I'd want to see just how stable the organization seems if I were him. They haven't been very good during his career. He went from the Broncos to a winning Jets team that collapsed and probably is a bit apprehensive about all teams. It could very well be his last contract too
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Titans 2018 (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Bri
- Start date
Probably not with the Titans- every other year I'd agree. Matthews stepped up so big last year and made such a high number of tough catches to give Mariota his first "security blanket" WR. It's Marcus' world, they just live in it. After years of previous WRs that had bad drop issues, this is a bigger deal in TEN then elsewhere. Throw in Sharpe who caught everything in college and during the summer, then suddenly dropped a bunch and Matthews just seems so reliable. Marcus is returning from injury. He'll probably be "off" and has an OCD-like tendency to not throw INTs. Smith, Taylor, and Davis will do whatever rookies do and Mariota has to get used to them. Now ya add Decker to it and that's four new faces.
All I've written of Davis not being the #1 til midseason, I think one could make that argument for Decker over Matthews too. It's difficult to beat out reliability because the Titans have flat out not had that.
Taywan Taylor is still holy wow good. The day Decker was there, he rocked in minicamp. He's a big monkey wrench here too. Tajae last year and just football history have people apprehensive to boast too much of Taylor without full pads and hitting, but we are at nearly a month of him being arguably their best WR. Penciling him in at any spot can seem like a bit much and at the same time, not allowing him to have earned a spot. He's real tricky here to squeeze into projections, depth chart, or any such thoughts.
Robinson almost has to trade Sharpe. I think someone good will be cut and also probably Weems since the rooks are returning the ball well. Nate Palmer looks awesome and lost like 20 pounds. He was already their ST linebacker and could now beat out the Raiders LB they signed in FA. That won't look good for Robinson if two of his FAs don't make it. We're not used to cutting good players. Robinson's gotta do some sort of projected roster and try to trade around it. His pride might get hurt, but there's only so much effort to keep a backup who only plays special teams.
-OZ-
Footballguy
fair enough, but his experience in NY serves as a reminder that QB is king.
Rishard certainly exceeded expectations but he's still not a real #1 receiver. You're right (IMO) that Davis wouldn't take over as the go-to until mid-season (even Odell didn't take over as the go-to until mid-season and I'm not ready to predict Davis to have that level of success). But I disagree that it would take Decker that long. MM has to get comfortable with him sure but that shouldn't be a problem.
TT looks great, and that's a good problem to have - can you really keep Taylor on the bench over half the time? Titans are not going 4 wide too often and Taylor isn't going to put Walker on the bench.
If Robinson can get anything for Sharpe he should do it. I hope they don't worry much about cutting two FAs who came fairly cheap. I'd rather keep Weems than Bates (I think, honestly I haven't watched Bates much) but neither should be a reason to not sign Decker.
-OZ-
Footballguy
Nice to see the DGB trade is paying dividends.
East Coast Bias
Footballguy
Decker inbound on 1 year deal.
-OZ-
Footballguy
http://ten.247sports.com/Bolt/Report-Titans-sign-Eric-Decker-53231114
Haven't seen the terms yet. But this being one year makes a lot of sense for Decker and the Titans.
-OZ-
Footballguy
Hankmoody
Footballguy
Agree, not concerned at all. First, Decker has to stay healthy. Even if he does this crushes Rishard much worse than Davis. Yes, injecting one more mouth to feed into any equation means everyone eats a little less, but Decker isn't going to prevent Davis from getting open, and if he's open he'll get the targets.
