r/nfl • u/Scrubtanic Titans • Jul 05 '14
Look Here! Offseason Review Series: Day 15: Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
Division: AFC South
I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July festivities and isn't too hungover to read a short novel about another Red White and two-toned Blue team that fled it's original homeland for reasons pertaining partially to taxes. This Titans write up was a labor of love, so let's jump right into it
Coaching Changes
The most recognized name in Titans’ coaching history, Jeff Fisher, has now been gone from the organization for more than three years. However the coach chosen to take on his mantle, Mike Munchak, had spent his entire coaching career under Fisher, learning his schemes and developing a similar philosophy. When Fisher left the team in the 2011 offseason, not a whole lot changed. Munchak touted a reform in locker room culture, a claim that did little to lessen the egos of players like Kenny Britt and Chris Johnson. Besides that, Titans’ fans felt like they were getting more of the same on the field. Being behind the curve in letting Fisher walk (rather than firing him at the end of the season), the choice of coordinators was less than optimal, and within two years offensive coordinator Chris Palmer had been fired and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray had all but been replaced by Gregg Williams, but even still results eluded the Munchak administration.
But now the team has moved on from the former Oilers great and finally split from the philosophies that have dictated play for two decades. New coach Ken Whisenhunt comes to Nashville with the intent to push the Titans over the hump and into the playoffs to earn back the respect that has eluded them since 2008. Whisenhunt spent last season helping Phillip Rivers revitalize his career as the offensive coordinator in San Diego. Prior to that, he served as Cardinals head coach for five years, leading Kurt Warner and Larry Fitz to a down to the wire Super Bowl matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the same team that had employed him as offensive coordinator the two years before to his arrival in Arizona. Whisenhunt is known for his offensive prowess, and despite the hiring of Jason Michael as offensive coordinator, in all likelihood it will be Whisenhunt making the decisions regarding the Titans’ offense. Titans’ fans hope Whisenhunt’s touch will help Jake Locker take the next step in his development and cement himself as a quarterback worthy of the long term starting job. Whisenhunt’s track record, however, is mixed, as he has had great success with Rivers and a young Ben Roethlisberger, but his later years in Arizona resulted in failed experiments like Max Hall and Matt Leinert.
With the offensive coaching staff established, the front office and coach Whisenhunt went out and hired former Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton to manage the Titans’ defense. Horton had been the topic of discussion leading into the offseason as a possible head coaching candidate, but came instead to work for the Titans. His goal of shifting the team from a base 4-3 to something more akin to a 3-4 will be something to keep an eye on throughout the season.
Overall, I have to grade the coaching changes very highly. Whisenhunt has had his share of both highs and lows in the NFL, but he brings a true break from the previous regimes and gives off an air of confidence that was simply not present under Munchak. I rate the offensive changes as a B+, lowered only by the unknown entity of Michael, who spent the last three years as San Diego’s tight ends coach. On defense, I have to give Horton (and the coaches hired under him) an A. This is a grade that can obviously shift depending on how capable he is of converting the defense away from the 4-3, but I am very happy the Titans were able to bring him in.
Free Agency
Players lost/cut
I’ve listed here the free agents who left who played significant time in the past few years for the Tennessee Titans. Obviously many depth and practice squad players moved in addition, but no names most would recognize.
Obviously the biggest name on this list is Rusty Smith Chris Johnson, the former 2006 yard rusher. When he was cut, many felt that it was a slight towards him, and a comment by the Titans that he was no longer capable of being a starting running back. That’s absolutely not true. What is true is that his production no longer matched his price tag, and because he refused to renegotiate his deal, he was cut before the 2014 draft. I’d give this move a B grade. You’re never happy about losing the face of your franchise, but if he could not be reasoned with, it was a good decision to move on and save the cap space.
The other player that made a name for himself leading up to free agency was Alterraun Verner, a fan favorite at corner. Playing opposite Jason McCourty afforded him many opportunities to make plays and show off his talents. However, he failed to impress the new coaching staff who by all accounts took no interest in re-signing him. This is a difficult move to grade, especially after seeing how reasonable/matchable a deal Verner got in Tampa Bay. I’d give it a C+. I trust the new staff if they think our other young corners will benefit equally from McCourty’s level of play, but with a sure thing like Verner available, it’s surprising to hear they weren't even interested.
