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Team to Watch - Tennessee
September 5, 2014
Perhaps as an ode to late owner Bud Adams, the Tennessee Titans (SU 7-9, ATS 6-9-1, O/U 10-6) honored the memory of their former patriarch by switching coaches almost as soon as Adams passed last October. Just over two months later, HC Mike Munchak was dismissed, much as Adams used to do to his coaches with regularity while the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers. Though, to be fair, in his later years Adams was not nearly as impatient with his employees, and in fact kept Jeff Fisher employed as coach for 17 years.
(The Titans organization is now controlled by Adams' offspring, a consortium of daughter Susan and her husband Tommy Smith, who serves as CEO, daughter Amy Adams Strunk, and grandson Kenneth Adams IV.)
A new era of Titans football was thus christened in January with the hiring of Ken Whisenhunt, most recently the o.c. of the Chargers but previously the HC of the Cardinals between 2007-12 (and before that the o.c. with the Steelers). While in Arizona he was the only coach to lead the Bidwills to a Super Bowl, and indeed looked to be on his way to a secure future in the Valley of the Sun before the operation began to unravel after the retirement of QB Kurt Warner. Whisenhunt, who had turned to Warner almost in desperation after his inherited QB, Matt Leinart, proved such a flop, never got the QB equation right thereafter, contributing to the demise of his regime in the desert. Whisenhunt, though, remains well-regarded, and was the subject of a bidding war in the offseason as the Lions and Browns also actively recruited the Georgia Tech alum.
(We suspect Whisnhunt's wife Alice might have had a bit to do with the eventual choice of Nashville and its appealing Cool Springs ****, while Whisenhunt's accountant didn't have to remind the coach that there is no state income tax in Tennessee, either.)
AFC South observers were quick to note a difference in the Titans training camp, which was a lot more organized with Whisenhunt than it was for predecessor Munchak. Indeed, Munchak was learning on the job in his first head coaching assignment, with several bumpy patches along the way. Insiders and scouts are unanimous in their belief that the entire Tennessee football operation seems to be operating more smoothly for Whisenhunt.
Now, can that translate to wins?
Much depends upon the health of oft-injured QB Jake Locker, who has found it difficult to stay in one piece throughout his career, both in college at Washington and with the Titans. Locker started just 18 of 32 games over the 2012 and 2013 seasons, as injuries to his foot, hip and shoulder kept Jake out of the lineup almost half the time. Those recurring maladies (a risk of Locker's fearless, physical, RB-like mentality and style) and the coaching change suggest that Locker is running out of chances in Nashville, which is one reason his contract hasn't been extended beyond 2014, as the club has declined to exercise an option for 2015. If Locker is to be the long-range QB answer for the Titans, he has to prove so this fall.
That might not be easy. An offense that has relied on the athleticism of Steve McNair, Vince Young, and Locker over the past decade now shifts to the Whisenhunt model of balance, precision passing, and limiting of turnovers. Locker remains a superior athlete, good improvisor, and on-field leader. But back to his frosh college season at Washington in 2007, only once has he completed better than 60% of his passes in a season (60.7% in limited work a year ago). He'll have to improve those numbers considerably, and prove he can stay healthy, for the Titans to reinvest in him. Already, strong-armed LSU rookie Zach Mettenberger, a possible steal in the sixth round of the draft, is looking like a possible long-term fit for the Whisenhunt offense after impressive preseason work. With Ryan Fitzpatrick off to Houston, and journeyman FA addition Charlie Whitehurt a short-term alternative at best, the Mettenberger era might be coming sooner than expected to Nashville if Locker can't stay healthy, or otherwise deliver, this fall..
Locker will also have to proceed without RB Chris Johnson, a longtime staple of Titan offenses, who was released in the offseason before landing with the Jets. A committee of backs, including former Jet, Shonn Greene (who disappointed in limited work last season), is expected to be a part of the infantry chores that will also likely feature another ex-Washington Husky, rookie Bishop Sankey, who can dance between the tackles and suddenly looms as an important cog for the offense, as well as ex-Chief Dexter McCluster, one of Tennessee's featured FA signings who could be used much the way Whisenhunt utilized Danny Woodhead, who caught 106 passes for the "Coach Wiz" offense in San Diego last season.
The receiving targets are mostly familiar, with Kendall Wright (94 catches last season) and Nate Washington (58 receptions in 2013) still in the fold. Whisenhunt will be looking for both to make their catches count a bit more after combining for only 5 TDs on their 142 receptions a year ago.
Improvement along the OL will also be mandatory if the Titans want to get back above .500, and GM Ruston Webster focused much of his offseason activity on OL upgrades, inking decorated RT Michael ("Blind Side") Oher from the Ravens as well as tabbing Michigan T Taylor Lewan with the 11th pick in the first round of the draft after RG Chance Warmack was selected with a first-round pick in 2013. They'll be expected to revamp the run blocking and solidify the pocket for Locker. Without those upgrades, it is doubtful Tennessee can improve upon its 7 wins from last season.
