Opinion: How will Vols turnaround affect recruiting?

The clock slowly ticked away with 30 seconds left in the 4th quarter as Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano snapped the ball and took a knee in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday.

The moment his knee touched the turf, Tennessee had accomplished what many (including the person writing this article) thought impossible.

After starting 1-4 on the 2019 season, getting to a bowl game seemed hopeless. A quarterback change seemed imminent. And Jeremy Pruitt’s future at Tennessee seemed bleak.

One final kneel down changed all of that.

The Vols clinched its sixth win of the season, its fourth in-a-row and its fifth out of its last six games.

Vast improvements in both the offense and defense led to such a dramatic turnaround. The offense cut out many of the mistakes and turnovers from the beginning of the year and now play like a formidable SEC offense, particularly in the passing game. Guarantano finished the game with a career-high in passing yards with 415. Getting 415 yards passing is a tough task regardless of the opponent, but to do so against the sixth-best pass defense in the country is all the more incredible.

The defense has not only played better since the start of the season, they are simply stifling opposing offenses, especially in the second half. During the 5-1 stretch, the Vols defense has averaged only 6.3 points allowed in the second half. Had Guarantano not fumbled the ball against Alabama, which was returned for a Crimson Tide touchdown, the average would have dropped to 5.2 points per second half.

A tremendous amount of credit goes to both players and coaches for such an amazing turnaround. Fans and college-football analysts alike have all taken notice of Tennessee’s recent performance, but what about recruits?

Tennessee currently holds the #20 overall recruiting class nationally for the 2020 class, per 247Sports. Of Tennessee’s 18 commitments, five committed during Tennessee’s 5-1 run. A trio of linebackers from Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tennessee (four-star Martavius French, four-star Bryson Eason and three-star Tamarion McDonald) all pledged their commitments to Tennessee on October 22. Tennessee then picked up two more commitments in offensive lineman Kyree Miller (three-star) and defensive lineman Jimari Butler (three-star) all in November.

With just a little over three weeks remaining until the NCAA’s Early Signing Period (Dec. 20-22), news of commitments to Tennessee has gone relatively quiet. It’s possible, if not likely, that recruits want to wait until the Early Signing Period before announcing where they want to go. Still, Vol fans will likely find the silence deafening as we get closer to the signing period.

To have such a turnaround and not land some surprising, high-profile recruits would no doubt be a huge disappointment for Tennessee given all it has accomplished in the last month-and-a-half. But frankly such a reality also seems unlikely at this point. When players respond to the coaching and perform at a high level like Tennessee is, recruits notice. Which ones will ultimately sign on to play in Knoxville remains to be seen.

Keep in mind though, a potential 7-5 record seemed out of reach at one point. Guarantano’s reemergence as the Vols starting quarterback seemed far-fetched halfway through the season. Pruitt’s future in Knoxville seemed to be shaky.

If there’s anything this team can be known for, it’s their ability to shatter negative illusions. Landing a great class in the Early Signing Period would only do that very thing one more time.

Titans vs. Chiefs 2019: Takeaways

Titans Radio play-by-play announcer Mike Keith once described Nissan Stadium as having “Music City Mystique.”

The mystique, he explained, manifested in several ways throughout Tennessee Titans history, but it always came down to one thing: No matter the opponent, the Titans would somehow find a way to win at home.

Ever since Ryan Tannehill took over the starting job in Week 7 against the Chargers, Titans fans have witnessed three more instances of this mystique. The third instance against the Kansas City Chiefs might have been the most impressive and unbelievable of them all.

Here are my takeaways from this historic game:

DERRICK HENRY RUNS FOR 188 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS

Patrick Mahomes’ 446 yards passing and three-touchdown performance was nothing short of outstanding. Anytime a quarterback puts on that kind of show, the opposing team must have an answer. For the Titans, Derrick Henry was that answer.

Henry’s 23 carries for 188 yards and two touchdowns, which included a 68-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, helped propel the Titans past the Chiefs. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith both recognized that their star running back had the hot hand and just kept giving Henry the ball.

Getting Derrick Henry involved in the offense should not come as a huge surprise to anyone. He could be arguably the Titans best player on offense, especially when tight end Delanie Walker sits out with an injury.

