Young's Ascent Makes Anything Possible for Titans
Team-By-Team Offseason Roundup
Tennessee Titans
Players Released:
Zach Piller, G
Erron Kinney, TE
Travis Henry, RB
Colby Bockwoldt, LB
Free Agents Lost:
Drew Bennett, WR
Bobby Wade, WR
Robaire Smith, DT
Free Agents Re-Signed:
Rien Long, DT
Seth Wand, T
LeVar Woods, LB
Kerry Collins, QB
Donnie Nickey, S
Free Agents Added:
Nick Harper, CB
Justin Gage, WR
Ryan Fowler, LB
Bryan Scott, S
Tim Rattay, QB
Gilbert Gardner, LB
Draft:
Rd. 1 (No. 19 overall) Michael Griffin, S, Texas
2 (50) Chris Henry, RB, Arizona
3 (80) Paul Williams, WR, Fresno State
4 (115) Leroy Harris, C, N.C. State
4 (128) Chris Davis, WR, Florida State
5 (152) Antonio Johnson, DT, Mississippi State
6 (188) Joel Filani, WR, Texas Tech
6 (204) Jacob Ford, DE, Central Arkansas
6 (206) Ryan Smith, CB, Florida
7 (223) Mike Otto, T, Purdue
Analysis:
At the end of last season, no team in the league was more intriguing than the Tennessee Titans. They managed to turn things around last season and become a winner with rookie Vince Young at quarterback. Young's passing statistics weren't glitzy, but winning as a rookie quarterback is nothing to be taken lightly.
It would have been nice to see the organization go out and get a go-to receiver for Young this offseason, but it hasn't happened. The Titans made a solid contract offer to Keyshawn Johnson after he was released by the Carolina Panthers, but the veteran wideout opted to retire and head into broadcasting instead. The club lost wide receivers Drew Bennett and Bobby Wade in free agency. Wideout Justin Gage, formerly of the Chicago Bears, arrived as a free agent, and the Titans used a third-round draft pick on Fresno State wide receiver Paul Williams. But that still seems to be a void on the roster.
Otherwise, things still seem to be in place for Young to work his magic. The Titans lost tailback Travis Henry as a free agent, and their bid to trade for San Diego Chargers backup running back Michael Turner fell short. But they used their second-round choice in the draft on Arizona tailback Chris Henry.
Cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones was suspended for the entire season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league's conduct policy. Jones is appealing the decision, and Goodell's decision on that is pending. But even if Goodell doesn't reduce the penalty, the commissioner already made the suspension reviewable after 10 games next season and Jones perhaps could return to the lineup at that point if he manages to stay out of trouble. The Titans signed veteran cornerback Nick Harper, a former starter for the Indianapolis Colts, in free agency. It seemed odd when they used their first-round draft selection on Texas safety Michael Griffin, but they've been trying Griffin at cornerback in offseason practices. The Titans also added another former Colts defensive starter, linebacker Gilbert Gardner, by claiming him off waivers after he was released.
It probably would be wrong to assume that Vince Young's path from here will be a straight, smooth one directly to Super Bowls and the Hall of Fame. There undoubtedly will be more swerves and bumps. But he already has demonstrated that he can be a special player, a special player at this level of the sport as well as in college. It shouldn't surprise anyone if he takes the next step and gets the Titans into the playoffs next season.
By Mark Maske |
June 7, 2007; 10:08 AM ET
| Category:
Titans
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Posted by: CowboyH8R | June 7, 2007 11:15 AM
While their end of season spurt looked good (and their cheap shot on Rodney Harrison really hurt in the second half of the AFC championship game), I can't think that this is a playoff team in the AFC. They have two poor teams in their division in a tumbling Jacksonville and Houston, but also a tough looking out of division schedule with trips to Cincy, New Orleans, and Denver while hosting Carolina and San Diego. Throw in the two Indy games and that's 7 losses already. A home game against the Jets and then trips to Kansas City and Tampa and this team could lose 10 games.
There were just too many losses this offseason, especially Jones and Henry. That said, Young is fun to watch. I say they stretch to make it to .500.
Posted by: PatsFan | June 7, 2007 11:50 AM
The hit on Harrison by Wade was legal...
Posted by: Anonymous | June 7, 2007 5:27 PM
if young puts up numbers half as good as he did last season w/ the la crosse packers in maddenland, he would still own many records
Posted by: pack4life | June 7, 2007 5:40 PM
"Legal" and "cheap shot" are not mutually exclusive. Ask Ray Fosse or Darryl Stingley, among others.
Posted by: PatsFan | June 8, 2007 8:11 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Playoffs? We're talking playoffs? For the Titans?
A little presumptuous I would think. Defense seems solid, but Pacman is a huge hole. Rookie RB without solid depth behind him, a QB entering his second season, and no proven goto WRs make the offense revolve around shutting Young down. If he gets help from the RB position, then I could see a possible playoff berth, but there's just too much uncertainty swirling around the organization to think about playoffs.