Debate the Titans offseason possibilities in the The Football Fan Forum
2010 Preview:
The Titans might be some people’s sleeper picks for this year, given their 8-2 record in games which Vince Young started last year. I’m not going that far, but I think they’ll be better than the 8-8 they finished last year. Their defense should be a little better. However, they’ll still struggle to defend the pass. Cortland Finnegan is a great cornerback, but his value is minimized because whoever they tried opposite him last year really struggled. Having a top #1 cornerback is great, but if the opposing quarterback can just pick on the opposing corner, then he doesn’t have to throw on that top corner. That’s what happened last year. Unless rookie Alterraun Verner steps up, unlikely since he’s a 4th round pick and cornerbacks take a while to develop, that’s going to happen again.
Adding Derrick Morgan to the mix at defensive end helps. I said back in April that he was the most NFL ready pass rusher in this draft class and I stand by that. I think he’ll lead all rookies, and probably his team, in sacks. Their pass rush will be solid, but not great. Having Tony Brown in the middle certainly helps. Overall, I don’t think this defensive unit will be anywhere near what we’ve come to expect from Titan defenses in the past, but better than last year’s.
The offense has its share of question marks too. Vince Young is not a top 15 NFL quarterback. His receiving corps is average at best. Their line is good, but Chris Johnson is probably not going to have as good of a year as he had last year. He led the league in carries last year. That’s a lot of work for a 200 pound running back, however young he is.
All that being said, this unit as a whole seems to find ways to win football games. You saw that 8-2 record in games Vince Young started last year. That’s no fluke. Statistically Vince Young hasn’t been a great quarterback in his career, but his win-loss record is remarkable for his career, 27-13. They’ll find a way to win more games than the paper suggests they’ll win and I think they’ll compete for a playoff spot.
Projection: 9-7 2nd in AFC South
Power Ranking: 14
Last season: 8-8
Draft:
#16 DE Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)
Wow. Really. The Titans get the best pass rusher in the draft class at 16 and fill their biggest need in the process. Morgan lived in the backfield last year with 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. He has a great size, speed combination and he doesn’t need a lot of work, which is good because defensive linemen tend to not try as hard to improve once the get to the NFL, especially if they are first round picks. Morgan doesn’t need a lot of work and he has a great motor and work ethic. He had no business still being available at 16 and the Titans would have been stupid to pass on him.
Grade: A
#77 WR Damian Williams (USC)
Wide receiver wasn’t a huge need going into the draft, but they needed a compliment to Kenny Britt, to move Nate Washington back into the slot where he belongs and Damian Williams absolutely had no business still being available at 77. He was my 13th ranked prospect and my top receiver. He was future #1 receiver written all over him, and, even in the Titans’ run heavy offense, I expect multiple Pro Bowls from him.
Grade: A
#97 OLB Rennie Curran (Georgia)
Cornerback was a bigger need, but this is a deep cornerback class and they can still get a decent upgrade in the 4th. Curran fits the draft range, also fills a need, and he is a perfect fit for their scheme.
Grade: B+
#104 CB Alterraun Verner (UCLA)
I would have rather had Walter Thurmond, who, ironically enough, was drafted by the Seahawks, who moved down from 104 to 111 in the LenDale White trade, at 111. However, Verner fills a need and is a decent pick in terms of value.
Grade: B
#148 S Robert Johnson (Utah)
Not a huge need, but they could bring in some depth and competition for Chris Hope at strong safety and Johnson fits the draft range. With most of their other needs filled, and all of their major needs filled, they could afford to make this pick.
Grade: B
#176 QB Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic)
Smith doesn’t appear to have an NFL arm, but the Titans needed a backup quarterback for Vince Young and got one, though not the one I would have taken if I were them, at all.
Grade: C
#207 S Myron Rolle (Florida State)
This is a major upside pick for the Titans. If Rolle continues to get back into football shape after taking a year off and if he commits full time to football, he could be a starting caliber strong safety for them which is good because Chris Hope is a marginal player. If he doesn’t pan out, he’s good depth and special team help and a cool PR boost.
Grade: A
#222 WR Mark Mariani (Montana)
Mariani had a very productive college receiver, but he’s a bit undersized. The Titans have a bunch of mediocre receivers and didn’t need another one, but they could have done a lot worse with this pick and, with no other major needs, its hard to bash it. They may have something with him.
Grade: B
#241 DT David Howard (Brown)
Howard is the undersized, high motor defensive tackle that Jeff Fisher loves to put into his defensive tackle rotation.
Grade: B+
Overall:
This was one of the better drafts. I only would have done a couple minor things differently, taking Thurmond over Verner, drafting a running back late to compliment Chris Johnson, I know LenDale White had to go, but Chris Johnson can’t do it all by himself, and I wouldn’t have drafted Rusty Smith. However, they got 2 of my top 13 prospects despite not having a 2nd rounder and filled almost all of their needs. This is what a good draft looks like.