Maybe "there does Davis' redraft value" but I don't think that's even true.
msommer
Footballguy
Decker is going to prevent Davis from being on the field, which kind of is a prerequisite for being open. Unless you believe the Titans will go with 3 WRs as their base offense
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msommer
Footballguy
-OZ-
Footballguy
And that's where we see things differently. I don't think Decker is on the field for 100% of the offensive snaps. Matthews won't be either. Last year both Matthews and Sharpe were on the field for just over 73%, which left 30% for Kendall Wright. It might be over simplistic to just sharpe's snaps to Decker and wright to Davis. (Wright did miss 5 games). If we just stuck to the 2200 snaps Titans wr saw last year I think we're looking closer to 700 for decker, 600 for rishard, 500 for Davis and 500 for the rest. That probably skews more to Davis by mid season.
The biggest change I think happens is the TEs see fewer snaps. Not walker, he's probably in for more than 66% if he doesn't miss a game, but I do not think the other TEs account for 860 snaps in 2017. And that's not projecting an increase in offensive plays in which the Titans were 22nd last year.
So yes, I do think the Titans move into more 3 wr sets. Whether that's their "base offense" remains to be seen but they'll be in it more often assuming health. Mostly because those are their best players.
I won't expect an offensive explosion or MM to become a top 5 passer, but I think they are much higher than a bottom 5 in passing attempts.
msommer
Footballguy
At this time of year everybody gets more snaps. DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry, Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor, Eric Decker, Jace Amaro, Jonnu Smith....
Color me surprised if a significant switch of philosophy occurs now. The Titans are much more likely to be in the top five for rush play percentage this year (agan) than seeing Matthews, Decker and Davis on the field together for significant snaps.
Just my
. As I said, I hope the Decker signing can be seen in the W column when the season is over.
-OZ-
Footballguy
We'll see. The biggest thing is your last line, which although their schedule is harder this year I think Decker helps them win the division.At this time of year everybody gets more snaps. DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry, Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor, Eric Decker, Jace Amaro, Jonnu Smith....
Color me surprised if a significant switch of philosophy occurs now. The Titans are much more likely to be in the top five for rush play percentage this year (agan) than seeing Matthews, Decker and Davis on the field together for significant snaps.
Just my
As I said, I hope the Decker signing can be seen in the W column when the season is over.
It will be interesting to see the play calling with arguably the best backfield duo, one of the best young QBs, and a trio of receivers who can rival most teams.
Should be a fun year.
msommer
Footballguy
The snaps were a #1 WR Sharpe for 100% til midseason and then Matthews replaced him. The multi TE sets only allowed for 1 WR. Sharpe was not a good choice in this role. It's heavy on blocking also it's matched up with the opposition's best CB and a safety usually helping. It was more like 100% and then 50 percent ballpark. This needs to be Davis' role in time. Thanks to Matthews for somehow making a ton of contested catches, but Davis (theoretically) has the ability and the big bod to fill this role nicely. I wouldn't bother with Decker here. The team needs Davis to grab this role. Let Matthews be it til Davis can step up.
I agree totally on your 2nd paragraph and have written a lot about it. In one calendar year, they lost PFFs top two blocking TEs. Is Mularkey "big enough" to own up to that and change the offense as needed? I think they are more and more perfect for Joe Gibbs' offense-the h-back and 3 WR sets. Their OL coach knows it obviously, but just about any long term coach in the NFL knows it too. It was discussed so often, then he retired and came back only to have it discussed often again. Not an identical O, but their variation of it. One of the seasons people often discuss with Gibbs 3WR completed with Timmy Smith running a million times in the Superbowl.
Clowney woke up. Watt is super. Mercilus destroyed theTitans the previous couple years. Gibbs created his h-back role to pickup LT blitzing from all over. Mularkey loves his young Ts but he did give them help often last year with a TE or two. The h-back could still do this. Walker and rook Jonnu (and probably Fowler and Henry) could all do this role nicely.
The issue with the addition of Decker and Taylor and wanting an offensive change still goes back to protecting Mariota. They are done if he gets injured and who knows how that will impact our gem of a QB to get injured another time.
My memories of Mularkey's successful 3 WR sets were the Bus mostly alone in the backfield and their 3rd WR being gimmicky in Kordell or Randel El. I don't want this and I don't think the Titans are built for this.
