Matt Hasselbeck is entering his 14th season in the NFL and will be competing with two quarterbacks with a combined three years professional experience for the Tennessee Titans' starting quarterback job. Though most players of an advanced age prefer not to have prove themselves to coaches all over again, Hasselbeck is looking forward to the competition with Jake Locker and Rusty Smith.
Matt Hasselbeck Talks About Titans QB Competition
“It’s actually been a little bit energizing for me to be honest,” Hasselbeck said. “I think it’s a healthy thing having competition within the room in all areas. Rusty Smith ironically kind of has us on the chalkboard, he’s the protections guru so I think just the group competing with each other and these guys are young guys and it’s fun.
“I know I’m not going to play forever, that’s not my goal. But my goal right now is to be the best that I can be and try to help this team again win the Super Bowl, win this division and accomplishments that are very hard to do but they are attainable.”
Locker figures to have the best chance of unseating Hasselbeck after being drafted No. 8 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. Locker attempted just 66 passes as a rookie, but played well throwing for 542 yards and four touchdowns to zero interceptions. Hasselbeck knows that Locker is the future. At the same time, he says he’s happy simply for the opportunity to compete.
“This last year I was given an opportunity I never thought I would have,” Hasselbeck said. “Going to a different team, getting to start on a team with a brand new coaching staff, a young group of guys, learning under some of the starters and some young guys that actually get to start for us, it’s just a very different experience but it was one that I really enjoyed.”
For more on the Titans’ QB battle, check out Music City Miracles.
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