Tennessee Titans wait for next leader as QBs Matt Hasselbeck-Jake Locker battle continues – NFL News
Mike Munchak, the Tennessee Titans’ head coach, is acting as a silent spectator of the battle between quarterbacks, the incumbent Matt Hasselbeck and rising star, Jake Locker, for the starting role next season.
Both QBs were involved in a friendly clash at the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp, and even though no one has emerged as a clear winner, the odds seem to be slightly in favour of the incumbent.
Jake, however, is given the credit that his performance during his couple of appearances on the starting line in the 2011 season in absence of Matt due to some injury problems had triggered the competition in the first place.
No matter if the QB loses the role to Hasselbeck, he is still appreciated for holding credentials for the top position.
Also, he is not going to give any advantage to his competitor anytime or surrender the position without a fight. So challenging the incumbent at the position itself is considered a victory for Locker. Moreover, he still holds the real
chance of winning the leading role.
Mike, who himself is excited about the competition, is waiting for emergence of the leader. Until then, he has declined to disclose the choice of his bet.
He said:
"Everyone's always excited about the new guy. That's how it is, especially in the quarterback world. I think they've really taken to Matt, especially the way he carried this team last year. But everyone wants to see Jake. As soon as Jake
started playing, it was, 'Let's see the young guy.' "
It is now down to performance of Jake to come up to the expectations of his fans and supporters. Without winning the role out of the competition, the only opportunity for him to start will be absence of Hasselbeck due to injury or any
other reason in the 2012 season.
Hasselbeck himself aims to fight off Locker’s threat successfully. It is for the second time that an uncertainty has surrounded the incumbent’s starting position.
Earlier, he faced a threat of moving elsewhere in the league after Titans suddenly joined the list of potential suitors for former Indianapolis Colts’ QB, Peyton Manning.
He survived the scare then and hopes to do it now.
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