SPORTS

Zach Mettenberger could open up Titans' offense

John Glennon
jglennon@tennessean.com

The Titans hope rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger's powerful throwing arm will open up their passing game and lead to more big plays.

Titans receivers, however, are aware they may have to pay a small price in bruised fingers, the result of fastballs the 6-foot-5, 224-pound rookie likes to sling all over the field.

Mettenberger will make his first NFL start on Sunday when the Titans (2-5) play the Texans (3-4) at LP Field (noon, WZTV-17, 104.5-FM).

"It's going to be a lot of adjustment because Zach has a really, really strong arm," wide receiver Kendall Wright said. "All of his passes are coming at you like, 'Whoa!' You can hear them coming. ... So you better be ready."

The Titans are certainly ready for a little more explosiveness in their passing offense.

In last week's loss to the Redskins, for instance, they completed just one pass of more than 16 yards. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst completed just three-of-nine passes of 10 yards or more, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Titans rank 27th in the NFL in completed passes of 20 yards and are tied for 21st in completed passes of more than 40 yards. They have just two of the latter.

"I think that's going to be the biggest help with him, throwing the deep ball," tight end Delanie Walker said. "I think that will be a focus for our offense this week because he's a big-armed guy. But those plays come when we set him up, and for us to set him up, we have to establish the run game."

Wide receivers Justin Hunter and Nate Washington — the primary deep threats — have been quiet for long stretches this season, and have combined for only 29 catches and one touchdown through seven games.

But Mettenberger's arm may provide them with more chances as well.

"I'm pretty sure they'll try to find ways to use his strong arm with some more downfield opportunities," said Washington, who was targeted a combined three times in the last two games. "So yeah, I think it will be a little more helpful with a guy with a little stronger arm than the other guys to go a little more downfield than we usually do."

Hunter appeared to develop a good chemistry with Mettenberger in the preseason, when the second-year pro caught 10 passes for a 21.7-yard average and two touchdowns.

"Yeah, I felt like we had a good rhythm going, and in practice, too," Hunter said. "So I'm really interested to see how it will all turn out in a real game."

Just how strong is Mettenberger's arm?

One way Titans receivers measure it is simply by watching him throw in practice or before a game.

"Zach prides himself in throwing that ball," Wright said. "If you stand with him in warm-ups, before he's even playing, he just stands flat-footed and throws the ball like 60 yards to warm up. That's just what he does."

The other way is by how quickly the ball gets to them on short- and medium-range passes, and the impact it leaves on their hands.

"He puts his whole arm into almost every throw," Washington said. "It really comes at you. I think that's good for us. But at the same time, I can't lie — it's an adjustment."

Reach John Glennon at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @glennonsports.