What is surprising, however, is that Smith decided to hand the ball off to Henry when the Titans trailed 29-20 with 11:54 left in the fourth quarter. Considering how explosive the Chiefs offense had been all day, it was a gigantic risk to keep running the ball. Even if the Titans did score (and they would), doing so would take a lot of time off the clock.

Derrick Henry got seven carries on the 11-play drive with the last one being a one-yard touchdown run, cutting the Chiefs’ lead to 29-27. The drive itself took 5:28 off the clock. Despite taking just over a third of the fourth quarter, Henry’s drive turned out to be the gamble Arthur Smith and the Titans needed.

RYAN TANNEHILL LOGS HIS THIRD GAME-WINNING DRIVE AS THE TITANS STARTING QB

A quick glance of Tannehill’s numbers (13 of 19 for 181 yards and two touchdowns) are not going to wow anyone, especially when they are compared to Mahomes’. But yet again Tannehill looked decisive and confident in his throws, often zipping passes into tight coverage. The former Miami Dolphin and Texas A&M Aggie quarterback got a second chance to prove to an NFL team that he can play quarterback at a high level. So far, Tannehill is taking full advantage of that opportunity by netting a game-winning fourth-quarter drive in three of the last four games.

Tannehill’s performance against the Chiefs cannot necessarily be measured by his stats in the game. When the Titans found themselves needing a third-down conversion, Tannehill did not hesitate to take off and run for a first down. His gutsy performance against the Chiefs will only help to solidify his status as the Titans starter.

TITANS DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS MADE PLAYS WHEN THEY MATTERED MOST

Both the Titans defense and special teams were far removed from a perfect game on Sunday. The defense gave up 446 yards passing to Mahomes and Titans Kicker Ryan Succop missed an extra point. And yet when it mattered most, both units made a huge play when they needed one.

The most obvious example would be Joshua Kalu’s game-clinching field-goal block. He had been trying to anticipate the snap count on field goals throughout the game and had nearly gotten to another block earlier. When the Titans needed a stop, Kalu at last timed his rush perfectly and got his hand on the ball.

Defensively, no play might be more deserving of being on the highlight reel than Rashaan Evans’ 56-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. Chiefs running back Damien Williams received a handoff from Mahomes and immediately bounced to the outside looking for room to run. When he did not find any, he looked to cut back inside. Fortunately, Titans defensive lineman Austin Johnson was there to wrap up Williams and then rookie linebacker David Long Jr. came in and knocked the ball free of Williams’ grasp. From there Evans found himself in the right place, scooping the ball and outrunning the entire Chiefs offense for a score.

This defensive touchdown gave the Titans its first lead of the day, but it also gave them something more important. From that point on, the Titans energy and aggressiveness seemed to match the Chiefs. Kansas City would have a dogfight on their hands, and in the end it was the Titans who walked out victorious.

Mariota, Titans hoping for breakout 2019 season

What does Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota need to do to guarantee his future in Nashville for the 2020 season and beyond?

It’s a question that no one can accurately answer at this point, except perhaps Titans general manager Jon Robinson. Robinson will ultimately be the one who will decide on Mariota’s future in Tennessee.

When an NFL franchise decides to invest in a quarterback for the long-term, it usually involves offering the quarterback a sizeable contract. Just take a look at some of the other quarterback contracts around the league:

Last season, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a four-year contract worth $134 million with $100 million guaranteed. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford signed a five-year deal worth $135 million with $92 million guaranteed the year before that. Kirk Cousins signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent, landing a three-year contract worth $84 million back in March of 2018.

These numbers give us, and NFL general managers, a frame of reference to what a starting NFL quarterback should be paid. And if Robinson decides to offer Mariota a new contract, he should expect to pay similar numbers.

But what would it take for Robinson to feel comfortable offering such a gigantic portion of his salary cap to Mariota? Has the former Heisman-winning Oregon Duck already done enough to earn another contract?

The answer to the latter is actually simple. It’s a blunt “no.”

The fact that Robinson opted to pick up the fifth-year option on Mariota and not offer him a long-term deal prior to the 2019 season means that the organization is still unsure as to what they have at quarterback.

