Ben Troupe is one of the most highly debated and polarizing players among Titans' fans. Some people still see the potential that he had when he came out of the University of Florida and think he could be a star in this league. Others point to the fact that he has been inconsistent at best in his 4 years with the Titans, and say if he hasn't gotten it by now that he never will.
Personally, I bounce back and forth between the to arguments. I still have the vision of him constantly leaping over defenders for big gains on Saturday afternoons and think about what could be. I cannot, however, push out of my mind the fact that he just hasn't been able to put it together, whether it be because of injuries or inability to learn his assignments, since he has been here.
Let's look at the numbers. In 2004, his rookie season, he wasn't much of a factor. It took him a while to pick up the playbook, and he finished the year with 33 catches for 329 yards and 1 touchdown. He came on towards the end of the season and had people really excited about what he would do in 2005.
2005 was by far his best season, but he still made the Titans' coaching staff want to bang their heads against the wall because of his inconsistent play. He had 55 catches for 530 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was one of the hot sleepers for 2006 in everyone's fantasy drafts. Some people were even saying he was the next Antonio Gates.
Troupe got off to an ok start in 2006. He still wasn't having big numbers in receptions per game, but he was making some big plays. His season was cut short when he suffered an injury in week 11 at Philadelphia.
He has all but disappeared from the offense in 2007. A couple of big drops early in the season has caused the coaching staff to lose confidence in him. He finished the season with only 5 catches for 47 yards.
The good news for Ben Troupe is that he can make all of these memories go away if he can, in the words of Jordin Sparks, "breathe in the moment." As it stands right now, their is virtually no way Troupe is a Titan in 2008, but with a big performance in San Diego on Sunday, Troupe could be as popular as he was when the Titans took him in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft. The stock and popularity of a player can rise and fall with just one playoff performance. If you don't believe me ask Al Del Greco. Ben you have your chance on Sunday, please take advantage of it. If you do, we will welcome you back with open arms in 2008.