Zach Mettenberger taking on leadership role in Titans' offseason

The Tennessee Titans could look a lot different under center next season depending on what they do with the No. 2 overall pick. There's also speculation the team could swing a trade for San Diego Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers.

Zach Mettenberger holds the starting job at the moment, though, and he's playing the role accordingly by organizing workouts before the Titans' offseason program begins.

"If you ask me, I think that's definitely a good sign for him,'' Titans running back Dexter McCluster told Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. "That's the first step, him showing that leadership and him knowing, 'Hey, this may be my shot, so let me go ahead and get a head start on it.'

"And guys respond to him. I think that says a lot."

The Titans' offseason program officially gets underway Monday, but Mettenberger wanted players to get started early. In addition to Mettenberger and McCluster, tight end Delanie Walker and wide receivers Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and Harry Douglas have all taken part in the workouts. 

Mettenberger, a sixth-round pick out of LSU last year, started six games for the Titans in his rookie season, throwing for 1,412 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. 

"I like Zach,'' McCluster said. "People ask me all the time, 'What do you think about Zach?' I say I've been around him for a year now and just seeing how he handles himself and seeing some of the things he's accomplished, I know he's going to have a good career. I think he's going to have an exceptional career."