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This weekend was the first time that the 2015 Tennessee Titans have been on the field at the same time in highly competitive drills. The more looks we get at these players in these conditions, the better idea we will have of what they will bring when the season rolls around. It is time to start separating what we wanted these players to be, from what they actually are.
This is a look back on the skill position play from this weekend.
Hakeem Nicks
No conversation about this group can start without giving Nicks some praise. He didn't just stand out on day one, he has consistently been one of the best players on the field. That is a field that includes Delanie Walker, Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas, DGB, and others so it isn't like he is standing out for the Oakland Raiders or another team that is thin at receivers.
These three tweets say more than I could on the topic:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hakeem Nicks off to a good start in practice. Two really nice catches in 1 on 1 drills <a href="https://twitter.com/Titans">@titans</a></p>— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/jwyattsports/status/627583619905630208">August 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hakeem Nicks made a nice grab against Jason McCourty in one on ones. Mariota threw it to the spot perfectly</p>— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) <a href="https://twitter.com/terrymc13/status/627582260057907200">August 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nicks beats Sensabaugh for great sideline catch, turns and says "Y'all better put two out here!" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Titans?src=hash">#Titans</a></p>— John Glennon (@glennonsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/glennonsports/status/627583468243918848">August 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Winning in 1 on 1s, putting yourself in a position to beat Jason McCourty and demanding double teams and then backing it up is saying something.
Delanie Walker
While he isn't jumping out a lot at practice, there is no reason to suspect that this man won't be a strong candidate to end up with the most receiving yards by the end of the year. Mariota and Walker have chemistry, so much so that he is often one of his first reads even to the point where that is who he went to on the first play of team in pads today.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First play in team drills a pass from Mariota to Delanie Walker down the seam. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Titans?src=hash">#Titans</a></p>— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) <a href="https://twitter.com/terrymc13/status/627856135530221568">August 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Walker is going to have a good year if he and Mariota continue to build off of each other.
Kendall Wright
It is easy to miss the compliments about Kendall Wright because he is catching passes from the most watched man in Nashville. Having said that, it has been a stellar camp from Wright so far.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Very nice back to back deep connections from Mariota. First to Wright, second to DGB. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Titans?src=hash">#Titans</a></p>— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulKuharskyNFL/status/627598799339393024">August 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best pass of day for MM. He hits Wright on a perfectly placed skinny post between Griff, McCourty.</p>— John Glennon (@glennonsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/glennonsports/status/627591004380626944">August 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Ken Whisenhunt also had kind things to say about Kendall Wright according to 247 Sports and Terry McCormick:
"Kendall Wright had a really good spring, really did a nice job, and you can see that carrying over. I like that...I think that Kendall’s hopefully going to have a big year, and he’s really been good from a leadership perspective. He’s been good, really disciplined in his routes. The quarterbacks have been loving that, because they know where he is going to be and they can get him the ball. He’s an explosive player."
If Whisenhunt is complimenting Wright's routes after everything we have heard about Wright freelancing, you know he is impressing.
Odds and ends:
-The tight ends have all been doing a little bit, but no one has really jumped in and demanded extra attention.
-The running backs haven't had a lot to do so far considering there has only been one padded practice. The depth chart seems to be Bishop Sankey, Dexter McCluster, Antonio Andrews, and David Cobb in that order.
-Though not technically a running back, people keep talking about how sharp Jalston Fowler looks as a moving fullback and I think he will get a lot of time this year.
-Justin Hunter hasn't done enough to get out of fans' doghouses yet, but he has been in on some plays and isn't being phased out of the offense.
-DGB killed a blocking sled and has made a lot of impressive catches, but he needs to be more consistent. This is something you see with most rookie receivers, and that isn't even including the fact that it has been over a year since he has played football.