NFL guru expert Mel Kiper Jr. predicted in 2008 that the day two player of the draft who would have the most impact as a rookie would be Lavelle Hawkins, WR, California Bears.
Hawkins developed a reputation as a tough, strong wide receiver who was also shifty and quick while playing for the Bears. After having a good 40 time sub 4.4 Hawkins was selected by the Titans in the 4th round. He has shown promise in the pre-season and entering into his third year with offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger Hawkins needs to come and make plays as the third wide receiver he has speed and has had time to grow into NFL body after benching 350 at the combine.
Watch for him to bust out.

Next year when Chris Johnson needs a breather or when the Titans go two backs and three wide receivers, wouldn’t it be nice to see Javon Ringer get in the lineup?
     The former heisman and Doak Walker candidate at Michigan State showed some potential last season in the pre seaon and regular season returning kicks and becoming a gunner on the punt team.
     During pre-season he had a total of 24 carries for 118 yards and one touchdown.  His best performance came against the Tampa Bay Buccanneers when he had 7 carries for 51 yards including a 36 yard scoot to paydirt.  In a game versus the Dallas Cowboys Ringer had what would have been a 17 yard touchdown catch called back on a penalty.
     Veteran offensive lineman like Michael Roos credited the rookie for good running patience and knowing when to cutback and when not to.  Kerry Collins said he thought Javon had a bright fututre.  Even defensive leader Keith Bulluck thought the kid had a good feel for the game.
    Javon Ringer is a mature character player (Jeff Fisher’s favorite) with a devout Christian upbringing who played four seasons for the Michigan State Spartans.  Having a career that some compared to Emmitt Smith and Brian Westbrook, Ringer is famous for never denying an autograph to a fan and being active in charity work ever since he enrolled in Michigan State.
     After having surgery six days after his last collegiate game it was learned that Ringer had been playing on a torn meniscus his entire senior season. His draft stock dropped all the way to the 5th round where the Titans nabbed him.
     Bare in mind I have no problems with Lendale White or his character. Lendale gets a bad rap sometimes and he has had a few questionable interviews and even lashed out one time for getting a carry and then not playing the rest of the game.  Overall though White has been Johnson’s biggest cheerleader and I think he could do big things for another franchise in the right scheme.
    However, Ringer would be an upgrade over White in the backup position. The former Sparty runs tough through the tackles (guy has incredible leg strength) and while he may have a lot of wear and tear from college he won’t have problems with durability backing up CJ. Also Ringer has better receiving skills than White and matched up with a linebacker, he’s gonna win that matchup more times than not. When asked what the main difference between NFL and college Ringer simply said “The plays are more complex.”

     Since it’s looking more and more like Lendale will sign wtih another team this upcoming pre-season will be vital to the second year Titan.  Ringer will get plenty of reps and chances to put up big numbers in four games. With another year under his belt and with this guy’s maturation and mindset I could definetly see him coming in and surprising some people.

Sometimes the Titans are known to draft people that experts do not expect them to draft.  Picks like Michael Griffin and Chris Johnson left some critics shaking their heads.  When Coach Fisher and company gamble like that they are following a simple strategy: PICK THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE!!!.  What if the Titans were to do that this year but in a way that would leave some people stumbling over their words.  What if they risked finding a defensive lineman or defensive back in the second round.  What if helping out Vince Young was their primary goal?  Sure last year the defense struggled with sacks but maybe Tennessee is willing to deal up to get a pick in the early second round?  What if with the Titans with number 16 overall draft select….GOLDEN TATE.

     Some people might disagree with this pick but I think it would send a huge bode of confidence to Young who will be entering his first full season after what I like to call Vince Young Comeback : Project 2009.  Young resurrected his career after having some rumors dispelled about him being traded.  Fisher put it to rest and Young studied after that.  Watching Kerry Collins lead an immensly talented team with a rookie star to a first round bye was definetly a first for the college Hall of Famer who only lost two games as a starter.  He even made lavish comments about him being the first black quarterback in the Hall of Fame as he rode the pine.  The drafting of Tate would give a message to Vince from the front office saying “Here are weapons, go have fun.”

     Tate, Young, and Johnson in a huddle would really excite Titans fans who haven’t really seen a great passing game since #9 was on the field.  Backs like Travis Henry, Chris Johnson, and even Lendale White have had their fair share of carries in the past 5 or 6 seasons of a clock winding offense.  I watched a lot of Notre Dame games this season (don’t really know why…its the uniforms I guess) and Tate is really an outstanding offensive weapon.  He would come in and not only have an immediate impact on the offense but also on special teams as well.  This guy catches everything and runs crisp routes and will return a punt for a touchdown if your not paying attention.  Huge redzone target, always seems to be open.  Imagine a Golden Tate Chris Johnson reverse or fake reverse.  Just the thought of that play only is exciting to think of.

