Zach Mettenberger endorses Titans' youth movement

After the third start of his NFL career, rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger believes the Titans are on the right track – in part because of their youth.

The Titans started four rookies against the Steelers on Monday night – tackle Taylor Lewan, running back Bishop Sankey and Mettenberger on offense, and linebacker Avery Williamson on defense.

"We feel very close but we're not doing enough to win football games," Mettenberger said. "That's the bottom line, the most important thing. With a rookie running back, rookie left tackle, rookie quarterback, rookie middle linebacker, we're doing a lot of good things."

Mettenberger completed 15 of 24 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns. His passer rating of 110.2 was the second-best by a Titans quarterback that has started and finished a game this season.

Mettenberger hooked up with Nate Washington for an 80-yard touchdown in the final minute of the first half. Washington put a great move on Steelers cornerback William Gay and Mettenberger threw a perfect deep ball.

"Really, that's just an opportunity where you don't want to over- or under-throw the guy because he's so open, but that's just a heckuva play by Nate," Mettenberger said.

Perhaps even more impressive was Mettenberger's four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chase Coffman in the third quarter. On third-and-goal, Mettenberger stood in the pocket and then threw a pass that was a bit high.

It was the right throw, however. The only player that could get to the ball was the 6-foot-6 Coffman, who made the catch over 5-foot-9 defensive back Antwon Blake.

"I'm here to take advantage of these opportunities when I get them, and Zach has the trust in me to put it up there," Coffman said.