Tennessee Titans Free Agents: Defensive Ends

by Jimmy on Jan 10, 2012 2:00 PM CST in Tennessee Titans News

Defensive end is one place where the Titans need to upgrade before next season. Outside of the offensive line, the defensive ends were the worst group on the team in 2011. That is due in large part to the poor performance by Derrick Morgan, who did start to come on at the end of the year, but he wasn't the only one who underperformed.

Jason Jones would have to be right there beside Morgan as a disappointment this season. We were all really excited about his prospects at defensive end, but he was only able to manage three sacks on the season. Now he is a free agent. I am sure the Titans would like to bring him back and give him a full offseason to work on being a defensive end, but the problem is some team will be willing to pay him as a pass rushing defensive tackle. The Titans will probably not be willing to match big money, and they shouldn't.

It is probably time for the William Hayes experiment to be over. He has never had more than four sacks in a season. They can find that production from a young guy that has an upside.

Then there is Dave Ball. Who doesn't love Dave Ball? He tallied only four sacks this season after having seven last season. He is a situational role player who can be brought back on a 1-year deal at the veteran's minimum but nothing more.

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who are the big FA DEs out there this year?

if there are any…

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by oshoney on Jan 10, 2012 2:13 PM CST reply actions

Jason Jones.

:o(

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

I could see Avril and Abraham being on our radar

Robert Mathis (IND) – DE
Calais Campbell (ARI) – DE/DT
Cliff Avril – (DET) – DE
John Abraham (ATL) – DE
Israel Idonije (CHI) – DE
Vonnie Holliday (ARZ) – DE
Kroy Biermann (ATL) – DE
Cory Redding (BAL) – DE
Victor Adeyanju (CIN) – DE
Frostee Rucker (CIN) – DE
Marcus Benard (CLE) – DE
Derrick Harvey (DEN) – DE
Jason Hunter (DEN) – DE
Jamaal Anderson (IND) – DE
Tyler Brayton (IND) – DE
Jeremy Mincey (JAC) – DE
Matt Roth (JAC) – DE
Wallace Gilberry (KC) – DE
Kendall Langford (MIA) – DE
Phillip Merling (MIA) – DE
Igor Olshansky (MIA) – DE/DT
Andre Carter (NE) – DE – injury problems
Shaun Ellis (NE) – DE
Dave Tollefson (NYG) – DE
Jarvis Moss (OAK) – DE
Trevor Scott (OAK) – DE
Victor Abiamiri (PHI) – DE
Juqua Parker (PHI) – DE
Chris Hoke (PIT) – DE/DT
Aaron Smith (PIT) – DE/DT – probably retiring
Raheem Brock (SEA) – DE
Dave Ball (TEN) – DE
William Hayes (TEN) – DE
Adam Carriker (WAS) – DE
Kedric Golston (WAS) – DE
Clifton Geathers (DAL) – DE – Exclusive Rights
Will Tukuafu (SF) – DE – Exclusive Rights
C.J. Ah You (STL) – DE – Restricted
Michael Bennett (TB) – DE – Restricted

by tdtommyd on Jan 10, 2012 2:30 PM CST up reply actions

Also forgot Mario Williams

by tdtommyd on Jan 10, 2012 2:31 PM CST up reply actions

What are the chances they let Mario walk?

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

I would say they are pretty good

He is kind of a square peg in a round hole. I dont think he is naturally suited to play OLB. He was playing quite well earlier this season, but he wasn;t a game changer. He will be getting paid like a game changer in 2012, so Houston has to decide if they want to devote a large chunk of their cap to an OLB who may not fit with their new system, and plus he may have lingering effects from the torn pectoral muscle.

Houston may prefer to roll with Conor Barwin and Brooks Reed at OLB. It will be much cheaper, and the defense hasn’t exactly missed Williams since his injury. If anything they have gotten better.

by tdtommyd on Jan 10, 2012 3:16 PM CST up reply actions

Unless Wade gets hired away.

Then they could go back to 4-3.

But then who knows who they’d hire to replace him.

by FYNBYAC on Jan 10, 2012 4:33 PM CST up reply actions

well that would require spending money, which Bud doesnt do.