    Again this is a wild card pick and Fisher is a more of a defensive guy.  This pick would definetly throw a lot of people off as far as mock drafts go from expers like Kiper Jr. and others.  Maybe the Titans can rely upon Britt and others to step and make plays but someone like Tate or maybe Dez Bryant would really solidify the offensive lineup.

     One defensive lineman that isn’t getting as much hype as others is Brandon Graham from Michigan. The more I take a look at him and read about him the more I like him.  He would look good in Tennessee blue.
     Graham isn’t super athletic and won’t wow you with his combine workout but the former first team all american and two time Wolverine team MVP is a hustle player with a great motor and good enough strength to be a run stopper right away. I actually think Graham is mature enought to come in and start right away.
     He almost reminds me of a poor mans Dwight Freeney with his size (6′1 268) but with less athleticism and chase down speed. However he will grow into his NFL athletic skills as time goes along. Seems like someone the Titans should take a good look at.

      Recently Frank Wycheck, Lorenzo Neal, and Kevin Dyson reunited in Nashville for a ten year anniversary of really the play that has defined this franchise (excluding that Superbowl play when Tennessee came up a yard short). Looking back it was that game that solidified Tennessee as a real franchise and catapulted them to their first ever Superbowl.
     All three of the guys involved in the play are Titan greats. Lorenzo Neal is a hall of fame fullback who spent his best years in Tennessee. Wycheck is probably my favorite all time Tennessee player besides Steve McNair because of the fact that the guy was so under appreciated while playing. Of course Kevin Dyson was a great wide receiver and had some really good years with Tennessee in the hay days and a part of some famous plays.
      Bottom line is that after this play happened me and every other fan in Nashville thought that there was some kinda of magic in the team that season. Of course the team fell short in the Superbowl to Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams but the play and Superbowl run will never be forgotten.

     With the loss of Kevin Vanden Bosch and the foreshadowing of Keith Bulluck’s end as a Titan really show that the team is going through a transition in its front seven. Gone will be players like Vanden Bosch, Bulluck, and Haynesworth who once were big names on top notch defense in years past.
      Of course some of previous years draft picks will have to start producing and the Titans have some good prospects. The guy who will break out next year will be Jason Jones who struggled with injuries last season.  Jones had three sacks against the Steelers two years ago and will really mature in his third full season.  Tony Brown is a vet who is excellent against both the run and pass. What will be interesting is the two opening days bookends for Tennessee. Most likely William Hayes and whoever the Titans draft number one will be putting their hands in the ground game one in Nashville.
With a star studded secondary this season it will be vital that the Titans get pressure and cause quarterbacks to throw to the like Corland Finnegan and Michael Griffin.
     Gerald McGrath will be the one most likely to fill the shoes of one Keith Bulluck. McGrath showed flashes of skill last year but really struggled in a Thursday Night game at home against San Diego. He needs to step in and play good.
      Coach Fisher is a defensive expert and I expect nothing less than a solid draft with a solid defensive line and linebacker corp.

    With the signing of Anquan Boldin this weekend, it seems pretty clear that the Ravens have no intention of signing wide receiver Derrick Mason back.  Mason comtemplated retirement this time last season and came back and is probably doing the same thing this off season.  Question is if Mason does come back where is he gonna go?  Im sure the veteran is looking for a comfortable enviroment and somewhere he can win.

     Could or should the Titans try to sign Mason back to a one year incentivized deal?  Mason is still very productive for his age and I think could come in and take over the second or third spot for the Titans on the depth chart.  He could mentor rookies like Kenny Britt and Lavelle Hawkins.  I’m sure Vince Young wouldn’t mind having a tough veteran to go over the middle for a tough third down coversion.  All in all this isn’t something the Titans would actually do but it actually makes a whole lot of sense on a team that could use some expierence at the wide receiver position.

     Last year during the draft the Titans did something they rarely do with a player that they did with tight end Jared cook, the team traded up.  Coach Fisher and company fell in love with the former wide receiver turned blocking pass catcher after he gave an impressive performance at last year’s combine which included a 41 inch vertical and and a 4.4 40 yard dash.  Cook was first team all SEC and even a Mackey award finalist who chose to forgo his senior season and enter the draft.

     His combine warrior workout did not translate to huge numbers his rookie year.  With 9 catches for no touchdowns Cook has a lot of improvement.  I think another year to work on route running and blocking will definetly help.  Tight ends are a big part of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger’s offensive game plan.  Just ask Steve McNair who had Frank Wycheck as his security blanket during the golden years with Heimerdinger.  Now Cook wears #89 and looks to have the same kind of impact with Vince Young as Wycheck had on McNair.