Titanico
07-19-2009, 08:07 PM
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Titans enter training camp with few if any battles for starting positions up for grabs.
Sure, there is the need to find a replacement for Albert Haynesworth at defensive tackle, but Jason Jones(notes) will likely start on the d-line this season. Other than that, most of camp will be about competition for backup spots on the roster.
Unit-by-unit Analysis :
Quarterbacks:
Starter - Kerry Collins.
Backups - Vince Young, Patrick Ramsey, Alex Mortensen.
Collins is firmly entrenched as the starter here and could have a better year statistically if the Titans’ improved receiving corps jells quickly. Young, the former starter, will have to fend off journeyman Ramsey for the second spot. Mortensen, son of ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen, has no chance to crack the roster.
Running Backs:
Starters - Chris Johnson, FB Ahmard Hall.
Backups - LenDale White, Quinton Ganther, Rafael Little, Javon Ringer, Chris Henry, FB Casey Cramer, FB Rodney Ferguson.
Johnson burst onto the scene last year with 1,228 yards as a rookie and the Titans appear intent on getting him even more involved in the offense this time around. Behind him, it is a crowded fight for a few spots. White is down to 229 pounds and looks to have improved his speed in the process. Behind them, Ganther, Little, Ringer and Henry are likely fighting for two roster spots. Hall is an underrated fullback who can occasionally carry the ball. Utility man Cramer and Ferguson are long shots.
Tight Ends:
Starter - Bo Scaife.
Backups - Alge Crumpler, Jared Cook, Craig Stevens, Matthew Milligan.
The Titans use two-tight end sets quite a bit of the time, putting Scaife and Crumpler on the field together. Third-round pick Cook has the speed and size (6-4, 250) to create mismatches and the Titans are quickly trying to get him up to speed. Stevens is mostly a blocker.
Wide Receivers:
Starters - Nate Washington, Justin Gage.
Backups - Kenny Britt, Lavelle Hawkins, Chris Davis, Paul Williams, Mark Jones, Dominique Edison, Dudley Guice, Phillip Morris.
The Titans believe they have upgraded this position with ex-Steeler Washington joining holdover Gage. Behind them, it will be interesting, as Britt has the ability to be an eventual No. 1, but needs time to grow. Hawkins should make the roster, but beyond him everything is up for grabs with Davis, Williams and Jones (also a kick returner) needing to impress to earn their keep.
Offensive Linemen:
Starters - LT Michael Roos, LG Eugene Amano, C Kevin Mawae, RG Jake Scott, RT David Stewart.
Backups - C/G Leroy Harris, T Mike Otto, T Troy Kropog, G Ryan Durand, G Fernando Velasco, G Jason Murphy, C Doug Datish, G Ryan Schmidt.
The whole unit returns intact from a year ago, including All-Pros Roos and Mawae. Mawae is coming off elbow surgery, but Harris is a starter in waiting. Stewart, Scott and Amano are all solid starters, and the Titans like the potential of the rookie Kropog.
Defensive Linemen:
Starters - LDE Dave Ball, LDT Jason Jones, RDT Tony Brown, RDE Kyle Vanden Bosch.
Backups - DE Jevon Kearse, DE Jacob Ford, DT Jovan Haye, DT Sen’Derrick Marks, DE William Hayes, DT Kevin Vickerson, DT Mitch King, DE Larry Birdine, DT LaJuan Ramsey, DT Derrick Jones.
Vanden Bosch returns healthy from a groin injury, and likely will have Brown slide over from the left side to replace Albert Haynesworth. The Titans rotate their d-linemen, which means that even though Ball might have nosed ahead of Kearse, who missed offseason time with a knee problem, but both will see action, along with Ford. At tackle, Jones, Haye and Marks will vie to see who gets the opening created by Haynesworth’s departure.
Linebackers:
Starters - LLB David Thornton, MLB Stephen Tulloch, RLB Keith Bulluck.
Backups - OLB Stanford Keglar, MLB Ryan Fowler, OLB Gerald McRath, OLB Josh Stamer, MLB Colin Allred, OLB Ken Amato.
The starters here are all solid and durable, which is a good thing because most of the backups - save for former starter Ryan Fowler - are inexperienced beyond special teams contributions. McRath, a fourth-round pick this year, and Keglar, entering his second season, are two player whose potential intrigues the Titans.
Defensive Backs:
Starters - LCB Nick Harper, FS Michael Griffin, SS Chris Hope, RCB Cortland Finnegan(notes).
Backups - FS/Nickel back Vincent Fuller, SS Donnie Nickey, CB Cary Williams, CB Ryan Mouton, CB DeMarcus Faggins, CB Jason McCourty, S Tuff Harris, CB Tanard Davis, S Nick Schommer, CB Jeremy Haynes.
More Here (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AsG_14NygfL3HLgpTPIqIHSa2bYF?slug=teamre ports-2009-nfl-ten&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report)
the article starts with a nice inside look of Rendfelt's job, which I also found interesting.
