The stereotypical put your head down and bully for more yards, Sankey doesn't do.
If the Titans wanted a RB to do this then why didn't they draft Jeremy Hill or Carlos Hyde? They certainly could have done so. But instead they drafted Sankey as the first RB in the 2014 draft.
As others have mentioned part of the value for Bishop Sankey was with the expectation that the Titan offensive line was a quality unit that should help any RB. The Titans were considered the choice destination for a free agent or rookie RB. The Titans did not sign anyone significant in free agency and drafted Sankey to fill that role.
Perhaps the scouting department was not in tune with the coaching staff when they made this decision?
Could you talk about the offensive line play? Is this no longer a strength of the team?
Whole sale changes to the coaching staff means a clean slate and open competition for the starting RB position.
I did in another thread. This is coming up often now in discussions. The owner has finally voiced his displeasure. Midseason it was as if steadfast support for GM and coach. Now, it seems he's changing but yet won't bad mouth them directly in public. I'm still learning to read him, but I will say this much-he is far more upset with the team now than last year and Munchak was let go. That midseason support was either status quo for any owner or genuine. It's still hard to read what the results will be, but he's definitely displeased.
The Titans had at least a decade with either a top DL or a DL that could perform as such on a given week. They lost their coach to the Eagles maybe four years ago. The OL was fantastic for probably 20ish years. 3 HOF linemen and many names people just know. Last year they were coached by a HOF lineman and had a head coach as a former HOF lineman.
Leveon is flourishing behind a Munchak line and Big Ben has had some amazing games.
In STL, they have a ridiculous DL and their OL has definitely had their moments.
The offseason started with them saying they couldn't afford pro bowl RT Dave Stewart then spending about that same amount of money on Michael Oher. Some Ravens fans laughed at that $ and I was grumpy because I knew he wasn't good. Stewart was hurt, but it was not presented as he won't be healed up for a whole 'nother year. Stewart is old.
Opposite him for 8-9 years has been Michael Roos. A very high level tackle that has been overshadowed by some of the game greats. His career average is roughly 4-5 sacks allowed per season. That's HOF, best of, type sacks allowed numbers for a left tackle. He was drafted in the same draft as Stewart. Whisenhunt didn't seem to want him but oh I guess we'll stick with him. Lewan was drafted to replace him. Roos totally overwhelmed Whisenhunt and he said he was wayyyy off on his evaluation of Roos and called him one of the best lineman he's ever been around.
For near the same 8-9 years, the Titans have had one of the best blocking TEs ever in Craig Stevens.
Oher was outplayed by backups in camp and there was talk he might get cut but were concerned of his contract and what if he doesn't make the team, is it guaranteed still etc.
He has stunk. I'll give him that on a few plays he is an absolute beast of a run blocker like he suddenly turns into big mike williams in college, but otherwise he's been brutally bad.
Roos got hurt 4-5 weeks back.
Lewan filled in at RT as Oher was pulled. He played other spots on the line. When Roos was hurt, Lewan stepped in. He was finally an as advertised draft pick. He moves his feet so well and so much, he's dancing as he blocks. It's awesome. His first start he had JJ Watt and either a sign of respect or a sign of Oher's poor play, Watt tagged the DE on the shoulder and switched sides to shift away from Lewan. The Titans like to run right(well with other backs) and that makes me think Lewan might be perfect for the RT spot despite the tradition that LT is the best lineman. Those feet moving in the run game....he's a great looking youngster.
Levitre stunk the first four games or so, then publicly apologized, and has done oh so much better since. When he gets beat, he is at the DTs feet trying til the last second. Several sacks were totally not on him but a generic high school level stunt that his new T playing next to him fell for. He was stuck trying to block two guys by himself.
Schwenke was OK but got fooled on blitzes up the middle whenever they played a 4-3. Specifically Mercilus seemed to own him one game.
Stephens got hurt in week 3 or 4 and played hurt for a few more weeks then went to IR.
The Titans have a useful backup TE Taylor Thompson who can play FB and put some licks on defenders. People here think he could be a talent at TE one day, but in 3 years he's only been a good blocker. He got hurt about the same time as Stephens and also went on IR. They signed Coffman and Gordon who both did pretty well.
Warmack got hurt, but Spencer provides excellent interior depth having played in the league for years. Warmack is a former top pick. He's a mean guard, real nasty that you;d probably like to run behind but I don't think he's such a great pass blocker. I think it has to do with his personality and Munchak+Matthews seemed to be all over him after passing downs but almost ignored him on running downs so I figure they thought the same. I sometimes think they should try him at DT because it's just so odd how much he loves to hit people. Anyhow, I do figure he develops into a fine pro, but I think it's later than they wanted him to reach that point.
