Based on his performance, when healthy, Quarterback, Zach Mettenberger has given Head Coach, Ken Whisenhunt, and his Tennessee Titans staff plenty of options when the 2015 NFL Draft gets underway in April.
The twenty-three year-old first-year Quarterback out of LSU has all the tools necessary to lead this franchise out of meritocracy into the playoffs, and keeps Tennessee out of the mad scramble for the likes of Florida State Quarterback, Jameis Winston, or Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.
He’s got NFL-starting caliber arm strength, so this is not a normal sixth-round pick
NFL Draft Expert, Mike Mayock held a three-hour conference call to discuss the upcoming draft, and NFL Combine, and fielded some questions about the Titans.
When asked by Jim Wyatt, from The Tennessean if he would rather have Zach Mettenberger, or Marcus Mariota, assuming the Buccaneers follow the game-plan, and take Jameis Winston with the first pick, Mayock had this to say:
"“I don’t know how they’re going to evaluate this because I don’t see them with Zach,” Mayock said. “I don’t get the daily benefit of Zach Mettenberger last year. Mettenberger might have been a sixth-round pick, but he was coming off an ACL and he had some questions off the field, work ethic, and etcetera."
I’m not sure if Maycock, or his staff had time to watch game film from the Pittsburgh Steelers game on Monday Night Football, but what I saw was a kid who made all the NFL caliber throws, in game conditions, against a formidable foe.
If the Titans coaching staff can build some protection for Mettenberger, find a running back who can keep the defense honest, and add a deep threat, Zach Mettenebrger would have a better chance to stay healthy, and win a few more ball games in 2015.
The New England Patriots found a gem in the sixth round, why not the Titans?
Then Maycock had this to say:
"He’s got NFL-starting caliber arm strength, so this is not a normal sixth-round pick. This is a guy with plus arm talent and ability, so if you go through a year with him and you go, ‘Wow, he can make every throw, he works his tail off, we love him in the film room, he’s a leader, he’s lifting with the offensive line, bing, bing, bing, bing, bing,’ then you sit at two, and you go, ‘Okay, now we can deal from strength, we don’t have to take a quarterback. We can trade down for somebody who wants to come up and get Marcus Mariota, or we can take the No. 1 player in this draft, whoever that is on or board, probably in their case an edge rusher.’"
Now I’m confused…..??? Does he like him, or not? It sounds to me like he changed his mind!
Then he flip-flops again! Now I’m really confused.
"“If I’m Tennessee, I’m hoping that my evaluation of Mettenberger is high enough that I think we can win with him because it gives me more options on the other end,” he said. “However, if it’s not and we think we can upgrade that quarterback position to a franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota, then you’ve got to pull the trigger.”"
Okay, now it’s clear….as mud! If I wasn’t sure whether the Titans should stand pat, or draw another card, I think I’m back where I started before I read his statements.
With all that being said, after the disaster in Washington, following the 2012 NFL Draft, it’s probably safe to say that teams are not going to be lined up around the corner to get which ever Quarterback, or Quarterbacks who are still available after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make the first selection on April 30th.
The only possible scenario I see, is Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach, Chip Kelly. Kelly recruited the 2014 Heisman Trophy Winner at the University of Oregon, but the Eagles draft in the 20th spot, and to jump 18 places on draft day almost makes that option un-affordable.
If Whisenhunt, and General Manage, Ruston Webster play their cards right on April 30th, a deal will come from somebody. Zach Mettenberger, and his up-side gives them the advantage when the deal comes, and whatever Mike Mayock said.