2010 Tennessee Titans offseason positional analysis: DT

Since Andrew recently took a look at how the Tennessee Titans stack up at the defensive end position, it’s only natural for the next installment of our offseason positional analyses to be focused upon the guys who make up the rest of the defensive line: the defensive tackles.

Heading into the 2009 season, filling the enormous void left by “Fat Albert” Haynesworth was the main goal for the Titans at DT. Despite the stellar play of Tony Brown and a solid run defense, the DT position failed to get the type of consistent pass rush that was a trademark of the units that consisted of the gargantuan Haynesworth manning the fort in the trenches.

With 2009 behind us and 2010 looming on the not-so-immediate horizon, let’s analyze the state of affairs at defensive tackle.

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Retaining Stephen Tulloch: A no-brainer for the Tennessee Titans

Similar to the subject of my most recent article (Tony Brown), the impending free agent status of fellow Titan defensive stalwart Stephen Tulloch is also in limbo due to the NFL’s situation with an expiring collective bargaining agreement.

To make a long story short: New CBA= Tulloch is an unrestricted free agent, No CBA= Tulloch being a restricted free agent.

As the case with my feelings towards bringing Brown back into the fold, re-signing Stephen Tulloch should also be a top offseason priority for the Tennessee Titans.

Memo to the Tennessee Titans: Keep Tony Brown around

Regardless of whether or not a new collective bargaining agreement will be reached by the beginning of March, in some shape or form, Tony Brown will be a free agent this offseason.

Without a new CBA, Brown’s ability to test the free agency waters will be restricted. At the opposite end of the spectrum, TB will be an unrestricted free agent if the seemingly impossible occurs with the owners and the players’ union shaking hands on a new agreement.

Either way, based on his stellar play over the last couple of seasons, the Tennessee Titans would be wise to bring Tony Brown back into the fold.

Tennessee Titans offseason positional analysis: Tackles

Michael Roos has played in two Pro Bowls. Photo by Andrew Strickert for Total Titans

We continue our offseason positional analyses, in which we take a look at the state of affairs within each position group. What’s the contract status of the players at that position? Are any of them potential losses? Is there a need to upgrade the position, either in March through free agency or in April via the draft?

In earlier articles, Drexel examined the quarterback and receiver positions and I took a look at the guards. Today we continue on the offensive line with a look at the tackles.

The good news is that the Titans have two All-Pro tackles signed through 2013. The bad news is that the depth behind them is untested. We’ll take a closer look after the jump.

When will the Tennessee Titans show CJ the money?

In a topsy-turvy season filled with high and lows, there was one constant for the Tennessee Titans in 2009: the dominating performance by Every Coach’s Dream a.k.a. Chris Johnson.

CJ was a consistent ray of light as he trotted past the 2,000 yard rushing mark in ’09. In only two seasons in the NFL, he’s been everything the Titans dreamed and envisioned when they shocked the world (outside of Frank Wycheck) by selecting him with pick #24 in the 2008 draft.

With two years served in a modest $12 million rookie contract, CJ has hopes of becoming the league’s highest paid-back in the not-so-distant future.

When will the typically frugal Titan front office step up and reward Johnson with the new contract he probably deserves?

2010 Tennessee Titans offseason positional analysis: Guards

RG Jake Scott is the Titans' best guard.
Photo by Andrew Strickert for Total Titans.

Total Titans continues its offseason positional analyses with a look at the guards. The key to the position group this offseason is Eugene Amano, who’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Amano test the marketplace in March. He’s a serviceable but replaceable guard and I don’t see the Titans overspending to keep him. I’m not sure that any teams will bid highly for his services with better options available. All it takes though is for just one team to like a guy so I’d be a little surprised to see Amano re-sign with the Titans.

At the other guard spot, Jake Scott will resume his third season as Tennessee’s starting right guard. He’s started every game since joining the Titans and has two years remaining on his contract. Scott is easily the best guard on the roster so there are no problems on that front.

Happy trails, KVB?

In preparation for his participation in last night’s Pro Bowl, veteran DE Kyle Vanden Bosch informed the media about his belief regarding his days as a Tennessee Titan coming to end.

KVB, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, has not been approached with an offer to stay and he’s preparing to extend his career in another NFL city in 2010.

Is letting KVB depart via the waters of free agency a good or bad decision by the Titans?

2010 Senior Bowl: Possible Tennessee Titan draft options

Tomorrow, Mobile, Alabama will play host to its annual all-star game that showcases the talents of college football’s best and brightest senior NFL draft prospects.

The Senior Bowl is an excellent opportunity for NFL teams to get a head-start in the lengthy evaluation process that culminates with April’s NFL Draft.

Let’s take a look at a few Senior Bowl participants who could emerge as potential draft targets for the Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee Titans 2009 All-Opponent team

A lot of players had big games against the Titans in 2009 so I thought I’d select an All-Opponent team. These are not necessarily the best players but they are the players who had the best games, in my opinion, against the Titans in the 2009 season.

For example, Peyton Manning was the league’s best quarterback but Tom Brady played better against Tennessee than Manning did. Brady therefore makes the team and Manning does not.

2010 Tennessee Titans offseason positional analysis: WR

After concentrating on the state of affairs at the quarterback position, naturally, we’ll now focus our attention on the players who catch their passes.

In the second installment of our annual offseason positional analyses, we’re going to take a look at how the Tennessee Titans stack up at the wide receiver position.