Weapon of Mass Instruction
Watch my feet!
Summary: The Titans entered the draft with 4 glaring needs -- CB, DE, RB, and WR. With 10 picks in the draft, the Titans ended up directly addressing only one of them. 
RB was addressed with a 2nd stringer from Arizona with virtually no production in college. WR was addressed, but with a motley assortment of low producing, oft injured WRs. The Titans first pick at WR, Paul Williams 
, scored a grand total of 8 touchdowns in his college career. Interestingly, the Titans passed on Steve Smith to draft Chris Henry.
Most draftniks have panned the Titans' draft. However, one noted analyst, Rich Gosselin, gives the Titans an "A", and feels it was a solid draft with solid picks.
I feel much better about day two than day one. I think there is a lot of value in day 2. However, when your first day draft board is so radically different than everyone else's it makes one wonder just what is going on.
Also, the Titans appeared to get hoodwinked by Detroit and Oakland regarding the Mike Williams trade. It is my position that the Titans drafted in rounds 1 and 2 with the assumption that the Mike Williams trade was in the bag and went other than WR. Then, OAK gets McCown AND Williams for a 4th. The Titans had 10 picks and couldn't swing a trade?
Analysis, pick by pick:
1. Michael Griffin / Safety-- I have no problem with this pick, other than he could likely have been had a few picks later. I believe he is an immediate starter, a big upgrade to the defense and one that will help the CBs. This pick tells us that the Pacman CB void will be filled by Cortland Finnegan who filled in admirably last year for Pacman against the Jags.
2. Chris Henry / RB -- an acorn has the potential to be a mighty oak, I guess. A draft day warrior with very little college production. Granted, that production was in a 4 game stretch late this past season. Other similarly rated RBs were still on the board and could have been had in later rounds, most notably Bush and Pittman in the 4th round.
3. Paul Williams / WR and cabaret singer extraordinaire -- scored 8 TDs in college. Often injured. Not a happy camper. Most of the draft analysis centered on the fact that he'd be better served by switching to defense.
Good pick, boys.
4. Leroy Harris / C -- really good value pick. Rated as either the 2nd or 3rd best C in the draft. Good pick but not a need, though Olsen and Mawae are aging.
4. Chris Davis / WR-- small but solid WR. Good route runner. Not overly fast for his size.
5. Antonio Johnson / DT -- when the main items discussed are limited intelligence and a lack of football instincts...it doesn't matter how big you are. By the way, he started 5 games in Div 1A.
6. Joel Filani / WR -- Lola's boy
. Comes from pass happy Texas Tech where he did indeed put up the numbers. At 6'2" 216 he could be something to watch. Playmaker but not overly fast at 4.7.
6. Jacob Ford / DE -- 6'4" 249 and runs a 4.6. That causes a raised eyebrow. Smart player but possibly better suited to a 3-4. Titans looking for a speed rush. What did Kearse way as a rookie?
6. Ryan Smith / CB -- Florida starter 32 out of 35 games. Small but quick, agile, and smart. Can he be a returner? Likely a nickel back.
7. Michael Otto / OT -- Could end up vying as the value steal of the draft in the long term. 6'5" 308. Didn't allow a single sack his senior season at Purdue.
Truly a wait and see draft.
RB was addressed with a 2nd stringer from Arizona with virtually no production in college. WR was addressed, but with a motley assortment of low producing, oft injured WRs. The Titans first pick at WR, Paul Williams , scored a grand total of 8 touchdowns in his college career. Interestingly, the Titans passed on Steve Smith to draft Chris Henry.Most draftniks have panned the Titans' draft. However, one noted analyst, Rich Gosselin, gives the Titans an "A", and feels it was a solid draft with solid picks.
I feel much better about day two than day one. I think there is a lot of value in day 2. However, when your first day draft board is so radically different than everyone else's it makes one wonder just what is going on.
Also, the Titans appeared to get hoodwinked by Detroit and Oakland regarding the Mike Williams trade. It is my position that the Titans drafted in rounds 1 and 2 with the assumption that the Mike Williams trade was in the bag and went other than WR. Then, OAK gets McCown AND Williams for a 4th. The Titans had 10 picks and couldn't swing a trade?
Analysis, pick by pick:
1. Michael Griffin / Safety-- I have no problem with this pick, other than he could likely have been had a few picks later. I believe he is an immediate starter, a big upgrade to the defense and one that will help the CBs. This pick tells us that the Pacman CB void will be filled by Cortland Finnegan who filled in admirably last year for Pacman against the Jags.
2. Chris Henry / RB -- an acorn has the potential to be a mighty oak, I guess. A draft day warrior with very little college production. Granted, that production was in a 4 game stretch late this past season. Other similarly rated RBs were still on the board and could have been had in later rounds, most notably Bush and Pittman in the 4th round.
