Scout's Inc. With Some Love for the Titans Rookie Defensive Players

by Jimmy on Dec 14, 2011 12:45 PM CST in Tennessee Titans News

Matt Williamson of Scout's Inc. and ESPN.com does a feature each week where he ranks the top 10 rookies in the NFL. While none of the Titans' rookie defensive players have cracked that list just yet, he spent the first three paragraphs talking about them in this week's edition.

Here is what he had to say about Colin McCarthy:

After spending the majority of the season behind Barrett Ruud at middle linebacker, McCarthy has burst onto the scene of late. He is extremely productive and would likely be high on the list below if not for his small body of work.

That's right he would.

His point there is that the Titans defense is really one stud player away from being dangerous. I will go ahead and say that the stud defender that they need to add to the mix is Alabama safety Mark Barron. All three of the safeties in the rotation are without contracts for 2012, and Barron is better than any of them anyway. There is a really good chance he will still be on the board when the Titans are on the clock.

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I say DE

If we can get the right DE in the draft, then we have to go that direction. We have no pass rush. This is a huge problem.

A good safety is a nice asset but even Ed Reed and Polamalu couldn’t cover the field forever. Great DE’s send average safeties to the Pro Bowl (Griffin/Hope in 2008). Great safeties don’t really make a D Line better.

by tdtommyd on Dec 14, 2011 12:57 PM CST reply actions

Jones and Ball are Free Agents as well

I say we resign Ball and let Jones walk. I like him, but he isn’t a great DE. He is too stiff and has few/no pass rush moves asides from a bull rush. We also can’t move him back to DT because he doesn’t fit so well in our new D, and we already have Klug, Casey, Marks and Smith (who I hope they cut).

We should draft a DE in rd 1 or sign a solid vet in free agency.

by tdtommyd on Dec 14, 2011 1:00 PM CST up reply actions

What about moving JJ back to DT where he actually produced?

and agreed, we need to re-sign Ball.

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 1:17 PM CST up reply actions

I dont think Jones fits in with Gray's defense as far as DT's go.

He likes beefers.

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by rsikes on Dec 14, 2011 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

True, but I still think he would be a good rotational guy

and actually JJ’s the same size as Klug, JJ is 2 inches taller though.

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 1:37 PM CST up reply actions

yea. personally I would resign the guy and rotate him in with the DT's, he tips a good amount

of passes when he’s in, and the run defense was much better when he was in there.

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by rsikes on Dec 14, 2011 1:43 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed, I think he can play really well as a rotational guy

he was injured to often to be a full-time starter.

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

He's the perfect rotational guy.

He’s versatile playing well at DT and DE. He doesnt need to be our number 1 guy at either spot, but hes great to have on the team. Injury insurance at 2 positions as well as having the coolest name ever. I still think we should draft DE first round though.

by Jason Jones on Dec 14, 2011 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

What if we flip

Klug and JJ? JJ was always a super beast at DT when he was healthy, and if I remember correctly Klug came in as a DT/DE Tweener anyways so the move outside shouldn’t be a very big deal for him, especially with a full offseason to get used to the flip.

Although if we could sign a prime time guy from FA and keep JJ and Ball as rotational guys at all positions that would be great also.

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by SoMissTitansFan on Dec 14, 2011 5:43 PM CST up reply actions

he won't want to be paid as a rotational guy

he could get big money from some teams.

by tdtommyd on Dec 14, 2011 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

Possibly... but it's not like he's done a whole lot as of resent

I think we have a good chance of keeping him here.

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by StPrattrick on Dec 15, 2011 8:35 AM CST up reply actions

You would want a Bama player here...

Regardless, I do agree that defensively we are only a player or two away, namely at DE and S. I’d be all for a game-changer in the backfield who won’t get burned on playfakes all the time. Also would be ok with a pass-rusher extraordinaire at DE. It’ll be an interesting draft for us.

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by ronburgundy7427 on Dec 14, 2011 1:06 PM CST reply actions

Mark Barron would ruin my whole draft board

… but I like it!

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 1:16 PM CST reply actions

As great as these rookies have been....

Think about how much better this defense would have been with Babin? Eagles gave him a 5 year deal for around $30M but he has proven to be well worth it….he has 15 sacks with 3 games to go….I know he followed Washburn but you have to wonder why the Titans never made him an offer and how this defense would have looked with him getting to the QB every game.

by Titan Up on Dec 14, 2011 1:19 PM CST reply actions

He also is undersized for what Gray wants to do.

Washburn puts him out wide where he can just use more speed to get to the QB. He can also be taken out of plays simply by forcing him too wide.

Gray wants bigger guys who play closer to the tackle and can be solid against the run and pass.

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by ronburgundy7427 on Dec 14, 2011 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

Gray also loves only rushing 3 on third down and we see how that works out...

Just sayin’ then man has 15 sacks with 3 games to go

by Titan Up on Dec 14, 2011 1:32 PM CST up reply actions

Babin is also a douche.

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 1:38 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs

Green'd

Locker has a receiver either side;
Locker fumbles the snap;
Picks it up, sprints out to the right;
Looking;
Fires deep downfield
MAN IS WIDE OPEN!!
TOUCHDOWWWWWN TITANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I <3 Mike Keith

by SoMissTitansFan on Dec 14, 2011 5:44 PM CST up reply actions

Niiiice!

but it’s the truth. I can take no credit.

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 6:07 PM CST up reply actions

Very true

Locker has a receiver either side;
Locker fumbles the snap;
Picks it up, sprints out to the right;
Looking;
Fires deep downfield
MAN IS WIDE OPEN!!
TOUCHDOWWWWWN TITANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I <3 Mike Keith

by SoMissTitansFan on Dec 15, 2011 2:08 AM CST up reply actions

They HATE Babin.

2012: The year we clip the Hawk.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 14, 2011 1:32 PM CST up reply actions

Who does?

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 1:38 PM CST up reply actions

Eagles fans.

He’s got the same reputation he had here. Ya, lots of sacks, but zero responsibility against the run. So the stats look pretty, but the overall body of work is still not worth the amount of money they gave him.

2012: The year we clip the Hawk.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 14, 2011 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

Didn't know that...

coincidentally he’s still a douche over there as well… so I guess I am not that surprised.

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 1:41 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

im not sure Philly fans like much of anyone at this point

Shady McCoy and…..

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by hal41605 on Dec 14, 2011 1:43 PM CST up reply actions

They probably hate anyone coming from the Titans over there at this point haha

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by StPrattrick on Dec 14, 2011 1:43 PM CST up reply actions

babin and washburn sacrifice run support for eye catching stats like 15 sacks.

and I guarantee babins douchy personality isn’t helping with the chemistry issues the eagles have.

by CJ2K shrine on Dec 14, 2011 2:25 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

He plays wide 9

Doesn’t fit grays scheme and is a douche

by danomite on Dec 14, 2011 1:25 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Can we trade for Taylor Mays

lol :)

USC > UT (Both of them)

by SoCalTitan on Dec 14, 2011 1:26 PM CST reply actions

Just threw up a little

Haters gonna hate

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by JustinS on Dec 14, 2011 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

pass rusher is #1 need in my book

i’d love to think Morgan can get back on track but it’s hard to put too much faith in him.

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by hal41605 on Dec 14, 2011 1:41 PM CST reply actions

Jimmy says a college safety is definitely better than anyone we have on the roster now.

Homer much? ;) haha

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by TennesseeTyrants on Dec 14, 2011 2:19 PM CST reply actions

I agree with Jommy

And you know my feelings on Alabama.

Of course, if Barron is even half the piece of shit that bammer Roman Harper is, I don’t want him anywhere near our Titans

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by gramsey712 on Dec 14, 2011 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

Gross. And I also wanted Rolando McClain

And that dude be easy with the piece.

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by gramsey712 on Dec 14, 2011 3:10 PM CST up reply actions

1. safeties 2. defensive end 3. guard

Resign finnegan ball and jones!

by CJ2K shrine on Dec 14, 2011 2:37 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Can we get a pass rush please?

thanks

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by rothbard on Dec 14, 2011 2:55 PM CST reply actions

I know people want a typical 4-3 DE

But what about a pass rushing OLB, a la Terrell Suggs? I still like Jason Jones and Derrick Morgan at DE…both are essentially in their first year ever playing DE in the NFL so I am willing to let them continue to try to improve in that position. They both have the physical ability to be impact players at that position.

Really, I would want an OLB that can rush the passer on 3rd down, either with his hand on the ground at the end position with JJ/Klug/Casey at DT and Morgan on the other side or as a blitzer on the edge. I think it will give our defense a lot more flexibility (which is what I think Jerry Gray wants).

by shawneriksmith on Dec 14, 2011 3:45 PM CST reply actions