-OZ-
Footballguy
msommer
Footballguy
I'm not off hand aware of anyone other than BB that has had success later, but must admit I don't know for sure. Anyway I'm more interested in his years in ATL with Julio...
Well he's been very involved in the offense and it's his offense. Robiske is a figure head some days and instrumental other days. I believe he knew he had an efficient powerful offense that had kinks he couldn't recover from in previous stops, so he hired the most experienced staff money could buy to help him through these issues.
Bratkowski was a better OC and oddly called the WR coach. Robiske, as you said, was a former WR coach named the OC. This was all oddly matched up but also illustrates how he wanted the experience to help him with his O. The defense is either coached by tons of experience or "Lebeau's guys" or both. The line coach, the now fired ST coach...all had tons of experience.
Jason Tucker was a name Titans fans should know but don't really. IIRC He went from the Arena league to Canada and then to the NFL as a WR assistant coach. There are wonderful stories of he and DGB falling asleep studying, quizzing Tajae on play, him working with rook Mariota to place the ball better, Tucker doing just about anything for his WRs. He coached them moreso than Brat ever did. Brat was often with Mularkey and Robiske whereas Tucker was always with the WRs. I was annoyed he was fired. What more do you want from a guy? I appreciated his effort and that he rose up through the ranks.
Frisman Jackson makes me feel old because I remember him as a player. What did he do? What's he done as a coach? I didn't "get" this hire at all.
Luke Steckel was hired as the new assistant and he gives me wonderful thoughts like Tucker did. A coaches son, he's been praised at every stop. He is obsessed with technique and is very current on tech stuff. He uses video to teach technique live. They were watching some plays with VR from last year and the WR room is supposedly state of the art now due to him and all these "toys" he brought in to teach them. Corey Davis told a great story of some DBs coming in and wearing the VR glasses. He taught them issues with their technique on the spot. I love a coach that truly embraces that underneath it all they are really a teacher of sport. During Steckel days (no idea what Jackson is doing then) all desks and chairs are removed and the WRs are not allowed to sit during the meeting. He's got a blackboard and images on every wall and ...oh I llllllllllove the stories of this guy already.
In my opinion, Tucker and Steckel should be there and they should be more than enough for the Titans to make their WR corps work. I don't know their split of in-season job duties but two guys obsessed with film work and technique should assure that the WRs are doing everything right- as much as one can assure such a thing. Mularkey and Robiske should be more than capable of handling anything else that comes up. In the least, those two should be sufficient and we'd all be happy our WRs are finally playing with great technique and doing things the right way. Maybe Brat and now Jackson were/are there to talk WRs through things? Maybe the lack of experience these two have means they can't talk Tajae through in-season struggles like last year? I'm not so sure on in-season, but for the offseason those two are gold
msommer
Footballguy
msommer
Footballguy
Told ya https://twitter.com/MikeClayNFL/status/881003718862413824 the Taylor love is something right now
msommer
Footballguy
I think it is interesting that it is Decker/Taylor (i.e. either Decker+Taylor or Decker or Taylor) for second place. I doubt Taylor flat outplays Decker in TC (even if the playing field is level), so my money is on Decker getting the most targets of the two.
But then I don't have any crystal ball so we'll have to watch it play out.
But then I don't have any crystal ball so we'll have to watch it play out.
Yes, yes I do. Cosell compared him to Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. He had some hesitation in doing so but the same very effective catch N run type receiver. He went on to point out he hasn't played a game, let's see how he does etc., but Cosell doesn't do that.
PFF had a graphic of him being one of the most productive WRs in college the last three years. Another that he and Davis combined were...idk special, forget the graphic exactly.
PK called him someone to watch (interruption, host said someone to watch?) and he said that's what us reporters do at practice.
Terry said he is nothing like Sharpe last year, called him "the real deal."