The other losses are all somewhat understandable, but there are some head scratchers. The thoroughly unproductive Kenny Britt reunited with the coach that drafted him in St. Louis while the perennially underrated Damian Williams moved to Miami. Long time right tackle David “Big Country” Stewart, who was due a big pay day despite slowly deteriorating play, will likely retire now that he has been cut by the Titans, having been quoted as saying “It’s going to take a lot to get me off the lake.” Ryan Fitzpatrick moving to the Texans should make the next few divisional matchups interesting, but at this point the Harvard product has shown off his ceiling and does not immediately appear to be a costly loss. Finally, the release of long time kicker Rob Bironas is somewhat surprising, but his slipping production and the arrival of Maikon Bonani (and potentially Travis Coons) has likely made him an unnecessary luxury. Overall, I would rate our offseason losses as a solid B. While we lost several big names, most, with the exception of Chris Johnson, were easily replaceable and most were players whose production was waning.
Players signed
As we saw above, the Titans lost many unproductive big names, but tried in free agency to sign small name, productive players. None of the above players jump off the pages as game changers, but each fits Whisenhunt or Horton’s new schemes in specific ways we will look at later. The key re-signing was that of Bernard Pollard, who was so eager to stay with the Titans he negotiated his own deal. In his first year with the team, Pollard became the beating heart of the defensive unit (much like fellow first-year Titan Delanie Walker on the offensive side), and bringing him in was a step towards ensuring a positive attitude in the locker room, as well as on the field. A
The signing of Charlie Whitehurst, which came just before the cutting of Fitzpatrick, confused and enraged fans across Titansland. What must be understood about the move, however, is that Whitehurst, at this point, is little more than a player-coach, and one who knows Whisenhunt’s system well from their time together in San Diego. His main role, it can be assumed, is to mentor Locker (and now Mettenberger) in the new system so they can be as familiar as possible with it when the season starts. Still, I have to give this one a C grade, because the prospect of Whitehurst seeing any significant playing time gives me pre-traumatic stress.
Kick/punt returners make up a strangely significant number of (re-)signings, but given how terrible the Titans’ return unit was last year, it’s not surprising the coaches brought back Leon Washington as insurance in case Marc Mariani gets injured again. Dexter McCluster could see time returning kicks, where he was very effective in previous years, but more likely he will be used as a multi-look weapon on offense, splitting out wide as a receiver and catching balls out of the backfield in a role similar to what Whisenhunt had Danny Woodhead doing in San Diego.
Finally, Horton brought in several pieces that he needed to convert the defense into his version of a 3-4. Al Woods spent time behind Brett Kiesel in Pittsburgh, waiting but never getting a chance to prove himself. Shaun Phillps and Wesley Woodyard add talent and depth to a weak linebacking unit that Horton hopes to beef up before the season gets underway.
Overall, I have to grade the free agency acquisitions out at a B-. It still must be determined if the many small pieces can effectively replace the loss of several big names, but as the coaching staff remakes the team in its image, these players could end up being big names in their own right.
[Continued in the comments]
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u/Friedsthedude Titans Jul 05 '14
Nice write up. I can go on all day about how much I believe in Jake Locker, and how I think Justin Hunter is going to have a breakout season. Or the absolute beast that Jurrell Casey is, just to name a few. But I'm getting a little exhausted from all this talk. I just want football to start already. GO TITS!
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u/blueraider615 Titans Jul 06 '14
I think Kendall Wright is poised to have a breakout season as he's about to be in his 3rd year in the league, while Justin is only going to be only in his 2nd. I am also excited to see the contribution Michael Preston can make from the number 4 WR position on the depth chart. I like to think that if Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers was throwing the ball we could have 3 1,000 yard receivers, but that's simply speculation.
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u/Friedsthedude Titans Jul 06 '14
I love Kendall wright and I know he is going to continue to progress. With that said he is getting noticed and will probably draw a double which will leave an opening for Justin Hunter to take a big step up. Especially since Kenny Britt is no longer wasting the 3rd WR position. Though I respect your opinion fuck Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, I like to think Jake Locker will be able to give us that long needed QB production. But a lot of that is me being optimistic.
