Titans Training Camp Preview: QBs

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Position coach: Dave Ragone

Returning: Jake Locker, Rusty Smith

First camp with Titans: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Nathan Enderle

Outlook: When the Titans open their 2013 training camp on July 25, they will do so with third-year Jake Locker as their starting quarterback. This is different from a year ago when Locker was in competition with Matt Hasselbeck for the starting job. Locker won the friendly battle with Hasselbeck in camp and started all 11 games he played last season. He missed all of five games and parts of two more because of injuries to his left, non-throwing shoulder. Locker showed tenacity in finishing the season despite recurring problems with the shoulder and had it surgically repaired in January.

Hasselbeck went north on I-65 but stayed in the AFC South to join Indianapolis as backup to Andrew Luck, and the Titans brought in veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason. Fitzpatrick started 52 of 55 games in the past four seasons in Buffalo and has thrown for more than 3,000 yards in each of the past three seasons. Additionally, the Titans have Rusty Smith, who's been the third-string QB since 2010, and Nathan Enderle in training camp. Tennessee has kept three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster after each training camp since 2008.

Locker showed no signs of struggling with the shoulder during Tennessee's nine-week offseason program and welcomed an increased number of reps with first teamers. Many other personnel moves made by the Titans in the offseason were been made with the idea of building around Locker's attributes, and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, who was promoted from quarterbacks coach the final five games of 2012, has designed a scheme he thinks is tailored for Locker and one that will incorporate fewer option routes than what Tennessee used last season.

Things to watch at open training camp practices: Locker's increased comfort with the system, the development of rhythm with receivers, management of all the different scenarios an offense can face, the way teammates react to expanding leadership from Locker.

Scheduled practices that are free and open to fans (subject to change):