The Tennessee Titans were once a team on the rise, they never really got good enough to get over the hump. Now the team is in shambles and once again it is a look at how fast things can go all pear shaped in the world of professional sports. So far here is the situation in Tennessee. Kenny Britt has been hurt, Chris Johnson is holding out, and new QB Matt Hasselbeck is struggling to learn the offense. To be fair it is his first new offense in ten years, but none the less things look pretty bad for the Titans.

I am a little concerned that Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, a UFL reject, has decided to blast his new QB in public. Granted he did say that Matt was making strides. However, is this the story you want to promote about your team’s new 9 million dollar QB? Of course they also have Jake Locker who is also learning the offense. To put it mildly the NFL lockout has dealt a bad hand to the Titans.

Hasselbeck’s struggles really are setting this team back. Since he will likely be the starter they have to get him all the time they can with the first team offense. Of course they have to balance that with getting Locker enough time to learn the offense since he is the future of this team, at least for now. Sure the Lockout has been cruel to the Titans in particular, but all 32 NFL teams are struggling to catch back up.

This is yet another lingering effect of the lockout, and if you think the 2011 season will not be impacted severely by all the missed time, your are either a fool or lying to yourself.

The mess that is the Tennessee Titans is a post from: The Inquisitr

One year ago I felt pretty good about the 2010 draft class of the Tennessee Titans. A year later this class has lost a bit of its shine. Of course some of that is due to injury and some of that is due to the turmoil surrounding this team last year. For me this class still has big upside and I would expect the new regime in Tennessee will use these guys in bigger roles.

Here is a quick look at the 2010 Titans draft class:

• Round One- DE Derrick Morgan
• Round Three- WR Damian Williams
• Round Three- LB Rennie Curran
• Round Four- DB Alterraun Verner
• Round Five- S Robert Johnson
• Round Six- QB Rusty Smith
• Round Six- S Myron Rolle
• Round Seven- WR Marc Mariani
• Round Seven- DT David Howard

So Morgan had 1.5 sacks before his season ended due to a torn ACL. Williams had 16 catches but no TD’s. Curran was inactive for seven games but contributed when he got a chance to. Verner had 101 tackles and three picks after being pressed into service due to injury. He has won a starting job on this team. Johnson was inactive the entire year, and Smith threw three picks in a start versus the Texans. Rolle spent the year on the practice squad, while Mariani really helped the Titans return game. Howard was cut in camp.

Not a ton of production but we got to figure Morgan rebounds and Verner will be a starter. That is at least two starters from this class, and a very good return man. If they get anything from the others this class looks a whole lot better. If they don’t it will remain an average class.

Related Links:

• Tennessee Titans War Room
• Joshua Lobdell.com

2010 NFL Draft one year later: Tennessee Titans is a post from: The Inquisitr

Now that Jeff Fisher is out as head coach it looks like General Manger Mike Reinfeldt will have more decision making power with the Tennessee Titans. New Head Coach Mike Munchak will likely have a key role as well on draft day, but this looks to be Reinfeldt’s show now. He played safety for eight years with the Houston Oilers and was the roommate of Ted Thompson who is now the General Manger of the Green Bay Packers. Reinfeldt has an MBA and has served several NFL teams on the financial side of things.

After his playing career was over, Reinfeldt spent a few years in the Athletic department of USC, he then went on to work in the Raiders front office as CFO. He spent another 8 years with the Green Bay Packers in several capacities mostly dealing with the finances, and then several years with the Seattle Seahawks handling their salary cap and players contracts. He has been with the Titans since 2007.

In his time in Tennessee he has struggled a bit with high round draft picks. There are a few home runs in there like RB Chris Johnson but he has done far better in the later rounds of the draft. For a guy with a background in finance he has done a slightly above average job landing NFL talent for his club.

Reinfeldt has no problem using high draft picks on guys from smaller schools and that strategy has bitten him a few times, but he uses his scouts well. He is unafraid to take guys from smaller schools but still scouts BCS schools as well. We shall see what he can without Jeff Fisher because it is widely believed Fisher had the final say on personnel when he was with the team.

