John Glennon

jglennon@tennessean.com

There are times, Titans rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger admits, when he has chosen to bark right back at trash-talking veteran safety Bernard Pollard during practice.

He has discovered, however, that messing with the master seldom pays off.

"I've learned," Mettenberger said with a smile. "I talked smack back to him a few days ago and had a bad day of practice, a terrible day of practice. The karma definitely got me, so I know just to keep my mouth shut in practice now."

Mettenberger, a sixth-round draft pick and a potential future starting quarterback, has become this year's version of wide receiver Justin Hunter.

In the 2013 training camp, Pollard focused the loud and grating side of his personality on Hunter, then a skinny and soft-spoken rookie. He gave Hunter an earful during practices, with the hopes of toughening him up and helping him realize his considerable potential.

Mettenberger is the lucky recipient of much of Pollard's attention this training camp.

It was Pollard who yelled "Roll Tide!" when Mettenberger stepped up to the line of scrimmage one practice, a reference to the bar patron who punched the unsuspecting former LSU star just before training camp got underway.

Pollard has continued to take his shots at Mettenberger from time to time, razzing the rookie after one recent red-zone interception. But the veteran safety continues to say there's a method to his meanness.

"I'm always on Mettenberger a lot because I see potential in him," Pollard said. "I see what the guy can do. But at the same time, I want to challenge you. I want to (make you angry). I want to be in your ear as much as possible.

"Things are going to be said that are worse than what I'm saying. Guys are coming at your neck. We have to figure out how you're going to overcome somebody saying something to you."

Pollard said he's actually trying to help Mettenberger develop and mature quickly.

"He's going to have to learn and understand that (Titans coaches) want something out of you," he said. "They drafted you. The guy, I think, is going to be phenomenal. He's sitting behind some veteran quarterbacks, but I still want to challenge him as much as possible."

Mettenberger has come around to the way of thinking that Pollard, as well as other Titans veterans such as linebackers Wesley Woodyard and Shaun Phillips, are indeed on his side, even if it might not have seemed so at first.

"I look at it as kind of a compliment," Mettenberger said. "If I wasn't worth his time, (Pollard) wouldn't say anything to me. But (Pollard), Wesley and Shaun Phillips have been a big help to me because they've played a lot of football and played against a lot of great quarterbacks.

"If I can't perform in front of them at practice with them breathing down my neck and heckling me, it's going to be pretty tough to do it in front of 70,000 people."

Hunter, who posted 18 catches for 354 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, said he hasn't tried to share any advice with Mettenberger on dealing with Pollard.

One reason is that Hunter figures it probably wouldn't be much help.

"It's a rookie thing," Hunter said. "You've got to just figure out a way to come at it somehow."

The other reason is that, well, Pollard still takes his share of jabs at Hunter.

"I still hear him out there every day," Hunter said. "He hasn't toned anything down. He's still hyped all the time, 100 percent and 24/7.

"But I just let him keep talking. I love the entertainment."