Jim Wyatt has a good article on the Titans' new running backs coach Ernest Byner.  I heard Byner on the radio yesterday, and he is going to be a great asset to this coaching staff.  He had no problem talking about "The Fumble" saying that going through that experience had helped him become who he is today.

Jeff Fisher isn't so sure about Albert Haynesworth's six pack:

"It's in a cooler in the back of his car,'' Fisher said.

John Glennon, the beat-writer for the Nashville Predators, thinks the Titans should open the wallet for Haynesworth.  He makes some pretty good points.

Terry McCormick has a good article about Jacob Ford's battle to make this roster.  He can contribute if he can keep that weight on.  He has the potential to be a very good situational rusher.

Before last season Titans defensive coordiantor Jim Schwartz offered a reward to anyone who was able to play at least 90% of the defensive snaps.   On Friday he made good on his promise by giving Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck and Cortland Finnegan sledgehammers painted in Titan colors  I love what Keith Bulluck said about it:

“This is pretty cool,” Bulluck said. “I just hope I can get another four or five of these with 90 percent snaps. It’s cool coach Schwartz did this, I’ll keep it here until I am no longer at this locker.”

I hope Bulluck is here and playing well enough to get four or five more of those as well.

Lavelle Hawkins and Craig Stevens got their first work with the team yesterday because they were later finishing up their exams.  Hawkins apparently looked good in his first work putting a move on Michael Griffin to haul in a touchdown pass.

Paul Kuharsky's practice notes from yesterday.

It appears that LenDale White played the entire 2007 season with a torn meniscus.   He suffered the tear in the preseason last season.

“This happened last year in preseason. I tore my meniscus,” White said. “I played on it all season. Contrary to what people believe, I am a soldier. I played on it all year and I didn’t complain, not once. I waited until the season was over to get it fixed and now I’m feeling good.”

While I am never a big fan of the "soldier" line, I do appreciate the fact that The Round Mound played the whole season with an injury like that and never used it as an excuse. 

It appears that Ryan Fowler's shoulder will never be the same after the injury he suffered in training camp last season.  Fowler says that he won't let it slow him down:

"As far as getting my shoulder 100 percent, I'm not sure it will ever be 100 percent totally," said Fowler, who turns 26 in a week. "But it's as effective as I need it to be already."

"We only have helmets on. There's not a lot of contact. I can do everything that practice calls for right now. We all have to play with things that hurt all the time. Right now I could definitely play. That wouldn't be an issue."

The article mentions that Fowler will still be the starting middle linebacker when camp opens.  I hope the open up the competition in camp as they did last year.  Fowler is a solid player, but Stephen Tulloch seems to have more upside than Fowler.  If Tulloch has become more comfrotable in the defense over the offseason, he should be the guy.

Paul Kuharsky has a great story in today's Tennessean about Jevon Kearse.   Kearse makes it clear that he is not here to just be a situational pass rusher.  Here was his response when he was asked if the plans on playing full time:

"Yes. I mean if they know what's good for them, that's what they'll do," he said. "If they make me situational, then I'll be that. But every down is what I am looking forward to …"

"I'm still the same player, but that scheme up in Philly was different. All I've got to say is proof is in the pudding, so I can't even talk about it. Just watch and see."

Kearse seems determined to prove that he can still be the player he was before he went to Philadelphia.  It will be interesting to see how this unfolds in training camp.

Speaking of players who are out to prove something, Terry McCormick has a good article about Mike Williams.   It appears that Williams has redicated himself to football, and he reported to the OTAs more than 30 pounds lighter than he was when the season ended.  That is a step in the right direction.  He has all the physical tools to be a really good receiver.  If he continues to be as dedicated as it appears he has been this offseason, he could really make an impact on the offense this season.  He is the type of receiver that Vince Young needs to have.  If the Titans can get a good season from either Kearse or Mike Williams I would consider that a huge success.  If they can get both of them to exceed expectations it could be a really good season.

Last night I was on the Pigskin Podcast to talk about the Titans and the rest of the teams in the AFC South.  Click here to listen to the podcast.   My part is the last 15 minutes or so.

Check out the new search function in the upper right hand corner of the site.  It gives you a Google-like search of the site.  It is pretty cool.

Teresa Walker of the AP has an interesting article about Mike Reinfeldt's approach to the salary cap.   I haven't agreed with a lot of his draft day decisions, but I think he is very smart when it comes to dealing with the cap.  The Titans currently have a lot of cap room for 2008 and 2009, so the Michael Roos deal is front -loaded.  The reason the Titans got into so much cap trouble before was because Floyd Reese back-loaded every contract he did and all of the big numbers came up at the same time.  I love the approach, and hope he can get similar deals done with Albert Haynesworth and David Stewart.

Mike Heimerdinger is working with Vince Young on his footwork first:

"We're trying to fix his feet,'' Heimerdinger said. "Just getting his feet underneath him when he throws — he just always seems to be off-balance and throws just with his arms and not with his feet. … If we can get that fixed, it will give him a chance to throw an accurate ball more often.''

 As the article mentions, and I am sure you have noticed, VY throws without his feet set a lot which tends to cause his throws to sail.  VY seems to be taking the coaching well:

"I feel like 'Dinger is getting me prepared to play, to take it to the next level,'' Young said. "… This is my third year; I'm getting a lot of reps and film work. I really feel like I have a lot of help and all I have to do is stay focused and work hard. I'm getting better; we're all getting better.''

Kevin Mawae, who said after the season last year that VY needs to become a student of the game, is already seeing improvement in that area:

"I think Vince feels more comfortable,'' Mawae said. "I made the comment at the end of the year last year that he needs to take the next step and become a student of the game and I think Heimerdinger is helping him do that.

"He is seeing more things on the field and communicating a little better with the offensive line and making checks and things like that. It is still early and we have a lot to do. But we have a lot of time for more improvement, not just for him but for everybody.''

I am really excited about what Dinger is going to bring out in VY.  We are going to see more of the special things that we saw in his rookie season

The Tennessee Titans vs. Oakland Raiders preseason game has been moved from Saturday, August 16th to Friday, August 15th.  The game has been picked up nationally by FOX.

The new defensive lineman got introduced to Jim Washburn last week.  Washburn seems really excited to work with these guys.  While Jeff Fisher and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz haven't yet decided if 2nd round pick Jason Jones will play tackle or end, Wash seems to have his mind made up:

"He can be OK out there, but what he is is an inside player," Washburn said. "He weighs 273 or something like that and that hasn't been an issue because he was strong against the run. He was sort of unusually strong. I'm not sure, I've just got to see."

Wash also seemed very excited about the speed of 4th round pick William Hayes:

"I just like him," Washburn said. "He can fly. Really strong. … He's going to be overwhelmed. This isn't FAMU. But you know something, he's got unique physical qualities. Everybody thought, 'Wow, what a reach.' They had no clue."

Speaking of being excited by speed, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is thrilled to have 1st round pick Chris Johnson in his arsenal:

"We were out there making up routes,'' Heimerdinger said. "I've never had a guy that can do (things Johnson can). … You need to be able to take advantage of the guy because he can do so many things. We'll just see what he can handle.''

Rafael Little took the practice field last week wearing #32.   He was quickly told by Fisher to take it off:

“He’s not going to be wearing that,” Fisher said. “We had discussed it this morning and for some reason someone told him to get dressed and come out. But that won’t be his number. … He’d prefer to wear a different number than 32 and you can read into it all you want.’’

Asked if the Titans were retiring the number or exorcising it, Fisher said: “I’m sending it to Dallas.”

There you have it.