Related Links:

• Tennessee Titans War Room
• Joshua Lobdell.com

Draft day decision makers: Tennessee Titans is a post from: The Inquisitr

In 2009 the Tennessee Titans picked 30th in the first round.  Just two years later they will pick 8th. Along the way they have fired their head coach, and cut ties with QB Vince Young. We can hardly say this is a team headed in the right direction, and a weak 2009 draft class is clearly among the reasons why. Many think an elite team has an easier time in the draft; the Titans are proof that sometimes the opposite is true.

Here is a quick look at the 2009 Titans draft class:

•Round One (30)- Kenny Brit WR
•Round Two (62)- Sen’Derrick Marks DT
•Round Three (89)- Jared Cook TE
•Round Three (94)- Ryan Mouton CB
•Round Four (130)- Gerald McRath LB
•Round Four (135)- Troy Kropog T
•Round Five (173)- Javon Ringer RB
•Round Six (203)- Jason McCourty CB
•Round Six (206)- Dominique Edison WR
•Round Seven (239)- Ryan Durand OG
•Round Seven (242)- Nick Schommer DB

Kenny Britt is a starter, but he has only caught 42 passes in each of his two NFL seasons. He may wind up being considered a possession receiver and the Titans may have needed a bigger splash with this selection. Sen’Derrick Marks is also a starter but has done little to solidify his position as the 64th overall pick two years ago. Granted he plays on a bad team and once they get better we may see his production go way up.

Jared Cook is an ok piece and he did catch 29 balls in 2009. Ryan Mouton has done little, and Gerald McRath may be listed as a starter, but has done very little on the field. The rest of the picks have done very little, and even though they may have landed three starters and a bunch of backups their lack of success on the field has got to count for something. So far I have to give this drat class a failing grade.

2009 NFL Draft two years out: Tennessee Titans is a post from: The Inquisitr

Some might say the United Football League’s loss of yet another Head Coach, at a fragile point in their history, is a very bad thing. I don’t happen to share that opinion. The UFL will ultimately be successful as a stepping stone to the NFL and the more players and coaches the reach the big dance from the UFL the more the UFL will be able to bring in talent. Even if said talent has to play in the UFL for free, it may be worth to do so to get a football career jump started. We have seen that happen a few times now, and it my mind it is a positive.

Let’s be blunt here, Chris Palmer as a head football coach has been an abysmal failure in two leagues now. However even a guy with a 8-32 record with the Cleveland Browns and Hartford Colonials has earned another shot at the next level as Offensive Coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. If that is true any coach who needs to rehab his career should be calling the UFL today. Insert your favorite NFL head coach wash out here.

On top of that I think this move makes the Hartford Colonials better. Sure the offense was pretty good, but Palmer’s insistence that everyone plays really halted any kind of flow by either QB who saw significant playing time in each game of the 2010 UFL season. I though it was a mistake then, and I hold to that now.

Sure three of the five UFL teams will have new coaches in 2011, but maybe that is a good thing. It will bring fresh blood to a league that kind of needs it right now. By serving as an unofficial proving grounds the UFL could have a very bright future.

Related Links:

• Hartford Colonials news and notes
• The Business of the UFL
• Joshua Lobdell.com 

Tennessee Titans hire UFL’s Palmer to run offense is a post from: The Inquisitr

This is a very strange story, when a NFL team fires their head coach at the end of January something weird is going on. Tennessee Titans owner, Bud Adams, apparently had decided that the days of Vince Young were over and he and the Titans were going to move forward without him and with Head Coach Jeff Fisher. Then Bud went all Al Davis and apparently fired Jeff or something.

Now let us set the record straight here. Jeff is a very good coach, but I don’t know how great he is. In 16 years with this team he averaged a 9-7 record. Now horrible but not really great either. Let us also not forget that he has a losing record in the playoffs, and in all his time with this team they have only made it to the big dance once.

This move is really weird as all of the other 31 jobs seemingly have been filled. Could this start a domino effect where a few teams decide to dump the guys they got to pursue Fisher? Well, the answer is maybe. The Houston Texans may take a long look at Fisher, but I think he will take a year off and do TV. Maybe take a Coordinator job, and then find a team after the labor strife settles down and things return to normal.

