Jake Locker is cleared for contact

Coincidentally or otherwise, a 31-point home loss by the Titans to the Chicago Bears has been followed by the potential return to the starting lineup of quarterback Jake Locker.
Coach Mike Munchak said Tuesday that Locker has been cleared for contact, according to TitanInsider.com.
Locker sprained his left (non-throwing) shoulder during a Week One loss to the Patriots.  He continued playing, but he aggravated the injury in Week Four against the Texans.
Since then, Matthew Hasselbeck has played — and played pretty well.  But with consecutive losses after consecutive wins dropping the Titans to 3-6, Hasselbeck’s hand is no longer hot.
Locker could start on Sunday, when the Titans face the Dolphins in Miami.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Mike Florio
Photo: George Walker IV, The TENNESSEAN

Munchak tells Locker: Do what you’ve been doing and you’ll start

In another indication that the Titans’ quarterback job is Jake Locker’s to lose, coach Mike Munchak said today that if Locker continues to do through the rest of the preseason what he has done so far, he’ll beat out Matt Hasselbeck for the starting job.
Asked what Locker needs to do to win the starting job for the regular season, Munchak answered, “I think Jake Locker just has to do what he has been doing out here.”
Locker played better than Hasselbeck in the preseason opener, although neither quarterback was great. Munchak said he wants to see Locker get the Titans’ first-string offense into the end zone on Friday night against the Buccaneers.
“He needs to do what he did last week, but finish the drives as an offense,” Munchak said. “He finished and got the field goal on one of his drives. His one drive we didn’t get a touchdown, so it would be nice to see him, even though he isn’t going to get as much time as he’d like, out of 20 or 25 plays, get at least two drives where we do something positive with points. We’d like to see us go up by 10 points, move the ball, stay on the field and find a way to make plays. Those are the things you want to see.”
Locker has never started an NFL game, while Hasselbeck has 147 regular-season starts in his career. But Munchak said he doesn’t think Locker’s lack of experience is an issue.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Munchak said. “I think it’s just something he needs to do and it’s helpful in the process for any player to go out there and get a chance to play. When I was playing, I didn’t go out there and start any preseason game, but then I started in the first regular season game. Guys do it all the time.”
Locker will get his first preseason start on Friday. And it’s sounding more and more like he’ll get his first regular-season start on September 9.

source: PFT.com
author: Michael David Smith
photo: George Walker IV, The TENNESSEAN

Jake Locker will start Titans’ next preseason game

Jake Locker has moved ahead of Matt Hasselbeck in the Titans’ quarterback competition. At least for one preseason game.
Titans coach Mike Munchak confirmed today that Locker will start Friday’s preseason game against the Buccaneers. It will be Locker’s first start for the Titans after Hasselbeck started all 16 regular-season games and all four preseason games last year, and also started the preseason opener against the Seahawks this year.
But Locker outplayed Hasselbeck in that preseason opener, and that made the quarterback competition close enough that Locker is getting his first chance to start. Munchak said he’s looking forward to seeing how Locker handles the opportunity, and that he expects Locker and the first-string defense to get about 20 plays against the Buccaneers.
Locker saw extensive action in three games last season and played fairly well, completing 34 of 66 passes for 542 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. If he turns in a big game against the Bucs on Friday night, he may be ready to unseat Hasselbeck permanently.

source: PFT.com
author: Michael David Smith
photo by George Walker IV, The TENNESSEAN.com