Grading the 2011 Tennessee Titans: Secondary

by Jimmy on Jan 25, 2012 10:14 PM CST in Tennessee Titans News

The Titans' secondary was the strength of the defense in 2011. Jason McCourty has come on as a really solid corner. None of us thought that was possible when he was getting torched by Tom Brady and company in the snow in New England a couple of years ago, but he is a quality starter in the NFL now.

Cortland Finnegan had a bounce back year in 2011. He did not play that well in 2010 after he was threatened with a suspension because of all of his after the whistle antics. I was worried that he would not be able to play well without that edge, but he did in 2011. It is unfortunate that he will probably not be with the team in 2012, but someone is going to overpay for him.

Alterraun Verner also played very well in his second year. That is why they feel like they can let Finnegan walk away. McCourty and Verner make a solid, but not spectacular pair of corners.

The safeties were not as good. Michael Griffin has just been a disappointment. He has really good skills, but for whatever reason, he just cannot get his head straight on the field. He will be moving on to another team. There is still the chance he can be a really good player.

Chris Hope was better this year when he was healthy. My guess is that he will end up retiring before very long.

I would like to see them bring Jordan Babineaux back. He played pretty well when he was out there, and he would be even better if they can add a really good safety to play next to him *cough* Mark Barron *cough*.

Grade: B-

Poll

Grade the secondary

A

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B

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C

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D

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F

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Comments

About a week ago I stumbled on PFF's stats for corners.

Jason McCourty was targeted 117 times this year (third highest in the league), allowed 71 receptions for what seems like a high 60.8% completion rate against. It doesn’t provide the full list, but for comparison the league’s best corner, Revis, had a 41% completion rate against. The worst corner, Captain Munnerlyn, (pause for hearty LOL at that name), had a 74% completion rate against. Link.

I wanted to throw that out there because the McCourty love is trending upward for some reason. I would describe our 2012 pairing of McCourty and Verner as average. They are not liabilities, but they’re not great either. A defensive pash rush would help them out quite a bit. Overall I think your assessment was fair, Jimmy.

I will miss Cortland Finnegan dearly.

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by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Jan 25, 2012 10:34 PM CST reply actions

PFF also named Jake Scott and Leroy Harris to their All-AFC South team

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by Jimmy on Jan 25, 2012 10:40 PM CST up reply actions

Different situations.

I have no idea how they calculate their OL grades, but clearly it has a lot of viewer opinion involved. The corner stats provided don’t have much grey area- its just a tally of how many balls were thrown to each corner and how many the receiver caught.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Jan 25, 2012 10:45 PM CST up reply actions

our corners play a lot of time off the line so they allow short throws to be made I think that is why the percentage is so high…they only have the top 10, I am curious to know the comparison between Jason and the top corners in terms of yards given

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by Knoxvillage on Jan 26, 2012 4:14 AM CST up reply actions

i agree

if finny moves on from us, i think C.Hawk would take the 3rd cb over tommie

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by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Jan 25, 2012 10:55 PM CST up reply actions

I would very much miss Finny. and so would our secondary.

by -Erock on Jan 26, 2012 12:19 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

Given the pretty much total lack of a pass rush

I think the corners did as good a job as possible.

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by rothbard on Jan 26, 2012 8:22 AM CST up reply actions

I agree with this

Imagine how great they will look when the rest of the defense is doing their jobs?!

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by StPrattrick on Jan 26, 2012 10:02 AM CST up reply actions

Add to the fact

That the stats don’t seem to include total yards given up and touchdowns given up. Does it include INTs or passes batted down as well? I’m a little hesitant at single stats evaluating “comprehensively.”

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by TitanNDCClothing on Jan 26, 2012 12:04 PM CST up reply actions

That's interesting.

It seemed like he was always making plays and playing good coverage. He even helped out in run support. Maybe it’s just a bias of mine.

by Lobotomyze on Jan 26, 2012 10:05 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I thought he did well. Its also important to note that he only gave up 1 TD the whole year, which is impressive.

My concern is that OCs and QBs are clearly comfortable going after him so frequently, so maybe they’re seeing something.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Jan 26, 2012 10:10 AM CST up reply actions

Or maybe their other option is going at C.Finn -who is still pretty damn good- or ATV who's got a nose for the ball

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by StPrattrick on Jan 26, 2012 10:13 AM CST up reply actions

Quite possibly.

Of the three though, I’d probably attack Verner first.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Jan 26, 2012 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

I'd like to see what his success rate is

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by StPrattrick on Jan 26, 2012 10:20 AM CST up reply actions

McCourty always showed promise to me

Unfortunately he was thrown in across from Ryan Mouton in that game we were torched against the patriots, both as rookies.

by -Erock on Jan 26, 2012 12:18 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions

Love the CBs, and Babs.

Just don’t like Griff and Chris No Hope.

by GoTitansGo on Jan 26, 2012 10:38 AM CST reply actions

Hoping you're all wrong about Finnegan not coming back.

This defense is still trying to recover from the letting Bullock leave. I hope this front office group doesn’t undervalue the leader ship role Cortland plays and the tone that he sets while he is on the field. Currently, he is the identity of this defense and they can’t afford to lose that again.

by Roosyourdaddy on Jan 26, 2012 10:53 AM CST reply actions 1 recs