Tennessee Titans
Owner: Bud Adams
Founded: 1960
Stadium: LP Field
2010 record: 6-10
Last playoff appearance: 2008, 13-3, L 13-10 Baltimore
General Manager: Mike Reinfeldt (2007 – current)
Head Coach: Mike Munchak (2011)
Offensive Coordinator: Chris Palmer
Defensive Coordinator: Jerry Gray
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 22.2 PTS (17th) 302.1 YDS (27th) 194.2 PASS (25th) 107.9 RUSH (17th)
DEF: 21.2 PTS (15th) 367.7 YDS (26th) 252.0 PASS (29th) 115.7 RUSH (20th)
Pro Bowlers: Chris Johnson RB, Jason Babin DE, Michael Griffin SS, Marc Mariani KR
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 at Jaguars 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 vs. Ravens 1:00 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 vs. Broncos 1:00 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 at Browns 1:00 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 at Steelers 1:00 PM Tickets
6 Bye
7 Oct 23 vs. Texans 1:00 PM Tickets
8 Oct 30 vs. Colts 1:00 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 vs. Bengals 4:05 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 at Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 at Falcons 1:00 PM Tickets
12 Nov 27 vs. Buccaneers 1:00 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 at Bills 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 vs. Saints 1:00 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 at Colts 1:00 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 vs. Jaguars 1:00 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 at Texans 1:00 PM Tickets
TEAM NEEDS: WR, TE, OG, CB, SS
Potential Free Agents:
Chris Simms QB
Ahmard Hall FB – re-signed
Leroy Harris OG – re-signed –
Dave Ball DE – re-signed
Jacob Ford DE – re-signed
Marques Douglas DT
David Thornton OLB
Jamie Winborn OLB
Rod Hood CB
Donnie Nickey SS
Free agent acquisitions:
Matt Hasselbeck QB, (Seahawks)
Daniel Graham TE (Broncos) –
Shaun Smith DL (Chiefs)
Barrett Ruud MLB (Buccaneers)
Jordan Babineaux FS (Seahawks) – 1 yr
Free agent losses:
Kerry Collins QB – retired –
Vince Young QB – Signed with Eagles
Randy Moss WR – reitired
Bo Scaife TE – signed with Bengals
Jason Babin DE – Signed with Eagles
Stephen Tulloch ILB – Signed with Lions
Picks in 2011 Draft: (Overall draft grade: B): There was no in between for the grades I gave to each pick for the Titans this year. I either had great value for them or terrible. Jake Locker is an upside pick, but he didn’t deserve to go that high. His accuracy is way too questionable to be taken there. But if he proves to be the second coming of John Elway, we’ll see…After the Locker pick, however, the Titans impressed me. Where they got Ayers, Casey, McCarthy, and Harper were great values. My favorite picks from this class are Ayers and McCarthy. I think they’ll become the most successful NFL players that the Titans drafted. The class, however, will be remembered for how well Locker does.
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 8 (8) Jake Locker QB, Washington! – Locker will need time to work on his pocket footwork and accuracy, so a team like the Titans taking him here is a little worrisome. Upside pick.
Grade: C Rated: 32
Rd 2, Pick 7 (39) Akeem Ayers LB, UCLA! – playmaker from UCLA, good athleticism, good in coverage, and can pick the ball off quite a bit.
Grade: A Rated: 30
Rd 3, Pick 13 (77) Jurrell Casey DT, USC – The Titans were looking for adding to their defensive tackle stable. Casey was expected to effectively replace Sedrick Ellis at USC, but didn’t quite reach there. He’s picked right where I had him valued at, however, so this is right player, right price.
Grade: A Rated: 78
Rd 4, Pick 12 (109) Colin McCarthy LB, Miami (FL) – The Titans needed to upgrade all over their linebackers, so taking another backer here after they already took Ayers in the second is good. McCarthy is a little undersized, but he still has the athleticism, instincts, and physicality to be a good player for them.
Grade: A Rated: 86
Rd 4, Pick 33 (130) Jamie Harper RB, Clemson – Fullback Ahmard Hall is probably leaving for free agency, so Harper could be coming in to replace him. Is good at catching the ball out of the backfield in addition to his potential as a blocker.
Grade: A Rated: 112
Rd 5, Pick 11 (142) Karl Klug DL, Iowa – ‘tweener DE/DT, but if anybody can figure it out, it’s head coach Mike Munchak, defensive line extraordinaire.
Grade: D Rated: 270
Rd 6, Pick 10 (175) Byron Stingily OT, Louisville – late riser at pro days. He’ll provide some good depth along the line.