The Titans enter training camp with few if any battles for starting positions up for grabs.
Sure, there is the need to find a replacement for Albert Haynesworth at defensive tackle, but Jason Jones(notes) will likely start on the d-line this season. Other than that, most of camp will be about competition for backup spots on the roster.
Unit-by-unit Analysis :
Quarterbacks:
Starter - Kerry Collins.
Backups - Vince Young, Patrick Ramsey, Alex Mortensen.
Collins is firmly entrenched as the starter here and could have a better year statistically if the Titans’ improved receiving corps jells quickly. Young, the former starter, will have to fend off journeyman Ramsey for the second spot. Mortensen, son of ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen, has no chance to crack the roster.
Running Backs:
Starters - Chris Johnson, FB Ahmard Hall.
Backups - LenDale White, Quinton Ganther, Rafael Little, Javon Ringer, Chris Henry, FB Casey Cramer, FB Rodney Ferguson.
Johnson burst onto the scene last year with 1,228 yards as a rookie and the Titans appear intent on getting him even more involved in the offense this time around. Behind him, it is a crowded fight for a few spots. White is down to 229 pounds and looks to have improved his speed in the process. Behind them, Ganther, Little, Ringer and Henry are likely fighting for two roster spots. Hall is an underrated fullback who can occasionally carry the ball. Utility man Cramer and Ferguson are long shots.
Tight Ends:
Starter - Bo Scaife.
Backups - Alge Crumpler, Jared Cook, Craig Stevens, Matthew Milligan.
The Titans use two-tight end sets quite a bit of the time, putting Scaife and Crumpler on the field together. Third-round pick Cook has the speed and size (6-4, 250) to create mismatches and the Titans are quickly trying to get him up to speed. Stevens is mostly a blocker.
Wide Receivers:
Starters - Nate Washington, Justin Gage.
Backups - Kenny Britt, Lavelle Hawkins, Chris Davis, Paul Williams, Mark Jones, Dominique Edison, Dudley Guice, Phillip Morris.
The Titans believe they have upgraded this position with ex-Steeler Washington joining holdover Gage. Behind them, it will be interesting, as Britt has the ability to be an eventual No. 1, but needs time to grow. Hawkins should make the roster, but beyond him everything is up for grabs with Davis, Williams and Jones (also a kick returner) needing to impress to earn their keep.
Offensive Linemen:
Starters - LT Michael Roos, LG Eugene Amano, C Kevin Mawae, RG Jake Scott, RT David Stewart.
Backups - C/G Leroy Harris, T Mike Otto, T Troy Kropog, G Ryan Durand, G Fernando Velasco, G Jason Murphy, C Doug Datish, G Ryan Schmidt.
The whole unit returns intact from a year ago, including All-Pros Roos and Mawae. Mawae is coming off elbow surgery, but Harris is a starter in waiting. Stewart, Scott and Amano are all solid starters, and the Titans like the potential of the rookie Kropog.
Defensive Linemen:
Starters - LDE Dave Ball, LDT Jason Jones, RDT Tony Brown, RDE Kyle Vanden Bosch.
Backups - DE Jevon Kearse, DE Jacob Ford, DT Jovan Haye, DT Sen’Derrick Marks, DE William Hayes, DT Kevin Vickerson, DT Mitch King, DE Larry Birdine, DT LaJuan Ramsey, DT Derrick Jones.
Vanden Bosch returns healthy from a groin injury, and likely will have Brown slide over from the left side to replace Albert Haynesworth. The Titans rotate their d-linemen, which means that even though Ball might have nosed ahead of Kearse, who missed offseason time with a knee problem, but both will see action, along with Ford. At tackle, Jones, Haye and Marks will vie to see who gets the opening created by Haynesworth’s departure.
Linebackers:
Starters - LLB David Thornton, MLB Stephen Tulloch, RLB Keith Bulluck.
Backups - OLB Stanford Keglar, MLB Ryan Fowler, OLB Gerald McRath, OLB Josh Stamer, MLB Colin Allred, OLB Ken Amato.
The starters here are all solid and durable, which is a good thing because most of the backups - save for former starter Ryan Fowler - are inexperienced beyond special teams contributions. McRath, a fourth-round pick this year, and Keglar, entering his second season, are two player whose potential intrigues the Titans.
Defensive Backs:
Starters - LCB Nick Harper, FS Michael Griffin, SS Chris Hope, RCB Cortland Finnegan(notes).
Backups - FS/Nickel back Vincent Fuller, SS Donnie Nickey, CB Cary Williams, CB Ryan Mouton, CB DeMarcus Faggins, CB Jason McCourty, S Tuff Harris, CB Tanard Davis, S Nick Schommer, CB Jeremy Haynes.
More Here (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AsG_14NygfL3HLgpTPIqIHSa2bYF?slug=teamre ports-2009-nfl-ten&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report)
the article starts with a nice inside look of Rendfelt's job, which I also found interesting.