What this means for Vince Young is another story. During the season that was the conflict that really sunk this team and it was clear that one of them would have to go. Adams apparently had decided Young was out, but now Jeff is out and we will have to wait and see how the rest of this plays out.

Related Links:

• Tennessee Titans news and notes
• The Business of the NFL
• Joshua Lobdell.com

Jeff Fisher out as Tennessee Titans Head Coach is a post from: The Inquisitr

At one point in 2010 the Tennessee Titans were 5-2. Things looked good, and they seemed destined for the 2011 NFL playoffs. Of course after the 5-2 start this team went 1-9 the rest of the way. They finished 6-10, and what looked so good turned to garbage. The ended up trying to being in Randy Moss, essentially fired QB Vince Young and wasted a NFL season. This is a tough one, their numbers do not look that bad, but clearly it never all came together for them.

The offense scored 356 points of 22.2 points per game. That was 17th best of the 32 NFL teams. Vince Young started 8 games and had 10 TD’s and 8 INT’s, He completed 59.6% of his passes and amassed 1,255 yards passing. Kerry Collins stepped in and started 7 games. He was able to throw 14 TD’s with 8 INT’s. The running game was ok averaging 107.9 per game. Of course they did give up 27 sacks.

The defense was also pretty average. They gave up 339 points or on average 21.2 points per game. It is hard to explain how a team averages one more point scored then given up and finishes with a losing record. I hate to say this but some of that comes down to coaching. They made the wrong calls and it cost this team on the field.

Of course the team’s take away differential was -4, the Titans defense did rack up 40 sacks. They forced 17 fumbles, and were able to intercept 17 passes. This seems to indicate that the offense suffered and Young deserved his pink slip.

Related Links:

• Tennessee Titans news and notes
• The Business of the NFL
• Joshua Lobdell.com

2010 Tennessee Titans season in review is a post from: The Inquisitr

In a surprising act of clarity Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams has decided that a Head Coach is far better than a QB. Maybe he should call the Denver Broncos and break it down for them. Vince Young will be released or traded, and the Titans will begin a search for a new QB. That could include using the 8th overall pick in the coming NFL draft to find the QB of tomorrow. I think that is probably their best bet, unless they really think Kyle Orton is the man.

As for Vince Young I think some team out there will pick him up, and I think that list starts with the Oakland Raiders. Of course the Minnesota Vikings have a long history or using free agent QB’s, and even having QB’s with a similar skill set to Young. What I am saying is there are 8-10 NFL teams out there that need a QB, and that means Vince Young will still be a starting QB in this league come 2011, or whenever football starts up again.

Back to the Titans, Fisher is one of the best coaches in the NFL today, and he has been with this team for a very long time. Sometimes we talk about change for the sake of change but sometimes the status quo is preferable. Fisher almost won a Super Bowl with this team, and I think he is their guiding force. It makes a lot of sense to stick with him.

Related Links:

• Tennessee Titans news and notes
• The Business of the NFL
• Joshua Lobdell.com

Tennessee Titans pick Jeff Fisher of Vince Young is a post from: The Inquisitr

The more and more I read and hear about what happened with the Tennessee Titans this week, the more it looks like exactly what happened in Minnesota. This is a really weird case, and it looks like both Head Coach Jeff Fisher and QB Vince Young will not be with this team come 2011. Once again a show down is brewing between the coach and Titans’ owner Bud Adams. The contention will be Young’s future with this football team.

So after Young was taken out of the game against the Washington Redskins it looks like he may have pulled off his jersey and pads and thrown them into the crowd. Afterwards the two were reported to have a heated exchange in the locker room, and Fisher may have gone as far as to say Young would never be his starting QB again.

Since Young has since been placed on Injured Reserve that situation should have been placed on a back burner, but today at the Titans’ practice facility conflicting reports are emerging that Young had been sent home and barred from said facility. Fisher has since stated that he banned Young from a team meeting when he accused the QB of quitting on the team.