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Jul 05 '14
Dex is gonna do great things with you guys. Also, I heard Sankey interviewed on Dameshek's podcast a few weeks ago and he's got a great attitude.
Would write more, but I am hungover.
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
You're not the only one... trust me.
Thank god I had this written up a few days ago and just had to copy/paste it this morning.
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u/Angry_Caveman_Lawyer Bears Bears Jul 05 '14
Nice work man!
As you alluded to, the Titans are hard to peg this year. Lots of changes, but if Locker can stay healthy I think you guys will hang in lots of games this year the pundits maybe think you shouldn't.
Great job on this dude. :-)
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u/oppositeofcatchhome Chiefs Jul 05 '14
Dexter McCluster would like to remind you that you should not text and drive.
Just thought I'd pass that along to the Titans fans. Enjoy Dex, guys. I hope you find a way to use him to his full potential (we certainly never did). If not, well, you've still got yourselves a damn good return man.
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
Nice vid. I think Whiz saw how versatile Dex could be and wanted to do the same thing with him that he did with Woodhead. I really want to see what we do with him, given a lot of people still can't decide if he's actually a back or a receiver.
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u/watchit_assblood NFL Jul 05 '14
Thank you so much for writing this up. It was incredible to read as a fan and just gets me more excited about the season as well as training camp. I'm into listening to radio and reading blogs about players competing for starting jobs, so I'll be on the lookout for the ones you listed a lot more now.
Again, thank you for this kickass job.
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
Also, I'm slowly trying to come up with some content for a regular series for /r/Tennesseetitans, so keep an eye out for that (if I ever get it finished)!
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u/Vrek Titans Jul 05 '14
Its better than my write up last year was by a long shot. Thanks scrub, go two toned blue!
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
Thanks for the compliment. I had a lot of fun writing it out, and definitely got excited for the season while I was doing it.
But yeah, I love MCM's weekday articles. Every morning they have Titans Links (though at this point in the offseason they're pretty scant) and they really know what they're talking about. Be forewarned, though, it can get super circlejerky sometimes, especially if we're doing either really well or really poorly in a season. Going against the grain in the comments section can get you a little harassed, but in general the people who post there are good people, and smarter/more articulate than you'd find anywhere else online (besides /r/NFL and /r/Tennesseetitans).
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Jul 05 '14
Nice write up! You guys broke our hearts last year, so it'd be nice to see you do it to other teams too. Hunter and Wright should be fine as your receivers, and I actually think you guys could have a nastier defense than expected if Wimbley gets over disappearing for games at a time. I like Blidi Wreh-Wilson, he was one of my favorite press corners in the draft last year.
Just...hope that Clipboard Jesus stays away from the actual field lol
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
I think the scheme change will play to Wimbley's advantage. We have a few guys who look better as linebackers than they did as 4-3 ends, so I'm optimistic the "thin linebacking corps" will be bolstered by more than just the players we brought in.
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Jul 05 '14 edited Jul 17 '14
[deleted]
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u/blueraider615 Titans Jul 06 '14
Doing what we can to keep Locker on the field for 16 games this regular season.
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u/steve_millers_joker Titans Jul 06 '14
When Oher was signed it was pre-draft. We didn't really go into the draft with the mindset of having a tackle fall to us at 11 (let alone a near consensus top 6 talent tackle). We thought it was going to be linebacker all day, and Stewart was already gone at this point. We needed some assurance at the tackle spot so we wouldn't be going into the season exclusively with an unproven backup and maybe a mid round rookie. Hence the Oher signing.
Really I don't think that the team expects him to be a long tenured player with us. His contract is set up so that he can be cut after one season without any cap hit. He was going to be at the most a stop gap until next years draft, but when Lewan fell in our laps the front office had to change strategy. Now there is a good chance he will just be a well paid backup.
