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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee's starting quarterback is not going to be determined through a "snap judgment," Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer said Wednesday.
The relationship between veteran Matt Hasselbeck and second-year pro Jake Locker is friendly and competitive. The challenge to secure the starting job is up in the air and is a frequent topic of discussion during media sessions this offseason.
Hasselbeck, who is entering his 14th season in the pros, started all 16 games for the Titans in 2011. He completed 319 of 518 passes (62 percent) for 3,571 yards and 18 touchdowns in his first year with the club. Locker relieved Hasselbeck in significant action in three games last season that Hasselbeck left because of injuries. He completed 34 of 66 passes for 542 yards and four touchdowns and added 56 yards and a touchdown on eight rushes.
"The easiest thing is to go with stats and stuff like that, but I don't know that you can do that," Palmer said. "It's going to be a situation where we're going to look at it as a group and say, 'Who gives us the best chance to win?' I know that doesn't define it. It's a situation where everybody is going to know, it's going to be clear, there's going to be a feeling that opening up with New England, this guy gives us the best chance to win. Those things, as a coach, you're thinking about all the time. It's not a snap judgment."
Palmer echoed the statement that the Titans feel good about both quarterbacks and said a major component of the evaluation conducted by Titans coaches and executives will involve assessing how each quarterback fits within the offense and team, as well as intangible characteristics.
"I think you look around, you look at your team and how the quarterback is part of that team is very, very important," Palmer said. "It's like the 'it' factor. How do you define 'it'? He's got 'it,' whatever 'it' is, but it's not like tennis where I go out and play against you. It's not golf, where we line up and see who hits the ball and gets it to the green. It's how he compliments the other guys and gets them the ball, how he gets us into the right plays, how he doesn't get flustered. All of those things are part of the equation."
Understandably, Hasselbeck, 36, and Locker, 23, have differing styles of play. Palmer said the veteran is skilled at getting the ball to the right playmaker at the right time. Locker usually held onto the ball a little longer, but demonstrated an ability to extend a play that could spark big gains.
"In Matt's situation, he gives us the plays by throwing the football, and he's very, very good at it," Palmer said. "He had his third-best career season last year. To throw for 3,500 yards at 36, that's pretty good. He gave the other guys an opportunity to make plays.
"Jake may not give all the other guys the opportunity to make plays like Matt does, but Jake will make plays with his legs," Palmer continued, "so when you add up how many plays Matt can make with the team and how many plays Jake can make with the team, then you kind of have an idea who's going to give us the best chance to win, but that has to be decided on the practice field."
Tight end Jared Cook said the competition is likely to increase as workouts transition to organized team activities. The Titans have been in phase two of their offseason program, and the offense has not gone against the defense. That will change next week when the team begins its slate of OTAs.
"I think going into camp and later on, you'll have a little better feel," Cook said. "Right now, all the quarterbacks are working as one. Four guys will run routes at a time, and all four quarterbacks will (throw passes at the same time). I'm pretty sure we'll have the best man behind center. Both guys can get the job done, so I'm not really worried. We're going to have good chemistry with Jake and Matt, so I think we'll be OK."