Wyatt doesn't usually gush and he did a few times now.
Davis pointed out on the radio that everyone covered him and Taylor had great day anyway. Lebeau doesn't just switch CBs around on a WR for no reason and Lebeau too has complimented Taylor.
One of the hmmm things for me is a graphic I saw where Taylor was one of the most productive versus different types of coverage and then with a route tree too.
Here we are before TC and actual hits and pads and all but it's enough praise (from good respected minds) to buy in. He's 22nd round in redraft and fourth in dynasty rookie drafts. There's no reason to NOT jump on board now and see how it shakes out. Those are pretty weak draft spots. At that price, if he doesn't pan out...who cares; we've all done it before. The upside is worth some summer fun to see what happens
There's this big smokescreen, that's pretty transparent to me, that nothing is changing with the offense and blah blah. That means we won't get an update on what changed you just can easily tell they're lying and what they say makes almost no sense.
Decker probably doesn't have Taylor's breakaway ability and the Titans have been super desperate for some. Davis offers some. I'm not sure how that will matter exactly, but it has long been a thorn in Mularkey's side. They didn't really have long receiving TDs by WRs or pick sixes last year. It was curiously absent.
Rookie WRs usually get pushed around and Decker won't. Decker's got some smarts to him and his route running too. I'm not saying Taylor has the advantage, but it's interesting.
Minor point in here but a continuation- Davis and Decker made a huge impression in OTAs and Sharpe hurt his foot at the worst time. Harry Douglas has attached himself to the rookie WRs and has been praised by Robiske, Mularkey, and Lewan even. Today, they'd keep Douglas over Sharpe. Sharpe will need to return and show improved play from last year (which is oh so likely and I expect it) but...good on Douglas. McBride has done nothing. Weems ran into a DB and hurt them briefly and otherwise did nothing. I bet he's done as they drafted returnmen. The only real Q for the roster is will they keep 5 or 6. The players seem assured for once.
Kevon Mabon still the darkhorse candidate; best of the rest, never gets a chance to run with the top group. I think he's gonna be our second half darling in preseason
I have two questions for discussion.
The Titans used three safeties for much of 2016 and 2015. Byard was usually near the LOS while Rashad was the outfielder deep. A name TE would usually have Byard covering him on third. Three safeties for about 60% of the snaps.
In 2017, they have Searcy, Byard, and Cyprien. Cyprien has a horrible pass rating and wonderful run rating.
The Titans signed no one but UDFAs at S and didn't draft any. Rashad and Stafford were FAs for much of the offseason and could have easily been re-signed but weren't. All of this about insinuates they have a plan.
What is it?
Two safeties like most teams?
Use three and be an injury away from panic due to poor depth?
The Titans used three safeties for much of 2016 and 2015. Byard was usually near the LOS while Rashad was the outfielder deep. A name TE would usually have Byard covering him on third. Three safeties for about 60% of the snaps.
In 2017, they have Searcy, Byard, and Cyprien. Cyprien has a horrible pass rating and wonderful run rating.
The Titans signed no one but UDFAs at S and didn't draft any. Rashad and Stafford were FAs for much of the offseason and could have easily been re-signed but weren't. All of this about insinuates they have a plan.
What is it?
Two safeties like most teams?
Use three and be an injury away from panic due to poor depth?
Lebeau has used a zone D coverage scheme for almost all of his career. With the Titans, he didn't have the right people so they played man. After some turnover, most of their corners are better at zone. Do you think he goes with that? Sims isn't a zone corner but a nice blanket. This would affect him most. Adoree is all athlete and would greatly benefit from QBs underestimating his athleticism in a zone
This is my 53 prediction http://cover32.com/2017/07/21/titans-53-roster-prediction-july/
I really want you guys to check out Mark Spelman on youtube. The backup C is usually also a backup G, so that could be against him. If they keep a backup C, then I definitely think he makes it. 4.54 lateral speed is so nice. He's got college games where the back averaged 8 ypc and the articles read that they pounded the ball up the middle. Who does that? Same with player of the week. Since when do linemen win that? His sacks allowed are super low. He's going from D2 to the NFL. That concern washed away for me (some) when he was impressive in the spring.
