The San Diego Chargers have their quarterback situation set with Philip Rivers. They made a brilliant decision bringing in Zach Mettenberger who will take advantage of this new chapter of his career.
As the San Diego Chargers prepare for 2016, the window of effectiveness for starting quarterback Philip Rivers is getting shorter. Rivers realistically only has a few years left before it’s time for the Chargers to begin a new era at quarterback.
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Of course it remains to be seen what the Chargers will get out of quarterback Zach Mettenberger in the future, but the current situation he’s in bodes well for his future. Not only does Mettenberger get to learn from one of the best quarterbacks playing today, but he’s setting himself up to hopefully one day put himself in a position to be considered a starting quarterback.
The situation Mettenberger left behind when he was a member of the Tennessee Titans is one he’d like to forget quickly. It wasn’t that long ago that Mettenberger was doing very well on offense until his replacement was drafted and his release was inevitable.
The Titans selected quarterback Marcus Mariota in the 2015 NFL Draft, knowing he would be their franchise player right off the bat. Mettenberger didn’t last more than two seasons, as he was released and quickly acquired by the Chargers, who saw his potential in the grand scheme of things.
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Mettenberger is the classic case of a work-in-progress kind of quarterback that, with development, could be something special.
He has a high football IQ and, when he was at Louisiana State, thrived when it mattered most.
In his collegiate career, Mettenberger totaled 5,783 passing yards, 407 completions, 35 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
His transition to the NFL wasn’t bad at all, but due to the lack of talent on the Titans, he is now able to sit back and learn from the sideline with the Chargers.
There is no denying Mettenberger just needs the right opportunity and supporting cast to thrive. Considering he had a pretty decent tenure with the Titans, the talent is there to be developed. With the Titans, Mettenberger totaled 2,347 passing yards, 208 completions, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
One of Mettenberger’s best traits is the fact that he realizes it’s best to take full advantage of the situation he’s in. Considering Rivers will more than likely have just a few more years left before it’s time to move on, Mettenberger can learn as much as possible while being patient for his shot.
In an article written by Hayley Elwood of Chargers.com, here is what Mettenberger had to say about his experience so far and the main task at hand:
"“I’m trying to prove (my worth) every day. Anyone who is a competitor is like that. Philip (Rivers) has been doing it for years and he’s like that. The circumstances are what they are so I’m going to go out there and do what I do.”"
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Overall, Mettenberger has a good head on his shoulders, and if he’s able to learn as much as possible from Rivers, he could be a good candidate to earn the starting spot in any future competitions. This move to the Plymouth of the West could be a blessing in disguise for Mettenberger as he continues to hone his craft.