This is an ugly situation that has actually been brewing since last season. Owner Bud Adams is squarely behind Vince Young as we remember him flipping everyone the bird when Young return to a starting role last year to lead the team to a win. Fisher, who is the longest serving Head Coach in this league, may have decided a job with the Dallas Cowboys is a heck of a lot better than being the coach of the Titans. Of course we will have to wait and see how the rest of this plays out.

Related Links:

• Tennessee Titans news and notes
• The Business of the NFL
• Joshua Lobdell.com

What is going on with the Tennessee Titans? is a post from: The Inquisitr

At first glance Randy Moss and the Tennessee Titans look to be a perfect fit. They could use a guy to stretch the field, a guy to help open up holes for RB Chris Johnson and make life easier for QB Vince Young. They are also on a bye week so they get some extra time for Randy to come meet the players and learn the offense. If this wasn’t a player with Moss’ reputation it would be a brilliant move. However we must remember that this is Randy’s third team in 2010 and while the Titans are surely better that the Minnesota Vikings, but when does Randy ya know become Randy once more.

Sure Jeff Fisher is one of the best coaches in the NFL today, and sure he runs a tight locker room, but Randy is  guy obsessed with the 1998 draft and at some point he will remember that the Titans and Fisher past on him like so many other NFL teams. In fact for the Titans the insult is even worse as the needed a receiver and decided that Kevin Dyson was their man.

Now one of two things can happen here. First, Randy can get some of his fire back that drove him early in his career. That fire of being passed up by teams and his desire to prove them wrong. Of course Randy could continue to dog it on routes, continue to be a cancer in the dressing room, and again act like one Randy Moss.

I like that a team that is playing as well as the Titans making an aggressive move. That move looks even better when we consider they have yet to play four games against their division rivals the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. Adding a guy with the potential of Randy Moss surely tips the balance of power in the AFC South, but all of his positives are outweighed by his negatives, at least in my mind.

Related Links:

•Tennessee Titans news and notes
•The Business of the NFL
•MTR Football
•Joshua Lobdell.com

Randy Moss is a Titan is a post from: The Inquisitr

For the Tennessee Titans to have a good season and make the playoffs they have to get off to a fast start. No matter how could they can be they could not overcome a 0-6 start a year ago, and I doubt very much they could over come that again. The good news there is they have winnable games early and maybe they can get off to a hot start. Vince Young is the QB of this team, and he played very well last year. I think having him in place from the start makes a huge difference.

Having Young lead the offense form the start is a big plus, on top of what I have seen of him in pre-season it looks like he has put a lot of work in. All of that should equal more production. They still have Chris Johnson in the backfield and he wants to prove he is worth a bigger contract so look for him to light it up again. Justin Gage, Kenny Brit, Nate Washington, and TE Bo Scaife make up the receiving corps. The Offensive line is set, and an above average with a few players capable of making an impact.

Sure on Defense they lost Kyle Vanden Bosch, but Derrick Morgan steps in to play the same position. The loss here is in leadership more so then on the field. The D line should be pretty good. I have bigger question about their LB corps, but they appear to be an above average unit. In the secondary Cortland Finnegan, Ryan Mouton will be the corners with Michael Griffin and Chris Hope as the deep guys.

On special teams Rob Bironas will be the kicker, with Brett Kern handling the punting duties. Damian Williams should be the featured kick returner but this team does have other options there.

Related Links:

• Tennessee Titans news and notes
• The Business of the NFL
• MTR Football

2010 Tennessee Titans Preview is a post from: The Inquisitr

27-year-old Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young is the “prime suspect” in an incident last night at a Dallas strip club that reportedly resulted in “bodily injury” to one person.

Details were scant surrounding the altercation, but local news station CBS 11 pinned down a location and confirmed with Dallas police that Young is suspected in the crime:

The altercation allegedly broke out after words were exchanged at Club Onyx on 10557 Wire Way. Police believe Young left the scene before officers arrived, a DPD official said.

