So what does Ken Whisenhunt think of his QB's selfies?

Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt had no problem with rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger taking a "selfie" before the team's game against the Texans.

It was #SelfieSunday, after all.

And he doesn't have an issue with the guy who called Mettenberger out for doing so — Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt.

"The man is a good football player, and they won the game,'' Whisenhunt said of Watt and the Texans. "They get the opportunity to say what they want to say. We get a chance to play them again. I'll make sure I tell Zach not to take any selfies before the next game."

With a pose-worthy smile, Whisenhunt laughed off Selfiegate on Monday, a day after his team's 30-16 loss to the Texans. The 52-year-old Whisenhunt made light of his own knowledge — or lack thereof — of social media, saying only recently did he know what it meant to take a "selfie" — a self-portrait often shared on places such as Twitter and Instagram.

"I'm old school,'' Whisenhunt said with a smile. "That's a pretty safe bet, that I have never taken a selfie."

After the game, however, Watt put Mettenberger's selfies on blast, saying the 23-year-old needed to grow up. It created quite a stir.

The two-time All-Pro had two sacks, forced a fumble and batted down one of Mettenberger's passes on Sunday. After his second sack, Watt imitated Mettenberger by pretending to take a photo of himself.

It was an intentional shot at Mettenberger, who took several pictures of himself after being named the Titans' starter last week. Mettenberger posted another up-close "selfie" from the Titans locker room roughly two hours before the game.

"I take my job very seriously,'' Watt said. "If I was a rookie quarterback being named the starter for the first time in the league, I feel like I'd be a little more focused than that. Maybe he'll learn from it, maybe not. We won the game, so that's all that matters."

On the Dan Patrick Show on Monday, Watt said he sensed Mettenberger wasn't taking his opportunity serious enough.

"I saw one (picture) inside the locker room. In my head I'm thinking, 'OK, kid's head is not even in the game. It's go time,' " Watt said. "But, I mean, I told him after the game he played a good game. He's thrown into a tough situation and he did a good job. He's got a chance to be good. It's just one of those little things, you razz on the rookie a little bit."

Whisenhunt said Mettenberger's approach has been exemplary since the Titans drafted him in the sixth round, however. He's regularly one of the first players at the facility each day and one of the last to leave, Whisenhunt said.

Last week, the Titans benched veteran Jake Locker in favor of Mettenberger.

After the game, teammates defended Mettenberger's approach.

"I am a believer that he should be able to be himself off the field. It is not like he is doing anything wrong or causing any distractions,'' center Brian Schwenke said of Mettenberger. "But when it is football, it is football, and there is nothing silly about him. I thought his whole demeanor and everything was great."

Added receiver Kendall Wright: "Zach's one of those kids who only cares about football and winning."

Whisenhunt on Monday did acknowledge Mettenberger's decision to cut his shaggy hair and shave his bulky beard last week wasn't exactly the rookie's decision, however.

Part of the responsibility as a starting quarterback is to look the part, the coach said.

"I would not say that was a decision he made on his own,'' Whisenhunt said. "It is important you are viewed the right way when you are a quarterback. Once you have won a lot of games, once you have had success, I think you can do about whatever you want. But that is not the case. So I think it is important to start on the right foot that way."

Mettenberger completed 27-of-41 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start on Sunday. After watching the film, Whisenhunt said he thinks he was over-amped early, but settled down and played much better.

Moving forward, Whisenhunt said Mettenberger has a big responsibility as he tries to establish himself as the face of the franchise. The Titans have a bye this Sunday before returning to action on Nov. 9 at Baltimore.

The Titans face the Texans — and Watt — again on Nov. 30 in Houston.

"The face of the franchise, that is yet to be determined. That will be determined by his play,'' Whisenhunt said. "The one thing we have had discussions about is the understanding if you are the starting quarterback, there will be people … that see you and you have to represent yourself and the organization the right way."

Reach Jim Wyatt at 259-8015 and on Twitter@jwyattsports.