Why Jake Locker Must Start This Season for the Tennessee Titans

Jake Locker needs to not only start the second preseason game for the Tennessee Titans—he also needs to be the team's starting quarterback for Week 1 of the regular season and beyond. 

News of head coach Mike Munchak's decision to give Locker the starting nod for Friday's exhibition matchup against the Buccaneers was first reported by Jim Wyatt of Nashville's Tennesseean on Twitter. 

Though it went relatively unnoticed, Munchak did a marvelous job coaching an underestimated Titans team in 2011. 

He dealt with a sluggish Chris Johnson who was clearly rusty to start the season following a lengthy holdout. His 1,047 rushing yard total was the lowest in his career. Kenny Britt went down with a season-ending injury in the third game of the year.

Lastly, veteran Matt Hasselbeck battled injuries down the stretch, but the team still managed a respectable 9-7, and a lost tiebreaker to the Cincinnati Bengals was the only thing that kept them out of the playoffs.

If Munchak's choice to start Locker is foreshadowing what he plans to do when the games count, the Titans coach will be well on his way to a second straight stellar campaign. Obviously, the play of Locker and Hasselbeck in the preseason should be a major deciding factor as to who wins the starting quarterback job, but Munchak must continue with the plan and make the executive decision to give Locker the gig, especially if the competition is tight prior to Week 1. 

Hasselbeck was an ideal stop-gap option for the Titans in 2011, a temporary fill-in before the true future of the franchise is to take over. Heck, the former Seattle Seahawk nearly got his team to the playoffs. 

The time Locker spent behind the cerebral veteran last year was invaluable, and the first-round pick was even afforded vital playing experience when Hasselbeck was dinged. 

Tennessee's 2012 first-round selection of Kendall Wright was a clear indication the team was ready to move on to Locker. Wright's pure speed and big-play ability is a natural fit with the former University of Washington quarterback's strong arm and unabashed tendency to push the ball downfield. 

At this point in his career, Hasselbeck's more of a West Coast offense game manager than anything else.

The presence of Chris Johnson will likely benefit Locker, as will an offensive line that allowed a mere 24 sacks in 2011.

If the Titans want to begin the next chapter in their organization's narrative—after displaying unwavering patience compared to other clubs with young quarterbacks—everything is now set. They drafted Locker, sat him as the backup behind a heady veteran, drafted a speedster and have an explosive running back—the traditional recipe for success for a youthful and somewhat raw signal-caller. 

For Locker, a true gamer with loads of upside, his time is now.

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