First Down And Tenn: Tennessee Titans Sunday Links
By Les Bailey
When the NFL made out the 2015 regular season schedule, they took a gamble that the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers would actually draft Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota with the first two picks. That projection puts the spotlight on the week-one matchup between the two rookies as one of the top games for the opening weekend. Could the Titans match their 2014 win total in week two and roll into the “Bye Week” with a 2-1 record?
Tennessee Titans: Win/Loss Predictions Weeks 1-5 – Brandon Borden iSportsWeb
The Tennessee Titans are eager to erase the 2014 season and with a regular season record of 2-14, how can you blame them. The Titans have made a plethora of offseason moves that will pay off as the Titans better their record this season and begin to move in the right direction. Here are my game predictions for the first five weeks, which includes four games and a bye week.
Titans CB Perrish Cox has been solid at the start – Paul Kuharsky ESPN
With incumbent starter Blidi Wreh-Wilson out recovering from shoulder surgery necessitated by a late-season injury, Cox has worked with the starters opposite Jason McCourty.
"“He’s done a nice job,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said of Cox. “I think he’s been close on a lot of balls, had his hands on a couple. Early last year he had his hands on a lot of balls, and that was one of the things you really liked. It’s good to see him doing it out here.”"
Key to the franchise: The AFC’s most influential figures, team-by-team – Jason LaCanfora CBS Sports
Marcus Mariota, quarterback: The worst team in the NFL doesn’t take the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback second overall for him to ride the bench, and he won’t. Much is in his hands now, as the ownership group figures out its long-term future (or perhaps sells as many around the NFL expect by the spring of 2016) and decisions will be made on how much time to give head coach Ken Whisenhunt and GM Ruston Webster. Drafting Mariota was a huge nexus in the future of the organization. If it doesn’t work, don’t think there won’t be major consequences.
Between The Posts: Defensive Improvements? – Jordan L. Churchill Music City Miracles
The Front Office seem to be comfortable upgrading the defense primarily through free agency. Brian Orakpo, Da’Norris Searcy, and Perish Cox are all clear upgrades over what the team trotted out last season, and that’s even true if we grade them as simply ‘average’ when the 2015 season is in the books. Which addition to the defensive roster do you think will make the biggest difference this season.
Titans, Dorial Green-Beckham remain patient, optimistic – Jim Wyatt The Tennessean
Green-Beckham, the team’s second-round pick,suffered a hamstring injury during rookie minicamp last month. He returned for the start of organized team activities but tweaked the injury and has been sidelined since then.
Right now, no one is in panic mode.
"“It is always tough from a receiver standpoint to sit back and watch, and see all the veterans and everyone else working hard. Of course you want to be out there,” Green-Beckham said. “But it is not anything major, and not anything I am too concerned about. It is just a slight injury, and I have had (hamstring) problems before and it hasn’t stopped me from playing. Right now we just want to treat it right, and I’m doing my best to learn.”"
Titans’ Positional Preview: Outside Linebackers – Terry Lambert PFSpot
Ruston Webster and company entered the 2015 offseason with several needs to fill on both sides of the ball, but perhaps none were bigger than the need for an edge rusher. Derrick Morgan was the only consistent pass rusher that could be relied on, while everyone else was marginal at best. The combination of Shaun Phillips, Kamerion Wimbley and Quentin Groves proved to be ineffective last season, forcing Webster to invest more money into the position.
Next: To Run Or Not To Run: Marcus Mariota?