The Titans face off tonight against the New Orleans Saints. The starters should only be in for a quarter tops. Hasselbeck is scheduled to be in about 10 snaps, as to avoid injury before the start of the season. With that in mind, all of the players on the roster bubble will be battling it out tonight in a fight for their spot. After the jump is the list of the players that really need to show up tonight to earn their spot.
Myron Rolle – S
Everyone love Rolle when we picked him. He was a great college player and a Rhodes Scholar to beat it! As time has gone by in the past year, Rolle has failed to show that he can adjust to the level of play required at the NFL level. He doesn’t seem to have it in him to be a big hitter or be a very sure tackler. It would take a miracle for Rolle to stay on the roster. I expect him to get cut. I’m not quite sure the Titans will try to put him on their practice squad.
Robert Johnson – S
Johnson is from the same draft class as Rolle and is also in the dog house. This preseason has been unfortunate, as he’s been injured and hasn’t really been able to showcase his skills. Tonight is his night. If he wants to make the roster, he better work his butt off tonight. If he does get cut, I’d expect the Titans to try to get him to their practice squad.
Anthony Smith – S
This is one of the veteran safeties we brought in. Smith has one interception in a preseason game, but hasn’t really made much of an impact besides that. I would guess that the front office would rather keep one of the younger safeties than Smith. Don’t expect him to survive cuts.
Jason Babineaux – S
With a solid showing here, he should be the back up to Chris Hope. He’s had a pretty solid camp and has made a few good plays this preseason so I expect the Titans to keep him around.
Lavelle Hawkins – WR
I’m gonna cry when we lose him. Hawkins needs an amazing showing tonight to save his roster spot. He hasn’t had a great camp or preseason and the team will be looking to lose a little weight in the receiver department. Unless Hawkins blows it up tonight, I sadly expect to see him being cut. After three years of nothingness, I don’t think the Titans will try to bring him back to the practice squad.
Justin Gage – WR
Never have I seen one receiver drop so many balls. I loathe this man. He is also on the bubble. He hasn’t played in any games this preseason, even though the coaches have been saying they’ve been impressed by him in camp. Unless he plays tonight, and destroys teams, he may very well be cut, and I will rejoice. So long to rock handed receivers.
Kevin Curtis – WR
This guy actually has a decent shot of making the team. With a struggling receiving core, Kevin Curtis could just sneak in. In the very few practices he’s been able to get in with the team, coaches and Hasselbeck have been impressed with his speed and abilities. If he has a solid showing tonight, don’t be surprised if he steals somebody’s spot on the roster.
Stafon Johnson – RB
This poor guy just can’t get a break. He fights back from an almost life ending injury and makes it to the Titans only to injure himself in preseason and miss the entire first season and now seems to be on the outside of a full RB chart. With Chris Johnson back, Ringer, and this years 4th round pick Harper, there just doesn’t appear to be room for Johnson. Expect to see him get cut as well. Hopefully the kid lands back on his feet with another team after we let him go.
Rusty Smith – QB
Rusty has just been plain bad. I’m sure the kid has heart, but it takes game to play in the NFL and I have not seen it out of him. I’d said with 93% certainty that he gets cut. I’d expect the Titans to bring him back to the practice squad, but I don’t think he deserves a roster spot.
Pannel Egboh – DE
Egboh could make the roster with a solid showing this game. With Derrick Morgan missing a few weeks and Jones and Ford battling injuries, we’ll need some depth at DE and I think Egboh may be a very good depth guy until we get healthy again. Watch for him tonight. If he doesn’t make the cut, you can definitely expect the Titans to try and sneak him onto the practice squad.
Frank Walker – CB
He’s had a decent camp and preseason, but I don’t think he’ll make the team. He’s up there in age (31 years old), which makes him that much less attractive to the coaching staff, and we’ve got young up and comers that they’ll probably want to give that spot to such as the next guy on this list.
Tommie Campbell – CB/S
This kid is gonna be a star. Watch for his play tonight. I expect him to make the cuts and be at the bottom of the depth chart. Next year he’ll probably start to contribute but this year he’ll probably be relegated to special teams duties. This is one fast kid with talent and I hope and expect to see him make the roster.
Rennie Curran – LB
It’s hard to not love the Liberian Dream, but it’s also hard to see him fitting in Jerry Gray’s defensive scheme. Tonight he’ll be battling it out for a roster spot. I’m not too sure he’ll get it, but I’ll be rooting for him. Good luck Rennie.
And that my friends, are the major ones to watch. We’ll see very soon how many of them survive cuts. Enjoy the game tonight.