Zach Mettenberger Making Strong Case for Starting QB Role Beyond 2014 Season

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger was drafted 178th overall in the 2014 NFL draft. Jake Locker, on the other hand, was drafted No. 8 overall in 2011 to be groomed as the eventual replacement to Matt Hasselbeck.

Now, with two starts under his belt as Locker recovers from an injury suffered against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5, Mettenberger may be on his way to replace Locker. 

It's the NFL circle of life, and it doesn't always work out the way coaches plan. Locker was drafted to be the quarterback of the future for Tennessee, but injuries have kept him out of 37 possible games he could have played over the past four seasons. 

Now, Locker is approaching the end of his rookie contract, and the Titans have a decision to make about their future at the position. Back in 2011, Mike Munchak chose Locker. Now, Ken Whisenhunt may choose Mettenberger.

The rookie held his own against a Pittsburgh secondary ranked No. 14 in the league heading into Monday night's game. There were many moments when Mettenberger displayed a poise beyond his experience, especially after an early pick-six that would have rattled many rookies. 

But Mettenberger kept his composure, and on the drive immediately following the interception, he went 2-of-2 for 37 yards, handing off to Bishop Sankey twice and leading a five-play, 67-yard scoring drive in two minutes and 29 seconds. 

His final line of 15-of-24 with 263 yards and two touchdowns was good enough for a passer rating of 110.2 despite the pick. 

Mettenberger's most-discussed asset—his incredible arm strength—was also on display Monday night. The rookie averaged 11.0 yards per pass, compared to a measly 6.5 for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. 

An incredible 80-yard touchdown connection with Nate Washington Monday certainly increased that average. 

If the Titans do plan to build around Mettenberger, it will be with that arm in mind. Everyone has noticed it, especially the opposition. ESPN.com's Scott Brown spoke to a few members of the Steelers about Mettenberger, and it's the one trait they all named as standing out. 

"He has a ridiculously strong arm. He is your classic pocket passer," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said before the game, per Brown. 

"He’s got a real strong arm," added Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. "He’s big so he’s got real nice vision of the field. I haven’t seen a ball that he can’t get there."

Of course, Whisenhunt and general manager Ruston Webster knew all of this already, and they were high enough on Mettenberger back in May that they traded up in the sixth round to get him.

"We had to make the move to get him," Whisenhunt said in May, per TitansOnline.com. "We'd heard that there were other teams that were trying to move up to get him. At that point, we felt like it was a low risk-high reward type of situation."

Now, that risk may be paying off. Mettenberger still may not have impressive footwork—one reason he is thought to have fallen in the draft—but with an arm like his, if he can be protected in the pocket behind an effective offensive line and use play action with Sankey, a fellow rookie on the upswing, he can find success in Tennessee. 

In fact, the offensive line had perhaps its best showing of the season in pass protection Monday, giving Mettenberger a clean pocket to operate within. That will be essential to his success moving forward.  

The loss to the Steelers can't be pinned on Mettenberger. The rookie played about as well as anyone could have hoped, save for the interception. But Tennessee's defense allowed the Steelers to erase an 11-point lead in the second half, including a ghastly final drive that kept Mettenberger and the rest of the Titans offense on the bench. 

Still, if the opponent's game plan has to include running down the clock to keep a rookie quarterback off the field, it's safe to say there could be something special there. 

"We're going with Zach and we're going to stay with Zach," Whisenhunt told reporters prior to Week 11's matchup, via NFL.com. 

Now the rookie has multiple opportunities to prove himself against tough remaining competition, including the Philadelphia Eagles next week and the Indianapolis Colts to finish off the year. But matchups against the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and New York Jets could be winnable, and help Mettenberger get some wins under his belt as the Titans move into the next era.