3. Paul Williams / WR and cabaret singer extraordinaire -- scored 8 TDs in college. Often injured. Not a happy camper. Most of the draft analysis centered on the fact that he'd be better served by switching to defense.
Good pick, boys.4. Leroy Harris / C -- really good value pick. Rated as either the 2nd or 3rd best C in the draft. Good pick but not a need, though Olsen and Mawae are aging.
4. Chris Davis / WR-- small but solid WR. Good route runner. Not overly fast for his size.
5. Antonio Johnson / DT -- when the main items discussed are limited intelligence and a lack of football instincts...it doesn't matter how big you are. By the way, he started 5 games in Div 1A.
6. Joel Filani / WR -- Lola's boy
. Comes from pass happy Texas Tech where he did indeed put up the numbers. At 6'2" 216 he could be something to watch. Playmaker but not overly fast at 4.7.6. Jacob Ford / DE -- 6'4" 249 and runs a 4.6. That causes a raised eyebrow. Smart player but possibly better suited to a 3-4. Titans looking for a speed rush. What did Kearse way as a rookie?
6. Ryan Smith / CB -- Florida starter 32 out of 35 games. Small but quick, agile, and smart. Can he be a returner? Likely a nickel back.
7. Michael Otto / OT -- Could end up vying as the value steal of the draft in the long term. 6'5" 308. Didn't allow a single sack his senior season at Purdue.
Truly a wait and see draft.
(real Titan fans get their info from here 
)HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER(opening statement)I know some of you have already had a chance to visit and meet Michael, but at this time, I want to formally introduce to you our first round pick of this year’s draft, Michael Griffin, safety, corner, kicker, linebacker, or whatever else he is going to play for us.....(on if he is going to play cornerback in addition to safety)We are going to give him a chance to line up in several different spots. We know what he can do at safety and he is only going to get better because he is going to have more time to work on it. What we are going to do is allow him to work outside and fine tune his man-to-man cover skills. ..........(on why the Titans think he can move around and play different positions)He is a versatile player. He understands things. He is a football player first. He is very good in space. He can change direction. He can tackle. ........DB MICHAEL GRIFFIN(on possibly being converted from a safety to a cornerback)I feel great. I learned a lot at the University of Texas. I learned all positions on the field. Just to go out there and play corner, I know exactly what to do. I’ve learned all the concepts.........(on how many other teams looked at you playing corner)There were many team every since I went to the Senior Bowl. I went out there and did one-on-ones. I think I did a very good job out there. Some teams came out to the school and watched our tapes every since I was a freshman until my senior year. Every day in practice we did one-on-ones. Just from there, a lot of people asked me, “do you think you are able to play corner.?” On some people’s boards I wasn’t the top corner but I was the top safety, but some people needed a strictly a corner, some needed safety. Coach Jeff Fisher brought me in here and said you know I think you are able to play both positions and in any position I put you out there in just go out there and do the best you can and get the job done. ......All this reads...him playing corner....wouldn't be surprised in Hill was our nickle and Courtland moved to FS. They like how Courtland tackles and his cover skills...remember he was the nickle back last year and made plays...so my depth chart might not be so off 
(real Titan fans get their info from here 
)HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER(opening statement)I know some of you have already had a chance to visit and meet Michael, but at this time, I want to formally introduce to you our first round pick of this year’s draft, Michael Griffin, safety, corner, kicker, linebacker, or whatever else he is going to play for us.....(on if he is going to play cornerback in addition to safety)We are going to give him a chance to line up in several different spots. We know what he can do at safety and he is only going to get better because he is going to have more time to work on it. What we are going to do is allow him to work outside and fine tune his man-to-man cover skills. ..........(on why the Titans think he can move around and play different positions)He is a versatile player. He understands things. He is a football player first. He is very good in space. He can change direction. He can tackle. ........DB MICHAEL GRIFFIN(on possibly being converted from a safety to a cornerback)I feel great. I learned a lot at the University of Texas. I learned all positions on the field. Just to go out there and play corner, I know exactly what to do. I’ve learned all the concepts.........(on how many other teams looked at you playing corner)There were many team every since I went to the Senior Bowl. I went out there and did one-on-ones. I think I did a very good job out there. Some teams came out to the school and watched our tapes every since I was a freshman until my senior year. Every day in practice we did one-on-ones. Just from there, a lot of people asked me, “do you think you are able to play corner.?” On some people’s boards I wasn’t the top corner but I was the top safety, but some people needed a strictly a corner, some needed safety. Coach Jeff Fisher brought me in here and said you know I think you are able to play both positions and in any position I put you out there in just go out there and do the best you can and get the job done. ......All this reads...him playing corner....wouldn't be surprised in Hill was our nickle and Courtland moved to FS. They like how Courtland tackles and his cover skills...remember he was the nickle back last year and made plays...so my depth chart might not be so off 
