Mettenberger better than Winston? Sounds nuts, but tape offers proof Chris Trapasso | CBSSports.comApril 17, 2015 4:29 pm ET 
Is Zach Mettenberger really a better quarterback than Jameis Winston?Greg Cosell, NFL Films' senior executive producer, thinks so.While I don't exactly feel that strongly, I'm totally comfortable writing this -- Mettenberger is considerably better than the public's perception of him, and he possesses the complete skill set to become a franchise signal-caller.During an appearance on a Nashville sports radio station, per ESPN.com, Cosell said the following:"Mettenberger and Winston are very, very similar in style of play. I'd argue Mettenberger is more advanced as an anticipatory thrower and has a little bit better arm."The host of the radio show, ESPN Titans blogger Paul Kuharsky, tweeted this more definitive Cosell quote, which caused a seismic stir among NFL analysts, media members and fans alike.
The general reaction to Cosell's bold stance went something like this... "Wait, Zach Mettenberger, a 2014 sixth-round pick, is similar in many areas and better in others than Jameis Winston? Cosell would take him over the quarterback most have as the No. 1 overall pick? Is he off his NFL Films rocker?"Because Cosell is one of the most experienced, well-respected and routinely insightful film analysts alive, I decided to watch the 179 throws Mettenberger made as a rookie in the NFL in 2014.I felt it was only fair to observe and break down Mettenberger's tape in relation to Winston's game tape at Florida State, which isn't in short supply. A whopping 15 of Winston's edited games are available for free on the increasingly popular DraftBreakdown.com, and there are probably three-to-five segments per day on the major sports television networks in which an expert examines a collection of his collegiate throws.There's a second layer to the Mettenberger intrigue. On April 14, Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote this column about the potential of the team trading Philip Rivers to the Titans for the No. 2 overall pick -- which would thereby relegate Mettenberger to clipboard-holding duties -- and the NFL universe has been buzzing ever since.With the draft approaching, Winston -- and Marcus Mariota -- are rightfully garnering significant attention, while the soon-to-be 24-year-old Mettenberger is seemingly bound to be tossed aside after one NFL season ... which included just six starts.The prevailing consensus on the 6-foot-5 Mettenberger is centered around a rather flimsy "idea" that he's a statue in the pocket, doesn't throw with enough accuracy and his LSU statistics were significantly "inflated" by wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, his Tiger teammates who enjoyed fantastic rookie seasons as pros. Combine those thoughts with Mettenberger's 0-6 record as the starter for the small-market Titans and the fact that he ended the year on IR … and it's easy to understand why most are ready to discard him even before his sophomore year in the league.
Also, people tend to think something new automatically equals something better, which isn't always the case, and with the suddenly real possibilities of Winston, Mariota or even Rivers in Tennessee, Mettenberger is really up against it.After watching his rookie film, I didn't exactly think Mettenberger was snubbed for the Offensive Rookie of the Year. However in some moments, actually many moments, I was blown away with the advanced quarterbacking skills he flashed.Let's get to the breakdown.Pocket driftingI'm starting here because pocket drifting is a vital aspect of playing quarterback that has nothing to do with arm strength, passing precision or coverage-reading capability. Subtly "drifting" away from oncoming pass-rushers while maintaining focus on receivers downfield -- it's an art. We've all noticed this seemingly innate ability with the elite quarterbacks -- Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are masters -- and also have recognized that most of the NFL's lesser quarterbacks are rendered useless as passers at the slightest sign of pressure.Mettenberger -- who is much more fleet-footed than he's given credit for -- has work to do in his area, but his pocket-drifting skills are closer to Brees, Manning, Brady and Rodgers than they are to the bottom of the league at the quarterback position.Take this third-quarter play in his first NFL start against J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans. With Watt bearing down on his throwing side, Mettenberger calmly slid forward and rifled a bullet to a streaking Kendall Wright down the seam as two Texans defenders converged on him. Impressive.
