Tennessee Titans Daily Links: Titans Draft Day Plan In Flux Edition

by August West on Apr 14, 2011 11:01 AM CDT in Tennessee Titans Links

Don Banks has a new mock draft, and he still has us taking Nick Fairley despite a growing tide of reports that Fairley has been killing his stock over the past few months. I've been on board with the Fairley pick for months, but the more reports that come out like we ran yesterday, the more I like the plan in the next link...
In a report that he posted a few days ago, Rob Rang at CBSSports.com is hearing that the Titans are actively trying to trade down by looking for a team who wants to leap-frog the Cowboys to take USC tackle Tyron Smith, whom most people are predicting the Cowboys will take.
John Clayton dissects the 'safe pick' myth in the draft, using the 2008 results as the case study. Back then Bill Parcells, as VP of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins, took Jake Long over Matt Ryan because Long was the 'safe pick'. Despite Long becoming an instant success at LT, Parcells now admits he'd take Ryan if he had the pick over again. Clayton also nails what's easily the most dangerous position to take in the first round:

The scariest part of this draft is it's loaded at defensive end. Believe it or not, defensive end has been the least-safe position to draft since 2007. The only Pro Bowl defensive end taken in the first round of the past four drafts is Brian Orakpo of the Redskins -- and he's now a linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

Of the 16 other defensive ends taken since 2007, Vernon Gholston, Lawrence Jackson, Kentwan Balmer, the late Gaines Adams, Adam Carriker and Jarvis Moss are no longer with the teams that drafted them. Derrick Harvey, Jamaal Anderson and Aaron Maybin have been labeled disappointments. Tyson Jackson is off to a slow start in Kansas City, and injuries ruined the first years of Brandon Graham, Derrick Morgan and Jared Odrick.

Joe Fortenbaugh points out some interesting draft trends for the Titans, and where they've taken commonly players in the draft.

Matt Bowen goes in-depth on Ryan Mallett vs. the Cover 2.

Jim Wyatt pings several NFL analysts on how Kenny Britt's arrest might effect the Titans' draft day plans, and the opinions vary: some think the Titans' brass are now planning to eat at a nearby Morton's The Steakhouse, while others contend that was always the plan.

Former-Titans linebacker Mike Rivera is teaching crocheting to inner-city youths. I kid you not, apparently it's a huge hobby of the NFL journeyman.
PFT updates everyone on the minutia of the new NFL labor mediation sessions that begin today.

Email me at mcmaugustwest@mail.com and be sure to follow me on Twitter @AugustWest_MCM

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So that being said...

Don’t draft Defensive End in the first round!!!! Unless Mario Williams version 2 ever emerges again…

inaccurate in college = inaccurate 4life!!

by StPrattrick on Apr 14, 2011 11:33 AM CDT reply actions

ha

I remember thinking how stupid the Texans were for not taking Reggie Bush. I spose that’s why I’m not in sports management…

I live in the OC.
The one in OH.

by MattBen on Apr 14, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Haha I still can’t believe that pick was the right one

"If you want money, go to the bank. If you want bread, go to the bakery. If you want goals, go to the net" -Brooks Laich

by sami426 on Apr 14, 2011 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Trade down! Trade down!

I’m thinking maybe someone who is worried about Washington taking a WR may jump (St. Louis?) or if one someone like Peterson falls, maybe someone will want to move ahead of Dallas for that as well.

Please, football gods, let a trade down happen.

Good evening. I'm Ron Burgundy, and here's what's happening in your world tonight.

by ronburgundy7427 on Apr 14, 2011 11:35 AM CDT reply actions

One trade that will never happen but could work for both teams:

Colts move up for Smith at 8, we move all the way back to 22 and grab a QB, and pick up the Colts’ 2nd this year and maybe a fifth rounder in 2012.

In Reinfeldt We Trust

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Apr 14, 2011 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd take that...change the fifth to a fourth though.

Moving up fourteen spots? Gotta sweeten the deal a little more than a two and five. Granted, I haven’t looked at the chart, but a fourth sounds about right.

Good evening. I'm Ron Burgundy, and here's what's happening in your world tonight.

by ronburgundy7427 on Apr 14, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah that'd be great

Especially if Gabbert and Newton are gone by the time we picked 22nd? We have our pick of the remaining QBs. Awesome.

I live in the OC.
The one in OH.

by MattBen on Apr 14, 2011 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Its probably a two and a four.

I know moving from 8 to 16 would net a second rounder, so the remaing spots could probably be made up with a 4th.

In Reinfeldt We Trust

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Apr 14, 2011 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I would still take a fifth

Or, possibly swapping picks in other rounds to make up the difference (like swapping our 6th round pick for their 5th round pick or something like that).