And if that was not enough, take a look at what Titans head coach Mike Vrabel told Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated:

“I think everybody has a contract, and we’re very aware of players who are in the last year of the deal. Marcus is obviously one of those. When you make a commitment to the QB you want to make sure that this is going to be your guy for the next 7-10 years when you look at the percentage of the cap quarterbacks are driving. Nobody is more proud of what Marcus has done in the offseason than me. He’s come back stronger, bigger, with greater understanding of what we’re doing offensively, being able to communicate it to players the field. I don’t look at the lack of a long-term extension as a negative, though that’s what people try to make it. I know Marcus’s demeanor and that won’t change whether he’s on a 10-year contract or its up after the season. He’s that type of person. So I know it’ll work because of how he is.”

Make no mistake about it: Marcus Mariota’s future in Nashville depends solely on his performance in 2019. He simply must have a breakout season in order to earn a heavy chunk of the franchise’s salary cap.

So what does having a breakout season for Mariota in 2019 actually mean?

First, it means Mariota must stay healthy. Too often has the quarterback missed time and forced the team to lean on a backup to fill in. The Titans ended up trading for former Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill after having lackluster performances from their backup quarterbacks the last two seasons. This is a significant detail as Jon Robinson gave up a much-coveted future draft pick, albeit an early day-three pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, to get a backup quarterback.

It should be noted in Mariota’s defense that he has bulked up a bit during this offseason to help combat his injury woes. Whether the increased weight will help remains to be seen, but at the very least it shows that he has taken deliberate steps to help prevent injuries.

Next, Mariota needs to return to his 2016 form. In his second season, Mariota threw for over 3,400 yards, 26 touchdowns to only nine interceptions. In 2017 and 2018 combined, he threw 24 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. His passing-yard totals from those two seasons were 3,232 and 2,528, respectively. At a quick glance, it seems that Mariota’s numbers have steadily been getting worse as his career progresses on. He has to stop that trend.

In short, Mariota must stay healthy and return to his second-season form in order to earn another contract from Robinson. Frankly, the Titans best-case scenario would be for Mariota to do just that as the team would not have to make potentially drastic decisions to lock up a new franchise quarterback. The Titans want to see Mariota succeed in 2019. His future in Nashville depends on it.

2020 NFL Draft: Three Teams Who Could Trade Up in the 1st Round

Trades make up some of the most exciting moments of the NFL Draft. Plenty of teams look to trade down every year, but there must be someone willing to pay a considerable number of draft picks, players or both. The 2020 NFL Draft might have a few teams who will be willing to pay such a price.

Is your team one willing to do that?

Miami Dolphins

A year ago (or possibly more than that) the phrase “tanking for Tua” started floating out in the airwaves.

ESPN Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said he believed that this catchy phrase was a “joke,” and perhaps he’s correct. But the team still traded away most of its valuable starting players for draft picks, which certainly did not leave its fanbase laughing.

And so, here we are. The Dolphins are now picking #5 overall and need a quarterback. With all of the draft currency at their disposal, Miami is well equipped to maneuver to whatever spot they want.

A trade with the Lions makes the most sense here. Detroit really needs as many draft picks as it can get to fix an abysmally bad pass defense. Even if the Chargers put forth a Kevin Costner Draft-Day kind of trade to land Tagovailoa, Miami has more than enough draft picks to outbid that kind of offer from Los Angeles.

With Tagovailoa in hand, general manager Chris Grier’s next goal should be to build the roster around his new quarterback. Finding a way to protect him must be #1 on his list of priorities, especially given Tagovailoa’s injury history. Keep an eye on Miami to make a second trade in the first round to help land a big name on the offensive line.

Las Vegas Raiders

Sounds odd, doesn’t it? After years of the “Oakland” Raiders, the Silver and Black will officially be representing the city of Las Vegas in 2020.

What better way to celebrate moving to a new home than to treat yourself to a nice, housewarming present? For the Raiders, such a present could come in the form of trading up to get a new wide receiver.

Okay, the HGTV analogy stops now.

But the Raiders do need a viable threat on the outside. They expected Antonio Brown to be that guy and, once he left, really did not have any other answers.