I don't think Tretola lasts.
Corey Levin is a better G than Spelman would be. Corey's definitely got some beastly fight to him. I think it's gonna be which they want and since their backup Ts can play G, Spelman's gonna get the spot.
If so, that would mean two JRob draft picks don't make the team also.
I really want you guys to check out Mark Spelman on youtube. The backup C is usually also a backup G, so that could be against him. If they keep a backup C, then I definitely think he makes it. 4.54 lateral speed is so nice. He's got college games where the back averaged 8 ypc and the articles read that they pounded the ball up the middle. Who does that? Same with player of the week. Since when do linemen win that? His sacks allowed are super low. He's going from D2 to the NFL. That concern washed away for me (some) when he was impressive in the spring.
I don't think Tretola lasts.
Corey Levin is a better G than Spelman would be. Corey's definitely got some beastly fight to him. I think it's gonna be which they want and since their backup Ts can play G, Spelman's gonna get the spot.
If so, that would mean two JRob draft picks don't make the team also.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Interesting stuff Bri and thanks for the info about some of the back up linemen. I like your take about Tim Lelito possibly making it as a blocking TE.
Jonnu Smith looked very good as a blocker from what I have seen as well as doing everything else really well. You seem less optimistic about his blocking abilities than I am.
thanks. I'm not sure I have ever seen a rookie TE truly block well. Maybe Shockey? Even the best college blockers seem to need a year of seasoning in the NFL. Everyone I know isn't convinced Amaro improved until they see it in camp.Biabreakable said:
What do you think of Ragin III? His injury made him plummet before draft day, but I do figure you're well aware of him. He appears healthy, so is he a steal for the Titans D?
their UDFA Jeremy Boykins is a tremendous athlete listed as 6-1 to 6-3. His twin is on the Eagles and already has some calling him a steal for them. The twin angle is hmmm. If the Titans switch to zone, I think Boykins chances of making the team skyrocket. Down the depth charts, you should see him plenty in preseason. Keep an eye out for him. IDK if he's the best football player but geesh can he react and run; very impressive athletically.
msommer
Footballguy
I have been on the record for being anti Harry Douglas since he came over from ATL, IMHO with reason. But I doubt they keep Sharpe over him without massive improvement in Sharpe during Camp. Douglas also took a paycut in April to stay with TEN, now only costs 1.5mBri said:
Biabreakable
Footballguy
I haven't been following him at all so no not familiar with him.
I did watch some highlights I found. He has some range and tackles pretty well. I haven't seen him in coverage at all. I don't know about how he can play off blocks, most of the plays I did see he is running free to the ball.
He is a bit small for an inside LB but if he can make the team perhaps he could contribute there next season or something?
If he can cover then maybe he could help.
I agree rookie TE need time to develop as blockers. It is a somewhat situational role however and I think Smith can contribute there 20 snaps a game. in regards to Amaro, yeah he needs to prove he can block before I would buy that as well. I'm somewhat surprised he is still on a team right now. Maybe you are right that they use a offensive lineman for plays where they need that TE to move people. Smith maybe not ready for that type of assignment yet.
Seems kind of silly to add all these receivers and play a lineman in one of their spots much though.
Yep. That's why I've been suggesting a switch to a Joe Gibbs O with an h-back. Dennis Kelly being announced as eligible still bugs me from last season
East Coast Bias
Footballguy
Tretola suffered a minor gunshot wound in 2:00 AM incident.
most are reporting the Titans are leaning toward releasing him.
They don't lean toward anything in situations like this. They either do or don't. My guess is he sticks around and just doesn't make it because others are better.
