Tennessee Titans Morning Links: The Ballad Of Stafon Johnson Edition

LeGarrette Blount has been excused form team activities for two days for unspecified personal reasons. Perhaps the biggest suprise of Saturday night (outside of Jason Jones starting over Sen'Derrick Marks) was that Blount was used a so little after there was so much excitement over his camp performances. Blount ended up with only 5 rushes for 4 yards, so maybe these issues were in play on Saturday night... who knows.

Chris Johnson fell 99 yards short of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record last year, but that might not have been the case without a holding call on Ahmard Hall that nullified a 62-yard touchdown run. Now, Ed Hochuli has gone out of his way to apologize to Hall, who was called for the hold, and describing the call as a 'mistake'. It's a very classy move from one of the league's most recognizable refs. Hochuli explained that he got a very low grade in the evaluations for that game due mostly to that call. I can understand why since the hold was behind the runner and didn't have any affect on  the play.

Rusty Smith had an up and down performance in his first preseason game, and it was definitely a learning experience for the rookie. Still, you saw the arm strength, the poise and the physical skills that made him worth the draft pick. and make him a worthy prospect for Mike Heimerdinger to spend the next few years grooming ala Billy Volek in the early 2000's.

Follow us through the jump for news on Derrick Morgan...

Derrick Morgan has his sights set on playing next Monday Night when the Cardinals come to town, but look for the next week as the more likely date for his debut. Morgan is also switching his jersey number, and will most likely take Jevon Kearse's old number 90.

The Titans say we'll see more of Kerry Collins next week when the Titans appear in the Monday Night Preseason timeslot. I'm all for whatever it takes for me to have to watch less Chris Simms.

So we're all in agreement that Vince tucks the ball and runs for the 1st down during the regular season rather than attempt that pass that was picked off, correct? I mean, there's no question in my mind.

Any hope Stafon Johnson had of making the roster and playing this year went poof on Saturday night when he dislocated his ankle, sprained his ankle and broke his fibula all on one hit. It's a horrible turn of luck for Johsnon, who had come a long way to get back to this point after nearly losing his life in a weight lifting accident at USC. Hopefully Johnson stays strong, rehabs like he needs to and is ready to go next season.

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