A sports blog located some tweets from girls that may have been working at Club Onyx last night, and they seem to confirm that Young was at the club last night and left due to an altercation:

So vince young came in onyx for two seconds then got in a fight and got kick out!!! #hoodlum

RT @ClubEntyce: Who VY fighting ?????????? /the manager @ Onyx

No arrests relating to the incident have yet been made.

Titans QB Vince Young suspected of assault at strip club is a post from: The Inquisitr

All in all the picks they made seemed like pretty good ones. What I mean by that is they went out and addressed most of their needs. However they pulled off a trade that doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. They dealt RB Lendale White and DT Kevin Vickerson to the Seattle Seahawks to swap selections in the fourth and sixth round. Losing White leaves a big hole behind RB Chris Johnson and he may hold out looking for a new contract. That would leave Javon Ringer and undrafted free agent Stafon Johnson alone in the Titan backfield.

This team used six of its nine selections on the defensive side of the ball, and that was their biggest area of concern. They hope that first round pick Derrick Morgan can come in and start from day and develop in a Jevon Kearse type. With no second round pick they waited till the third and scored the guy they wanted WR Damian Williams. It seems likely he will step onto the team s the main kick and punt returner. Later in the third they scored LB Rennie Curran who will have to make his mark on special teams, and serve as a backup at OLB.

The rest of their picks were spent on finding depth and a few projects like QB Rusty Smith. So with all that being said here is a quick look at the initial grades for the 2010 NFL Draft:

•Round One: A, they filled a big hole on their team with a high quality prospect
•Round Three: B+, Williams was a great prospect, and he will have to work to become a starting receiver
•Talent: B+, both prospects were highly touted
•Need: A, they need a great job of filling their needs
•Average: A-

Related Links:

•Tennessee Titans news and notes
•2010 NFL Draft initial team grades
•The Business of the NFL
•MTR Football.com

2010 NFL Draft review: Tennessee Titans is a post from: The Inquisitr

What is the market for a 39 year old center, which may be past his prime, but may have a few good years left in the tank? Apparently the market for that kind of player is not very good, as 39 year old Kevin Mawae is finding out for himself. In today’s NFL 39 years is well beyond the average age of any player, and well past the point were, teams start looking for a younger replacement. It is not personal it is just the way this league works.

The wrinkle to all this is Mawae happens to be the President of the NFLPA, and given the current climate of labor relations between the league and its players Mawae thinks that teams are blackballing him. He seems to think that no NFL team is going to give him a fair shot because of his status as president of the NFLPA. However, the real truth here is Mawae isn’t going to get another shot until training camp opens and someone gets hurt. That is what happens to aging veterans who are not named Brett Favre.
 
In no way am I saying his status in the NFLPA is not a sticking point with teams out there, but by no way is this guy being blackballed. On top of that, just by him saying that he is damaging the efforts of the league and the union to get a new CBA done. Both side of this disagreement need to figure out that they are partners, and then need to find an agreement that doesn’t rape the fans. Both sides need to understand that they are pricing fans out of attending games in person. That is not good for anyone.

Related Links:

•Tennessee Titans news and notes
•The Business of the NFL
•MTR Football.com

Is Kevin Mawae being blackballed? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sometimes when a team has a big letdown, or a stumble we sit back, and wonder why. The Titans had just that, and I think we can put some of the blame on a pretty awful draft. None of their picks started half of their games. Only Kenny Brit has a significant contribution to this team. That is not good considering they made eleven picks in 2009. A year ago I was pretty down on this draft, giving them just an average grade; one year in that grade has slipped into the failing category.

A quick look at the Titans 2009 draft class:

•Round One (30)- Kenny Brit WR
•Round Two (62)- Sen’Derrick Marks DT
•Round Three (89)- Jared Cook TE
•Round Three (94)- Ryan Mouton CB
•Round Four (130)- Gerald McRath LB
•Round Four (135)- Troy Kropog T
•Round Five (173)- Javon Ringer RB
•Round Six (203)- Jason McCourty CB
•Round Six (206)- Dominique Edison WR
•Round Seven (239)- Ryan Durand OG
•Round Seven (242)- Nick Schommer DB

So the last six of those picks either did not play in a game or did not put up any significant stats. That is six NFL draft picks, far too many to take a pass on. Brit led the team in receiving yards with 701 hardly a lights out number. Marks had just 12 tackles with one sack in nine games. Cook caught nine passes in 14 games. Mouton made 24 tackles in 14 games played. McRath had 47 tackles and an interception while playing in 16 games.

