According to ESPN Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky, Dorial Green-Beckham and Rishard Matthews will "ideally" be Tennessee's Nos. 1 and 2 receivers.
Not surprising, but notable. DGB flashed big-time upside during the second half of his rookie season last year and is expected to take the next step and become Marcus Mariota's No. 1 receiver in year two. Matthews was signed to a three-year, $15 million pact in March. This leaves Kendall Wright fighting for snaps in three-wide sets as the early favorite for slot duties, but rookie Tajae Sharpe could push him. Behind them are Justin Hunter and Harry Douglas.
Source: ESPN.com
May 9 - 9:20 AM
I love Kuharsky. I listen to his show most every day and read his articles as well. In the offseason you either are a player he likes or you're not. There's no in-between.
The only thing to glean from this is that he actually said Hunter could breakout. Something positive for him is surprising from PK.
They'll keep 5 WRs, six according to many as a common guess. Not 4.
Their O that barely used the WR has added two WR coaches to the mix, one is an OC. They kept their intriguing guy from the CFL. Coaching wise they really stepped it up for the WRs. This group needed it because with the odd usage and limited usage under Whis, it's hard to evaluate anyone. Hunter, Wright...you name it, they played worse under Whis. This is one of the positions Robinson mentioned needs cleaning up. They need to be 'pushed' and a decision made upon them.
Last year's two best plans were a group of WRs and RBs and TE working in the slot as a high school like split end to keep the D on edge as to who would be there. Also much of camp, they had big WRs outside, fast little bugger in the slot. Whis also said there would be many deep routes to take advantage of speed/height combos and there wasn't except for the 1000 decoy routes run.
No one has a secondary that can match up favorably with two 6-4 athletic freaks and super quick Wright. Doesn't matter if they don't throw them ball or if they don't catch it or if the O is so predictable the DB has a lifetime to recover. On paper(only) they have an amazing WR corps of 1st and 2nd round starters with tons of potential.
Rishard was signed because he doesn't drop the ball.
Douglas was signed last year for this reason but, he didn't play very well and never looked comfy.
McBride is very fast and very well drilled. He didn't get in til late and was holy wow nervous and then finally calmed down in week 16 or 17. A player rated pretty highly that fell unexpectedly in the draft now has a year under his belt.
Sharpe caught a million passes in college and was signed for his route running and hands. He's 6-2. The writeups on him are either glowing or not. No one seems to think he could be average.
Demaris Johnson was signed late in the year to return kicks. Curiously he's the only one I've heard the staff even mention much. They plan to use a WR as a return man this year and are done with RBs doing it. Andrews was the only one mentioned as having done a good job at it and he did fumble too but he could be the backup. They did not say Demaris had the job or anything just how they started to transition to WR returns last December and didn't have the time. (Yeah how long does it take) Anywho he never played last year so he's a curious signing. Many articles this offseason, the authors even forgot he was on the team- that's how much of an afterthought he was.
Andrew Turzilli is the fastest tall WR you have ever seen until you remember Hunter was lauded for his speed. No idea who is faster in games but holy can they get deep in a hurry.
The Titans are being tight-lipped on their new offense thus far. All we know is Delanie will block more and HE said he doesn't expect as many catches.
Rookie minicamp is Friday and it'll be the first time they can even run 11 on 11. That should be our first glimpse of the new O and it should get the coaches talking.
I asked a couple Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Cincy writers and they all expect the same based upon the previous coach they used to cover-big outside, small quick guy in slot. That's what I expected and I guess I got some confirmation. That was Whis' best plan and suits their personnel.
Hunter and Turzilli are excellent students and perform extremely well in camp. Hunter has been one of the best WRs in the NFL in preseason each year. His issues are when the reps aren't there anymore or the O as I mentioned etc. I strongly doubt he gets cut because he regularly outperforms everyone in the summer. How will all the other guys show up to camp? Will they know the plays? DGB did not last year and 'grew up quick' with Turzilli's help and those two bonded in a great way pushing each other. Wright 'bucked' at the new O and Whis called him out for not running the routes completely- he didn't want him curling back or adjusting because the QB is under pressure. Those two butted heads and Whis became more critical of Wright and...I don't know how he'll adjust to a new O.
I don't think it changes and it'll still be the 1st and 2nd rounders starting- Hunter and DGB outside with Wright in the slot.
Whis moved Wright outside and made him play 'the big role' and his stats plummeted. The previous OC had no O, just Wright run over the middle 5 yards deep and catch a pass. It was brutal but still no one could cover Wright and he had nearly 100 catches. I don't know that he can catch the ball in traffic like Welker and Edelman, he's going to need to. He is fantastic at snap N throws or take two steps and turn. He can catch it and scoot so very quickly.
The way I look at it is first one to mess up gets subbed for and did that sub produce? Then it'll be how far down the depth chart did the camp starter fall? I know this isn't uncommon it's just ya gotta start with the first n second rounders as the starters.
If I had to predict today I would say their six are- DGB, Hunter, Douglas, Matthews, McBride, and Turzilli
Sharpe gets cut n planned for PS but he gets claimed by someone else. Wright gets exposed and his 7 mil contract is sent packing and/or traded.
McBride or Wright over Douglas is very possible as they play better but the coaches like Douglas so there's that disconnect.
I think Wright is more n more uncomfy in the NFL as he gets older. With a TE happy coach and the wonderful Delanie around, they're not gonna tolerate struggles from the slot. They'll skip the third WR and use Delanie if need be.
Mine is a very unpopular opinion but small Wright can't block well and if they are doing anything like a Pittsburgh or Jax offense then the WRs better block well. DGB is phenomenal one play shakey the next. He'll be fine. Hunter is a fine blocker. They finally have backs good enough to even discuss downfield blocking and I expect this will be (not the only but) yet another knock on Wright. IMO he's similar to Austin in STL and potentially they are better off with traditional roles.