Tennessee Titans rookie report: Week 1

Maybe more important than any score this season, is how the Tennessee Titans rookies preform.

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I am not saying this because the Titans just lost to the Minnesota Vikings, I am saying it because these rookies (and free agents) should tells us just how well Jon Robinson can build this team.

Sure every GM has hits and misses in the draft, but finding guys who fit with a team and who embody different things is tough. If you hit on three or four of those guys every year, in a few short years you will have a team that can compete.

So, when I look at this season the players I am interested in most are the Tennessee Titans rookies and to be fair, Demarco Murray who was brought in via a trade. That is why I am going through now and watching the game and judging and grading the Titans rookies for their work Sunday.

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1st round Jack Conklin- B+

Really good job against a great defensive front. For Conklin, this should have been his nightmare start (J.J. Watt excluded). It was a fast, aggressive defense with a head coach who was an outstanding defensive coordinator for years in Cincinnati.

So, to give up just two rushes, zero sacks and zero QB hits according to Pro Football Focus is an outstanding day. Not only that, but my eyes confirmed his aggressiveness and ability to be in this league for a very long time as a run blocker.

2nd round Derrick Henry-B

I would have liked to see Henry get some more touches or to be used in less gimmicky ways, but I understand it. The Titans want teams to have to think about a dozen things before they snap the ball, and if they are all focused on the inside run then it limits how effective Henry will be.

He had the play of the day however when he took a little dump off pass and reversed field to turn a two yard play into a huge 29-yard gash that put the Titans in great field position. He ended the day with 44 yards on 7 touches.

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3rd round Kevin Byard- B

Byard did a great job on special teams and was third on the team in tackles and second in solo tackles. However, he was supposed to be the spark plug on this defense, so when he has a solid game it is always kinda hard to be unbiased.

On one hand I want to applaud him for being a rookie and the stage wasn’t too big for him. On the other hand, on a team devoid of playmakers they desperately needed him to find a way to make an impact.However, I do have to say it was impressive watching the rookie tackling Adrian Peterson for a tackle for loss in a big spot. All of that is very encouraging for the future, and I am sure even more splash plays are to come.

5th round Tajae Sharpe- A

Hard to get any more impressive than Sharpe without having a touchdown. His hands were absolute glue when he was thrown to, sometimes having to deal with pass interference and holding (whether called or not)

He averaged a very healthy 11 yards per catch with 7 catches and he led the team in snaps by a non QB/OL. Sharpe is going to be a big part of this offense rookie or not, and it is exciting to see how he preforms after a nice start.

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