Sure some of these guys may grow into their roles with the club, but it really looks like the Titans got a stinker on their hands. A year ago they got a B- grade; one year in I find in necessary to bump it down more that a full letter grade to a D+. If it were not for Britt it would be in the F range.

Related Links:

•2009 NFL Draft, one year later
•Tennessee Titans news and notes
•2010 NFL Mock Drafts
•2010 NFL Team needs
•MTR Football.com

2009 NFL draft one year later: Tennessee Titans is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mike Reinfeldt holds the title of Executive Vice President and General Manager, but Head Coach Jeff Fisher also holds an executive VP title, and owner Bud Adams will step in on draft day when he feels it necessary. Fisher and Reinfeldt hold the most weight, but will be joined n the war room by Vincent Marino Director of Football Administration, Tina Tuggle Director of player development, and Lake Dawson Director of College Scouting.

This will be the fourth draft with Reinfeldt has conducted as General Manger of the Titans. His background in the NFL is pretty long. He played eight season as a safety with the Raiders and Houston Oilers. He has worked in the front offices of the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, and Green Bay Packers. He is mostly a bean counter having served with those teams as CFO, and salary cap guru.

With that being said the team of Reinfeldt and Fisher have done a fairly good job at conducting the team’s drafts. While, so far the 2009 draft class was something of a bust, but of course that can change, the overall five year grade of this club is fairly good. They have made 49 picks in the last five years netting 2 pro bowlers, 9 starters, 22 backups and 18 players either with other teams or out of the NFL. All in all that is not to shabby.

This is a team that is unafraid to take kids from smaller schools. They have landed quality players in: CB Cortland Finnegan (Samford), DE William Hayes (Winston-Salem State), and WR Dominique Edison (Stephen F. Austin University) all from the smaller school out there. Look for the Titans to once again reach into the smaller school to find quality players from small schools in the later rounds of this year’s draft.

Related Links:

•Draft Day Decision makers
•Tennessee Titans news and notes
•2010 NFL Team needs
•2010 NFL Mock Drafts
•MTR Football.com

Draft Day decision makers: Tennessee Titans is a post from: The Inquisitr

It would be really easy to sit back, and let Head Coach Jeff Fisher do his thing and let one of the best Head Coaches in the game today diagnose the problems and then fix them. Since that won’t make for good copy let us say this, the Titans must fix their defense. In 2009 it was the 28th best defense, and they are old, and suitable replacements must now be found. The offense is fine, and in good hands with the once benched Vince Young. Their last two first round draft picks have been offensive players and now it is that time to address the defense.

They have also lost DE Kyle Vanden Bosch in free agency, so the work must begin with the defense, and in particular the defensive pass rush. The pass rush of the Titans was the second worst in the NFL in 2009, and must be upgraded. That means, they have to spend their first round draft pick on a new DE, and the best one that they can find.

If I were in charge of the Titans I would be pressing my coaching staff to get more production out of the picks that were made in 2009. Not one 2009 Titan draft picks started more than half the games in 2009. Now a year later  I would like to see those picks produce or be cut. While first round pick Kenny Britt led the team in receiving yards, but one draft pick producing is not enough.

In the end the Titans focus should be on rebuilding a defense decimated by free agency and age. I would start and DE, and then address needs in the defensive secondary. In later rounds I would be looking for D line depth, and depth for my LB corps.

Related Links:

• How to fix the bad NFL Franchises
• Tennessee Titans news and notes
• 2010 NFL Draft news, notes, and rumors
• 2010 NFL Mock Drafts
• 2010 NFL Free Agents
• MTR Football.com

Fix the Franchise: Tennessee Titans edition is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sure maybe they were just another 8-8 team, but let us not forget that they started 0-6, or the magical season off RB Chris Johnson. After such a poor start, it is a real credit to Head Coach Jeff Fisher that he did not lose his team, and was able to motivate them to a non losing season. Fisher may just be the best head coach in the NFL today, and if he were ever fired by the Titans he would have a new job before he got to his car. He has managed this team through everything including a relocation from Texas.

