FOXSports.com News for Titans

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:17:01 GMT

The Titans have 16 players who can be unrestricted free agents, and much of the changes that could be coming will be on defense, where improvements need to be made at every level. Most of the secondary can be free agents, including Cortland Finnegan, Michael Griffin, Jordan Babineaux, Chris Hope and Anthony Smith. Defensive end could turn out to be a need position as well, given that William Hayes, Jason Jones and Dave Ball can be unrestricted free agents. And even if the Titans re-sign Jones, he likely could move back to tackle where he was more effective as an inside pass rusher. Even the linebacker corps, which got two rookie additions in Colin McCarthy and Akeem Ayers could get another new face or two in the offseason to go with those two youngsters, who showed plenty of potential in their first NFL seasons. On offense, the idea will be to see how they can improve and upgrade the interior of the offensive line and get the running game back on track with Chris Johnson. While Johnson might not be as explosive as he has been in years past, the Titans believe he will bounce back if they improve the blocking on the interior in front of him. MEDICAL WATCH: WR Kenny Britt is recovering from a knee injury quicker than anticipated. Britt, who tore his ACL and MCL in late September could be ready to return to action by training camp, according to GM Ruston Webster.

NOTES, QUOTES

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:16:56 GMT

The Tennessee Titans are keeping a key offensive contributor in the fold. The team announced Friday that it had agreed to terms with wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins on a multi-year contract. Hawkins, who will be 26 this fall, was due to become a free agent on March 13, the end of the NFL calendar for 2011. Hawkins, the Titans' fourth-round draft pick out of California in 2008, had a career-high 47 catches for 470 yards in 2011, including his first NFL touchdown in a 24-17 loss to the Bengals on November 6. He was fourth on the team in receiving yards. In his career, Hawkins has 66 catches for 709 yards. The Titans had previously reached deals with tight end Craig Stevens and offensive tackle Mike Otto to keep them off the free agent market. Fifteen other Titans are still set to become free agents next month. --New GM Ruston Webster said the Titans could have WR Kenny Britt, who suffered a torn ACL in September and had surgery in early October, back in time for training camp in 2012. He said Britt appears to be a fast healer and is ahead of schedule in his recovery. "Kenny has been working hard and he's coming fast, probably even a little faster than I thought he would. So I'm real happy about that," he said. "We expect to have him out there for training camp. The good thing about his injury, is there is a good thing, is it happened early, and he's a very strong young and bounces back very quickly. We're hoping and planning to have him back for training camp." --Speaking of Britt, he put one of the legal issues he dealt with last season behind him when he entered a guilty plea of disturbing the peace and paid a $1,500 fine in a New Jersey court over an incident in 2011 when he allegedly crushed out a marijuana cigar at a car wash and disposed of the evidence which police were unable to find. --The Titans have hired Jon Gannon, who has spent the past three seasons as a scout for the St. Louis Rams, as their new quality control coach on defense. Arthur Smith, who had that role last year, slides over to be the quality control coach for offense, a role held last year by Curtis London. London left in January to become the running backs coach at Penn State. --Forget the Peyton Manning talk in Tennessee. If the Colts cut their star quarterback, he won't be coming back to the state where he played college football. General manager Ruston Webster made that abundantly clear in a conference call with season-ticket holders, voicing support for Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker. "Obviously, Peyton is a great player, but we also feel like we're in good hands," Webster said. QUOTE TO NOTE: "Jake showed enough during the season to warrant a chance to win the job and he'll have a good shot to do that. He's a very talented player. He brings a lot of excitement to the game, and we are as excited as you are about bringing him out there. It'll be a good competition. It won't just be Matt's job, and Matt knows that. The best man will win." - GM Ruston Webster on the impending quarterback competition between Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker.

INSIDE SLANT

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:16:53 GMT

For the first time in a long time, the Tennessee Titans offense looks to be more ready to carry the load than the defense. Yes, there have been years when the defense was bad, but in some of those seasons the offense had very few playmakers and often relied heavily on a strong offensive line and running game to control the clock and grind out wins. Entering 2012, the Titans still have a few things to iron out on the offensive side of the football, but the potential is there for Tennessee to actually catch up with some of the more explosive teams in the NFL rather than play the old trudging, three-yards and a cloud of dust that has been the calling card of this franchise for the better part of 15 years. At quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck came over from Seattle and was mostly a solid decision-maker and enjoyed his most productive season since 2007 with 3,571 yards passing. Hasselbeck played well, but voach Mike Munchak said, and last week, general manager Ruston Webster reiterated that the veteran will have to fend off last year's first-round pick Jake Locker in training camp and preseason. Locker, the eighth pick overall, showed plenty of moxie in limited appearances as a rookie and rallied the Titans to near victories against New Orleans and Atlanta after Hasselbeck was knocked out with minor injuries. The Titans were sold on Locker because of his makeup as they were looking for a quarterback who could learn quickly, move in the pocket and think on his feet. Plus, he shows the type of character where once he is the starter he will become an instant locker-room leader. Whether it is Hasselbeck or Locker, the quarterback should have more weapons to throw to than the Titans have had in a long time. Kenny Britt, who was lost with a knee injury, was flashing superstar potential before he went down. The Titans are hopeful he will make a full recovery after ACL surgery in October. In his stead, Nate Washington stepped up and had 75 catches and the first 1,000-yard receiving season of his career. Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins also had more than 40 catches each in their first seasons with extended playing time. At tight end Jared Cook finally displayed some of the vast potential the Titans believed he had when they drafted him in 2009, finishing with 49 receptions for 759 yards. With the passing game in good shape, the Titans now have to figure out a way to get their running game, which finished 31st overall, going again. Chris Johnson was not the same player he was before his holdout, running for a career-low 1,047 yards. Johnson did not exhibit the same explosiveness and burst out of cuts that he had previously shown, but the Titans hope a full offseason of work will allow him to recover. Also expect changes on the offensive line, where guards and perhaps center could be addressed in free agency or the draft. The Titans are pleased with tackles Michael Roos and David Stewart, but less than satisfied with their interior three in 2011.