Grade: C- Rated: 312
Rd 7, Pick 9 (212) Zach Clayton DT, Auburn – made his way onto draft boards with a great pro day. Big hustle player.
Grade: C Rated: NR
Rd 7, Pick 48 (251) Tommie Campbell DB, California (PA) – transferred from Pitt. Has good speed.
Grade: C Rated: NR
2010 Titans’ Draft review:
Here are a few interesting nuggets of information that I found after watching the Titans’ draft press conferences: How old is C.O. Brocato? 80? 90?! He’s one of the most respected scouts in the league and he’s been with the Titans/Oilers’ organization for about 35 years. The press seemed to press GM Mike Reinfeldt when one of them brought up Albert Haynesworth and the fact that Reinfeldt is good friends with Redskins GM Bruce Allen. He played it cool and of course, the Titans didn’t make a move for him. Former head coach Jeff Fisher and Reinfeldt thought first round pick DE Derrick Morgan was going to be gone by the time they picked. Morgan was “just about rated top 10” by the team. They had information that made them think Philly was interested in safety, but Fisher was surprised they traded up and went with Michigan DE Brandon Graham. Fisher said they had other players rated with the same value as Morgan. If Kyle Vanden Bosch would have been under contract, the Titans’ philosophy in the first round would have been altered, according to Fisher. They had USC WR Damian Williams rated “quite high” and attempted to trade up to get him, but couldn’t. However, lucky for them, he fell. Fisher said they didn’t think there was any way he would get past the middle of the 2nd round. The Titans’ board had a stack of wide receivers at about the time where there was a run in the 3rd round. The Titans look to draft safeties that can play either safety spot. Jeff Fisher was the only person in the room who opposed the pick of Marc Mariani. He was voted to the Pro Bowl this year as a kick returner. I don’t think I can blame him though, because they had already drafted Damian Williams, who had ability to be their return man.
Rd 1, Pick 16 (16) Derrick Morgan DE, Georgia Tech – 4 games, 5 TCK, 1.5 SCK, 1 PD
Rd 3, Pick 13 (77) Damian Williams WR, USC – 16 games, 1 start, 16 REC, 219 YDS, 13.7 AVG, 1 RUSH, 5 YDS.
Rd 3, Pick 33 (97) Rennie Curran LB, Georgia – 9 games, 7 TCK
Rd 4, Pick 6 (104) Alterraun Verner CB, UCLA – 16 games, 12 starts, 101 TCK, 11 PD, 3 INT, 1 FF.
Rd 5, Pick 17 (148) Robert Johnson DB, Utah – no stats
Rd 6, Pick 7 (176) Rusty Smith QB, Florida Atlantic – 2 games, 1 start, 20-40, 50%, 200 YDS, 5 YPA, 0 TD/4 INT, 25.0 RTG.
Rd 6, Pick 38 (207) Myron Rolle SS, Florida State – spent 2010 on Titans’ practice squad
Rd 7, Pick 15 (222) Marc Mariani WR, Montana – 16 games, voted to Pro Bowl as a kick returner. 27 punt returns, 12.2 AVG, 1 TD, 60 KR, 1530 YDS, 25.5 AVG, 1 TD.
Rd 7, Pick 34 (241) David Howard DT,
Looking back at my grades for the Titans’ 2010 draft class: I gave the Titans an overall grade of B. They had very nice picks of players who I felt had fallen to them (Derrick Morgan and Damian Williams, both given an A). Alterraun Verner (B) and Marc Mariani (B) were steals as they both performed and played a big role for the Titans in 2010. I didn’t like the Rusty Smith (F) and Robert Johnson (C+) picks, because I felt they were taken much too early. Looking back, I’d obviously have to switch the grades between Morgan and Williams to Mariani and Verner. The overall grade, however, should remain the same: B.
First Round Picks From Last 5 Years: Derrick Morgan DE, Kenny Britt WR, Chris Johnson RB, Michael Griffin FS, Vince Young QB
2010 Stat Leaders
Kerry Collins 160-278 57.6% 1823 YDS 6.6 YPA 14 TD 8 INT 82.2 RTG
Chris Johnson 316 ATT 1364 YDS 4.3 AVG 11 TD
Kenny Britt 42 REC 775 YDS 18.5 AVG 9 TD
Rod Bironas 24-26 92.3% 55 LNG
Stephen Tulloch 160 TCK
Jason Babin 12.5 SCK
Michael Griffin 4 INT
Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
Jeff Fisher and Titans Divorce after 16 Years
Defensive Coordinator Chuck Cecil Fired
Vince Young Will Be With Another Team In 2011
Mike Munchak Hired As Titans’ New Head Coach
Munchak Fires OC Mike Heimerdinger