third and fourth picks, you have to believe either Williams, Shelton, or both will be available for the fifth pick.
Closing Thoughts
In my opinion, Colt McCoy is probably the best QB option for the Titans in Free Agency. Tennessee goes into Free Agency with plenty of cap space, but if they could snag him in a draft-day trade, and still pick up a much-needed stud for the defensive line, why not git-er-done then?