Damian Williams to Pass Kenny Britt on Depth Chart?
By author
By all post-draft accounts, the Tennessee Titans got tremendous value when they selected Damian Williams in the third round with the 77th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft. The University of Southern California receiver has big play ability and a solid work-ethic. I agree with
that the most likely scenario for Williams this year is to return kicks and play as a third or fourth receiver on offense.
That’s what I think in the short-term anyway. A closer look at the off-season of last season’s top receiver for the Titans, Kenny Britt, leaves much to be desired. Britt finished last season with a respectable 42 catches, 702 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Not bad. What’s he been up too since the season ended? Apparently not a lot of good.
According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, Britt is out of shape and coach Jeff Fisher is keeping him off the field this week for fear of injury. I can’t for the life of me figure out how an NFL player like Britt would allow himself to enter camp without being prepared. What exactly was he doing this off-season?
First, according to Wyatt, Britt bailed a childhood friend out of jail. Sounds harmless enough until you read that the friend was in jail on charges of hindering the prosecution and possession of a firearm in connection with a murder. Britt was then arrested himself in January for almost $1000 in outstanding traffic warrents. None of these things are really terrible I suppose (assuming his friend is innocent), but they are not good things either. Unless those speeding tickets and/or parking tickets have to do with multiple trips back and forth to volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club, I am not impressed.
Enter Damian Williams. Williams is a hard worker who will be competing with Britt, Nate Washington, and Justin Gage for playing time at receiver. I hope all four of those receivers have solid pre-seasons because the Titans need quality and depth at receiver.
I have to think that Jeff Fisher is less than impressed with Britt’s commitment to the team right now. I think Washington, Gage, and Williams will all have an opportunity to move their way up the depth chart if Britt is playing catch-up for too long.
What do you think? Am I being too harsh on Britt? Am I too high on Williams? How do you think the four receivers will rate on the depth chart when the season starts?