Tennessee Titans offseason

I know I should be writing about the NCAA tourney, spring training, or even the upcoming release of Sin City. Football is my first love, sports-wise, so it gets the page one treatment today.

When looking at the Tennessee Titans and their offseason moves, it might make more sense to see who’s left rather than who’s departed. It's been widely reported that the Titans released a lot of important players. I would dispute the use of 'a lot'. I won't disupte that the Colts are going to get 'a lot' of passing yards against the Titans again this year.

The salary-cap demons were purged this year, and while quite a few key players are gone, it’s not a total blow-up. Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason are key losses. They both signed with the Ravens, which for me was like being hit in the back with a metal chair by my best friend. It’s hard to blame the guys since the Titans released them. Well, it’s a little easier to blame Mason since he was offered more money (allegedly) by the Patriots. Fred Miller, an average right tackle with a weakness for false-start penalties (False Start Fred was his nickname) will be missed for a couple of weeks. Kevin Carter was a good player and great off the field but not worth the $8 million a year that he was getting.

The other two ‘major’ cap casualties (according to the media, who universally reported this) were Robert Holcombe, who had lost his fullback duties to Troy Fleming and his third-down duties to Chris Brown (at least in the first half of most games), and Joe Nedney. Nedney was a big-time, for a kicker, free-agent signing three years ago. Nedney suffered season-ending injuries in the past two years, so it’s not like he was earning his keep. Note to the 49ers, who signed Nedney recently: Don’t have this guy covering kickoffs. In fact, tell him to run out of bounds as soon as he kicks the ball. We’re not going to miss either of these guys.

The Titans’ deficiencies are these: They have no real starting cornerbacks. There are only two receivers on the roster. They have no right tackle. They’re in need of a kicker. At some point, obtaining a third-string quarterback who isn’t a total scrub would be nice. The D line is very young. Right now there are three second-year defensive ends battling for starting positions. Tank Williams, who underperformed last year, blew out his knee and may not be back to start the season. Other than Pro Bowl snubee Keith Bulluck, there are questions in the linebacking corps. There is no backup running back with NFL experience. But hey, we got Norm Chow.
Solutions for the deficiencies: Jacob Bell, the outstanding rookie guard who was a fifth-round pick last year, was a candidate to move to right tackle but he injured his knee late last year. I wouldn’t count on him manning the position but it’s possible. The Titans are so desperate for receivers that they’re considering signing Kevin Dyson. Remember him? Mister Music City Miracle and the guy who ended up a yard short of the tying touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV. Heck, the Titans gave his uniform number to Tyrone Calico.

On defense the line will probably sink or swim as-is. Randy Starks is going to be very good. One of the trio of Antwan Odom, Bo Schobel, and Travis Laboy will be a good starter. As for the other side, well, it’s hard to drop much from Carlos Hall. Peter Sirmon will return and will call the plays. As for middle linebacker, one of the Rockys (Boiman or Calmus) will start. The Titans play a ton of nickel so a stud MLB isn’t important. Tell me an NFL team with a less imposing cornerback duo than Andre Woolfolk and Tony Beckham. Woolfolk was a converted receiver in college and it shows. He’s been injured a lot. The same goes for Tony Beckham. I hear that the Titans don’t play a lot of man so a shut-down corner isn’t a priority. Lance Schulters and Lamont Thompson are starters at safety. Behind them is a whole lot of nothing unless Tank can come back later in the year.

The Titans have the number six pick overall, which gives them the right to pay a guy eight figures before finding out if the guy is actually good. I don’t ‘spect they’ll be trading down, like last year when the Texans gave them four picks and a mascot to be named later to trade up for Jason Babin.

Who will the Titans take? Here are the candidates:

Mike Williams, WR USC: He’s tall, catches everything, and hasn’t been bothered with studies for 18 months. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he scored 30 touchdowns in 26 college games. That’s production. With Bennett and Calico, we’re talking 19 feet of receiver here.
Adam "Pac Man" Jones, CB WVU: He’s not tall, but he’s a fast cornerback, and fast cornerbacks are really valuable before a draft. Jones also can return kicks. As you might have noticed, the Titans need a cornerback with a pulse.

Antrell Rolle, CB Miami: Drafting Rolle would serve a dual purpose. First, give him Samari’s old number and a lot of people might think that he never left. Second, Rolle is a taller, more physical corner (albeit in a slower package) than Jones.

Alex Barron, OT Florida State: Barron is the top tackle prospect in the draft. If we sign him he’s our right tackle this year and will move to left tackle when we mercifully jettison Brad Hopkins after this season. From what I hear, Barron puts on a heckuva workout, but wasn’t an elite player at Florida State.

Cedric Benson, RB Texas: I know, the Titans have a starting running back, but this franchise has had good luck with Texas running backs. Chris Brown is an injury factory. If Brown could average 4.9 yards a carry behind a makeshift line last year, Benson could do the same. Benson would be more of a ‘best player available’ pick. I think, and most scouts seem to agree, that Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams are going to be drafted before Benson. Ignore the Ricky Williams comments; this guy is good.

Ideally, the Vikings, picking at seven, fall in love with someone who dropped to six and offer us a second-rounder to swap picks. The Browns did this last year to get Kellen Winslow, and look how well that worked out. The cornerback position is deep and can be addressed later. It’s just not going to be pretty going to Indy this year.

Who do I want? Mike Williams. Most NFL fans and fantasy-football players think offense first. Norm Chow coached him and I think giving Norm enough weapons so he sticks around a couple of years, say until we’re good again, is a good idea. The Titans need more players than they have draft picks. That’s just how it is. I can dream, though, of next year’s offseason when the Titans can (gasp) sign a free agent. That will be a beautiful time indeed.