Fortunately, the Raiders have two first-round picks at #12 and #19 and could certainly try to move up in the round to secure a new weapon for Derek Carr.

The good news for the Raiders is that it probably would not take both first-round picks to make such a move to get that receiver. Both sides would need to work out what the right compensation on both sides would be, but ultimately the Raiders have enough to get a deal done.

The only question is who would the Raiders trading partner be. If the trade scenarios presented previously occur, the Giants could be sitting at #6 with Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy still available. While the Raiders could be salivating at the opportunity to take Jeudy, the Giants may decide to take Jeudy themselves at #6, especially after already trading down once.

In that case, the Raiders would need to set their focus on another of the draft’s receivers. CeeDee Lamb, Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs III and Clemson receiver Tee Higgins could all be names in play for the Raiders at that point, potentially even without the need to trade up for any of the three.

Indianapolis Colts

What bigger surprise did the 2019 season have than the sudden, unexpected retiring of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck? The guy drafted to replace future hall-of-famer Peyton Manning looked the part when healthy and did not see much of a drop-off, if any, in terms of quarterback production. Unfortunately for the franchise and fans, Luck’s struggles to stay healthy wore on him more than many fans realized.

Luck’s retiring consequently made the Colts 2017 trade for Patriots backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett all the more valuable, giving Indianapolis a reliable starter at such an important position.

In 2019, the Colts could have done a lot worse than Brissett. Unfortunately, they could have done better, too.

Brissett’s touchdown-to-interception ratio looks pretty solid (18 TDs:6 INTs). He only completed 60.9% of his passes, however, trailing quarterbacks like Giants Daniel Jones, Dolphins Ryan Fitzpatrick and Steelers Devlin Hodges.

All of this is to say the Colts should definitely be considering a gigantic trade up in the first round to grab a new quarterback. Thanks to the trade with Washington last year (in their move to grab Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat), the Colts have two second-round selections in 2020. If they truly want to make a move for a quarterback in, say, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, then this additional pick gives Colts general manager Chris Ballard a chance to get a deal. Without this pick, the Colts probably would not have enough draft currency to do it. With it, Ballard has a chance to fill the void Luck’s retirement created.

2020 NFL Draft: Which teams will trade down in the first round?

With the regular season and the wild-card round of the playoffs officially over, the NFL’s top 24 picks of the 2020 NFL Draft are now set. We are days away from college football’s National Championship and two weeks away from the NFL’s Senior Bowl.

Ladies and gentlemen, let the NFL Draft chatter begin.

Even knowing only the top 24 picks of the draft, we can already see several potential trades forming on the horizon. The 2020 NFL Draft will feature a very intriguing class, headlined by LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, one of the most NFL-ready QBs we have seen since arguably Andrew Luck. It also contains one of the most talented groups of receivers we have ever seen, not to mention several talented defensive players as well. It’s easy to see why teams would want to maximize the number of players they can grab from this class.

A team’s position in a draft relative to the other teams can determine how likely a trade is. Despite having less-than-favorable years, some teams should be happy with their positioning. Presented here are three teams who could be looking to trade down.

Is your team one of them?

Detroit Lions

Positioned at #3 overall, the Lions are in one of the best positions for the draft. Stafford is still very much their franchise quarterback, meaning that Detroit will not be in the market for another one.

Instead, Lions general manager Bob Quinn needs to add more pieces to a defensive unit that struggled mightily against the pass in 2019. Detroit’s defense allowed an average of 284 passing yards per game, the worst in the NFL. Coupled with only the 28th-most pressures on opposing quarterbacks, Quinn faces the challenge of needing to add more pieces to both the secondary and pass rush without the aid of additional picks in Day 1 or 2 of the draft.

A trade down here could help with that. Thanks to Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa submitting his name to the NFL Draft, the Lions could find a trade partner quite easily here. The two teams fighting for this pick could be the LA Chargers and the Miami Dolphins. Quinn and the rest of the Lions organization will hope a bidding war breaks out as that will net them more picks in exchange for #3 overall.