The Titans offense put up 354 points, or 22.1/game. That was good enough for 16th amongst the 32 NFL clubs. Now this team has a bit of a QB crisis on its hands. It seems the Kerry Collins has played himself out of the starting job, and while owner Bud Adams loves Vince Young most of us wonder if he can handle the job full time. That is the question that this team must answer as soon as possible. Of course the running game is sound, and should continue to be.

On the defensive side of the ball things aren’t as  great. The 2009 Titan defense gave up 402 wins, or 25.1 points/game. Their takeaway differential was -4, and that seems to indicate that the work on this club must be made on the defensive side of the ball. While they got 31 sacks in 2009, it seems a playmaking Defensive End is at the top of their needs. Since they also gave up 4,363 yards through the air they could use some playmakers in the secondary as well.

In the end the Titans are a lot closer to competing for division titles and playoff spots than the 16 tams we have covered to this point. A nice addition to their defense in the 2010 draft and they may be ready to go, if their QB situation works out.

Related Links:

•Tennessee Titans news and notes
•2010 NFL Draft News, Notes, and Rumors
•NFL Complete.com

2009 NFL season in review: Tennessee Titans is a post from: The Inquisitr

The great thing about sports is that players are often given the chance to come back, and prove all of us wrong. I am not the only sports writer that was willing to write off Vince Young as a run first, poor passing technique draft pick that was never going to be able to run a NFL offense. For most of his professional career he has been just that. However, after being benched in favor of Kerry Collins it seemed that his days as a NFL starter were over. When Collins faltered the team turned once again to Young, and he has stepped up and delivered big time.

Since being named the starter in week eight, and faced with a 0-6 record the Titans have yet to lose a game this season in which Vince Young was their starter. Sure the play of Chris Johnson is certainly a factor in that, but this would not be a 5-6 team, looking to make a strong run at the NFL post season without Young at the helm.

I never would have though that Young could stand in a NFL pocket and pass the ball, or be the field general that every NFL teams needs. In watching the game yesterday versus the Arizona Cardinals Young was exactly that.  He went 27/43 for 387 yards, a TD, and no interceptions. On top of that he only attempted 4 rushes.

If the Titans want to remain in the hunt for the playoffs they will have to rely on Young performing like that in the weeks to come. To have a legitimate shot they will need to win four of their last five games. They get two pretty easy games with St. Louis and Seattle, and intermediate challenge against the Miami Dolphins, and two difficult tests in the Indianapolis Colts, and San Diego Chargers. If Young can continue this high level of play it seems likely they could have an outside chance at a wild card spot.

More Tennessee Titans News and Notes

Do we owe Vince Young an apology? is a post from: The Inquisitr

A little less then one year ago Vince Young was the starting QB for the Tennessee Titans. After a sever meltdown in the regular season opener of 2008, where he apparently quit and would not take the field of play anymore and then reportedly was on the verge of committing suicide. Now not only has Vince lost the starting job, but he barely looks capable of being the Titans back up QB.

Granted last night’s pre season opener was but the first contest of the 2009 pre season, but the point cannot be lost Vince looked terrible. He ended up with an anemic 5-10 for 39 yards with a one yard run. Not very impressive even if we were not talking about the first pre season game.

Of course none of this would be news worthy had Vince not run off at the mouth and said in effect that he will be the next African American QB to win a Super Bowl, and his career will one day be hall of fame worthy. Really what we have here is yet another (Michael Vick being the other) College QB who runs first instead of passing. While that may work in College football for a team running the option, it has not translated well into the NFL. In fact no run first QB has ever won a Super Bowl.

At this point it doesn’t appear that Vince can even compete for the backup QB role on the Titans. It would not be all that big of a surprise to see Vince dropped to the third QB on the Titans depth chart, and holding a clipboard each week is not a way to get selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The shocking fall of Vince Young is a post from: The Inquisitr