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Tennessee Titans: The Taylor Thompson Experiment

Michael Gramola — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:46 +0000

Dec 23, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Taylor Thompson (84) reaches back to try and catch a pass during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Taylor Thompson expects to take a big leap this year in his transition from defensive end to tight end.

Last year, the Titans traded up into the fifth round to draft the defensive end from SMU. However, the Titans never had a plan to use him on that side of the ball. They decided to try and use his size and athleticism on offense. The experiment has gone pretty much as expected so far but this year we will get a much better idea if Thompson can cut it as an NFL tight end.

Last season for Thompson was filled with rough patches and only a handful bright spots. At times, he looked confused or overmatched. Other times, he was shedding linebackers and bursting into the secondary to run his routes. In only a few chances last year, he showed why the Titans had dreams of a versatile tight end and why it is not an easy transition to make.

Entering his second year, Thompson is slated to be third on the Titans depth chart for tight ends. He falls behind veterans Craig Stevens and Delanie Walker. Stevens is a great blocking tight end and Walker was brought in to replace Jared Cook as the No. 1 guy.

Thompson may not get too many opportunities this season either but he must be ready to explode when he gets his chance. I do expect the Titans to run some three tight end packages that allow Thompson to create mismatches. When this happens, it is very simple: catch the ball. I believe Thompson has the size and ability to get open at this level but he must catch the ball when it is delivered.

Although his opportunities may be limited, Taylor Thompson needs to take advantage of every single one.

Tennessee Titans: Weekly Links

Josh Gunnels — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:16 +0000

Here’s your weekly dose of Tennessee Titans grubbage from around the Web.

Oct 21, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard (31) tackles Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) in the first quarter at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s some links from around the web on this weeks Titans’ news:

Ruston Webster says that the Titans still aren’t finished making moves this off season. They still have a bit of cap room, and if they feel someone out their can help the team, they won’t hesitate to make the move.

Kendall Wright has apparently lost 14 lbs. this off season by eliminating junk food from his diet. I never thought of him as having 14 lbs. to lose. Wright played great last year but stood out with his figth for extra yards after contact. Will this make him even better?

MCM put out an article on why Jake Locker needs a strong camp. I agree with the last point completely. The offense has the pieces, now they just need to gel and have confidence more than anything.

David Climer at The Tennessean says that the Titans would be wise to follow Bernard Pollard’s lead. This is absolutely correct. Between Williams and Pollard, the attitude of the defense should change dramatically.

Paul Kuharsky talks about the expectations of the defensive end position for the Titans. The defensive end argument has finally been beaten to death IMO and we won’t know until the season if the Titans have played their cards right.

The NFL continues to float ideas out there about how to change up the Pro Bowl. I personally don’t mind the Pro Bowl, but wish they would move it back to after the Super Bowl. Bringing back the skills competitions would be fun as well. As far as game show gimmicks during the game, can’t say I’m enthused.

Got any other links to share or cool articles you’ve read? Post below.

You can follow me on Twitter @gunnelsj

Why Tennessee Titans Fans Should be Excited for the 2013-14 Season

Carlos Beard — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:42 +0000

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Tennessee Titans underperformed last season. Coming off a 9-7 season in 2011-12, most fans were anticipating an even better record. The Titans doused those hopes with their 6-10 performance. There are a multitude of reasons as to why the Titans didn’t live up to expectations in the 2012-13 season. The roster was decimated by injuries, both quarterbacks were mediocre-at-best and the offensive line was more offensive than a rap concert. After such disappointment, most fans would be wise to limit their expectations and win-loss predictions this go-round.

Let me tell you why you should not only be more excited than you were at the beginning of last season but why you should expect the Tennessee Titans to be on the cusp of the playoffs.

Jake Locker – When Locker went down, so did the Titans playoff chances. In Week 3 against the Detroit Lions, Locker showed that he’s capable of performing at a high level of play. Locker threw for a career high 378 yards while tossing a pair of TD’s. If Locker can come back and perform at that level consistently, then the Titans should be on their way to their 1^stplayoff appearance since the 2008-2009 season.

Improved O-Line – To say the Tennessee Titans offensive line played poor last season is a huge understatement, so it’s no surprise the front office went to great lengths to completely revamp the line. They moved quickly to snatch up the best guard in free agency, Andy Levitre, as well as signing guards Rob Turner and Chris Spencer. They didn’t stop there. When the NFL Draft rolled around, the Titans selected offensive guard Chance Warmack #10 overall and center Brian Schwenke in the fourth round. Head coach Mike Munchak, a Hall of Fame lineman and the former o-line coach, said he would be “hands-on” with the offensive line. That’s just an added bonus for the lineman who are already coached by Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews.

Run-First Offense – The Tennessee Titans are a running football team. They are at their best when they are running the ball down the opponent’s throat and keeping the opposing offense on the sideline. This past season, the Titans tried to become somewhat of a pass-first offense with varied results. That’s about to change according to Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson. “Last year … we basically were trying to turn into like a passing team. Coming in this year it’s going to be a run-first offense.” With the new and improved offensive line and the addition of Shonn Greene to get those tough yards and short TD’s, the Titans should have great success in the running game this season.

Look for the Tennessee Titans to not only improve in the win column but expect them to be in playoff contention. They’re not quite ready to take on the Houston Texans for the AFC South title, but a 10-win season and a wild-card berth is certainly achievable.