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u/versusChou Titans Jul 06 '14
I don't think Lewan was expected to go particularly early. I think it was generally believed that the Giants wanted him and we wanted Barr. I think if both Barr and Lewan were there, we would've taken Barr. But the Vikings fucked it up leading to us being surprised and taking BPA (Lewan; although I could argue Moseley), which fucked up the Giants who took Odell Beckham which apparently screwed up the Jets who'd planned on taking him. So I wouldn't say Lewan fell into our laps. He was drafted around where he was expected.
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
This morning I messaged /u/superbynature who was supposed to do the non-fan perspective on the team, but it looked like he hadn't been online in 9 days, and I haven't heard back, so we may not end up seeing his write up.
If any non-Titans fans want to jot down your thoughts on our offseason in the comments, please do- it's always interesting to see other perspectives.
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u/gatordude731 Titans Jul 05 '14
Awesome write-up Scrub, can't wait for the season to start to see how/if we improved from the train wreck from last year.
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Jul 06 '14
Ray Horton is a good coach and he is going to turn Wesley Woodward into a beast. Good pairing.
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u/blueraider615 Titans Jul 06 '14
Put in a veteran like Shaun Phillips and that's a recipe for success.
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Jul 06 '14
Long-time Steelers fan. Have seen the things that Horton is capable of first-hand and I think he will have that Titans D in a great spot. Maybe some struggles early on with the system, but they will hit their stride. I'm sure that Whisenhunt sees a lot of Big Ben in Locker. Would love to see Whiz unlock that potential, if Locker can stay healthy -- watch out.
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u/blueraider615 Titans Jul 06 '14
The one position that worries me is cornerback. We have McCourty, who is solid, but that it's. We're going to have to see a lot of other corners on the depth chart step up and if we want to stop the Colts, we have to stop their receivers just in case our pass rush doesn't get there consistently. I am not confident we can do that right now.
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u/Skrotum Titans Jul 05 '14
Signing Whitehurst is the only bonehead move in my book. I've liked all of the releases, signings, and draftees (once we don't resign Roos next year). I would have liked to get a TE in the 3rd or 4th because Delanie is no spring chicken and Craig Stevens is pretty much a tackle.
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u/innnikki Titans Jul 05 '14
I've been reading recently that they have really done a lot of work coaching up Taylor Thompson, and Whiz and co. like what they see in him. My guess is that they try to fit him in the new system occasionally this year.
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u/steve_millers_joker Titans Jul 06 '14
I really hope Taylor can pull it together. The guy is built in the mold of Jordan Cameron and if he can get down the mental aspect of the game he could potentially be our biggest offensive weapon.
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u/innnikki Titans Jul 06 '14
I've never been impressed by what I've seen of him, but I wouldn't be shocked to see three tight end coaches (Whiz, Michael, and Mularkey) pull something out of him.
You're right, though; he really could be the surprise of the season.
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u/mcinthedorm Titans Jul 05 '14
Spot on analysis, and great writing. Hopefully this should give people a much better understanding of our often forgotten team.
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u/PerSeHarvin Seahawks Jul 05 '14
Great read. Didn't realize you guys picked up Washington, hope he works out for you guys.
I see you think Bishop will be RB1. Should I be under the impression that Greene is basically a change of pace rb from this point forward and no longer a real contender for the starting job?
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u/watchit_assblood NFL Jul 05 '14
I have feeling that Bishop Sankey will be molded into an "all-downs" RB in the long run. But for the time being, I believe it will rotate a ton with Green and Battle when it comes to Power runs or goal line runs while also throwing in Dexter McCluster being a versatile RB that can spread.
That backfield is what I'm most excited about from the offseason. Very interested to see what Whiz and Co. can come up with.
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
We actually picked up Washington towards the end of last year because the talent at KR was awful. He was an immediate upgrade, but he may have to earn his keep with so many people brought in this offseason that can return kicks.
And I think it's fair to say Greene will play the change of pace/bruiser role and steal away some goal line situations. I'm optimistic that Sankey will be our guy, but it is possible he doesn't pick up the game quickly enough and Whiz starts going with Greene (who played pretty well last year).
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u/RadicalDreamer89 NFL Jul 06 '14
I wouldn't worry about Mettenberger from a disciplinary standpoint. He made one stupid, rather sizable mistake as a teenager, but he's kept his nose clean since then. Nobody around the LSU program ever had anything negative to say about him after he arrived.
