Zach Mettenberger “Non Factor” In Titans Loss

The jury is still out in Tennessee as Zach Mettenberger was a “non factor” in the Titans loss to the Houston Texans. The Texans looked like the NFL team with years of experience as the Titans looked like the expansion team. Pitiful.

Zach tossed two touchdowns in the 30-16 loss. Delanie Walker caught a 6 yard touchdown late in the third quarter and Justin Hunter caught a 12 yard td with 1:00 left in the game. All in all Mettenberger finished at 27/41 for 299 yards, two tds, an interception and a fumble. Another typical Titan quarterbacking type of day. Some good, some bad, some so so. Again, typical of the Titan organization.

Mettenberger showed that he belongs in the NFL, and that he can lead an NFL team. The problem is that I am not sure the Titans are actually an NFL team. The only way I can tell is by seeing the patch on their jersey’s that say NFL on them.

This team has some talent, but has a real identity crisis. We have no idea who or what the Titans are, or what they want to be. I am extremely surprised that Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt has this team where it is at this point.The offense is woeful. The defense is absolutely terrible.  The Coaching staff is clueless.

Live Feed

FanSided

The Titans mercifully have a bye this weekend. They are 3 point underdogs to the bye according to early Vegas odds.

To be fair to Whisenhunt, he inherited a roster void of talent on the defensive side of the ball. But the talent is better on the offensive side. Receivers Nate Washington, Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter are serviceable. The offensive line is decent but totally undisciplined. The running backs are decent. Shonn Greene is misused, Dexter McCluster is misused, and Bishop Sankey is a Rookie that is…..well…small. He is not exactly a power back. The quarterbacks are ok.

The offense is Whisenhunt’s baby. I had a San Diego Charger fan tell me I would love Whisenhunt. I am not sure yet. I see no rhythm in this offense. I realize it is hard to have a rhythm with three quarterbacks played in the last 4 games. Today the Titans weren’t on the field long enough to have any rhythm. The Titans had the ball for only 24 minutes due to the 3 and out nature of Whisenhunt’s offense, and the fact that ex Tennessee Vol Arian Foster ran from Knoxville to Memphis through this defense. Foster finished with 151 yards on just 20 carries.  Alfred Blue finished with 42 yards.

So the defense gave up a total of 439 yards. The Titans defensive line could not get any pressure on ex Titan Ryan Fitzpatrick all day. The Titans had to dial up blitzes consistently and Fitzpatrick burned the weak Titan secondary time an time again. Wreh-Wilson still shows that he is not ready to play against NFL receivers. He will get there, but he is not there yet. Michael Griffith is a step too slow, Wilson is everywhere but where he is supposed to be, and Huff is showing some signs he may be able to play. It is a bad secondary at the moment.

I am not sure if this is the new scheme, or a lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball. I do think the Titans will need to address the defensive side of the ball exclusively in next years draft. I don’t see a quarterback I would have coming out. We need a defense. The line is solid, but we need someone that can put some pressure on the quarterback. We need 2 outside linebackers that can run and play this 3-4. We need a shut down corner and overhaul at the safety position. Griffith is as talented Safety as there is in the NFL, but someone has to get him to believe it, and challenge him to play like it.

I guess what I am saying is that the quarterback position is just one in a long list of problems for this team. Nothing is going well exception of the kicking and punting game. Not much to hang your helmet on there at all. So keep Mettenberger as your starter from now on. He is your future, and he can play.

This team needs a solid week of practice. Coach Whisenhunt needs to decide what this team is going to be offensively. You have one of the most expensive offensive lines in the NFL. Use them. Get Shonn Greene back on the field and Jackie Battle as well. Get physical and mean. Then, let Mettenberger use play action like an NFL team does. This team has the offensive tools. Use them.