With the first preseason game on-tap this Friday vs. the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome, the Tennessee Titans have released the first unofficial depth chart for the 2015 season. While there are no surprises at some positions, others provide a little insight into what the coaching staff is thinking.
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The other thing that is apparent as you look at this chart, is how loaded the team is at some of the skilled positions, and the stark reality of how thin they are at other positions considering that they will need to cut down the roster to 53 players by opening day.
Quarterbacks
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt told us that if the Titans drafted Marcus Mariota in the first round, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner would be the day one starter, and all indications are that nothing has changed on that front.
As expected, Zach Mettenberger is the backup and all indications are that Charlie Whitehurst will remain on the roster to provide veteran leadership for the two young quarterbacks, and will be available if they end up in another triage situation as they did last year.
What is interesting at this point, is who will be Mariota’s primary targets. The Titans have flooded the field with receivers, and the depth chart at wide receiver is reflecting who has looked good in training camp, and you can expect some of these players to be cut or added to the practice team when the cuts start.
Tight Ends
The first depth chart is reflecting a two tight-end offense with Delanie Walker, along with veteran, Anthony Fasano holding down the first team. Walker injured his hand in camp and his status is questionable.
Walker, Craig Stevens, and Phillip Supernaw are the first three strings on one side with Chase Coffman and Tevin Westbrook being listed as backups.
Fasano will start on the other side with Jalston Fowler and newly signed, Zach Boren rounding out the first three strings.
Fasano has looked good in training camp, and expect him to be a viable target for Mariota on third downs.
Wide Receivers
The wide receivers are listed as WR1 and WR2 in the two tight end chart, but expect a lot of three wide receiver sets among all of the receivers in camp.
The Wr1 side has Harry Douglas, Hakeem Nicks and Dorial Green-Beckham as the first three strings on the list, with Tre McBride, Rico Richardson and Andrew Turzilli all listed as backups.
The Wr2 side has Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and Jacoby Ford as the starters and Clyde Gates, Josh Stewart, Deon Long and Tebucky Jones listed as backups.
Expect some of these people to make the final roster on special teams and available if there are injuries.
Running Backs
After a slow 2014 season and getting a full offseason under his belt, Bishop Sankey is emerging as the starting running back on this team. Sankey is listed as the number one guy, with Dexter McCluster and Antonio Andres rounding out the first three spots.
David Cobb, the fifth-round pick out of Minnesota hasn’t impressed anyone during camp, and is struggling with pass-protection assignments. Fourth-round pick, Jaleston Fowler out of Alabama is being listed with the tight ends.
Corner Backs
Jason McCourty and free-agent Perrish Cox are listed as the starting corner backs with the former 49er having a good training camp.
Blidi Wreh-Wilson is listed second behind Cox on one side, and has had a good camp but expect the versatile Marqueston Huff to get a lot of playing time as well, as Wreh-Wilson continues to recover from shoulder surgery.
Huff is also listed as a second string free safety behind Michael Griffin.
After the first three strings behind Cox , Ri’Shard Anderson and Cody Riggs are listed as backups.
On McCourty’s side, Coty Sensabaugh and Jemea Thomas are the first three strings with newly acquired Will Brown as the backup.
There are other interesting units on the depth chart including the offensive line, inside linebackers and special teams. We will try to analyze these positions as we get closer to kickoff on Friday night.
Next: How Marcus Mariota will change the Tennessee Titans offense