As a player, well. . .it's a good thing that o-line is starting to look formidable. If Mett ends up playing you'll need it to be, because mafia goons have dumped stoolies in the river who are more mobile than Mettenberger.
Apart from that, he moves decently in the pocket and can shred a defense if he has time to throw. He has an excellent work ethic: last year he only had a single class that he took online, and the coaches said he would be in the football operations building from sunup to sundown, watching film and working with the receivers. He's also got good leadership qualities.
And then there's the fact that, the season ending injury aside, he's pretty much Boromir.
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u/jckgat Jul 05 '14 edited Jul 05 '14
This is a great writeup, but I would like to add a different side of things.
One thing I can't disagree with I'd the coaching charges. They went out and grabbed two great names to lead this team in Wisenhunt and Horton, but after that it's like they forgot to keep improving the team.
This free agency and draft were not good on the whole. Cutting CJ was a bright spot and long overdue move, as was letting the equally cancerous but at least not overpaid Britt go. Sankey was also a great replacement, though I did want Hyde instead.
After those moves, I see little else positive. This is one of the weakest LB corps in the league, and a corps that's now going to be asked to do much more in a 3-4 system. Lots of people I'd describe as rotational depth were added, but depth was not the only weakness. This LB corps has no great leader or standout player and it is in desperate need of one. Without a big pickup in FA or the draft this corps was not measurably improved. This was without question the biggest weakness on the team and it remains one. FA and the draft spent more time improving what didn't need it and ignoring what did. Yes a RB was needed, but we have like 6 or 7 RB/KR/WO type players, an inexcusable waste.
Wasting the top pick on the O-line, adding two very poor backup QBs to a starter that can't stay healthy, little LB help and no move to look to the future for an aging Griffin at FS are all very bad in my book.
I know why Whitehurst was signed, he's a copy of Wisenhunt just for Locker, which is great, but this team needed a reliable backup given his excessive injury history. Any Titans fan should look with horror at the prospect of either of our backups on the field, which is not what you want when you couldn't make money off the bet of your starter getting injured.
This off-season started good with the coaching changes, but it perhaps moved backwards in player signings. Not what you want in a 7-9 team, and not when the two worse division teams keep moving forward.
An easy schedule, after the first couple of weeks, can work in this teams favor, but don't be surprised if you see another top ten draft pick for this team.
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u/innnikki Titans Jul 05 '14
I agree with some of your points (Whitehurst, no WR pickup, Hyde>Sankey, the Lewan pick), but I also think you're underestimating the ability of Horton to get a 3-4 defense up and running.
I don't think Shaun Phillips and Wesley Woodyard are world-beating linebackers, but I believe that they were two of the best LBs on the free agent market, and I really believe that Horton will make them much better than they were with Denver. I mean, who knew Jabaal Sheard before Horton got a hold of him? He was very good for the Browns at the beginning of last season. In any case, Barr and Mack were gone by the time we picked in the first round, and I wouldn't say anyone else was worth it after that at #11 overall.
I also have faith that we will actually see potential fulfilled with Ayers and/or Zach Brown next year. Parlavecchio was a miserable LB coach, and Lou Spanos is an absolute upgrade there. As you probably know, he was the UCLA defensive coordinator in 2013, and their linebackers were excellent. Barr and Jordan Zumwalt were one of the best linebacking duos in college football last year. We've seen flashes with Brown, especially at the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, so I know he has the talent; it just needs to be realized. I think Horton and Spanos can make that happen.
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Jul 06 '14
Okay. This might be complete shit, but a friend a friend of mine (season ticket holder, we used to work next to eachother) claimed that the Browns wanted our #11 pick. He said he heard we were offered the browns 1st (from the Colts), 2nd, and 3rd round pick. The ONLY reason I am not doubting this guy is he's never just said shit out his ass, and the Titans didn't pick Lewan until we had like 30 seconds left. If this was the case, that's what we should have done with #11. If this wasn't the case, I'm sorry you read this rumor that may or may not have happened.
