The Nashville Tennessean's Jim Wyatt believes the Titans' starting quarterback job is now Jake Locker's to lose. This is particularly notable because Wyatt was among the plugged-in writers predicting before training camp that the Titans would start Matt Hasselbeck to open the season. Locker hasn't been a star in practice or preseason games yet, but Hasselbeck hasn't capitalized and has largely struggled, particularly with interceptions. Locker can take another leap forward Friday night against a poor Tampa Bay defense. He'll be getting the start, and playing roughly 25 snaps in Tennessee's second exhibition game.

Jake Locker will start Tennessee's second preseason game on Friday. Preseason or otherwise, it will be the first start of Locker's career. The Titans were expected to alternate exhibition starts between Locker and Matt Hasselbeck all along, but it's still notable after Locker out-played Hasselbeck in Saturday's opener. Locker is expected to play roughly 20 snaps against the Bucs. Whoever starts Tennessee's third preseason game will be the favorite to be under center in Week 1. Coach Mike Munchak conceded Sunday Locker is closing the gap on Hasselbeck.

Titans coach Mike Munchak conceded Sunday that Jake Locker is closing the gap on Matt Hasselbeck in their quarterback competition. If preseason games can qualify as "wins," Locker has one victory and Hasselbeck has a loss. "I don't know if there was (ever) a big gap," Munchak conceded. "... But I think overall, as the season progressed last year, we thought that Jake was coming on real strong. ... So yeah, he has closed the gap and they are obviously both doing well." We like Locker to win this battle so long as he continues to avoid turnovers and get the football to Kendall Wright.

Jake Locker completed 7-of-13 passes for 80 yards in the Titans' preseason opener Saturday night. Matt Hasselbeck got the start, completing 5-of-9 passes for 45 yards and two interceptions. Locker didn't get much help from his teammates on his first two series, but completed five passes in a row on the third, including a pair to rookie Kendall Wright. The race for the starting job in Tennessee is tighter and Locker figures to get a chance to work with the starters this preseason.

Coach Mike Munchak says the Titans' staff will meet Wednesday night to decide whether to start Jake Locker or Matt Hasselbeck in their preseason opener against the Seahawks. Veteran incumbents are often deferred to in these situations, so it's interesting that the Titans would give long thought to starting Locker in the exhibition opener. Either way, Locker and Hasselbeck will see roughly the same number of snaps. The Titans and Seahawks open the preseason Saturday night at 10PM ET.

The Titans website confirms OC Chris Palmer has installed more "Run 'N Shoot" concepts this year. It's what we suspected considering Palmer's background in the Run 'N Shoot as well as the players' contention that the offense will be more wide open and explosive. One of the reasons Rotoworld has been high on Jake Locker is Palmer's heavy use of the spread offense to close out last season. Although the Titans do plan to get the ball to Chris Johnson in space, this offense has little in common with the one that led to 2,006 rushing yards for CJ2K in 2009.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network seconded Mike Lombardi's report that the Titans "hope (Jake) Locker emerges" as the starting quarterback over Matt Hasselbeck. Rapoport issued the report on Inside Training Camp Live on Friday. Locker has had three good days and two bad days through five practices so far in camp. He needs to show improved consistency in order to hold off the incumbent. Hasselbeck has much less physical ability than Locker, but the Titans will go with the quarterback they believe gives them the best chance to win.

Jake Locker has completed just 9-of-30 passes during the last two practices. Meanwhile, Matt Hasselbeck has gone 26-for-31 during that span. It's notable because the biggest knock on Locker has always been his accuracy problems. Despite having the arm strength and athleticism edge on Hasselbeck, he won't win the job if he's spraying passes all over the place. The early-camp momentum Locker had appears to have worn off.

NFL Network's Mike Lombardi stated on Inside Training Camp Live Tuesday that he's "learned" Jake Locker is the favorite to open the season as the Titans' starting quarterback. The Titans intend to run a vertical, pass-first offense, and Locker gives them their best chance to execute with a power arm, strong pocket composure, and difference-making athleticism when receivers fail to defeat coverage downfield. If Locker does perform as Titans coaches seemingly hope -- holding off Matt Hasselbeck -- he should not struggle to post top-15 fantasy quarterback stats. Locker is dangerous on the run, and Tennessee's passing attack offers explosive elements even if anything they get from Kenny Britt is a "bonus." Already a favorite value-pick QB2 of ours, Locker will be a fantasy backup to target in the late rounds.

Coach Mike Munchak reiterated at the start of camp that the Titans plan to decide on a starting quarterback by the third preseason game. Matt Hasselbeck opened camp with the ones, but Jake Locker is expected to split reps evenly in practices with the incumbent. Locker needs a big August, but he's plenty capable of it. If you combine Locker's 2011 preseason and regular season appearances, he threw six touchdowns compared to one interception and ran for two more scores. He also averaged 7.5 yards per rushing attempt.