Head coach Matt Patricia and Quinn both worked with the New England Patriots prior to their arrival in Detroit. Through their experiences, they understand the importance of having a top-notch shutdown cornerback. If Quinn plays this trade correctly, the Lions could end up with additional draft picks as well as arguably the best cornerback in the draft: Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah.

New York Giants

Just one pick later the Giants find themselves in a similarly strong position, possibly even the strongest position of the draft. Having drafted Daniel Jones last year, the Giants are not in the quarterback market either. And with the very real possibility of both Burrow and Tagovailoa being off the board at this spot, Oregon QB Justin Herbert will become a commodity.

The Giants may get multiple teams interested in this pick. Ultimately, one GM will do whatever it takes to make Herbert its franchise QB. Will it be Chargers GM Tom Telesco? Panthers GM Marty Hurney? Colts GM Chris Ballard?

Regardless, the Giants can take advantage of the situation. Just like the Lions, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman will hope for a bidding war for the #4 pick. Getting one means more draft capital to help build around Jones, who lacks a viable weapon on the outside.

Of course, the Giants could also be in the market for defense. Their pass defense allowed 264 passing yards per game, ranking them 28th in the league in that category.

Carolina Panthers

In what was the most shocking coaching change of the year, Panthers owner David Tepper’s move sent a signal to the rest of the franchise that drastic changes would be coming. This coaching change could consequently have a rippling effect that will be seen in the draft.

Why did Tepper make the move in the first place? What’s the state of this franchise currently?

The Panthers gave up the fourth-most rushing yards in 2019. The offensive line tied for the most sacks allowed in the league (58). Their secondary is still feeling Josh Norman’s absence despite him going to Washington years ago. Oh, and there are now real questions as to who their franchise quarterback is moving forward.

In that light, Tepper’s move makes a lot of sense.

Said in another way, the Panthers have a lot of problems with no additional selections to fix them.

Remember that rippling effect mentioned earlier? A trade down would be the manifestation of that very effect, reinforcing the idea that more changes are coming. As many needs as Carolina has, their participation in free agency is almost guaranteed at this point. But free agency alone will not fix the woes on this team.

Rookies like Clemson linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons or Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas both could be targets for the Panthers. Then again, those players both could be off the board should Carolina move down. This will be a difficult decision for general manager Marty Hurney to make in April.

What the Titans loss to the Saints tells us about 2020 position needs

The Titans are less than a week away from a win-and-you’re-in-the-playoffs matchup with division rival Houston. They are about three months away from free agency and four months away from the 2020 NFL Draft. With so much football still left, roster changes are still uncertain at this point.

On the heels of a 38-28 loss to the New Orleans Saints, however, the Titans organization and general manager Jon Robinson may have witnessed a game that could be seen as a microcosm of the 2019 season. Tennessee played pretty well overall, and displayed some major improvements when compared to seasons past. At the same time, there were obvious holes that may very well have doomed the Titans to lose their final home game of the season. As the Titans move forward, and we draw nearer to the offseason, here are a list of position needs that became more evident in the loss to the Saints:

#1 OUTSIDE LINEBACKER/EDGE RUSHER

This is one area where common sack statistics do not tell the whole story. The Titans defense is currently tied for 13th in sacks. Tennessee’s Harold Landry has also netted nine sacks on the year, tying him with San Francisco’s Nick Bosa for the 20th most sacks in the league.

And yet, the Titans have struggled to generate a consistent pass rush. According to Pro Football Reference the Titans defense pressures opposing quarterbacks on only 20% of dropbacks, ranking them 25th in the league in that category.

And in watching the game against the Saints, a casual observer could see this problem manifesting itself again. There were moments where Drew Brees was able to survey the field and connect on long passes, thanks in no small part to the Saints pass protection. Even though the Saints only converted four of its 12 3rd-down attempts, the Saints offense found a way to extend drives. When the Saints needed a big play, the Titans pass rush was seemingly negated and Brees was able to find an open receiver.

If the Titans want to take the next step from an above-average team to elite, this has to change. Adding a reliable, consistent edge rusher (along with Landry and Cameron Wake) can help the Titans secondary to slow down opposing passing offenses.