Sorry fellas, we will pick up some scrubs or someone way past their prime.

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by rsikes on Jan 10, 2012 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

well that would require spending money, which Bud doesnt do.

since when?

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

hope you're being sarcastic...

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by rsikes on Jan 10, 2012 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

Wait... you weren't being sarcastic above?!

How many times have we been over this?

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 2:38 PM CST up reply actions

i still cant tell if you're serious or not...internet discrepancy!

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by rsikes on Jan 10, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

We just made Chris Johnson one of the highest paid "playmakers" in the NFL

… ?

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

free agents...

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by rsikes on Jan 10, 2012 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

Chris Hope was one of the Top 5 highest paid safeties in the league...

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 2:42 PM CST up reply actions

Jake Scott was in the Top 10 for highest paid guards

Hasselbeck is in the Top 20
Ruud made a shit ton of money this year.
Less-we-forget the Randy Moss experiment.

We don’t have the greatest luck with FA signings… maybe we should stop spending so much money on them.

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 2:45 PM CST up reply actions

The whole [insert owner] doesn't spend money argument doesn't really work in the NFL.

There is a salary floor and a salary cap. Every team has to spend basically the same amount of money. Money spent on free agents has more to do with where the priorities of the front office are and what the salary cap situation is like.

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by TennesseeTyrants on Jan 10, 2012 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

The not spending

on free agents is a Reinfeldt deal, not Bud.

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by Jimmy on Jan 10, 2012 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

He's just waiting on the right one....and then BOOM! SB!

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by rothbard on Jan 10, 2012 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

This* as well

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

I wonder how much John Abraham has left in the tank.

by TennesseeTyrants on Jan 10, 2012 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

Not much, maybe a year or two at most

But those two years will be more productive than most DE’s.

by tdtommyd on Jan 10, 2012 3:18 PM CST up reply actions

I'll take Redding, Campbell, and Ball from that list

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by nolesbroncos3456 on Jan 10, 2012 3:09 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

me too, but i'd take avril as well

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by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Jan 10, 2012 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

BALL SACK!!!!!

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!!
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by SoMissTitansFan on Jan 10, 2012 2:55 PM CST via Android app reply actions

On the bright side...

That is due in large part to the poor performance by Derrick Morgan, who did start to come on at the end of the year, but he wasn’t the only one who underperformed.

ACL injuries typically take 1-1.5 years to heal fully. So, we will probably see Morgan at 100% to begin the 2012 Season (9 months from now, ugh).

The downside, of course, is that Kenny probably won’t look full speed when he starts the year.

by SuperHorn on Jan 10, 2012 3:37 PM CST reply actions

I'm banking on Britt being a total rehab beast and being 110% opening week

/wishful-thinking

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by rothbard on Jan 10, 2012 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

This

by jv1222 on Jan 10, 2012 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

So,

basically, we need some DEs.

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by numbertenox on Jan 10, 2012 4:56 PM CST reply actions

yep

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by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Jan 10, 2012 4:57 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think the Titans necessarily "need" a DE

But they need an impact player on defense. Our “playmakers” on defense last year were a rookie 5th round MLB (McCarthy) and a nickel CB (Finnegan). Our defense this past year was solid but did not make enough impact plays (sacks, interceptions, fumbles, 3rd down stops, etc).

Either finding an impact player via free agency or the draft at either DE, S, or rush LB is going to be key for this defense to go from a solid, average defense to a top 10 defense.

by shawneriksmith on Jan 10, 2012 9:10 PM CST reply actions

I would, frankly, shit my pants if we pulled some sort of black magic and got Williams.

That’s not an exaggeration, I would literally shit my pants.

by FYNBYAC on Jan 10, 2012 9:41 PM CST reply actions

I would shit them with you

yeah, I said it.

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by StPrattrick on Jan 10, 2012 10:59 PM CST up reply actions

I will shit both of your pants if Mario Williams was in 2 tone in 2012

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by Grimerz757 on Jan 11, 2012 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

If only Morgan didn't suffer that ACL tear

We may be talking about him putting up JPP numbers. I think signing or drafting a stud DE, while not the first priority, would go a long way in returning the defense to 08 form.

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