Rob's Offseason Outlook - RB

by TitanRob on Jan 12, 2009 7:48 AM CST

Running Back was one of the most productive positions for the Tennessee Titans in 2008.

Rookie Chris Johnson had a great year and appears to be the player the offense will revolve around. Johnson, who many felt was nothing more than a 3rd down, change of pace back, proved to be more of a Tikki Barber type. In the pre-season Mike Heimerdinger said CJ reminded him of a young Clinton Portis.

Lendale White also had a great year. He was used alot in short yardage and goal line situations and did not disappoint. The Titans were able to get both players an ample amount of touches in 2008 and that should be no different in 2009, although I would think CJ would get just a few more carries, but we'll see.

Both Smash and Dash are signed through 2009. The only question is who will be the Titans 3rd running back. They have plenty of candidates already with the team in Chris Henry, Quinton Ganther and Rafeal Little. The Titans should not waste a draft pick or free agent signing on a 3rd RB, but should ensure these guys have good 0TAs, a good training camp and a good preseason and let the best man win. And this could mean that Henry, a 2nd round draft pick a couple years ago, could be let go. The Titans can not afford to carry 4 RBs again this year to wait on Henry.

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Lendale

Hopefully Lendale will follow through with his vow to start working out immediately (he said as much after the loss).

Henry is gone. Ganther will probably stay because he is versatile, but I think that should look at Little. Coaching staff seemed to be high on him before he got hurt.

by theologic on Jan 12, 2009 9:20 AM CST reply actions

You know..

..I forgot about Little. He was impressive in college.

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by Jimmy on Jan 12, 2009 10:11 AM CST up reply actions

"Hopefully Lendale will follow through with his vow to start working out immediately (he said as much after the loss)."

Oh he will… he’s in a contract year. You watch him come in 20 lbs lighter and with a great attitude.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Jan 12, 2009 10:59 AM CST reply actions

weight

I would rather him be about the same weight only ripped instead of flabby. Lendale has some good qualities…He has good vision…He usually doesnt fumble(which made his the other day hurt worse).

However, for him being as big as he is he gets tackled pretty easily. I cant think of a time when he bowled over someone. At 240 lbs he should be running over someone occasionally.

by DonFrancisco on Jan 12, 2009 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

He looked heavier

to me on Saturday than he has ever before for some reason…

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 12, 2009 4:32 PM CST reply actions

heavier

and slower with no burst, the only play i saw a bit of burst was his fumble

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by Xfactor31 on Jan 12, 2009 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

Looked like

he just said F it and chowed down through the Holidays…

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 12, 2009 4:45 PM CST reply actions

I guess this is what I realized over the past year, especially the last month:

If we’re going to have a dominate running game we need two GREAT RBs… Right now we have 1 great one and 1 ok running back, IMO.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Jan 12, 2009 4:46 PM CST reply actions

I think

1 great, and one good would be sufficient… Every team needs that and a good O-line to have a dominant running game.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 12, 2009 5:42 PM CST reply actions

White is a good back

I don’t know why there is so much hating on Lendale. I think he is a pretty good back. He rushed for an average of 3.9 yards a carry and a lot of his carries came when the Titans were running out the clock and there were 9 and 10 men in the box. He consistently came through in short yardage and goal line situations and had 15 rushing TDs. But the main thing White did was play his roll well. Unlike other big backs, White didn’t have to have carries to get in a groove and for the most part handled the reduced playing time very well. I also think White’s relationship with Chris Johnson is vastly overlooked and I don’t think CJ would have had as good a year without White’s tutelage.

by TitanRob on Jan 12, 2009 8:34 PM CST reply actions

Half of his total yards this year

came from games against Detroit, Kansas City and Cleveland.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Jan 13, 2009 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

I think it has

a lot to do with him looking really slow and fat on Saturday combined with a huge fumble and our Offense being totally ineffective as soon as Johnson got hurt which amplified the fact he cannot get the job done, which in turn put us in same situation today that we were in last yr… One and done without CJ.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 12, 2009 8:59 PM CST reply actions