Sep 16, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Dante Rosario (88) catches a touchdown pass while defended by Tennessee Titans strong safety Robert Johnson (32) during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Tennessee Titans defense was weakest at the safety position during the 2012 season with poor performances from everyone and absolutely no depth. Quarterbacks regularly beat the Titans with the deep ball and missed tackles plagued their play. Here are grades for each of the safeties who saw playing time.

Michael Griffin

16 games played, 78 tackles, 4 interceptions, 4 pass deflections, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles

Griffin was an easy scapegoat, having had a few rough seasons before this one. He wasn’t helped any by the fact that he was being thrown back and forth between the FS and SS positions. I still have faith in Griffin as a great safety, but this year is one he’ll want to forget. QB’s couldn’t miss throwing at him – literally. During the first half of the season QB’s had an almost perfect stat line throwing at him. He pulled it together late in the season, collecting 2 interceptions against the hapless Mark Sanchez and one against Chad Henne in the season finale.

Griff finished on a better note, but he has to be much better in 2013. I think he will be with whatever new safety is playing next to him.

GRADE: D+

Robert Johnson

12 games played, 19 tackles, 1 interceptions, 1 pass deflections, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

Johnson saw his playing time drop dramatically as the season progressed, having been a starter in the first few games. His poor play led to Jordan Babineaux replacing him. Missed tackles, poor angles, and overall ugly play followed Johnson everywhere he went. He appeared to be everything I thought he was when the Titans drafted him. Johnson finished the season on IR.

Johnson has a long way to go if he wants to stay in the NFL.

GRADE: F

Jordan Babineaux

16 games played, 95 tackles, 1 interceptions, 6 pass deflections, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

Babineaux found himself behind Robert Johnson for the first few games of the season, which surprised everyone, considering the good job he did in 2011. In 2012 he was often out of place and struggling in coverage. It was a disappointing year for the veteran who got a 3-year extension during the offseason last year. Now he looks to be a backup at best as the Titans search for a starter this offseason.

GRADE: F+

Al Afalava

12 games played, 16 tackles, 1 interceptions, 1 pass deflections, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

Afalava joined the Titans as a free agent prior to the season starting. He wasn’t much more than a depth signing. That made it all the more easier not to be completely disappointed by him. Afalava was far from stellar, but he did have a few games that weren’t too bad. A specific example of such a game is one of Afalava’s first times on the field as a Titan when he lit up a receiver with a hard hit. I can’t remember the game, but that was the highlight of his season. Other than that, he was stuck in rotation with the rest of the safeties as they played musical chairs at the position.

GRADE: D

Markelle Martin

This rookie unfortunately saw the field as he underwent surgery on his knee he injured prior to the Senior Bowl. Martin was a “steal” in the draft for the Titans as they got him in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL draft, but I’m not that high on him. Hopefully I’m wrong, but either way, he can’t do any worse than the rest of the guys who were on the field this past year.

GRADE: Incomplete

 OVERALL GRADE: D-

The safety play was one of a million problems for the Titans in 2012, but it still cost them games and they’ll be doing everything they can to make sure 2013 isn’t a repeat of that. Expect the Titans to bring in a starter early in the 2013 NFL draft to put next to FS Michael Griffin, who will be playing back at his natural position. Hopefully Gregg Williams has a few ideas on how to get Griffin back to Pro Bowl production levels.

I’m hopeful.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart

Oct 7, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tennessee Titans safety Michael Griffin (33) tackles Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Devin Aromashodu (19) on a 19 yard pass play in the second quarter at the Metrodome. The Vikings win 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

The Tennessee Titans DC Jerry Gray preaches being aggressive on defense, though we’ve still yet to see much of it from the players. That being said, when you do see aggressiveness from one of them, you hate to see them punished for it.

Unfortunately, that’s what happened to FS/SS Michael Griffin.

Griffin had a helmet to helmet contact with Minnesota Vikings’ WR Michael Jenkins a few weeks ago and now, he’s paying the price… to the tune of $21,000. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the rule. Griffin had to of known it was coming. Player safety is king in today’s football.

Putting aside the fine, I hope it doesn’t deter Griffin from laying on the smack. For whatever reason, Griffin has fallen off the playmaker wagon and the Titans desperately need him back on there. They need that aggressiveness that he hasn’t seemed to have the past couple of years.

A $21,000 fine certainly doesn’t help that.

I don’t know why the Titans have so much trouble with their safeties, but if I’m Gray, I’m looking through Schwartz’s old playbook. We need more big plays from them.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart

Aug 23, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive back Michael Griffin (33) celebrates with teammate linebacker Akeem Ayers (56) after running back an interception from Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (not pictured) during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE

The Tennessee Titans are sticking to their guns at safety despite Griffin looking terribly out of place most of the game against the New England Patriots. Robert Johnson didn’t have any major slip ups or have anybody beat him deep, but he also didn’t impress.

Johnson has spent his entire career looking on from the sideline. He never recorded a start before the Patriots game. Apparently the Titans have faith in him, enough so that they’ve moved Griffin to a new position and are playing him over SS Jordan Babineaux, who had a pretty decent year last season. Johnson has the chance to prove himself this season and can do it if he stands up to the pressure and and can make some plays.

I’m one of Johnson’s biggest critics and was disappointed with the pick when the Titans drafted him, but I’m rooting for him. Even more so when considering the fact that the Titans don’t plan on changing anything back there.

One thing to keep in mind is the fact that the Titans also drafted one of the top safeties, Markelle Martin,  in this last draft when he fell to them in the 6th round.It’s hard to tell what the Titans truly want at that position with Martin currently sitting on IR, though he could be pulled off the IR with the Titans still holding an exemption.

As John Glennon of the Tennessean says, Johnson will face a bigger test this week with the Chargers sporting some deep threats including WR Malcom Floyd, Robert Meachem, and TE Antonio Gates.

Hopefully the Johnson/Griffin pair fare better this week. Last week was pretty painful to watch.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart