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May

12

Observations from Titans’ off-season work

By Terry McCormick | Filed Under Miscellaneous 

OK, it’s only an OTA practice and a rookie orientation. It largely means nothing in the grand scheme of things. No pads, non-contact drills, etc. But at this time of year, people are constantly asking questions about the Titans and wondering from my vantage point what I see in this team.

So here goes…

1) Now that Pacman is gone, the most asked question I get is, “What about the latest draft and, especially Chris Johnson, the No. 1 pick?” In the one rookie orientation I witnessed, Johnson looked like one of the fastest players I’ve ever witnessed on the practice field. He’s faster than Tyrone Calico and has the type of speed Chris Sanders had in his prime.

He’s also elusive and shifty, and Mike Heimerdinger will surely find ways of getting the football in his hands.

2) How does Jevon Kearse look? Kearse was a bit winded when he met with reporters after a hard workout on Friday, but it shows he’s working hard and he looks to be in solid shape from that work. On the first play of the 11 on 11, Kearse picked up a Chris Henry fumble with his big right paw and was off to the races. For a moment, it looked like 1999 all over again. In my mind, can he still take a 16-game pounding is more the question than does he have anything left?

3) How is Vince Young doing under Heimerdinger? Young is still very much a work in progress to my eyes. He made a couple of dazzling throws, one to Brandon Jones over Nick Harper for a 60-yard touchdown and another in a red zone period that Justin McCareins cradled in the corner of the end zone. But there are still problems that have to be ironed out. Both Vincent Fuller and David Thornton picked off errant Young passes last Friday. Yes, Young needs to use his legs to make big plays, but it is his reads and avoiding troublesome throws that he must improve on if he is to accomplish his goal of becoming one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.

4) What of the receivers? McCareins looks like he never left, and Justin Gage should build on last year. Brandon Jones is in a make-or-break year in my opinion and looked pretty solid last week when I saw him. Maybe I’m stretching too much, but a slimmed down Mike Williams was very impressive in a two-minute drill last week, and if, as he says, he’s finally taking his football career seriously, could not only make the roster but actually help the team. Biren Ealy could also have a decent future. Elsewhere, I think year’s draftees Paul Williams and Chris Davis need to show more, especially if rookie Lavelle Hawkins proves himself early.

5) What about tight end? Alge Crumpler is clearly the big addition here, and the Titans also believe rookie draft pick Craig Stevens has a bright future. But Dwayne Blakley looked solid in Tuesday’s workout, especially as a red zone target.

 

 

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