Zach Mettenberger likes chances against Winston, Mariota

Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger started six games as a rookie and knows he might be in a camp battle with a high-profile rookie in 2015.

Bring on Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota.

So says Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who started six games as a rookie and knows that the Titans—who have the second overall pick in the 2015 draft—may bring in one of the two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks available for selection.

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Winston of Florida State, the 2013 Heisman winner, and Mariota of Oregon, who won the award last season, are expected to go high in the draft and Mettenberger likes his chances of winning a battle in training camp with either of them.

“They are obviously very talented guys,” Mettenberger told 104.5 The Zone’s SportsFest in Nashville. “If they were here I think they would say the same thing; if we had to compete out there, I think I’d beat them out.”

Teammate Taylor Lewan, who was Tennessee’s top pick last year, liked the confidence from his friend.

“I think any person that doesn’t say that is not going to be successful,” Lewan said. “There are only so many positions in the NFL you can be a part of. If another guy comes in that’s a first-round pick or a second-round pick or a higher pick than you were, you either fold it up or you can take that adversity and thrive with it.”

Mettenberger was a sixth-round pick in 2014, with his stock taking a hit because of a torn ACL sustained late in his senior year at LSU. He missed the last three games of last season with a shoulder injury, but said he’s already throwing and is 100 percent.

Mettenberger threw for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions and a 59.8 percent completion rate in six starts and one relief appearance for the Titans last year, a passer rating of 83.4.

He took over as the starter in Week 8 against the Houston Texans and the club was 0-6 in his six starts.

Of course, Tennessee was only 2-14 overall, so they weren’t doing a lot of winning behind any signal-caller. The team was 1-4 with Charlie Whitehurst starting and 1-4 with Jake Locker, who began 2014 as the starter.

The three quarterbacks combined for 20 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, but Mettenberger’s 201.7 yards per game was the highest of the three.

In their first season under coach Ken Whisenhunt, the Titans won their opener at Kansas City, lost four straight, beat the Jacksonville Jaguars at home, and closed with 10 consecutive losses.

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