Hasselbeck was key in clutch for Titans

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Titans Insider, Mar 19, 2013.

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  1. Titans Insider

    Titans Insider Titans News

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    The question many Titans fans are asking today is how Ryan Fitzpatrick compares to Matt Hasselbeck as a back-up quarterback to Jake Locker.

    The obvious advantage the Titans gained in swapping the two players is in age, as Fitzpatrick is 29 years old and Hasselbeck will be turning 38 in September.

    Another Fitzpatrick advantage, based on the two players’ recent stats, is in touchdown production, as Fitzpatrick threw TD passes on almost five percent of his tosses last year, the 13th-best figure in the league.

    The two players are fairly even in recent stats in a handful of other categories – such as completion percentage, interception rate and overall quarterback rating.

    But Hasselbeck did have a decided edge over Fitzpatrick – again in recent stats – in a few categories that might fall under the “clutch” heading.

    Some examples:

    *In the last two minutes of the half, Hasselbeck was outstanding for the Titans in both 2011 and 2012. He completed 66 percent of his passes, produced six touchdowns and one interception and posted great quarterback ratings – 105.4 during his full season in 2011 and 104.2 in eight appearances last year. Fitzpatrick wasn’t as successful in two-minute situations in 2012. Though he completed over 60 percent of his passes during those stretches, he threw three touchdowns and three picks, resulting in a 78.7 quarterback rating.

    *In situations where the margin of the game was within seven points in the fourth quarter, Hasselbeck produced better recent numbers than Fitzpatrick as well. Again combining his full 2011 season and last year’s eight appearances, Hasselbeck completed 51 of 84 passes (61 percent), posted five touchdowns versus two interceptions, and produced quarterback ratings of 94.7 in 2011 and 88.6 in 2012. Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, competed a high percentage of passes (34-of-50 for 68 percent) in those situations last year, but threw for just one touchdown versus four interceptions and produced a quarterback rating of 55.5.

    *Hasselbeck was gold in the red zone for the Titans during his tenure here. In 2011, he threw 13 touchdowns versus no interceptions, was sacked just twice and posted a 109.6 quarterback rating. In his eight appearances last year, Hasselbeck threw five touchdowns versus no interceptions, taking just two sacks and producing a 104.2 quarterback rating. Fitzpatrick was pretty good in the red zone last year, but not in Hasselbeck’s league. He threw 14 touchdown passes but was picked off twice and was sacked four times, leaving him with a quarterback rating of 89.9.

    Hasselbeck’s play in the clutch was no doubt one of the big reasons he led five game-winning, fourth-quarter drives during his stay with the Titans.

    Maybe the Hasselbeck-Fitzpatrick comparison won’t matter next year, if starter Jake Locker stays healthy and performs well throughout the entire season.

    But given how often starting quarterbacks step into harm’s way in the NFL – and given the fact that Locker’s shoulder injury forced him to miss five full games last year – odds are we’ll see how well Fitzpatrick plays in critical situations.

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    Source: Titans Insider
     
  2. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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  3. GOFIGURETITANS

    GOFIGURETITANS Pro Bowler

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    Who writes this dribble?
     
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  4. GOFIGURETITANS

    GOFIGURETITANS Pro Bowler

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    Got some new young guns up there. The old rinos will die off.
     
  5. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    Don't you know man, kittens run the internet

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  6. Gene the PIG

    Gene the PIG I'm Winning The Future

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    The word is DRIVEL, fool!
     
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  7. GoT

    GoT Strength and Honor

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    nobody recalls that duck MH threw in like his first start too steal defeat from the jaws of victory. He lost me right then
     
  8. nickmsmith

    nickmsmith Most poverty RB core.

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    lol, was about to say the same thing, but less insult-y.

    Hasselbeck had plenty of opportunity to establish himself here as starter... and he didn't. The whole "mentor" thing is a load of BS. Favre hated Rodgers, Montana hated young, etc. What great skill did Hasselbeck impart on his muse? How to not win?
     
  9. cdubbs2121

    cdubbs2121 Pro Bowler

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  10. Obie09

    Obie09 Pro Bowler

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    There's only so much "mentoring" Hasselbeck can do. Anything that he was going to say or help him with he already had two years to do it. That whole thing is overrated.
     
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