Somehow, we all, as fans and media, may have neglected to remember this, but it isn’t a theory that’s been lost on the Tennessee Titans organization. The two-tone blue can’t close up shop and wait to see what happens with Julio Jones. They have a team to run.
June is upon us, and that means that, with everything that’s going on in all of our lives, we can still say two things with certainty. Summertime is approaching, and the Titans are worried about OTAs and the guys they actually have on the roster.
Sure, they’ve probably got one eye on what the Atlanta Falcons are doing, but goal number one is tutoring the new Titans and continuing the growth of the guys they already know. From a wide receiver standpoint, that looks like this.
No one in the building needs to be introduced to A.J. Brown. In his first two seasons, he’s racked up two consecutive 1,000-yard receiving campaigns and a Pro Bowl nod in 2020. Josh Reynolds, a free-agent acquisition they landed on March 23rd, and Dez Fitzpatrick, Tennessee’s rookie wideout and a fourth-round draftee, are the new guys.
It’s been said constantly. It needs to be said again. No, neither of those guys is Julio Jones, but if this is the lineup that the Tennessee Titans had to trout out for Week 1 versus the Arizona Cardinals, they’d be in good shape, and that’s a sentiment their coaching staff agrees with.
The new Tennessee Titans OC backs his wide receivers.
Todd Downing is no stranger to the Tennessee Titans organization. When former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith left Nashville to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee’s brass elected to hire from within, promoting Downing from the position of tight ends coach.
On June’s second day, both he and new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen spoke with the media. Downing hung out for a little over 15 minutes and on the subject of those perceived ‘holes’ that the two-tone blue has at wideout, he had this to say (and he smiled the entire time he was saying it).
"My job is to coach the guys that are here, and I’m doing that to the best of my abilities each day. I think you’re going to see some growth from some of these guys, and I’m excited to see where they end up… I am very comfortable with the level of competition we have (at wide receiver). I think we have a wide variety of skill sets, and I am excited to see these guys take opportunities to step in and get some extended reps. I am fired up to see where it goes…"
Downing also stated that none of his guys are finished products and that Brown is a playmaker but will continue to improve. On the subject of Josh Reynolds, he said the following.
"I think he is hungry, and I think he knows the game. I think he has really good savviness to him, and a good football IQ. I am excited to see where he can increase."
This Tennessee Titans team has some big guys. Whether opposing defenses are worn down by having three wideouts that are big and strong leaning on them all day or they’re beaten into submission by Derrick henry, games versus the Titans are going to feel like fights.
Sure, Julio Jones is a nice feather in the cap. Who wouldn’t want him? Still, this is said almost every day, and it needs to be said again. Regardless of what happens on that front, this offense is going to be fine. No one in the organization seems to be worried, and you shouldn’t be either as a fan.