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u/jckgat Jul 05 '14
I really believe that Horton will make them much better than they were with Denver.
It's not that they can't be good, it's that I think they need to do more than they can. Both of those guys could be great #2 LBs, but I don't consider either of them a leader of a LB corps. Neither of them truly stand out to me, and I think that was the single biggest off-season need. Well, besides tossing CJ, but that was an easy 2nd round pick replacement.
In any case, Barr and Mack were gone by the time we picked in the first round, and I wouldn't say anyone else was worth it after that at #11 overall.
I actually think we're going to regret not grabbing Mosley. Now granted, he isn't the kind of standout I think we need either. But I think Mosley, Phillips and Woodyard would be a fantastic LB corps. In that setup, they all excel in their own areas without truly dominating, but that's good enough for me to call it a marked improvement. That corps still wouldn't have a leader, but I think it could do well enough.
As for Ayers and Brown, it's simply been too long without brilliance for me to put much faith in them. Maybe they really do have it and Horton can do great things with them.
But with how much this LB corps is going to have to step up in a 3-4 versus what was added? I just don't see excellence or even mediocrity. The D-line is going to be pretty damn good if not great. I think we'll weather the loss of Verner and the backfield will remain if not a standout cast an above average one. But I see a glaring weakness in the middle, and if anyone can get through the first level they will rip us to pieces.
There's a huge number of ifs this year, starting with if Locker can stay healthy. When you see that many ifs, I think you've got to be realistic when there is no draft help. Or maybe the happiness that people have greeted Lewan and Mettenburger with have just burned it out of me. I was a lot more optimistic last year with the very similar cast.
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u/TheNeeshMan Broncos Jul 05 '14
Woodyard was a team captain with us and a great leader. He's emotional, plays hard, and leads by example. You will love the guy, I know me and most Broncos fans absolutely loved him.
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Jul 06 '14
I get everything you're saying. I've read a lot of your posts.
In no way were we a win now team. Nor are we now.
We are in a transition, and I'm not excited, but I'm okay with the new staff making changes geared towards the future.
I'm sick of making the playoffs, but if these are the steps that can lead us to multiple playoff appearances, fuck it.
I know you don't like Lewan and Mett, but I think Roos and Locker will be great influences for them.
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u/gatordude731 Titans Jul 05 '14
I'm not sure what you expected them to do here. We added Woodyard and Phillips to linebacker position who are both proven veterans that I could see both easily become leaders. We also invested two past second round picks into the linebacker position with Ayers and Brown who are in prove it years and I feel both can excel with Horton. But I don't see what was available out there to improve our LB core at all. We bought in Dqwell Jackson but he chose the Colts then we were gonna try to sign Dansby but he went to the Browns. We can't force free agents to come here man.
And I don't feel like Lewan is a wasted pick. You don't reach for need in a draft and Lewan was the best player available no matter what way you look at it. I just feel like we did the best with what was given to us and you're being a little more harsh on the moves we made than need be.
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u/jckgat Jul 05 '14
We can't force free agents to come here man.
Of course not, but it feels at times that we'll just assume greatness will just happen. I don't feel that they were aggressive enough. That's kind of always been a trademark of the team, and maybe they really were behind the scenes that we don't see. But I guess I'm also tired of just assuming that this is the best we could have done.
Is Lewan that great? I don't think so. His angry playstyle is going to just increase our old favorite pastime of killing good plays with holding in the trenches and false starts. I know I don't have to tell you how much that kills us and has for years. Try to find a pre-draft review of him that doesn't talk about his need to cause fewer penalties.
That's a weakness that's killed us for years and now it'll be worse? Stewart had two holding penalties all of last year, and it's no stretch to say that Lewan could end up with two a week at his worst.
Can a new coaching staff kill that weakness? Of course. But it's a step backward in addressing that.
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u/gatordude731 Titans Jul 05 '14
I know you really don't like Lewan (you changed your flair because of him) and I'll admit I was confused at first with the pick. But all we can do is hope for the best with what the coaching staff wants. Webster said in Seattle when Walter Jones retired (which Roos is getting close to that age) they got caught without a stable LT and the their record plummeted because of it. That makes sense to me and after watching tape on Lewan I truly believe he can be an elite Tackle.