Speaking of the Titans secondary…

#2 CORNERBACK

It’s difficult for any team to mount a formidable pass defense when two of its top three corners are out with injury. That’s exactly where the Titans have found themselves in the last couple of games with Malcolm Butler being on IR and Adoree Jackson missing time due to a knee injury.

And so the Titans have had to cover arguably two of the league’s best receivers (Houston Texans DeAndre Hopkins and New Orleans Saints Michael Thomas) in that time frame without Butler or Jackson. Both of those receivers combined for 18 receptions, 255 yards receiving and one touchdown against the Titans.

Injuries are an inevitable part of the NFL and they plague every team in the league, especially as the season wears on. But as the league is still very much a passing league, cornerback depth is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. And frankly, neither Butler or Jackson have exactly played like a top-10 corner during their respective times in Nashville.

On top of that, the Titans will have five cornerbacks whose contracts expire at the end of the 2019-20 league year (Logan Ryan, Leshaun Sims, Chris Milton, Trumaine Brock and Tye Smith.) Ryan has easily been the Titans most consistent corner this season, and bringing him back seems like a no-brainer. After Ryan though, everyone else’s time in Nashville is definitely up for debate.

Adding a true lockdown corner would be huge for this defense. In fact, an arguement could be made that it’s even more important than landing a pass rusher.

Any NFL franchise would openly welcome the addition of a star corner, and obviously the Titans would be no different. But even if the Titans’ newly added corner only played up to the same level of Butler or Jackson, Tennessee would still love the added depth.

#3 WIDE RECEIVER

A.J. Brown’s receiving performance against the Saints certainly won’t wow anyone (one reception for 34 yards), but there’s no denying how talented the rookie from Ole Miss is. For years the Titans have looked for a receiver like Brown. And now that they have one, they need to add someone opposite of him to help him out.

The addition of Adam Humphries has been a good one when he’s healthy. Corey Davis, on the other hand, has just not been consistent enough since he was the #5 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. His performance against the Saints (three receptions for 40 yards) has become more of a pattern than an anomaly.

Sure, injuries throughout his career may have slowed his development. But there’s no other way to describe his play other than disappointing.

The good news for Davis (and the Titans) is that he still has plenty of time to turn that around. As a former first-round pick, Davis received a four-year deal with a fifth-year option. Davis is only into the third year of his deal, and so he still has time to help prove that he can be another difference maker in this offense. And with Brown sure to draw the attention of the secondary, now is the perfect time for Davis to make the most of his remaining time in Nashville.

That’s not to say Robinson should not add another outside receiver during the offseason. In truth, adding another receiver may help to spark competition for the receiver job opposite of Brown. And that competition might be the very motivation Davis needs to take the next step in his development.

#4 OFFENSIVE TACKLE/GUARD

The Titans allowed five sacks against the Saints and are now tied with the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins for the most sacks allowed with 56.

Yikes.

This is particularly disturbing given how much attention, draft picks and money the Titans have used to fix the offensive line since Jon Robinson’s arrival in Tennessee. In fact, Robinson’s first draft selection as the Titans general manager was offensive tackle Jack Conklin. And yet Robinson opted to not pick up Conklin’s fifth-year option back in May.

On one hand, Robinson declining the option should not come as too much of a surprise given the Titans struggles with protecting quarterbacks. But on the other, Conklin is by no means the only one who deserves blame on the line.

But letting Conklin, whose contract expires at the end of the league year, walk away would only add another need for Robinson to address this offseason. And thanks to the Ryan Tannehill trade last offseason, the Titans have one less draft pick in the 4th round. With less draft capital, it’s possible Robinson would not want to create another need for his team.

Still, there are many questions that Robinson will have to answer. Has Conklin done enough to earn an extension? If so, how much are the Titans willing to give him? If not, what is Tennessee’s plan to replace the former first-rounder from Michigan State?

Even if the Titans retain Conklin, the addition of another offensive tackle is certainly not out of the question. Adding competition on the offensive line may help to improve pass protection, something that simply must improve in 2020.

#5 RUNNING BACK

Derrick Henry is undeniably deserving of a new contract in Tennessee. There will be no advocating of moving on from Henry here. He has been the focal point of the offense for years, and should continue to be for years to come.

