Stats

I am not sure what to expect from Stanford Keglar.  He does have an awesome name though.  Keglar seems to be a project.  He has good size and speed, but his production hasn't been what you would expect of someone with his physical tools.  He racked up 250 tackles in college, which is solid, but only having 13 tackles for loss in 49 games for an outside linebacker is not very good.  The positive for Keglar coming in is that he won't be counted on for anything besides special teams in 2008 because the Titans are solid at outside linebacker.

There is an unresolved off the field incident with Keglar from a bar fight in which he was charged with battery, false informing, and disorderly conduct.  His agent claims he was just coming to the defense of a teammate and that the charges will be dimissed.  We will see..

I sent Danzig, a senior writer at Bearsnecessity,  a few questions about the Titans newest receiver, Lavelle Hawkins.

1. Who is going to be a better NFL receiver, LaVelle
   Hawkins or DeSean Jackson?

Well gee, thanks for the impossible question. How
about which one is hotter: Jessica Alba or Keeley
Hazell? Short answer, Hawk projects as the more
productive NFL WR. Heck, even our coach let it slip
that Hawk would be drafted first (really).  Here's
why:

• Hawk is superior physically: This allowed
  him to run all the routes on our playbook while Djax
  is mainly a deep guy (although Hawk leads in
  yards/catch, meaning he can go deep too).  We sent
  Hawk to catch balls over the middle and take nasty
  hits from LBs and Safeties. He owned 3rd downs because
  he boxes people out and can catch with defenders
  literally on his back (his best quality!).  Hawk deals
  with press coverage better. He is not affected by the
  initial bump, can recover and then has 4.4 speed to
  separate.

          Hawk can improvise: When our QB is in
          trouble he looks for the Hawk.  He is especially good
          at catching bullets on come-backers when our QB has
          been flushed. His ability to catch balls in traffic
          also makes him a great red-zone target.

• Hawk does not need open space: Djax is
  better in space when making people miss, but isn't
  great at fighting off defenders.  Although Hawk also
  has great moves, he uses his strength or his stiff arm
  to fight defenders for YAC. He loves the stiff arm!
  Not to say that Hawk can't hot-dog, remember he's been
  our KOR guy for 2 years.

2. How did Hawkins play against top competition?

Can't really say.  In our system we only have two WRs
out 70% of the time.  It’s a pure run-first, pro
offense.  So Hawk found himself in one-on-ones alot
against the second best corner (Djax gets the best
corners).  But regardless the DB talent, he rips them
up consistently. Remember, he led our team in
receiving and all-purpose yards last year, meaning he
produces no matter who it is.  As far as big games vs.
small games, Hawk's production never really changes.
He's like a straight line while Djax is like a Sine
wave.  Djax is quiet during small games and explodes
during big games.  Hawk just keeps getting open game
after game. Remember the Vols game in 07? Everyone
remembers Djax and his big plays, but in that game
Hawk had more receiving yards, yards/catch, total
yards and more return yards...that pretty much sums
him up.

3. What NFL receiver do you think Hawkins resembles?

I sort of answered this before in a post but basically
he's a carbon copy of a younger Hines Ward (Steelers).
Like Ward he doesn’t think too much when he’s
catching, meaning his upper-body adjustments are
instinctive and natural (as opposed to being
mechanical) allowing him to catch grossly off-target
balls.  Like Ward he doesn't have great timed speed or
size, but functional speed and size (4.44,5’11).  Like
Ward he fights off defenders for that extra two or
three yards on each catch and blocks out people with
his body.

A big thanks to Danzig for his insights.

This pick was probably the most surprising one of the draft.  It is not that I don’t think Hayes will end up being a good player for the Titans, but they probably could have gotten him in the 6^th round.  Why they traded up to get him in the 4^th round is beyond me.

Hayes seems to be a pass rushing prospect.  He has a lot of the physical tools necessary but just hasn’t put it all together yet.  He has good size at 6’2 258.  The Titans will probably bulk him up a little bit, and Jim Washburn will light a fire under him to get him to play full speed on every snap. 