Grade: A
Key undrafted free agents:
RB LeGarrette Blount (Oregon)
C Kevin Matthews (Texas A&M)
FB Willie Rose (Florida Atlantic)
RB Stafon Johnson (USC)
Positions of need:
Defensive End:
Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse were the starters penciled in to start the season, but they only combined for 4 sacks and the team only had 32 sacks on the season. Without Albert Haynesworth, their defensive ends were no longer able to get one-on-one matchups. Kearse was even benched early in the season and to make things worse, both Vanden Bosch and Kearse are free agents this offseason. I don’t think they are going to be able to find another Albert Haynesworth this offseason, but they shouldn’t have any issues finding an upgrade at defensive end, most likely through the draft. Jacob Ford led the team with 5.5 sacks, but he’s only a nickel rusher. There’s a good chance they target either Jason Pierre Paul or Everson Griffen if they fall in love with one of their upsides. If not, they won’t reach and they’ll target someone like Austin Lane or Brandon Lang in the 3rd.
Drafted Derrick Morgan (#16)
Cornerback:
Nick Harper is done as a productive starter in this league at age 35. Opposing quarterbacks targeted Harper’s man 87 times this year and got 63 completions, a 72.4% completion percentage against. Finnegan is a good shutdown corner and, despite injuries, only allowed a 57.7% completion percentage against, but if opposing quarterbacks can just pick on Harper, what’s the point of having Finnegan. To maximize Finnegan’s cover skills, they need a good cornerback opposite him. They drafted Ryan Mouton and Jason McCourty last year, but both were late round picks so I wouldn’t be too confident in them. Donovan Warren and Kyle Wilson could be options at 16. If not, I could see them using their 3rd rounder or maybe a 4th rounder on a cornerback.
Drafted Alterraun Verner (#104)
Defensive Tackle:
I can’t see Dan Williams falling past them at 16. They have a decent set of undersized pass rushing defensive tackle, led by Tony Brown and his 5 sacks, but they don’t have any large over 300 pound defensive tackles to eat up blockers and take the pressure off of the edge like they had with Albert Haynesworth. I’m not saying Williams is the next Albert Haynesworth. He doesn’t have his pass rushing moves, but guys like Williams, with excellent size and strength that can move well and have experience succeeding in a zone style scheme like the Titans use don’t come around often. Williams had his best college season in Monte Kiffin’s cover 2 scheme last year and the Titans run one that is very similar. The cherry on top, he’s in state from the university of Tennessee.
Drafted David Howard (#241)
Outside Linebacker:
Both starting linebackers, David Thornton and Keith Bulluck, ended last year on IR. Bulluck is now a free agent this offseason and contemplating retirement and Thornton is a free agent next offseason. Outside linebacker doesn’t have a huge positional value, but I would not be surprised if they used two mid round selections on outside linebacker. They will at least use one.
Signed Will Witherspoon, Drafted Rennie Curran (#97)
Quarterback:
Vince Young had a good year this year, but he hasn’t exactly been a model of consistency in the past and with Kerry Collins likely to retire, they need a solid backup for Young. They could use a round 5-7 pick on one.
Signed Chris Simms, Drafted Rusty Smith (#176)
Wide Receiver:
Kenny Britt had a great rookie year and Nate Washington is a good #2, but they don’t have much depth behind either. Their team leader in receptions was their running back, Chris Johnson, last year. They need a speed slot guy to stretch the defense, preferably one who can also return kicks because they had trouble in that area as well this year with Chris Carr signing in Baltimore this offseason.
Drafted Damian Williams (#77), Drafted Mark Mariani (#222)
Middle Linebacker:
They have other needs, but Stephen Tulloch could be upgraded. They could have upgraded him for the last few offseason and I don’t expect them to do so this offseason either unless a middle linebacker falls into their laps.
Free agents:
QB Patrick Ramsey- signed with Saints
RB LenDale White (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.8 million
C Kevin Mawae
G Eugene Amano- resigned for 5 years
OT Mike Otto (restricted)- resigned
WR Mark Jones
TE Alge Crumpler- signed with Patriots
TE Bo Sciafe (restricted)- resigned 1 year 4.9 million
DE Kyle Vanden Bosch- signed with Lions 4 years 26 million
DE Jevon Kearse
DE David Ball (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.8 million
DT Tony Brown (restricted)- resigned 3 years
DT Kevin Vickerson (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.8 million
OLB Keith Bulluck- signed with Giants
OLB Colin Ellred (exclusive rights)- tendered
MLB Stephen Tulloch (restricted)- resigned 1 year 2.5 million
CB Nick Harper
CB Rod Hood- resigned
S Donnie Nickey- resigned
P Craig Hentrich- retired
Offseason moves:
Titans re-sign MLB Stephen Tulloch
Titans waive WR Mark Jones
Titans re-sign DT Tony Brown
Titans re-sign RB LenDale White
Titans re-sign DT Kevin Vickerson
Titans sign QB Chris Simms
Titans sign CB Tye Hill
Titans re-sign DE Dave Ball
Titans re-sign TE Bo Scaife
Titans re-sign CB Rod Hood
Titans sign OLB Will Witherspoon
Titans tender DE Dave Ball
Titans tender DT Tony Brown
Titans tender DT Kevin Vickerson
Titans tender RB LenDale White
Titans tender MLB Stephen Tulloch
Titans tender TE Bo Scaife
Titans re-sign S Donnie Nickey
Titans re-sign OLB Colin Allred
Titans re-sign OT Mike Otto
Titans announce retirement of P Craig Hentrich
Titans re-sign G Eugene Amano
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