So why list running back here, then?

Because, as was evident against the Saints, when the Titans do not have a physical, power back available, the entire dynamic of the offense changes.

The Titans want to ground it out with Henry, giving him 20+ touches a game. Doing so wears down a defense over the course of a game which, in turn, helps the passing game.

With Henry being a power back who’s not afraid of taking on defenders, it’s reasonable to expect some nagging injuries along the way. And if/when it does happen, the Titans need to have another back who can give them a similar physical presence at running back to help continue wearing defenses down.

If the Titans had such a back against the Saints, the outcome may or may not have changed. But one thing is for certain: The game would have looked very different.

With one regular-season game remaining, the Titans playoff hopes are still very much within reach. No matter how far the Titans go in the 2019-20 season, addressing these holes is sure to help the Titans go even farther in the postseason.

Cleveland Browns 2019 season could set tone for years to come

Just two years ago, the AFC North looked completely different than it does today. The Pittsburgh Steelers had just come off a 11-5 record, losing to the Patriots in the AFC Conference Championship. Both the Ravens and Bengals had average seasons, with the former finishing a respectable 8-8 and the latter falling just short of that at 6-9-1.

As for the Browns… well, they had just come off an abysmal 1-15 2016 season and earned the top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Cleveland needed an almost complete team overhaul. From the Day 1 of that draft to now, Browns general manager John Dorsey has done almost exactly that.

Now in 2019, the Browns look to be the most talented team in the division and likely the favorite to win the AFC North. Additions of players like Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb, and Myles Garrett all helped propel this team into a real playoff contender. And if Cleveland performs up to expectations for 2019, it could be start of an era.

The other teams in the AFC North are somewhat in periods of transition. Pittsburgh has watched two star players in Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown leave and have spent a considerable amount of draft capital to revive its defense. Baltimore believes Lamar Jackson is their new franchise quarterback, but he has not completely answered all of the questions surrounding him just yet. Cincinnati let go of long-time head coach Marvin Lewis and has since hired Zac Taylor, who many believe will give quarterback Andy Dalton the 2019 season to show he’s still worthy of being the Bengals’ starting signal caller.

And while the Browns are entering into 2019 with a new head coach of their own in Freddie Kitchens, the team has far fewer questions than the other squads in the division. Should they take advantage of this opportunity, it could signal to the rest of the league that Cleveland has become a team ready to take hold of the division and not let go for years to come.

Why is that important? Who cares about the optics of where teams are trending?

Players and assistant coaches, that’s who. And if you are a team coming off a division title, signing big-name free agents and bringing in assistants to run your offense or defense becomes a lot easier. Players may even sign for less of a salary-cap burden to your team simply because they want to win.

2019’s success is far from a guaranteed thing for Cleveland. But if they can take full advantage of this season, there may be plenty more for fans and the team to be excited about.

Commitment Breakdown 6-10/6-15

As college football recruiting continues to play out, break downs of some of the nation’s best commitments are being given on FUEL Recruiting’s website.  Here is a glimpse of what it has to offer:

Player: DeShone Kizer, QB (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic)
Committed to: Notre Dame (6/11/13)

Strengths: Athleticism, Toughness, Arm Strength
Weaknesses: Timing, Accuracy

New Fighting Irish quarterback commitment DeShone Kizer fits everything that head coach Brian Kelly’s system requires: a quarterback with athleticism that has the arm strength to stretch the field.

Kizer’s athleticism is unquestionably his best trait and can gash defenses with his legs.  Opposing defenses must stay disciplined on the field to prevent Kizer from scrambling ahead for a huge gain, but that may still prove to be easier said than done.

 

For the rest of the article, click here.

Progress is key for Munchak and Webster

Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak sits in one of the hottest seats in the NFL going into 2013.  In fact, a 6-10 finish in 2012 almost ended Munchak’s 30-year history with the franchise.  Despite posting a 9-7 record in 2011, the Titans regressed into a losing season with two embarrassing losses to the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers.  With all eyes on him, Munchak will have to do something to save his job.