Here is a philosophical draft question: There is a really good chance that the Titans could have gotten Hayes in the 4^th round without trading up.  Let’s say Hayes turns out to be a 4 time Pro Bowler.  Does that make it worth giving up the picks to move up and get him, or is this a dumb pick even if he turns out to be really good (obviously not as dumb, but still dumb none the less)?

College Stats

Stevens looks to be the replacement for Ben Hartsock who the Titans lost in free agencty to the Atlanta Falcons.  He did not do much pass catching in college, but he is a big guy at 6-3, 254, who should be able to knock some guys off the line of scrimmage. 

Just because he didn't catch many passes in college does not mean that he can't catch.  Everything I have read about him says he has good hands.  He is never going to be a deep threat, even though he did run a 4.59 40 which isn't bad, but he could make some tough catches in short yardage situations.  He is another guy that seems to be the perfect compliment to something the Titans already have on the roster. 

Welcome to the new MCM.  Learn more about the new format here.   Don't hesitate to email me any questions you have.

Draft day is always exciting as a Titans' fan during the Mike Reinfeldt regime.  You never really know what is going to happen.  Most of us were just sitting there waiting for the Titans to move up as all of the top receivers were still sitting there as the 2nd round ticked along.  Obviously that did not happen.  Instead the Titans took Jason Jones, DE, Eastern Michigan.

On the surface Jones appears to be just what the Titans need for their defensive line.  He is a big dude at 6-5, 273 that played some tackle and end in college.  He is more of a run stuffer than a pass rusher so we will probably see him doing a lot of rotating with Jevon Kearse.  If that is the case, I really like the pick because that will make Kearse that much more effective.  His NFL.com draft profile says he is a high motor guy.

All of his weaknesses seem to be when it comes to pass rushing.  That makes this a good pick for the Titans because he will have some time to develop because of the addition of Kearse.  He only had 14 sacks in his college career, but he did have 50 tackles for loss.  Give Jim Washburn a couple of months with this guy, and he should develop into a solid player.

We will finally be moving to SBN 2.0 tomorrow. It will be a new and exciting day around here..

It is time to start debating the merits of the Chris Johnson pick and look at what he brings to the Titans.  Chris Johnson is really, really fast.  LenDale White is a good back, but he is never going to break a 60 yard run or take a screen pass, make a couple of people miss, and take it to the house.  Johnson can do just that.  My biggest problem with the Chris Henry pick last year was that he didn't produce in college.  40 times at the combine mean nothing if you cannot play when the lights are on.  Johnson can play.  Last season he carried the ball 236 times for 1,423 yards (6 ypc) and 17 touchdowns.  I know it was against mostly second tier talent, but those are dang good numbers.

The biggest thing that Johnson is going to bring to the Titans is his receiving ability out of the backfield.  Last season he caught 37 passes for 528 yards (14.3 ypc) and 6 touchdowns.  Mike Heimerdinger loves to use his running backs in the passing game.  Some have suggested that the Titans are going to make Johnson a receiver.  That isn't going to happen, but I think you will see him motioning out of the backfield and lining up as a receiver a lot.  The Titans will also have a screen game next season which they haven't really had since they have been here.  Instead of throwing stuff at the TV because the Titans are giving up a 20 yard gain on a screen on 3rd and 12; you will be jumping up and down for joy because it is Johnson who is gaining those yards for the Titans. Whether you like where he was picked or not, he is exactly the back that the Titans need to compliment The Round Mound.

Johnson can also return kicks.  One of the many problems with the Titans offense last season was their starting field position.  They pretty much never started on the positive side of the 20.  That will change next season.  Johnson has the speed and vision, which Henry obviously lacked, to be a dynamic kick returner.

In summary, Johnson is a playmaker.  Here is what his NFL.com prospect page says under the compares to paragraph: