With Tony Brown going to IR, is defensive tackle now top priority going into the draft / free agency?

by shawneriksmith on Dec 16, 2010 12:42 AM CST

Tony Brown is headed to IR for the rest of the season. It appears his other knee is now injured (the knee opposite of the one he had surgery on in the offseason).

So, next season, one of our starting DTs is a 30+ year old with two bad knees. And, the other starting DT (Jason Jones) is often injured but good when healthy.

Considering that Marks is still a question mark and Jovan Haye is pretty much a bust, does defensive tackle become top priority heading into the draft and/or free agency?

Of course, this is assuming you know who remains at QB...if you know who gets cut or traded, then obviously QB is the number one priority. But, the likely scenario is that you know who is still on the team come next season...so, do we start next season with Brown and JJ at DT again? Do we hope Marks continues to develop? Do we hope that Jovan Haye can actually play up to his contract?

This defense requires a strong defensive line...

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Its not top

But 1st-3rd pick Mos Def.
So SHould we go Speed? or Bulk?
Speed (JJ size)
Bulk (Big Albert Size)

Hey Look, a One line Signature.

by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Dec 16, 2010 2:30 AM CST reply actions

I think much of this depends on if there is a new coach with a new D

If we are still playing 4-3, then probably our needs can be addressed via free agency or trading for Fat Albert (and the price has dropped considerably thanks to the Racial Epithet’s retardation). You probably need your first round pick for another position and realistically anything below a 3rd round pick probably won’t be a big factor (There’s not that many ATVs).

If the possible new regime brings the 3-4 then you have to take a nose tackle when you see one and it becomes potentially your number one need. If your running 3-4 without a good nose, you might as well pack up and go home.

Either way this team hasn’t been as good without bulk on the D-line and its been painfully obvious. The good news is this won’t take long to turn around if you make the right picks judging from the glamor pusses’ new tandem of Alualu and Knighton.

by asbestos_man on Dec 16, 2010 3:54 AM CST reply actions

They better not 3-4 us

It will set us back years…not that our D is playing at a high quality right now but you can point to numerous teams over the last few years who made the move and are still sucking.

USC > UT (Both of them)

by SoCalTitan on Dec 16, 2010 12:11 PM CST up reply actions

how do you set this defense back years

3-4 or not we need linebackers …..linebackers with enough speed to actually play pro football

by jrblessed2000 on Dec 16, 2010 5:42 PM CST up reply actions

i dont think we have draft any DT's

I think we should sit JJ and brown for the rest of the remaining season. I think we should start Douglas and Marks and haye in the line up. As for in the off-season i think we should try to get big Al because the redskins are tired of him and we could use him and make play to the best of his abilites.

The Day The Titans learn to use: Vince Young, Chris Johnson, Jared Cook, Kenny Britt, Randy Moss, and Nate Washignton is the day we win a super bowl.

by carlostable on Dec 16, 2010 7:57 AM CST reply actions

Really depends on who's coaching.

If Fisher and Washburn somehow are still here, no way we use a high pick on DT. If they aren’t, it depends on who is the new defensive coordinator, and what his schemes will be like.

Someone needs to tell Bud that Voldemort was the villain.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 16, 2010 10:47 AM CST reply actions

I'm not as sold on Haynesworth for next season as some fans are

He’ll be 29 next year, he won’t be playing for a big contract (if we sign him to more than a one year deal), he is also often injured, and I’m not sure other players would welcome him.

Granted, when he plays at his full potential, he is the best DT in the league…but I think it will take a lot to get him to play at his full potential.

And, Fisher/Washburn have drafted DT in 1st round before (big Al), so I don’t think they would be against it if the right player came along (although I doubt Fisher will be here next year).

For a 4-3 defense, you really need a good front four to put pressure on the QB, so that’s why I put such a premium on finding a good DT. So, if Brown is going to be on his last legs, then I think DT would move to priority number one. I do like Nick Fairley from Auburn in the draft…is he worth a top 10 pick?? Maybe, maybe not…if we don’t go DT then I would prefer to go with Prince Amakumara. We are thin at CB anyways (I don’t count Mouton as a real cornerback) and Finnegan needs someone who can push him.

But, it does depend on the coaching staff next year…it will be interesting.

by shawneriksmith on Dec 16, 2010 11:04 AM CST reply actions

I think SS>CB

Hope is getting old and its showing up in a lot of our games.

USC > UT (Both of them)

by SoCalTitan on Dec 16, 2010 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed

We need a big guy in the middle. When the defensive line is good, everyone behind them shines. If Marks really isn’t the answer then I think we should absolutely draft a DT in the first few rounds. Much easier to exploit a weakness in the middle of the line than a weakness at a single saftey or linebacker position.

My last two signatures were about Vince Young and Rusty Smith. I'm sure as hell not giving Collins room down here. So this will be my signature until the Titans show me something signature worthy.

But I digress, GO TITANS!

by natidawg on Dec 16, 2010 2:35 PM CST reply actions

as a matter of fact

We really need to go all in defensively this year in the draft. Defense and a Center. I don’t know what the class looks like, but going DT-LB-C (in some combination) in the first three rounds would be ideal in my opinion.

My last two signatures were about Vince Young and Rusty Smith. I'm sure as hell not giving Collins room down here. So this will be my signature until the Titans show me something signature worthy.

But I digress, GO TITANS!

by natidawg on Dec 16, 2010 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

if aj green is there to take..

i dont see how we can pass up on him
but if not we obviously have to go defense..most likely a defensive lineman or a linebacker
who knows really all we can do is wait

by oilers15 on Dec 16, 2010 3:32 PM CST reply actions

Duh-remember the Jacksonville game

Honestly I felt like defensive tackle was a top priority in the draft last year even with a healthy Tony Brown. We still need someone with size comparable to Albert Haynesworth coming off the bench or in the rotation atleast. Our D-line hasn’t been the same since his departure. It would be nice to pick up a defensive tackle over 320 lbs (someone who can eat up blocks).

For those of you who remember that Jacksonville game our D-line played terrible and that made our linebackers look even worse.

by rupton on Dec 21, 2010 2:25 PM CST reply actions