Jake the SnakeBit & The Gunslinger

Sunday will be the closing of the book on the short, unhealthy era of Jake “the SnakeBit” Locker as QB1 in TitanTown. Old sentimentalists like this one are left to sadly ponder the fickle twisted middle finger of fate and sigh for what might have been for a franchise desperately seeking an identity or at least a face.

Jake deserved better than to be snake-bit by injuries, but that’s the risk one takes in the land of behemoth linemen and rebel yell linebackers. Survival is a question of not only the fittest but the luckiest with luck being a better offensive line than the Titans have put together in the past three years.

The QB1 reins are being turned over to strong-armed rookie Zach Mettenberger, who fits Coach Whisenhunt’s pocket passer offensive scheme better than the mobile Locker. Whisenhunt hopes Zach resembles a similar statue like pocket passer who Whiz mentored as a young quarterback to a Super Bowl, Ben Roethlisberger. Titans fans hope there is more resemblance than just the “berger” in the last names of the two quarterbacks.

This is the second franchise quarterback the Titans have invested in who hasn’t been worth putting a franchise tag on to keep. VY was Bud’s guy and Locker was Mike Munchak’s. Mettenberger may not be Coach Whiz’s guy, but we’re starting an experiment to see if Zach can be more than just another guy. Maybe Zach’s strong arm will save Justin Hunter from having to wear the “JAG” jersey again. All the wideouts have been taking turns in Witness Protection and last week even Delanie Walker went MIA.

That’s what happens when the ball isn’t delivered on time or in a catchable range. The Titans need a quarterback who can stand and deliver.

Mettenberger has first or second round talent, but fell to the bargain bin of the sixth round due to a knee injury and possible failed drug test. Most likely the latter cost him a bunch of money. So, the Titans don’t have a lot invested and there may be some major return there. Titans management needs to see what they have in Mettenberger to determine if they need to get another first round franchise quarterback in the draft.

If Mettenberger really struggles, the question is will the Titans suck enough to get the Duck, Marcus Mariota from Oregon? It would be a God send if Mettenberger could be the Cinderfella guy as the Titans could use a first round draft pick in other areas of obvious need as well. Like a rush linebacker.

Sentimental old Titan fools like Don Cyoti are always tilting at the windmills of what might have been. Would the Karma for Jake the Snake Bit have changed if he had been given an opportunity to start in Year One like Mettenberger? Locker always said the right thing while he understudied Tim Hasselbeck, but other franchises were having success with rookies like the 49ers and Bengals. I felt at the time the Titans were behind the curve, but Bud put them there when he hired Mike Munchak instead of an experienced coach.

It’s telling that most of Locker’s injuries happened in the pocket, where he tried to stay to please everyone, rather on the ramble which was more his style. He knew when to get down on the run, he just couldn’t duck fast enough when the O-Line dike burst and the pocket made him a sitting duck. A promising start to last season went up in smoke when two Jets were matadored through. One hit Jake high while the other hit him low, like some old classic black and white football movie. The resulting hip injury was probably the trigger to a foot injury that finally ended his and the Titan’s year in 2013 as well as costing Mike Munchak his job. I’d have settled for a holding penalty on at least one of those guys.

Maybe I was the only one who was struck last night at the contrast during interviews with the two quarterbacks. Mettenberger looked like a big Bjorn Borg, long full hair held by a head band during the interview, so laid back he might need his pulse checked. Locker looked like a military officer, his hair razored to his scalp as he faced the fire of uncomfortable questions like a Top Gun pilot in the briefing room.

The difference was one of cool, confidence and attitude. Locker never really exhibited any cool or attitude while Mettenberger seems to have all three. Of course, he hasn’t been in the fire yet. He could turn into Kirk Cousins.

Mettenberg is a gunslinger and my take is he will live or die with the bullets from his strong right arm. Jake Locker is the good soldier, who took too many bullets for the Titan’s franchise. He will stand ready on the sidelines like a Texas Aggies 12th man for the last nine games of his career in Tennessee to back up Mettenberger.

Locker is history with the franchise, but the way the Titan’s expensive O-Line protects, JJ Watt and Jadaveon Clowney could put the pen back in his hand to write a couple of extra chapters in his short legacy. Let’s hope not, as the Titans really do need to figure out QB1.