A few changes on the Titans defensive line

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Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn drills his players in training camp.
Photo by Andrew Strickert for Total Titans 
 
There are some changes taking place on the Titans defensive line. Several weeks ago, I wrote about DE William Hayes starting to look like a defensive tackle. Then he started playing the position a little in training camp and again Saturday night against the Bucs.
 
Defensive tackles LaJuan Ramsey and Sen’Derrick Marks also made position changes for a few snaps Saturday night, moving out to defensive end. Huh? And on the plays I saw them do it, guess who was in at DT? Mitch King, an undersized DT who’s more suited than either Ramsey or Marks to be a DE. Why wasn’t King rushing from the edge?
 
Well, part of that may be that King isn’t in the Titans plans this year and Marks is. I don’t believe that Ramsey is, though.

Want to take a guess who else lined up as an outside edge rusher? Rocky Boiman, who was more of a special teams standout than linebacker in his first stint as a Titan.
 
What’s with all the musical chair games?
 
Part of it is just part of the game. We saw Kyle Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth switch positions a few times last year. They had some success with it too.
 
Part of it is because of the injuries. Jason Jones was in a walking boot all week after injuring an ankle in the Hall of Fame game. Jacob Ford has missed most of camp with a hamstring issue. Both sat out the Tampa Bay game.
 
Good news on Ford, he was back at practice this afternoon and participated in some drills. I had to leave early today and don’t know what he did after that.
 
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Jacob Ford practiced today in training camp.
Photo by Andrew Strickert for Total Titans
 
I mentioned weird stuff earlier and here’s something else.
 
Check out this picture from camp this afternoon.
 
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D-linemen William Hayes and Jevon Kearse 
Photo by Andrew Strickert for Total Titans
 
How about Jevon Kearse and Hayes switching jerseys? What’s going on, guys? You trying to confuse Washburn?
 
Note: For those of you who have been to Titans training camp, you know about the tent at the entrance to the practice fields where they sell various Titans merchandise. I’ve never bothered to check it out before, figuring that it was just more overpriced stuff like they sell in the Titans Pro Shop. Saturday at the tailgate I go to, a friend told me about a clearance they were having in the tent for big men’s clothing, sizes 2X – 4X. Stuff like jackets and sweatshirts, priced at $10 for summer items and $20 for winter clothes. I picked up a nice shirt for $10 and wished I had known about it sooner when they had a larger selection.
 
If you’re a big guy looking for Titans clothing, or know someone who is, check it out. Sale prices like those don’t come along often.

2 Responses to “A few changes on the Titans defensive line”

  1. Bob Loblaw Says:

    Why not try it out and see how many positions each guy can effectively play? It increases the number of individual d-linemen that each opposing o-lineman has to prepare for. It also allows the Titans to better match the strengths of individual DLs against the weaknesses of opposing OLs. With Hayes bulking up and Vickerson slimming down, maybe the Titans are in effect looking to eliminate the distinction between DTs and DEs, and just have a bunch of athletic DLs who can play anywhere on the line.

  2. Tom Gower Says:

    Fish in a presser since the game (not sure if it was Sunday or Monday) said Hayes was a DE, specifically an LDE, and only a DE. Sure, coach, whatever you say.

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