Mettenberger to 'fight it out' with Mariota, Lewan says

COLUMBIA, Tenn. – The moment the Titans drafted Marcus Mariota, he became the favorite to be their starting quarterback this season.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt even said that's the plan.

Zach Mettenberger, who started six games last season as a rookie, is conceding nothing, however. So said tackle Taylor Lewan, who is Mettenberger's closest friend on the team.

"That is the mentality that Zach has. He thinks of himself as a starter, and the guys in the locker room do also. I don't think he is going to give it up easily," Lewan, last year's first-round pick, said Monday.

"Mariota, I don't know the guy and I am sure he is a great worker and from everything I hear about him he's a great guy. But Zach is not the kind of guy who in conflict is going to flee. He's going to fight it out."

Lewan attended the draft party at LP Field on Thursday, when the Titans made Mariota the second overall pick, and later went to Mettenberger's house for a visit. Lewan said Mettenberger was at Saint Thomas Sports Park on Friday and Monday for the team's voluntary workout program.

Mettenberger never asked to be traded, said Lewan, who blamed the quarterback's agent for reports to the contrary after the Titans picked Mariota.

"Obviously being 23 years old, you don't ever want to see that happen. It's hard man, that stuff is tough. If I was in that situation I'd have a tougher time than he did," said Lewan, who participated in the Titans Caravan on Monday.

"But the kind of guy Mettenberger is, he ... doesn't care what round someone is drafted in or what pick necessarily. He is there to be successful and he is going to work his butt off."

Mettenberger, who was a sixth-round pick, was 0-6 in his starts. He played in seven games, throwing for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions. His season was cut short because of a shoulder injury, but the Titans left him on the active roster for the final three games, hoping that keeping him involved would help his progress.

Lewan and Mettenberger worked out together in Florida for six weeks this offseason. "He lost about 15 pounds and he looks leaner, looks more muscle-toned," Lewan said. The quarterback also organized workouts at Father Ryan High School for some teammates, who praised his leadership.

Mettenberger hasn't spoken publicly since February, when he was asked about the possibility of the Titans drafting Mariota or Jameis Winston, who went first overall to the Buccaneers.

"They are obviously very talented guys," Mettenberger told reporters at the time. "If they were here I think they would say the same thing: If we had to compete out there, I think I'd beat them out."

Whisenhunt said he spoke with Mettenberger before and after the Mariota pick: "We sat and talked for a little bit and he was in a good place. He seemed ready to go."

Mariota is expected to return to Nashville on May 11 to join the offseason program. The Titans will have a rookie minicamp the following week, and later this month the veterans and rookies will practice together.

With 105 touchdown passes and just 14 interceptions in three seasons at Oregon, Mariota established himself as a premier player. Lewan said he's "never really watched" Mariota play but is looking forward to meeting him and seeing what unfolds the rest of the offseason.

"The guys upstairs must think a lot of him and they are going to put everyone in the best position to be successful. If that's what they thought the need was, then I agree with them. ... This shouldn't sound like a beat-up-on-Mariota session because it is not; I have no issue with the guy. If someone is going to get drafted that early, he obviously has talent and should be respected," Lewan said.

"But I think Mett is a great quarterback and I think any guy in the room would also say that. ... The competition will only make us better. It's going to be awesome watching two guys with a lot of talent go at it. "

Reach Jim Wyatt at 615-259-8015 and on Twitter @jwyattsports.