Battle has been great. Maybe best blocking FB in NFL. I have loved his play on so many occasions. Since Mett took over, Whis took him out and he's barely played. This infuriates me as they're down linemen due to injuries soooo I want the FB extra blocker.
Svitek might have had a day or two in New England but JPP and Watt have shown he is horrible and should be cut. He was the fourth LT this season.
Stingily is a good tackle we've been fortunate to have as depth. I think he leaves and surprises stealing a starting spot on another team. He came in for Lewan but since they run right, when Oher got hurt he moved over and Svitek became the LT. Watt's day came against Svitek and the video that was out had him talking about how he was chomping at the bit to go against him.
They signed someone from the Saints who basically got called for penalties. I don't recall anything else.
Last week Stingily got hurt. During the week, they signed this mammoth guy that bounced around two teams this year, last with the Ravens I believe. 6-7 340 pounds. He came in and JPP ran at him maybe 3-4 plays then switched to go back at Svitek. I want to see this mountain. The Titans might have a steal if he can block and not just be huge but at the moment I'd prefer 5 of him.
As the line has broken down, Spencer and Levitre have played worse and worse. They're the vets and haven't kept them together.
The Titans offense has bugged me so much this year. They can pass so well for a series or two in the first and then late in the fourth. In between, has oh so often been 3 quarters of a Gibbs, Parcells, Cowher type bulldozing ball control offense. Sankey had holes Emmitt would have loved. So what one LB nearby, juke him, stiff arm him, give him a shoulder...ya gotta be used to that! but instead he goes down. Whisenhunt would put Shonn Greene in and at times he ran like he was on the Jets and Roger Craig would be proud. That's what Whisenhunt wanted Sankey to do. Leon has been used because he can pickup the blitz, catch a pass, and puts his head down when he runs. I think casual fans think there's this five six foot hole with no one around and the RB just walks through. On most every play, one guy is their's to beat a safety or LB. Sankey did it in college, he did it in preseason, then...it was like what happened? So after a game where Green played uncharacteristically well and Sankey was pulled, he returned to show his own beast mode. It was sweet and yeah after that first tackler, he got some open field to make some moves and use his speed. Next game, he went back to getting taken down by the first guy.
There were a couple Detroit runners this board loved that had similar garbage where they looked sweet but ugh they only got a yard.
Against the Giants, they tried to run a few series and Sankey went down right away. They can't pass block. They'd run all day but he's not cutting it.
Andrews, like I said earlier is looking for a backup spot. He is, however, a tough runner that even showed some toughness on his kick returns. I think it'll be "See Sankey?" as Andrews does well at RB, and then Sankey will come in and do it. There's something gun shy about him-a terrible habit or hesitation they gotta break or he won't have much of an NFL career. Sankey is the bluechip and Andrews is trying to be a regular on the roster. Big difference between them now, it's not stealing a spot.
It's not that the Titans were looking for Mike Alstott. Heck they have a beast RB in Battle if they wanted that. It's the very common down on first contact thing that oh so many RBs have infuriated NFL fans with for decades.
Leon was signed to be the KR and RB depth. It wasn't supposed to be their franchise back as the KR. What makes an NFL coach decide to switch the old guy and the star rookie? Gotta think on that if you're a Sankey fan pretending it's just line play.
McCluster had some years where he was about wasted in KC. He's been like that in TEN. If he's in, he gets the rock 90% of the time. He hasn't at all been used creatively. He barely plays WR and he sure wasn't Kendall Wright's replacement as Whisenhunt said he'd be in preseason when he said he was the only one quick enough dynamic enough to fill that role. Whisenhunt has completely whiffed on two of the NFL's more exciting playmakers in these two. I do hope he's gone and if so, I can totally envision a buddy rubbing it in as Wright does extremely well in 2015. There's games and game threads where us or announcers are pointing out over n over that he is wide open on almost every play yet he doesn't get a target for a half or more. I really think he might be the quickest WR in the NFL-I mean stop, go, turn, explode...he has ridiculous body control. Most teams last year didn't cover him but hit him after he caught it playing a zone. This year there's been some of that, but they've also gone man because Locker and Whitehurst threw behind his speed instead of leading him-it was easier for the DB to catch it more often than for Wright to.
I mention Wright and McCluster because there's been so much wrong with what Whisenhunt said he'd do and what he actually did, but I don't think Sankey fans can jump on this bandwagon. He gets chances every week and keeps flopping. People come in the game threads and ask if Sankey is even in the game after he starts with like 7 carries for 18 yards. He stunk, he got a chance and stunk. They'll go to him again to start the third and we'll see. They always do and....I think that's on him.