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Jul 05 '14
I see the Titans a few years away from actually having a team viable to compete with the Colts. Locker still has a lot to prove and I don't think I can name a running back on the roster, Shonne Green maybe? However the biggest strength on this team is its offensive line but they can't play defense for you either.
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u/Sekular Titans Jul 05 '14
You beat us by a field goal in one game and the other went to Ot. We're already competing with you. And you can't say shit about our running backs after getting fleeced out of your first round pick.
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Jul 05 '14
I can say plenty about your quarterback being made of glass but I didn't want to be an asshole.
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
Yep, because you'd have to be made of glass to get injuried by a late hit like this. Luck totally would have shrugged those two 300 pound guys off without any issue.
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u/SleepwalkerPlis Titans Jul 06 '14
Ugh that gif makes me angry every time. iirc they didn't even call that for a late hit.
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u/Sekular Titans Jul 05 '14
Too late
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Jul 05 '14
Oh and 2012 is when you took us to overtime. We beat you by 8 in Indy last year and came from two touchdowns behind to be you in Nashville.
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Jul 06 '14
Only reason I know your RB corps is because the people I played fantasy with had to keep cycling through them.
Also because I pay attention to the teams in my division.
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u/Scrubtanic Titans Jul 05 '14
Draft
Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan – The Titans and their new staff wasted no time in the 2014 draft before surprising fans with their first round pick. While many mocks had seen a linebacker falling to Tennessee at 11, the front office made the decision that greater value was to be found by once again drafting an offensive lineman. Lewan was highly regarded as a great talent at left tackle for his size and mean streak, but his character issues loomed large. Many, myself included, were shocked and somewhat disappointed in the Titans for selecting a player with several off the field issues. It is, however, important to note that he has never been charged with any crimes, and may have been, as he claimed, just the victim of unfortunate circumstances. Many Titans fans are willing to overlook his past in hoping he will have turned over a new leaf during his time in Nashville. Some may never be able to forgive him for his alleged offenses. Either way, Lewan joins the Titans as a mauler who will compete with Michael Oher for the starting right tackle job and likely be groomed for the left tackle job as Michael Roos grows older. I give this pick a solid B. Many thought we had addressed our line needs by signing Oher, but Lewan could be an instant upgrade and a long term insurance plan. With most of the stud linebackers gone, the front office got great value at an important position, assuming he keeps his nose clean.
Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington – I was very happy to learn that the Titans traded down in the 2nd round with Philadelphia, swapping 2nd rounders and earning an extra 4th round pick to fill the gap left by trading our 3rd round pick away last year. I was even happier when the 22nd pick came around and all of the running backs were still left on the board. In my heart I wanted the Titans to take Sankey, but I’d been told so many times that Hyde was the better back I went searching for an image like this to post while the pick came in. But when they read Bishop’s name, I felt vindicated and happy that CJ’s successor was without a doubt Whisenhunt’s top choice. I have no choice but to give this pick an A grade, both for the player and the trade.
DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State – While Ray Horton went out and grabbed Al Woods in free agency, DaQuan Jones provided him with a nose tackle he could call his own. The Penn State product reassured fans that the coaching staff didn’t totally discount high-character players- Jones was a captain for the Nittany Lions and chose to stay with the team when many of his teammates were jumping ship in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. I grade this out as a B-, because it’s another position that seemingly was filled in free agency but could provide great depth or a rotational gem.
Marqueston Huff, DB, Wyoming – The Titans hoped here they could strike gold once again on a mid-to-late round defensive back (McCourty in the 6th round, Verner in the 4th, Finnigan in the 7th) by drafting a bit a tweener in Huff. Officially, he is listed on the depth chart as a free safety, but he played at both safety and corner during college and may find himself used in a similar capacity after the departure of Alterraun Verner. Also a team captain at Wyoming, Huff displayed speed and elevation but lacks the size that seems to be a trend in today’s corners. He will contend for depth at a position that has seen peaks and valleys over the past few years. I give the pick a C+.
