Harry Douglas to Tennessee Titans: Analysis and Opinions
By Sean Maczko
Leading up to today the Tennessee Titans have been very quiet with a whole lot of noise going on around them in the free agency world. Quietness – not quite the word you’d expect to come from “Music City”.
The Tennessee Titans have reached an agreement that will bring free agent WR Harry Douglas to Nashville on a three year deal. Douglas is known for his six years he has spent with the Atlanta Falcons. The newest member of the Titans is interesting, but someone who I definitely look forward to seeing play.
Based off social media there seems to be a mix of fans being unimpressed but also intrigued. I am part of the latter.
My first defense of this signing is that he has had to play third fiddle behind frequent NFC Pro Bowler teammates Roddy White and Julio Jones. The first thing that fans who aren’t too familiar with a player are going to go to Google or NFL.com and do some quick research on him. Douglas’ 2014 season stats (556 rec. yards, 2 TDs) were nothing special, but if you take a moment and look at his 2013 stats – that’s where you see the potential.
In 2013, when Julio Jones went down due to a knee injury and missed 11 games, it gave Douglas a great opportunity to step up in to the starting lineup opposite of Roddy White. Douglas took full advantage by catching 85 recptions, 1,067 yards, and 2 TDs. The two touchdowns were certainly underwhelming but he certainly knew how to catch the deep ball from QB Matt Ryan.
Douglas joins the Titans as he enters his 7th year and will be 31 years old shortly into the season. He is of smaller stature especially by today’s NFL standards, but I think he will be a nice offensive weapon for Coach Ken Whisenhunt to implement into his “vertical” offense.
The biggest downside to this pickup is that I think it means that WR Nate Washington‘s run in Nashville is coming to a close. I really wanted to see Washington return, but I am assuming the GM Ruston Webster was able to get Douglas at a much cheaper price.
The Titans certainly are wanting to give QB Zach Mettenberger more weapons for his big arm, and this reinforces that idea.
Financial details on this deal with Douglas have not yet been made public and that will also be a big factor in deeming this a good pickup or not.
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