Jake Locker was never Ken Whisenhunt's guy

For nine months, Ken Whisenhunt has said all the right things about Jake Locker.

He liked Locker's work ethic. He admired his toughness. He appreciated his resilience.

But the events of the last few days verify what we suspected all along:

Jake Locker was not his quarterback.

This breakup was inevitable, be it sooner or later. Even when he was uninjured — which clearly didn't happen often enough — Locker did not fit Whisenhunt's quarterback template. He was not a true pocket passer. He embraced the opportunity to run.

And because he is an injury risk, Locker could not be counted upon game after game.

Say this much for Whisenhunt: When he decides to make a change, he doesn't waste any time. With a 2-5 record and with a home game approaching prior to an open date, he named rookie Zach Mettenberger the Titans' starting quarterback.

"It's always tough when you have to change quarterbacks," Whisenhunt said. "It has an impact on your team. … We're going to go with Zach and stay with Zach."

Sounds like Mettenberger is his guy. And if you're Whisenhunt's guy, you're set.

As offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, head coach in Arizona and offensive coordinator in San Diego, he was joined at the hip with his quarterbacks. Then again, it's hard not to be enamored with Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner and Philip Rivers.

But if you're not Whisenhunt's guy, the leash is short.

After Warner retired following the 2009 season in Arizona, Whisenhunt couldn't find a steady date over the next three seasons. Former first-round draft pick Matt Leinart quickly fell out of favor. The quarterback shuffle also included Derek Anderson, Max Hall, Rich Bartel, John Skelton, Kevin Kolb, Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer.

When he was introduced as Titans coach in January, Whisenhunt said he had learned from past mistakes. Having an itchy trigger finger where quarterbacks are concerned is one of them. He spoke about having more patience with quarterbacks.

This just in: Whether because of injury or the coach's decision, Mettenberger will be the third different starting quarterback in Whisenhunt's eight games as Titans head coach.

So much for the idea you can't lose your starting position becasue of injury. Locker got word of his demotion just as his injured right thumb had healed enough for him to get back on the field.

"It's not easy. It's frustrating. It's disappointing," Locker said.

But it's the reality of the NFL. Over the last three years, Locker has missed 17 of a possible 39 starts, including three this season.

Is it the right move? I'll get back to you on that by, say, Dec. 28. That's the date of the Titans' last game this season.

By then, we'll know if Mettenberger is not only the quarterback of the present but the quarterback of the future. If he's not, the Titans can start analyzing the pluses and minuses of what looks like a good quarterback crop in the draft class of 2015.

By the time that draft comes, Locker will be long gone. He's in the final year of his contract. Everybody, Locker included, knew this was a make-good season. He will play out this season as a backup — barring an injury to Mettenberger, of course — and try to resurrect his NFL career elsewhere next year.

"I asked them for a chance at the end of last year after I got hurt," Locker said. "They gave me that and I'm thankful for it. They gave me an opportunity. I haven't been in. I haven't played.

"That's been one of the things I've dealt with throughout my career. I imagine that had something to do with it."

Ironically, Locker was playing his best game of the season — and one of his best as a pro — when he suffered the most recent injury. He had completed 8-of-11 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown with a lofty passer rating of 122.9 when he was knocked out of the Cleveland game with a thumb injury.

He also ran four times for 34 yards and a touchdown in that game.

Looking back, I wonder if his willingness to run contributed to his breakup with Whisenhunt. I have a sneaking suspicion that Whisenhunt wasn't thrilled with Locker's approach on the field in that game or his comments afterward.

"I'd gotten away from the type of football that I'd always played that allows me to enjoy playing the game and being successful playing the game," Locker said after the game. "… I think I've done a good job when I've gone outside the pocket."

Asked about Locker's success as a runner, Whisenhunt said it was not part of his game plan.

In sum, Locker wasn't Whisenhunt's guy. And he was never going to be.

David Climer's columns appear on Friday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. Reach him at 615-259-8020 and on Twitter @DavidClimer.