I wouldn’t get too greedy…I think the Titans are in prime position to trade down as we are on the edge of landing the “elite” prospects…after #8, the pickings get slim (Tyron Smith?).

I think a team would be willing to trade up for Amukamara or possibly Fairley or even Smith. And, I would do it, if I was the FO.

by shawneriksmith on Apr 14, 2011 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

100% agree

The only way I would not trade down is if Miller, Peterson, or Dareus is still there at 8. But since they will likely be gone….trade…..down.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Apr 14, 2011 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

to be fair

Gaines Adams was starting to flash signs of being a good DE. Then he died.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Apr 14, 2011 11:37 AM CDT reply actions

Oh shit thats right...

I was just wondering what happened to him because he just dropped off out of no where… now I remember. eeesh.

inaccurate in college = inaccurate 4life!!

by StPrattrick on Apr 14, 2011 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions

yea it's a shame

so young and such a bright future.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Apr 14, 2011 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Didn't he pass away from heart failure?

inaccurate in college = inaccurate 4life!!

by StPrattrick on Apr 14, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

yea I think so.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Apr 14, 2011 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions

from Wikipedia

Adams was taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, South Carolina on the morning of January 17, 2010, after his girlfriend found him at home. He was pronounced dead at 8:21 a.m. ET. The coroner confirmed, after an autopsy, that Adams died of cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart.7 Neither Adams nor his relatives knew about any kind of medical condition he may have had. At the time of his death, neither drug abuse nor foul play was suspected.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Apr 14, 2011 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Wow that sucks

Poor guy.

inaccurate in college = inaccurate 4life!!

by StPrattrick on Apr 14, 2011 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions

On board

I’d be down with taking Tyron Smith or Anthony Castonzo. I think that our O-Line needs more help than our D-Line does, especially after reading about all those DL busts. Of course, that’s taking for granted that Capt. Morgan will be ready to go. Plus, if that helps our chabce to draft a QB a little sooner, I’d be all for it.

Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010

If you had to be perfect to do what we do, then nobody would be doing it. On the other hand, if everyone could do what we do.....then everyone would be doing it.

by titansfan4ever on Apr 14, 2011 12:48 PM CDT reply actions

Trade Down

I hope the news on the Titans trying to trade down, on the heels on Andy Dalton now considered a late 1st round QB, have something to do with each other.

by Titanluv318 on Apr 14, 2011 1:09 PM CDT reply actions

Re: Mallet

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/news/story?id=6348822

Good article…Not that I am on board with Mallett at 8, or even 39 YET…BUT…I really want to see what the REAL DEAL is with these accusations. If there was nothing to them he should have said as much rather that offer up a no comment. Either way, I am a firm believer in a person being as good as their upbringing. It seems as if the kid had a decent home life and supportive and loving family. If that’s the case, he moved up in my book. And any issues about drugs and such may be behind him.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Apr 14, 2011 1:51 PM CDT reply actions

I know plenty of kids

With decent home lives, supporting/loving families who do drugs.

Charter Member of the Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame

by theologic on Apr 14, 2011 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions

yup.

Charter Member of the Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame

by numbertenox on Apr 14, 2011 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Here's a "Curve Ball" mock draft that Michael Lombardi and Paul Burmeister did...

Carolina – AJ Green
Denver – Cam Newton
Buffalo – Patrick Peterson
Cincy – Julio Jones
Arizona – Blaine Gabbert
Cleveland – Marcel Dareus
San Fran – Von Miller
Tennesee – JJ Watt
Dallas – Cameron Jordan
Miami traded up with Washington to take – Ryan Mallet
Curve Ball Mock

Lombardi reasoned that because the Titans have Tracy Rocker, they will choose not to take Nick Fairley because Rocker will know the inside dirt on what is really Fairley’s character. I thought that was an interesting take … it kinda sucks we end up taking JJ Watt with our #8 pick, but I’m really hoping they find a way to trade down if this situation comes up. If we can’t get Green, Jones, Dareus, Peterson or Miller at #8… i would rather trade down.

by BythePowerofMunchak! on Apr 14, 2011 2:05 PM CDT reply actions

I'm all for trading down if we can cut a decent deal

IMO, there are only four “top ten” quality players in the draft, none of whom are likely to be available at #8: Dareus, Miller, Peterson, Green. Everyone else either has potential but some kind of issue (character, injury, limited body of work) (Quinn, Fairley, Newton, Bowers) or is a reach at 8 (Gabbert, Watt, Clayborn, Locker) or plays a position that is a low need for the Titans (Amukamura, Ingram, and all of the OTs). If we can trade down into the twenties, pick Locker or Dalton or whomever you like, and get an extra 2nd rounder, that would be ideal.

by astooge on Apr 14, 2011 2:52 PM CDT reply actions