Whisenhunt used his old Arizona connections to fill out his staff. Fortuitously, that would include d.c. Ray Horton, who held the same position for Wiz in the desert and when last seen was working magic with the Cleveland defense last season before being part of the latest purge of the Browns coaching staff by impetuous owner Jimmy Haslam. Horton, a longtime devotee of 3-4 looks, will thus change the Titan scheme that has been 4-3 dating to the franchise's later days in Houston.
Fortunately for Horton, LBs Shaun Phillips (FA Denver) and Kamerion Wimbley have spent much of their pro careers standing up on the edge. It is also hoped that Akeem Ayers, who thrived in the 3-4 during his college days at UCLA, will adapt quickly to the new alignments after injury problems the past few years. Former DE Derrick Morgan will shift to an OLB spot for the first time in his career. At the inside LB spots, another FA via the Broncos, former Kentucky star Wesley Woodyard, could also provide an upgrade and is expected to help the run defense. The shift to a 3-4 also slightly changes the dynamics for DT Jurrell Casey, who was disruptive as an interior pass rusher in 2013 when recording 10 1/2 sacks, but will have to assume a role of tying up more blockers in Horton's 3-4 scheme.
Horton also inherits a pass "D" that was slightly above average a year ago but must replace playmaking CB Alterraun Verner, who moved to the Bucs in free agency. The battle for Verner's vacated RCB spot opposite Jason McCourty on the other side of the field has been one of the featured battles of training camp, with holdovers Coty Sensabaugh and Blidi Wreh-Wilson back-and-forth in the fight for a starting job. The other secondary positions remain set from 2013, featuring hard-hitting safeties Bernard Pollard and Michael Griffin. The platoon was a bit slow to adapt to Horton's 3-4 in the preseason, however, creating a bit of a red flag as the regular season approaches.
Whisenhunt is also auditioning new kickers after longtime PK Rob Bironas, who effectiveness beyond 40 yards had been in decline, was released. Whisenhunt watched the waiver wire closely after auditioning South Florida PK Maikon Bonani and another Washington Husky, rookie FA Travis Coons, in preseason before signing ex-Chief PK Ryan Succop at the conclusion of the exhibition season.
There are some question marks regarding the Titans, beginning with Locker's durability, making it risky to forecast them as a playoff contender. But we view Whisenhunt as an upgrade from Munchak on the sidelines, and the nucleus of talent (especially a healthy Locker) suggests a breakthrough is not impossible. Which is why we like Tennessee more than the Jags or Texans...though Nashville folk are likely to be watching Vanderbilt basketball rather than any Titans playoff action come January.
September 5, 2014
Perhaps as an ode to late owner Bud Adams, the Tennessee Titans (SU 7-9, ATS 6-9-1, O/U 10-6) honored the memory of their former patriarch by switching coaches almost as soon as Adams passed last October. Just over two months later, HC Mike Munchak was dismissed, much as Adams used to do to his coaches with regularity while the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers. Though, to be fair, in his later years Adams was not nearly as impatient with his employees, and in fact kept Jeff Fisher employed as coach for 17 years.
(The Titans organization is now controlled by Adams' offspring, a consortium of daughter Susan and her husband Tommy Smith, who serves as CEO, daughter Amy Adams Strunk, and grandson Kenneth Adams IV.)
A new era of Titans football was thus christened in January with the hiring of Ken Whisenhunt, most recently the o.c. of the Chargers but previously the HC of the Cardinals between 2007-12 (and before that the o.c. with the Steelers). While in Arizona he was the only coach to lead the Bidwills to a Super Bowl, and indeed looked to be on his way to a secure future in the Valley of the Sun before the operation began to unravel after the retirement of QB Kurt Warner. Whisenhunt, who had turned to Warner almost in desperation after his inherited QB, Matt Leinart, proved such a flop, never got the QB equation right thereafter, contributing to the demise of his regime in the desert. Whisenhunt, though, remains well-regarded, and was the subject of a bidding war in the offseason as the Lions and Browns also actively recruited the Georgia Tech alum.
(We suspect Whisnhunt's wife Alice might have had a bit to do with the eventual choice of Nashville and its appealing Cool Springs ****, while Whisenhunt's accountant didn't have to remind the coach that there is no state income tax in Tennessee, either.)
AFC South observers were quick to note a difference in the Titans training camp, which was a lot more organized with Whisenhunt than it was for predecessor Munchak. Indeed, Munchak was learning on the job in his first head coaching assignment, with several bumpy patches along the way. Insiders and scouts are unanimous in their belief that the entire Tennessee football operation seems to be operating more smoothly for Whisenhunt.
Now, can that translate to wins?
Much depends upon the health of oft-injured QB Jake Locker, who has found it difficult to stay in one piece throughout his career, both in college at Washington and with the Titans. Locker started just 18 of 32 games over the 2012 and 2013 seasons, as injuries to his foot, hip and shoulder kept Jake out of the lineup almost half the time. Those recurring maladies (a risk of Locker's fearless, physical, RB-like mentality and style) and the coaching change suggest that Locker is running out of chances in Nashville, which is one reason his contract hasn't been extended beyond 2014, as the club has declined to exercise an option for 2015. If Locker is to be the long-range QB answer for the Titans, he has to prove so this fall.
