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Save for Titans, AFC South’s quarterback situation is in shambles

By Matias Wodner

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Jurrell Casey #99 of the Tennessee Titans sacks Blake Bortles #5 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the game at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Jurrell Casey #99 of the Tennessee Titans sacks Blake Bortles #5 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the game at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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The AFC South has no good quarterbacks, except for Marcus Mariota.

Before the preseason even began, it was clear that the Tennessee Titans were on the verge of joining the Indianapolis Colts in terms of an enviable quarterback situation. The Colts had Andrew Luck, who has been fantastic nearly every year of his career, and the Titans had a young maestro at the position who was coming off a highly impressive sophomore campaign. At least half of the AFC South was set at the quarterback position heading into 2017.

My, how things change.

The Colts are in a bad position. Luck is still alive, but it’s becoming increasingly likely that he will miss Week 1, and possibly even more than that. If Luck is unable to suit up for any game this season, the Colts will have to rely on backup Scott Tolzien, who has a 2:7 touchdown to interception ratio in his career. Tolzien has been so uninspiring during the offseason and preseason, that the Colts are considering giving 2014 undrafted free agent Stephen Morris an opportunity to win the job. Morris has never thrown a pass in a regular season game. The Colts were going to struggle in year one of a rebuild regardless of whether Luck played or not, but they are staring at a lost season before a game is even played.

Then come the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are so fed up with 2014 third overall pick Blake Bortles that they have opened up the starting quarterback position to competition. In steps Chad Henne, a 32-year-old veteran who has a career 58:63 touchdown to interception ratio and a completion percentage under 60. What’s even more concerning is that Henne looks like the better option at the moment. Bortles’ confidence looks shot, and his throws in preseason have been flat and inaccurate. Not to mention, he’s still committing turnovers, which new head coach Doug Marrone is not fond of. The Jaguars have no idea who their starting signal caller will be come Week 1. What a time to be alive.

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This feels asinine to say, but the Houston Texans actually have a stable quarterback situation, at least compared to the Colts and Jaguars. Tom Savage appears to be the favorite to start the season as the main guy. Savage is underwhelming, but he isn’t as bad as Brock Osweiler was last season and he doesn’t turn the ball over at a high rate. The Texans gave up the farm for Deshaun Watson in this year’s draft, but the rookie will likely have to wait for his chance. Many believe he’ll take over midseason, but Watson’s accuracy has been shoddy, to say the least, through his first two preseason games.

Situations like these should make Titans fans feel that much better about their quarterback corps. Mariota hasn’t been able to finish his first two seasons healthy, but he’s fully healthy at this moment, and he looks as good as ever. And even if Mariota goes down, the Titans should feel confident that Matt Cassel is the best backup quarterback in this division. At least for right now. Advantage, Titans.

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