The question is, what exactly will that be?  Will the Titans need another winning season?  Will they need a playoff appearance?  Or will the Titans even need a division title in an AFC South where the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans both look talented enough to win in the playoffs?

Munchak may not exactly need to do any of these, although it would sure help if he did.  If the 2013 Tennessee Titans just show improvement in execution, particularly on offense, that could be enough to save the players’ and coaches’ jobs.

This seems to be what Munchak’s and Titans general manager Ruston Webster’s plan was heading into the offseason: put pieces around quarterback Jake Locker in hopes that he improves.  By adding former Alabama guard Chance Warmack with the 10th overall selection and trading up to 34th to take former Tennessee Volunteer wide receiver Justin Hunter in the 2013 NFL Draft, Munchak and Webster are doing everything they can to give Locker what he needs to succeed.  Locker looked inconsistent in 2012, and the Titans hope that more protection and weapons will equate to improvement from Locker.

And then, there’s Chris Johnson.

Tennessee wants Johnson to return to his CJ2K days, and the additions of Warmack and Hunter show that Munchak and Webster are taking steps toward that end.  Signing guard Andy Levitre away from the Buffalo Bills and drafting center Brian Schwenke 107th overall from California this past April, along with the signings of guards Rob Turner and Chris Spencer in free agency, continue to display Tennessee’s commitment to offensive improvement.  Tennessee hopes that these additions will result in more running lanes and bring Johnson back to his 2,000-yard rushing days.

It’s no longer a secret that the NFL is a passing league, and that’s why Tennessee’s focus on improving the offensive line and giving Locker another weapon makes sense.  If 2013 is a breakout year for Locker, Munchak and Webster have nothing to worry about.

2013 NFL Mock Draft

In today’s NFL, teams realize the importance of having a reliable quarterback.  It’s no longer a secret.  So even in a draft without a quarterback of the same caliber of an Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, is it still a surprise to see quarterback-needy teams take someone earlier than some would advise?

General managers face this issue throughout the entire offseason, and history dictates that G.M.’s will go with a quarterback.  It can be this line of logic that can really skew mock drafts and make for really interesting NFL drafts.

Nevertheless, here is my mock draft for 2013.

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel/OT/Texas A&M

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Geno Smith/QB/West Virginia

3. Oakland Raiders – Eric Fisher/OT/Central Michigan

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Dion Jordan/DE/Oregon

5. Detroit Lions – Ezekial Ansah/DE/BYU

6. Cleveland Browns – Dee Milliner/CB/Alabama

7. Arizona Cardinals – Lane Johnson/OT/Oklahoma

8. Buffalo Bills – Ryan Nassib/QB/Syracuse

9. New York Jets – Tayvon Austin/WR/West Virginia

10. Tennessee Titans – Sharrif Floyd/DT/Florida

11. San Diego Chargers – Chance Warmack/OG/Alabama

12. Miami Dolphins – D.J. Fluker/OT/Alabama

13. New York Jets – Tyler Eifert/TE/Notre Dame

14. Carolina Panthers – Star Lotulelei/DT/Utah

15. New Orleans Saints – Barkevious Mingo/DE/LSU

16. St. Louis Rams –  Jonathan Cooper/OG/North Carolina

17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jarvis Jones/OLB/Georgia

18. Dallas Cowboys – Kenny Vaccaro/S/Texas

19. New York Giants – Justin Pugh/OT/Syracuse

20. Chicago Bears – Alec Ogletree/ILB/Georgia

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Matt Elam/S/Florida

22. St. Louis Rams – Sheldon Richardson/DT/Missouri

23. Minnesota Vikings – Cordarrelle Patterson/WR/Tennessee

24. Indianapolis Colts – D.J. Hayden/CB/Houston

25. Minnesota Vikings – Manti Te’o/ILB/Notre Dame

26. Green Bay Packers – Eddie Lacy/HB/Alabama

27. Houston Texans – Justin Hunter/WR/Tennessee

28. Denver Broncos – Sylvester Williams/DT/North Carolina

29. New England Patriots – Robert Woods/WR/Southern California

30. Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Trufant/CB/Washington

31. San Francisco 49ers – Zach Ertz/TE/Stanford

32. Baltimore Ravens – Eric Reid/S/LSU