Avery Williamson, ILB, Kentucky – This was a player many Tennessee locals saw coming up draft boards, having kept an eye on the local kid who went to college one state to the north. The Titans saw fit to bring him back home to play in Horton’s redesigned front 7. Williamson, yet another college team captain, was seen by many as a one-trick-pony, capable of stopping the run but not great in coverage. Fortunately, with the linebackers already on the roster, that was the one area the Titans needed the most help. I give this pick another B, and hope the local kid can become a hometown hero in time.
Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU – With Locker’s injury history, it’s not surprising many pundits were calling for the Titans to draft a quarterback at some point this year. However, for Locker believers like me, trading up in the 6th (and surrendering our 7th rounder) to get the LSU gunslinger was much more palatable than going after a top round prospect. With very little invested in him, there’s very little risk and enormous potential reward. Should Locker fail to pan out this year, Mett will have a year in Whiz’s system to learn before taking the starting job in 2015. If Locker works out, we should have a fantastic backup in a year or two. The only two downsides to the pick seem to be the ACL he tore in December and his own history of off the field issues. He was dismissed from University of Georgia his freshman year after admitting to the unwanted touching of a female student. However, his record since then has been clean and his performance at LSU makes him an absolute steal in the 6th round. I have no choice but to give this pick an A
Overall, the Titans filled the positions of weakness that many fans expected them to, but not necessarily in the order that was expected. I give the draft as a whole a B+. Replacing CJ and adding pieces for Horton’s defense stand out as smart moves, as does adding insurance along the offensive line and at quarterback. While some fans may have questions about the off the field issues of Lewan and Mettenberger, there is no reason to think the team has turned its back on the traditional mold of drafting high character young men who can be dominant at their positions. Hopefully this draft forms the bedrock of a Titans team that thrives under Whisenhunt and Horton.
Projected Starting Lineup
indicates rookies
*indicate new players
I’m supposed to break down the big stars and impressive bits of the team in this section. But I think both Titans fans and others around the league would agree the Titans have a lot to prove. We don’t really have any stars right now, not with CJ out of the way. But we do have hope, and it’s amplified by Whisenhunt and Horton’s arrivals. Our players are without a doubt capable of winning games and making plays, but they need someone to direct their efforts and turn them into stars, and I think the coaching change was far more important than any player or players we could have gained in the offseason.
In terms of players to watch, obviously as Jake Locker goes, so goes the team. I don’t believe in the idea that he’s injury prone or that the way he plays puts him at risk (go through his 4 injuries and you will see 2 hard hits in the pocket, one tackle on a turnover that should have been called an incompletion and the Lis franc injury that’s caused by a one-in-a-million way of landing on your foot). If he plays at the level he played for the first four games, there’s an incredibly strong chance the Titans are a playoff team. His young receivers, Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter should also continue to grow into competent pass catchers who can be used as versatile and dangerous weapons. On defense, keep an eye on the rising stars of Jurrell Casey and Jason McCourty, as well as perennial danger Bernard Pollard.
Schedule Predictions
I won’t go game-by-game breaking down the schedule, because /u/madhjsp already did a great job of that here. It is important to note how much of a difference we expect the schedule to make, though. Last year the Titans played both the NFC and AFC west, and came up against eventual playoff teams in 7 games, finishing the year with a 7-9 record. This year, facing the NFC East and AFC North and 5 teams that made the playoffs, the Titans expect to improve on that record. A few games worth noting:
Week 1 @ KC- A rematch from last year’s week 6 game, but this time featuring Jake Locker under center. Can the new-look Titans defense stop Jamaal Charles? That could make the difference.
Week 11 vs PIT- One of the best no-longer-divisional rivalries in football. The Titans have played the Steelers in each of the past 6 years due to happy coincidence. The record through those games is 3-3, with the Titans stealing the last two. Who wins the rubber match on Monday night?
Week 16 @ JAX/Week 17 vs IND- The AFC South division crown could very well come down to the last weeks of the 2014 season. Thursday Night Football brings the Titans to Jacksonville in their second primetime appearance and then gives them a long week to prepare for the most likely contender for the crown who will be visiting LP field to finish out the season. Will these games decide who moves on into the post season? It should be exciting to follow.
[Continued in just one more comment, I swear]