At some point, the Titans would obviously prefer Zach Mettenberger not make the big, early mistake.
But at the moment, they’re taking solace in the fact he’s learned to bounce back from them.
The rookie threw a pick-six on his first attempt Monday night, but came back to play a generally efficient game.
“Give him a lot of credit with how he responded to that,” Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said, via Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean. “I think it shows a measure of [Zach’s] toughness.”
He’d eventually help them build an 11-point lead in the second half, and only a run-first Steelers comeback kept it from being a productive night. He was only sacked once, which is as much of a product of getting the ball out quicker as his pass protection. And he’s moving the ball downfield, and getting chunk yardage is critical for a young quarterback.
That even impressed his opponents.
“You can see why they like him, he is a fighter,” Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons said. “He sat in the pocket and took some hard hits and delivered some balls. For a rookie going against our defense, you have guys like James Harrison chasing you and he was just sitting in there and showing his heart.”
They haven’t won a game he’s started, but Mettenberger has a 92.7 passer rating, a general statement of efficiency, which has impressed his teammates as well.
“He throws a pick-six on the first play of the game and it takes a lot of maturity and a lot of consistency and love for the game to not just throw it in from there,” Titans tackle Taylor Lewan said. “That kind of stuff will get you, and he just bounced right back and started slinging the ball. That’s the kind of guy he is. I think he somewhat made a name for himself.”
After cutting bait on Jake Locker, the Titans will almost certainly be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. But Mettenberger also has six games remaining to prove himself, and make them take him into consideration for their future.
