Houston Texans Getting a Gift From the Tennessee Titans in Zach Mettenberger

The Texans need something to help right the ship. After getting out to a 3-1 record Houston has lost the last three to fall to 3-4--exactly where people expected them to be. So now the question becomes whether they are going to fall and become the bottom dweller people expected or right the ship and get back on track.

Thanks to the Tennessee Titans decision to start rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger this week it could very well be the latter.

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At 6'5" and 244 pounds Mettenberger has the prototypical frame of an NFL quarterback, but the former LSU Tiger was a sixth round pick for a reason. He improved while he was in college and became a really good college quarterback in his final season.

Good enough to draft? Eh. If he wasn't 6'5" probably not. When the Titans took him they were probably hoping to get the chance to develop his game for at least a year before possibly inserting him.

But than Jake Locker was bit by the injury bug again. Charlie Whithurst did not play bad, but he hasn't been winning games either. At 2-5 they are not out of the playoff hunt yet, but they need to do something. Next to making a trade for a stud running back (which they will not because they want to develop Bishop Sankey) making a change at quarterback and hoping for the best is all they can do.

This could very well be the break the Texans need. Mettenberger showed some promise during the preseason, but still looked extremely raw overall. Getting his first start against a pass rush that features J.J. Watt and could very well include Jadeveon Clowney this week could--should--be a nightmare scenario.

It will certainly help that big ole Mettenberger is not too mobile, but with his size the Texans will have to be sure and tackle well. The Houston defense is expected to be without Brian Cushing this week, but even without him the Texans defense should be able to feast on Mettenberger.

If Locker is indeed healthy enough to play don't be surprised to see him inserted in the second half.

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