Coming off a gruesome leg injury, Marcus Mariota is ready to lead this team to a division title. He is set to arrive at training camp “lighter” than usual, per Paul Kuharsky. On Tuesday, Mariota told Jim Wyatt of Titans Online,
“I feel great. I will be ready to go with everything. I will be full-go in practice, and I will be able to do everything with the guys. And I am excited about that because I wasn’t able to do it in OTAs. It should be a lot of fun.”
This is great news for Titans fans. To reach their full potential, the Tennessee Titans need a healthy and hungry Marcus Mariota. Let’s take a look at what the Titans have done so far this offseason.
Key 2017 Losses:
Anthony Fasano (TE) – Miami Dolphins
Sean Spence (LB) – Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Fasano will be missed because of his run-blocking ability, but his return to Miami did not come as a surprise to anyone as he has strong ties to the city. Sean Spence can rush the quarterback but with the return of a healthy Kevin Dodd and the signing of Erik Walden, it is understandable why the Tennessee Titans let him walk.
Key 2017 Additions:
Logan Ryan (CB) – from the New England Patriots
Johnathan Cyprien (SS) – from the Jacksonville Jaguars
Sylvester Williams (DT) – from the Denver Broncos
Eric Decker (WR) – released from the New York Jets
Erik Walden (OLB) – from the Indianapolis Colts
Corey Davis (WR) – 2017 NFL Draft (Western Michigan)
Adoree’ Jackson (CB) – 2017 NFL Draft (USC)
The Tennessee Titans are having one of the best offseasons so far in the NFL. Here’s what you should keep up with during the Titans training camp.
3 Position Battles to Watch
1. Cornerback
The Tennessee Titans used their second first round pick on Adoree’ Jackson who was drafted 18th overall in late April. By drafting a cornerback that high, the Titans clearly expect him to impact this team immediately. While Jackson has the ability to impact the team in multiple ways (defense and special teams), it still remains a question as to which position Dick LeBeau desires him to play – Is it the cornerback position opposite of Logan Ryan? Or is it in the slot at nickleback? Either way, it will be an interesting camp battle to keep an eye on between Adoree’ Jackson and LeShaun Sims who saw some playing time last season.
2. Outside Linebacker
One of the biggest question marks on this roster was outside linebacker depth. Yesterday, the Titans signed former Colt Erik Walden and put those questions at bay. Now, the Titans have Brian Orakpo (ROLB) and Derrick Morgan (LOLB) as their starting at outside linebackers while Kevin Dodd (ROLB) and Erik Walden (OLB) rotate in. Walden is coming off a career high 11 sacks with the Colts which would have led the Titans last year (Orakpo – 10.5). During training camp, watch to see which guys win battles on a consistent basis. Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are the “official” starting linebackers, but that is subject to change.
3. Running Back
While there is no question that DeMarco Murray is the teams starting running back, Derrick Henry is looking to win more playing time. A few months ago, Mularkey was quoted saying:
“Following a guy that’s had success, watching everything he does, how he comes to work every day, I think DeMarco has been great for Derrick. If Derrick continues to do that and watches how DeMarco handles his business on and off the field, he has a great future ahead of him. His time is coming. He just has to be patient, which is easier said than done. But we value everything he brings to this football team.”
Derrick Henry is not ready to be “the guy” yet, but he is ready to steal extra touches. He is a forceful runner that is deceptively fast. Defensive players never seem to take the correct angle when attempting to tackle him.
Hopefully, Mularkey and Henry have made up and put their past behind them.
Ready To Break Out: Derrick Henry
As a rookie, Henry totaled 490 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 110 carries. He also caught 13 passes for 137 yards. While DeMarco Murray shows zero sign of slowing down, it may be in the Titans best interest to lighten his load. By giving Henry more carries and touches throughout the season, the Titans ensure a more fresh Murray down the stretch in late December and January.
Fantasy Sleeper: Rishard Matthews
How can a number one option be a fantasy sleeper? Because many people do not view Rishard Matthews as a number one option – and he most definitely is. Last season he tallied 65 receptions for 945 yards and nine touchdowns. While his production is likely to decline after the Titans drafted Corey Davis and signed Eric Decker, it will not be a noticeable drop-off. If anything, this will open up Matthews more with the opposing defense keying on Delanie Walker, Corey Davis, Eric Decker, and the two headed running back monster. The Titans have offensive passing options and Matthews is going to be the most consistent one.
Rookie To Watch: Corey Davis
In Davis’ last two seasons at Western Michigan, he never averaged less than 15.5 yards per reception. While the NFL is a completely different beast, the statistics indicate he is a big play receiver who can also run short to intermediate routes. Mariota is coming off his best “deep-ball” year and the Titans decided to add a true deep threat. It is going to be fun to watch this behemoth of a man move the chains for the foreseeable future.
Two of the most important elements on a football roster are a dominant offensive line and an elite quarterback. Combine the offense with the new defensive additions, and the Tennessee Titans seem to be making all the right moves to win the AFC South. As the entire division got stronger, there are still question marks at the quarterback position for both Houston and Indianapolis. The Titans are going to be the most consistent team in the AFC South and that is why they are my pick to win the division.
