Joshua Huffman

2010 NFL Draft Report Card Fan Grade
Team: Tennessee Titans
Round 4, Pick 104: Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
Votes: 46
Incomplete: 0
Calculated Votes: 46
Median: 90
Mode: 90
STAFF GRADES: Here
FAN GRADE: 92.07 (A)
FAN GRADE W/ CURVE: N/A

Analysis
Not much to disagree with on this pick. Just seven slots after the Titans drafted Rennie Curran with pick No. 97 in Round 3, the Titans bounced back with their best pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, both in terms of player ability and value.

It took four weeks into his rookie season before Verner was inserted into the starting lineup. Since then, Verner has handled his responsibilities as an outside cornerback and slot defensive back. He has appeared in all 48 games. His career stats include 231 tackles, 28 pass deflections, six interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

For Verner, one of his most memorable moments came during a 2012-13 NFL game against the Detroit Lions. With less than two minutes to go and up 34-27, the Lions were within 35 yards of the game-tying score. After Matthew Stafford completed a pass to TE Brandon Pettigrew inside the Titans’ 30-yard-line, Verner ripped the football away from him and ran 72 yards for the score. This give the Titans a 41-27 lead. They won 44-41 in overtime.

Stay tuned as Titan Sized continues this series of 2010 NFL Draft report cards.

Sep 23, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans corner back Alterraun Verner (20) strips the ball from Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew (87) during the second half at LP Field. The Titans beat the Lions 44-41 in overtime. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

One of the mid-round gems from the 2010 NFL Draft came at pick No. 104. Just seven picks after the Tennessee Titans drafted Rennie Curran, they were more fortunate when they drafted Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA. Verner joined a cornerback group that already included Cortland Finnegan and a young-and-upcoming Jason McCourty. At this time, the Titans were still hoping that Ryan Mouton would progress into a starting cornerback.

Verner isn’t the biggest, fastest or most athletic cornerback—not even close. He makes up for that with his incredible instincts and work ethic. Verner has been solid in whatever role he has been asked to do. For the 2013-14 NFL season, expect Verner to return to what he does best: play nickelback.

Will Verner receive an “A” grade on this 2010 NFL Draft report card?

2010 NFL Draft Report Card Evaluation
Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA
Round 4, Pick 104
Still With Team: YES

Career Stats
Career Games: 48
Tackles: 192
Pass Deflections: 28
Stuffs: 12
Interceptions: 6
Fumble Recoveries: 3
Forced Fumbles: 2

Joshua Huffman (Editor): 92.5 (A)

Alterraun Verner has played in all 48 games. He’s a very good player who has the ability to play nickelback or outside cornerback. Reliable tackler. He’s an intelligent individual who is a fan favorite with tremendous character. Verner is one of the few positives on a defense that surrendered a franchise-record 471 points during the 2012-13 NFL season. Expect Verner to get re-signed or franchise-tagged before the start of the 2014 league calendar year.

Josh Gunnels (Assistant Editor, Lead Columnist): 90 (A)

The Titans obviously nailed this one, especially considering that it came on the 4th round.  After less than stellar performances by previous year rookies’ Jason McCourty and Ryan Mouton, the Titans couldn’t pass up on Verner.  Although he excels in the slot, he’s played very well on the outside and is a sure tackler.  Home run with this pick.

David Fleming (Contributor): 91 (A)

Verner has appeared in all 48 games since being drafted in the 4^th round from UCLA. He has shown a knack for making plays, racking up 6 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries, as well as 231 combined tackles. Verner is a solid starting CB in the NFL, and the Titans should make it a priority to re-sign him to a long-term deal after the 2013 season.

Titan Sized Staff (3 Participants): 91.17 (A)

92.5 + 91 + 90  = (273.5 / 3) = 91.17

What do Titan Sized readers think? Answer in the poll below. All grades will get averaged and tallied within the next 2-3 days.

Next Up: Robert Johnson, S, Utah

CBs Jason McCourty and Ryan Mouton. Courtesy of TitansOnline.com

The Tennessee Titans had one of the best young cornerback groups in 2011.  Following the season, the biggest story of free agency (before the Peyton Manning chase) was whether or not the Titans would bring back Cortland Finnegan.  Jason McCourty’s play had become solid with an upward trajectory and young Alterreun Verner was constantly making plays when on the field at nickel.  Tommie Campbell was also playing hard and showing a spectacular size and speed combination.  The Titans decided to let their ace cornerback walk for a big contract in St. Louis.  In a somewhat surprising move, however, the Titans extended Jason McCourty for roughly the same numbers just weeks later.

The move backfired.

The coaching staff made two errors in their offseason evaluation.

1. The ability of Tommie Campbell to start on the outside.
2. The ability for Ryan Mouton to play nickel.

Alterraun Verner ended up staying on the outside as they played Ryan Mouton inside when they needed three on the field.  Verner actually played well on the outside, but not as good as his stellar play at nickel position.  The dropoff of play to Mouton proved to be enormous.  The Titans reached for Mouton in the 3rd round of the draft 3 years ago, but he’s failed to develop the way McCourty has.

Tommie Campbell attributed his lack of playing time in 2012 to “off the field things”.  This from Rotoworld:

“Campbell admitted being late to a meeting and failing to gain the coaching staff’s trust on the field as well. ‘If I have deep-third coverage in practice. then I need to be in the deep third,’ he said. ‘If I’m playing Cover 2, I need to get the jam and then sink — simple things like that before they could throw a guy like me out there.’ The Titans would be wise to get Campbell on the field more in 2013, kicking Alterraun Verner into a more natural slot role.

Those sound like more ON the field issues than OFF the field issues to me.  Campbell has the abilities, but has yet to get his head right enough to be trusted on the field.  If he doesn’t know what coverage he’s suppossed to be playing, then that seems like a pretty big deal to me.  Nothing is worse than miss-communication in the secondary.

The Titans made a move in the 4th round of the draft and picked up Coty Sensabaugh, but he wasn’t game ready right off the bat.  He finally took over Mouton in snap counts during the Miami game last year.  He made rookie mistakes, but did progress as the year went on, and even with these mistakes he was an improvement over Mouton.

Overall, if the Titans can’t find an outside corner and move Verner back to nickel, then 2013 could be another stellar year for opposing quarterbacks.

The front office mismanagement on the personnel side is mainly to blame for the secondary’s rough year, but rough it was.  I give the corner backs as  whole a C-.  McCourty and Verner were B+ players and there was no pass rush to aid them,  but the unit as a whole failed to perform and helped the Titans post their worst defensive performances ever.

FINAL GRADE:  C-