First Down And Tenn: Tennessee Titans Saturday Links
By Les Bailey
It’s been a long off season for the Tennessee Titans, but it’s almost over for another year. Training camp gets underway next Friday at Saint Thomas Sports Park, and like most fans around Music City, I can’t wait to get this thing going. With a new quarterback signed and expected in camp on time, the next six weeks should provide a level of excitement that can only be surpassed by opening day in the NFL.
2015 Tennessee Titans training camp preview – Paul Kuharsky ESPN
The Tennessee Titans open training camp on July 31 at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Here’s a closer look at the Titans’ camp, which wraps up on Aug. 21:
Top storyline: The Titans spent the No. 2 pick of the NFL draft on Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. They and the city are looking to the quarterback as the face of the franchise and the guy who they hope will key a turnaround for a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2008. Everyone will be watching every move by Mariota in his first training camp. How does he catch on to things, lead the offense and progress in the system? How do the Titans bend things to his strengths to help make it easier for him at the start? In OTAs and minicamp, he was more accurate and showed better anticipation than I expected. Now everything will be faster and everyone will be in pads.
Titans Rumors: Dorial Green-Beckham Starter if Justin Hunter Released? Marcus Mariota Favors Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas with Delanie Walker – Lauren Moreanor SWR
Justin Hunter is facing a lot of doubt surrounding his future with the Tennessee Titans. The wide receiver was already preparing to enter training camp in a battle for the starting job and No.1 wide receiver position after the team beefed up the depth chart heading into the new year. Now, he is hoping to simply be kept on the team following an arrest for a bar fight in Viriginia. Just how thin is the ice Hunter is standing on?
Training camp practices offer free preview of Titans – Mary Hance The Tennessean
Friday is the first of nine practices over the next three weeks where fans of all ages can show up and watch a couple hours of the team working to prepare for the 2015 NFL season. Not only can you get close to the field, but there is no charge, and even the parking is free.
The open practice day setup is very fan-friendly, with close access to the fields and a chance to get autographs and meet some of the players afterward. This year, there is one night practice from 6:50 to 9 p.m. Aug. 3.
Dick LeBeau’s New Favorite Toy – Kenneth Goit Pro Football Spot
When the Pittsburgh Steelers and legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau parted ways, Iwas extremely skeptical that he would join the Tennessee Titans. I did not (and still do not) see why a 77-year-old, multi-Super Bowl-championship-winning coach would join a team that is coming off a 2-14 season, the worst of the franchise’s history. He had the opportunity to join the Arizona Cardinals, a team with the potential to land in the 50th Super Bowl in Santa Clara’s Levi Stadium. That did not happen.
Tight end fantasy projections for all 32 teams -Michael Fabiano NFL Analyst
Veteran Delanie Walker had the best fantasy season of his career under coordinator Jason Michael, finishing with personal highs in catches (63) and yards (890) to go along with four touchdowns. Those numbers were good enough to rank ninth in fantasy points among tight ends. … The Titans did rank 10th in both targets (126) and yards (1,004) at the position, but ranked a middle of the road 16th in catches (73) and tied for 16th in touchdown catches (five). Walker accounted for 84 percent of Tennessee’s tight end targets, 86 percent of the catches, 89 percent of the yards and all but one of the touchdowns. He’ll remain on the TE1 radar with rookie Marcus Mariota at quarterback.
No “rising star” love for a certain Tennessee Titans. – Will Lomas Music City Miracles
Say what you will about Marcus Mariota, but until he plays to a certain level the face above is your face of the franchise.
In a recent ESPN article, the beat writers of the AFC South chose who they thought the rising star of the division was/would be. This is how it shook out (though they go into detail in the full article which is here):
Tania Ganguli (Houston Texans): T.Y. Hilton
Mike Wells (Indianapolis Colts): Jadeveon Clowney
Mike DiRocco (Jacksonville Jaguars): T.Y. Hilton
Paul Kuharsky (Tennessee Titans): Jadeveon Clowney
Next: Should Titans have a look at Junior Galette?