That might not be easy. An offense that has relied on the athleticism of Steve McNair, Vince Young, and Locker over the past decade now shifts to the Whisenhunt model of balance, precision passing, and limiting of turnovers. Locker remains a superior athlete, good improvisor, and on-field leader. But back to his frosh college season at Washington in 2007, only once has he completed better than 60% of his passes in a season (60.7% in limited work a year ago). He'll have to improve those numbers considerably, and prove he can stay healthy, for the Titans to reinvest in him. Already, strong-armed LSU rookie Zach Mettenberger, a possible steal in the sixth round of the draft, is looking like a possible long-term fit for the Whisenhunt offense after impressive preseason work. With Ryan Fitzpatrick off to Houston, and journeyman FA addition Charlie Whitehurt a short-term alternative at best, the Mettenberger era might be coming sooner than expected to Nashville if Locker can't stay healthy, or otherwise deliver, this fall..
Locker will also have to proceed without RB Chris Johnson, a longtime staple of Titan offenses, who was released in the offseason before landing with the Jets. A committee of backs, including former Jet, Shonn Greene (who disappointed in limited work last season), is expected to be a part of the infantry chores that will also likely feature another ex-Washington Husky, rookie Bishop Sankey, who can dance between the tackles and suddenly looms as an important cog for the offense, as well as ex-Chief Dexter McCluster, one of Tennessee's featured FA signings who could be used much the way Whisenhunt utilized Danny Woodhead, who caught 106 passes for the "Coach Wiz" offense in San Diego last season.
The receiving targets are mostly familiar, with Kendall Wright (94 catches last season) and Nate Washington (58 receptions in 2013) still in the fold. Whisenhunt will be looking for both to make their catches count a bit more after combining for only 5 TDs on their 142 receptions a year ago.
Improvement along the OL will also be mandatory if the Titans want to get back above .500, and GM Ruston Webster focused much of his offseason activity on OL upgrades, inking decorated RT Michael ("Blind Side") Oher from the Ravens as well as tabbing Michigan T Taylor Lewan with the 11th pick in the first round of the draft after RG Chance Warmack was selected with a first-round pick in 2013. They'll be expected to revamp the run blocking and solidify the pocket for Locker. Without those upgrades, it is doubtful Tennessee can improve upon its 7 wins from last season.
Whisenhunt used his old Arizona connections to fill out his staff. Fortuitously, that would include d.c. Ray Horton, who held the same position for Wiz in the desert and when last seen was working magic with the Cleveland defense last season before being part of the latest purge of the Browns coaching staff by impetuous owner Jimmy Haslam. Horton, a longtime devotee of 3-4 looks, will thus change the Titan scheme that has been 4-3 dating to the franchise's later days in Houston.
Fortunately for Horton, LBs Shaun Phillips (FA Denver) and Kamerion Wimbley have spent much of their pro careers standing up on the edge. It is also hoped that Akeem Ayers, who thrived in the 3-4 during his college days at UCLA, will adapt quickly to the new alignments after injury problems the past few years. Former DE Derrick Morgan will shift to an OLB spot for the first time in his career. At the inside LB spots, another FA via the Broncos, former Kentucky star Wesley Woodyard, could also provide an upgrade and is expected to help the run defense. The shift to a 3-4 also slightly changes the dynamics for DT Jurrell Casey, who was disruptive as an interior pass rusher in 2013 when recording 10 1/2 sacks, but will have to assume a role of tying up more blockers in Horton's 3-4 scheme.
Horton also inherits a pass "D" that was slightly above average a year ago but must replace playmaking CB Alterraun Verner, who moved to the Bucs in free agency. The battle for Verner's vacated RCB spot opposite Jason McCourty on the other side of the field has been one of the featured battles of training camp, with holdovers Coty Sensabaugh and Blidi Wreh-Wilson back-and-forth in the fight for a starting job. The other secondary positions remain set from 2013, featuring hard-hitting safeties Bernard Pollard and Michael Griffin. The platoon was a bit slow to adapt to Horton's 3-4 in the preseason, however, creating a bit of a red flag as the regular season approaches.
Whisenhunt is also auditioning new kickers after longtime PK Rob Bironas, who effectiveness beyond 40 yards had been in decline, was released. Whisenhunt watched the waiver wire closely after auditioning South Florida PK Maikon Bonani and another Washington Husky, rookie FA Travis Coons, in preseason before signing ex-Chief PK Ryan Succop at the conclusion of the exhibition season.
There are some question marks regarding the Titans, beginning with Locker's durability, making it risky to forecast them as a playoff contender. But we view Whisenhunt as an upgrade from Munchak on the sidelines, and the nucleus of talent (especially a healthy Locker) suggests a breakthrough is not impossible. Which is why we like Tennessee more than the Jags or Texans...though Nashville folk are likely to be watching Vanderbilt basketball rather than any Titans playoff action come January.
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