Tennessee Titans rookie report: Week 2

For the second week in a row, let me say it again: forget the score and who won, focus on how the game was played especially by the rookies.

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Jon Robinson has done nothing but make good moves both on paper and on the field, so he has earned a lot of trust from me. It is these early games that will tell me just how much trust he deserves going into a huge 2016 offseason for the Tennessee Titans.

He is shaping this team into what he wants them to be right in front of our eyes, so let’s take a look at what kind of immediate impact his hand picked rookies are making.

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1st round Jack Conklin-A

Don’t be confused by what the two Steve’s said during the game, there is a reason why they call so many Titans games instead of the prime time games. The safety had absolutely nothing to do with Conklin, if you go back and watch the rookie tackle takes his man out to the right and it is Chance Warmack’s job to dig the guy out of that gap.

Instead, the guy stunts where the Titans want to go and blows by Warmack for a huge safety.

Conklin is just a grade “A” people mover in the run game often engulfing defenders when he is assigned to block one-on-one. In other situations he gets to the second level and provides contact that is important for two reasons.

First, because it forces the defender to take his eyes off the running back and deal with Conklin. Second, because it gives the running back an option on where to run instead of the linebacker dictating where the back has to go.

In the passing game, you have a hard time finding a guy who can really bend the edge against Conklin because his body is just so wide. Defenders may have a better chance just bullrushing him straight on, but then you have to deal with his power.

Overall a very good game and PFF agreed calling him the Titans best player and currently ranking him the 6th best tackle in the NFL. Right ahead of Taylor Lewan at 7 and far above his contemporaries Taylor Decker (31) and Laremy Tunsil whose 76.0 grade would place him 30th on the list.

2nd round Kevin Dodd- B+

I really like what I saw out of Dodd from every standpoint. Against the run he was stout constantly winning with power and hands. His leverage and punch were also noteworthy often, but my one issue with him is his lack of burst and that he occasionally stops his feet.

He also led the Titans in sacks for a second as the rookie notched the team’s first sack of the season with a nice move to the outside. That was great because until that move he had really been winning by getting into Riley Reiff’s chest and using a straight bull rush to get pressure.

2nd round Derrick Henry-B+

Henry did well in this game totaling 49 yards on 10 touches, but he is poised to be a stud when he gets the majorities of the carries someday. He consistently bursts through holes and gets positive yards while being a dangerous threat through the air too.

In just two games he has 17 touches for 93 yards and averages a first down just under one out of every third carry.

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3rd round Kevin Byard- C

The Lions lone big catch came on a missed tackle from Perrish Cox, so it is clear that he didn’t make any huge mistakes in coverage. However before going back and watching the game again, you also could have told me that he didn’t play yesterday and I’m not sure I would have been able to argue.

Byard is a playmaker so the more comfortable he gets and the more Dick LeBeau trusts him, the more I expect to see those plays. However, for now he looks average and like a capable starter.

5th round Tajae Sharpe- B

Not the stellar performance from Week 1, but several big catches after drawing extra attention this week. I really don’t need him to get 100 yards or a TD to get a high grade, all I need is him doing what he does best which is facilitate this offense and keep the chains moving. That was all he did last week, and I loved watching his poised and confidence against a good defense.

However, his one drop on a key third down could have cost the Titans the game this week. That is a rookie mistake, and an “A” grade means that they played above what I expect from a rookie and that they made key plays (like Conklin’s block on the Titans 67-yard run). He played better than average, but not quiet at that level.

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