5 most underappreciated players in Tennessee Titans history
- Delanie Walker was beyond valuable for the Titans
- Billy Volek wasn't all that bad
- Derrick Mason was the man
The Tennessee Titans have a historied and rich tradition even if you leave aside their days as the Houston Oilers. And ever since they relocated, several great players have had the chance to suit up for them. Some of them don't get the recognition they deserve though, which is something this list will attempt to rectify it.
This isn't about the Steve McNairs or the Keith Bullucks of the world though. Everyone knows how good McNair was and Bullock has been underrated for so long that it's fair to wonder if he's now overrated. This is about players that have donned the Titans uniform but for some reason or another aren't brought up when discussing the team's history. Now is a good time to give them a shoutout but before that, here are a few disclaimers.
- Keith Bullock isn't mentioned for the aforementioned reason.
- Frank Wycheck and Lorenzo Neil played a big role in The Music City Miracle but neither made the cut.
- Also, no Houston Oilers crack on this list, only one and he made it because he also played for the Titans (sorry, no Dan Pastorini).
- Cortland Finnegan almost made the cut but a more prominent defender of the Jeff Fisher era got the nod instead.
With that out of the way, here are five Titans who are routinely underappreciated.
No. 5 most underappreciated player in Titans history: Kyle Vander Bosch
It's easy to forget it now but the Titans had some pretty stout defenses under Jeff Fisher's watch. Maybe it's because he holds the dubious distinction of being tied with Dan Reeves for the most losses in NFL history or perhaps it's his reluctance to adapt and adjust to the NFL in the later years of his coaching career.
Either way, Fisher coached highly talented defenders. Cortland Finnegan is one of them. He even followed Fisher to the St. Louis Rams. Linebacker Keith Bulluck is another but this entry is about defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch?
A second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals, Vanden Bosch joined the Titans in 2005 and went on to have five highly productive seasons. Besides earning three Pro Bowl selections, he appeared in 74 games and logged 38.5 sacks, 14 fumbles, and 38.5 sacks from 2005-2009.
It's also worth noting that Vanden Bosch was on the Titans team that made the playoffs in 2008. That would be the last year they would qualify for the postseason before experiencing a drought that lasted until 2017. Of course, Vanden Bosch wasn't the only reason Tennessee appeared in the playoffs but he certainly played an important role.