Stage set for Tennessee Titans rookie to start vs Cleveland Browns?

3 of 4

(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Are the Tennessee Titans going to start Jamil Douglas?

So basically the Lewan suspension, Pamphile’s versatility, Levin’s potential frustration after doing everything he could and not earning a starting spot, and Jamil Douglas being able to snap is what put the Titans in this position.

That means that if Kevin Pamphile goes down or can’t play, it comes down to Nate Davis or Jamil Douglas as the sub at right guard.

Now, the natural inclination is to say, “Well, Douglas is the only one that played in the preseason and Nate Davis is a rookie so he is going to start, right?” My answer would actually be that I don’t think Douglas is the guy they want on the field.

More from Titan Sized

Forgetting how he played in the preseason, think about something we saw in the preseason. Mike Vrabel really doesn’t seem to like the idea or the only two guys who can snap the ball being on the field at the same time.

The best combination of offensive linemen for the Titans was always going to be Lewan/Kelly-Saffold-Levin-Jones-Conklin. I think that combination would have pushed Pamphile out of the lineup and cost the Titans tackle depth like I said earlier, but maybe equally as important was that the Titans didn’t want to have a freak accident where both guys who could snap the ball went down at the same time.

So based on that I think the Titans want Douglas on the roster more as a backup center than a backup guard, though in a pinch he could play either. If Mike Vrabel sticks to what he has shown or if there really wasn’t all that behind the scenes stuff that I talked about in the last slide, then he should want to keep Douglas out of the action unless he has to come in and snap.

That means that by default Nate Davis would start at right guard.

Home/Titans News