And, no, I didn't simply pluck the one play in which Mettenberger exhibited keen pocket movement. He did it frequently behind a shoddy offensive line … there's more to come. The step away from Watt coupled with the rocketed pass were just the most pronounced and clear-cut demonstrations of that crucial skill.Another example, though a bit more unorthodox and improvisational, came in the second quarter of the Titans' game in Philadelphia against the Eagles. From the shotgun on first down, Mettenberger's initial read, short and toward the left sideline, was covered. When he surveyed between the numbers, his right guard was being driven into his lap. Mettenberger actually put his left hand on the back of his offensive lineman, went in reverse to create space and threw a strike to a crossing Justin Hunter for a six-yard gain.videoNot as flashy, but still effective.Field-scanning and couragePocket drifting is the ideal segue to this aspect of Mettenberger's game -- scanning the entire field. For years now, we've heard how most struggling quarterbacks panic if their first read is covered and the aforementioned elite quarterbacks methodically go through their progressions to ultimately locate an open target.Mettenberger will take what the defense gives him if his No. 1 read is there, as he should. But he showed, on many plays, that he doesn't come unglued if his primary target on one side of the field is blanketed.In the third quarter of Week 13's road game against the Texans, Mettenberger received a shotgun snap and instantly looked to the right flat. Not there. As an instructed response, he rapidly flipped his head to the left sideline and lofted a perfectly-placed ball to wideout Derek Hagan as he was hit by a defensive tackle. The ball traveled 40 yards in the air.videoWithout the pass interference, it likely would been a big gainer.Back to the game in Philly against the Eagles. Midway through the fourth quarter, on a 1st-and-10, Mettenberger momentarily checked the right flat, then peaked down the middle. With pressure mounting from his right and from the interior, he found an opening in the pocket, moved forward, and ripped a 35-yard, back-shoulder throw to Nate Washington for a touchdown. He was flattened a split second after he released the football.videoWashington was called for offensive pass interference, so the play was nullified, but Mettenberger flaunted high-level quarterbacking on that play -- scanning the field, creeping up in the pocket, finding a one-on-one situation, and having the courage to make a throw despite knowing he'd be hit.The most gorgeous display of Mettenberger's entire repertoire came in the first quarter of the Titans' trip to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.By now, you'll be able to recognize the complete package.videoUnder center. Play-action. Look left. Step up. Look right. Fire a 30-yard pinpoint rope from the far hash to a sideline route. Beautiful.Pure arm strength and anticipation Cosell specifically touched on Mettenberger's arm strength and willingness to make (accurate) anticipation throws. At 6'5" with a textbook, over-the-top delivery, Mettenberger certainly has a monster arm, and having operated a pro-style offense under former Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron at LSU, he has experience slinging the football on plays that require impeccable timing and foresight.After the 2:00 warning in the first half of the road contest against the Texans, Mettenberger flashed his cannon and fearlessness on a deep cross to Kendall Wright.videoNotice how he moved up and away from Watt rushing his blindside as well.I'll end with the most extraordinary indication of Mettenberger's raw talent. Later in that game against the Texans, Mettenberger, after a quasi play-action fake, held the safety in the middle of the field then beamed a laser to Kendall Wright for a touchdown with Watt slipping through the line.videoThere was another tremendous anticipation throw against the Eagles when, after a slow-developing play-action counter, Mettenberger had to throw off his back foot due to an approaching free blitzer. He released the football to Delanie Walker, who was running down the left hash against a linebacker, before the tight end reached the 30-yard-line. He caught it at the 40-yard-line and was able to accumulate major yards after the catch. It was the definition of a quarterback making a throw "early" out of "necessity."Final analysisLook, Mettenberger's rookie campaign was far from perfect. There were a handful of high throws, times in which he held the ball too long and occasional first-read stare downs that led to an interceptions.But the Titans 2014 sixth-round selection loves playing from the pocket -- since when is that a bad thing? -- and proved to have advanced, upper-level quarterbacking skills we rarely see in 23 year olds.Is he better than Jameis Winston?Cosell might be onto something.What I'm sure about, though, is Zach Mettenberger possesses legitimate franchise signal-caller talent, and he excels where they all eventually need to win from ... the pocket.