Titans agree to terms with WR Lavelle Hawkins

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:16:13 GMT

The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, making him their third pending free agent kept off the market.

Titans agree on multi-year deal with OT Mike Otto

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:16 GMT

The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a multi-year deal with offensive tackle Mike Otto, trimming the number of their pending free agents to 16.

Early predictions for next NFL season

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:42:07 GMT

Ravens could send Lewis into retirement with a Super Bowl run.

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Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:42:07 GMT

New GM: Titans happy with own QB situation

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:40:28 GMT

The Titans new general manager says the team is in good hands with the quarterbacks they have.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:31:15 GMT

The hiring of Brett Maxie as secondary coach and Steve Brown as an assistant for the secondary are considered the most important of the offseason hires in part because there could be a complete revamping of the defensive backfield with four safeties as free agents, as well as cornerback Cortland Finnegan. Look for the Titans possibly to add a veteran safety or cornerback to be anointed as the leader of the secondary room, especially if Finnegan is not franchised or does not come back. Also, Tennessee will address the position in the draft as it looks to change the culture in the defensive backfield. UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Matt Hasselbeck. Backups -- Jake Locker, Rusty Smith. Injured reserve -- Sam Brown. Hasselbeck was a solid pro as advertised, and he mentored Locker, the quarterback of the future. The job will be open in camp to see if Locker can claim it. Smith is a decent third guy but has little experience. RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- RB Chris Johnson, FB Ahmard Hall. Backups -- Jamie Harper, FB Quinn Johnson. Injured reserve -- Javon Ringer. Chris Johnson didn't have the year he needed to after his holdout and extension. Hall is a free agent, and he might be moved out after Quinn Johnson was claimed off waivers. Ringer is a decent backup, and Harper has potential. WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Nate Washington, Damian Williams. Backups -- Lavelle Hawkins, Donnie Avery, Marc Mariani. Injured reserve -- Kenny Britt. Washington had a career year with 74 receptions and 1,023 yards. Britt, a dynamic playmaker, wrecked his knee. The Titans got more from Williams and Hawkins than they probably expected after Britt got hurt. Mariani is the return man, while Avery is filler. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Michael Roos, LG Leroy Harris, C Eugene Amano, RG Jake Scott, RT David Stewart. Backups -- C/G Fernando Velasco, C Kevin Matthews, T Mike Otto, T Byron Stingily. Roos and Stewart are as solid a tandem as there is in the NFL, but the interior three struggled. Scott is a free agent, but the Titans are more likely to re-sign backup Velasco, who has upside. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- DLE Derrick Morgan, DLT Sen'Derrick Marks, RDT Jurrell Casey, DRE Jason Jones. Backups -- DE William Hayes, DE Dave Ball, DT Karl Klug, DT Shaun Smith, DT Zach Clayton, DT Malcolm Sheppard. This group needs an edge rusher, something Morgan should be, but he has been slowed by injuries. Casey and Klug were two solid rookie defensive tackles, and Clayton and Sheppard may have potential. Jones, Ball and Hayes are all free agents, with Jones having the most potential but Ball perhaps the most productive. Smith was so-so as a free agent, while Marks made the occasional play. LINEBACKERS: Starters -- SLB Akeem Ayers, MLB Colin McCarthy, WLB Will Witherspoon. Backups -- OLB Gerald McRath, OLB Patrick Bailey, MLB Tim Shaw, MLB Kevin Malast. Injured reserve -- MLB Barrett Ruud. McCarthy became an impact player once Ruud was hurt. The Titans hope Ayers improves in year two, while Witherspoon eventually could be a target to be replaced in the draft. Bailey, Shaw and McRath are special teamers, while Malast was a late-season addition with little impact. DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Jason McCourty, RCB Cortland Finnegan, SS Jordan Babineaux, FS Michael Griffin. Backups -- CB Alterraun Verner, CB Chris Hawkins, S Chris Hope, S Robert Johnson, CB Tommie Campbell. Injured reserve -- S Anthony Smith. Finnegan, Griffin, Babineaux, Hope and Smith are all free agents, and many of them may not return. Verner and McCourty are solid, but the Titans will have to add to them, because it's uncertain if Hawkins, Johnson and Campbell are ready for bigger roles than special teams. SPECIAL TEAMS: K Rob Bironas, P Brett Kern, KR/PR Marc Mariani, LS Ken Amato. Though he doesn't get the recognition, Bironas may be the best kicker in the NFL. He went 6-for-7 from beyond 50 yards (only miss was from 66), while Kern is a solid punter. Mariani wasn't as good as he was in his rookie year, but he was still decent. Amato is a free agent, and Kevin Matthews could replace him.