Tennessee Titans 2008 Draft

by Jimmy on Jan 9, 2008 11:01 AM CST in Tennessee Titans News

I am glad that we had a few extra weeks this season before we started talking about the draft. If you start looking at it in October, by the time it gets here everyone is sick of it. We have recently added a blog to SB Nation, Mocking the Draft, that is dedicated to nothing but the NFL Draft. Be sure and stop in over there to keep up with all the latest that pertains to the draft. I will be taking part in multiple mock draft over there between now and the actual draft, and I will be asking for input from everyone here with each pick.

Another interesting draft resource is DraftTek.com. They use a computer formula to predict who each team will draft. Their formula is based on their team needs matrix. They need a little help on the Titans' need matrix. I helped them last year, and I am sure I will be doing so again at some point. It is interesting to see the different simulations they do.

It is really hard to predict a team's draft needs before the free agency period, but there are some obvious needs the Titans are going to have. I think their #1 need is a toss up between wide receiver and defensive tackle.

At wide receiver they have a couple of guys that emerged as solid players during the season. Justin Gage and Roydell Williams both proved they are quality NFL receivers, but we are all aware that neither of them are #1 receivers. The Titans must address this situation either early in the draft or through free agency. They need a guy who can stretch the field. Signing or drafting another possession receiver will not upgrade the position at all for the Titans.

At defensive tackle they need a lot of help. Let's assume that Albert Haynesworth will be back next season. The Titans still desperately need help at the position. Tony Brown is a good player, but he is not good enough to be the #1 when Haynesworth is injured. Randy Starks is a free agent, and the Titans should not bring him back unless he is willing to accept the league minimum. The Titans pass rush in the Jim Schwartz scheme is based around getting pressure from the defensive line. The Titans have to add a quality guy to avoid what we saw this past season when Fat Albert was injured.

We will take a lot of time over the next few months evaluating the Titans roster, and who the Titans should look at signing and drafting. For now, give me your names of wide receivers and defensive tackles that are going to be available in the draft. Who should the Titans go after, and who they should avoid?

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Larry Fitzgerald may want out of Arizona

if he doesn't get a new contract. We should jump on that.

by nvemvp23 on Jan 9, 2008 11:26 AM CST reply actions

Top 8 WR's and top 8 DT's.

Here are the top 8 WRs(don't know if they are all coming out this year)

Desean Jackson (Cal) 6-0, 179
Limas Sweed (Tex) 6-5, 220
Early Doucet (LSU) 6-0, 210
Malcolm Kelly (Okla) 6-4, 217
Mario Manningham (Mich) 6-0, 190
Adarius Bowman (Ok. St) 6-3, 225
James Hardy (Indiana) 6-5, 220
Earl Bennett (Vandy) 6-1, 205

Here are the top 8 DTs

Glenn Dorsey (LSU) 6-1, 310
Sedrick Ellis (USC) 6-1, 305
Kentwan Balmer (UNC) 6-4, 300
Marcus Harrison (ARK) 6-2, 300
Frank Okam (TEX) 6-4, 325
DeMario Pressley (NC ST) 6-4, 290
Andre Fluellen (FSU) 6-2, 280
Trevor Laws (ND) 6-0, 300
Red Bryant (A&M) 6-5, 325

Looks to me like the WR position is deeper than the DT position in this draft.

Titans do not have a chance at getting Dorsey or Ellis. Nor Desean, Doucet, or Sweed. I think those will all be gone by Titans pick.

by Kayne on Jan 9, 2008 11:50 AM CST reply actions

ADD

Donnie Avery from UH at WR

Pat Sims from Auburn, the second best DT in the draft

by willchance on Jan 9, 2008 12:06 PM CST up reply actions

Hardy

Hardy is the real deal, but Manningham may be more pro ready at this point. Doucet didn't really wow me during the championship game, and isn't sweed coming off an injury. Injuries to WRs always make me hesitate.

by psuphiman80 on Jan 9, 2008 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

The problem is that so many other teams...

...SUCKED!

This was one of those weird years where parity really broke down, and most teams were either actively GOOD (in historic terms) or BAD. That's a serious change from the recent norm, and more to the point, there are a lot of owners right now who seem more than ready to do just about ANYTHING to see a reversal of fortune.

The good news is that that kind of "Do Anything" planning in the NFL is generally not successful, especially in fundamentally dysfunctional organizations (see also: Falcons, 49ers, Raiders, Rams, etc, etc.). But the bad news to that is that the FA market is likely to be CRAZY!!! Because we all know that those wacky organizations will often way overpay for even moderately successful guys, especially if the organization has had a history of success but recently/spectacularly bad management (see again: Rams and Bennett, Drew, 1 ea.).

Anyway, bottom line, I trust the Titans to find a new DT, a new quality RB to compliment LenDale, and whatever O-Line help is needed. I also trust LenDale to come back to camp looking really good next year. But I'm seriously envisioning the same cast of characters at WR next year, and it's depressing.

Sadly, I think the other needs are just too great, and I doubt that the Titans spend A LOT of money on receivers when, really, a lot of money needs to also go elsewhere to ensure the same level of play in the normal Titans-style schemes.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 9, 2008 11:55 AM CST reply actions

One more thing.

If there's one thing I learned this year from Rhenny, it's that you should draft the best player available, regardless of position. I mean, seriously, if I had a nickel for everytime Mel Kiper Jr. said the Titans made a mistake drafting Michael Griffin, I could probably go get a sandwich at one of the chi-chi hamburger joints in Mid-Town Manhattan.

I say take the best available even he's just a long-snapper. We actually could have used another one of those this year.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 9, 2008 12:05 PM CST reply actions

Odds

The odds of getting an impact receiver at 20+ in the draft is much lower than getting an impact defensive player at any position. I'm guessing that Fisher/Reinfeld will take a strong defensive player in the first round and another "sleeper" offensive player in the second round.

The best hope for a receiver is hoping some young receiver is giddy over the opportunity to play with VY and signs with the Titans...nvemvp23 has suggested.

Recent history has shown that a team can win a couple of Super Bowls with possession receivers. Tom Brady was winning with Branch, Givens, other guys I can't remember before he was Tom Brady. Those early NE teams won with defense. I think that is what Fisher wants to do. So I don't think taking a receiver just to be taking a receiver is prudent, nor will it happen.

by T Coleman on Jan 9, 2008 8:58 PM CST reply actions

DT: Pat Sims

I think that Sims will be there when the Titans pick. He would be a good compliment to our d-line and take advantage of the Haynesworth double team.
He's big, strong, and deceptively quick for a big man. He disrupts the run well, and can get to the quarterback quickly. This was his first year as a full time starter at Auburn, and you could see the impact that he made every time he was on the field. Like Kayne stated above the WR field is deep this year and there are plenty of options at WR and RB later in the draft(also WR in free agency).

Just my .02 on Sims

by butler2983 on Jan 9, 2008 9:34 PM CST reply actions

I think...

we should get our WR from free agency. Let's get a proven stud. Let's not take any chances by getting it from the draft. Also, we don't have the time to develop another rookie WR. We need one who can contribute a lot right away.

Go Titans!

by Pinoy Titan on Jan 10, 2008 10:46 AM CST reply actions