Titans GM Won’t Get Comfortable; Always Looking to Improve Roster

The Titans have had a busy off-season, filling holes with several new players through free agency and the NFL Draft. But that’s not stopping GM Ruston Webster and his staff from continuing to look at ways to improve Tennessee’s roster.

He told Mike Keith Friday the Titans still have cap room and can afford reasonably-priced players that can help the team this coming season.

“We’ll keep looking. I wouldn’t rule anything out and I wouldn’t be surprised if we sign somebody at some point,” Webster said. “The thing we’re telling ourselves, and we talk about internally, is to keep scouting. Anybody we can find that can help us that we can afford — and that is important right now — we would look at signing them.”

Webster said the team is achieving its goal of adding competition and “wants to put the best team that we possibly can on the field this fall.”

“That’s the goal,” Webster said. “I think we’re much improved and if we can continue to improve, we will.”

Titans Receivers Coach Likes Kevin Walter’s Blocking Ability

One of the first things Titans wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson noticed when he turned on film of Kevin Walter was how well the veteran receiver blocked in the run game.

“When I see a receiver blocking in the run game that tells me he really cares about the small details,” Jefferson told Titans Online’s Amie Wells on Tuesday. “All most receivers want to do is catch balls, but here’s this 10-year NFL veteran player that understands the little things that help the running back break free for a long touchdown. We’ve got to have those things if we’re going to be able to compete at a high level.”

Walter, entering his 11th NFL season, joined the Titans during the off-season after a seven-year stint with the Houston Texans. Walter’s veteran presence and professionalism are already rubbing off on his new teammates.

“I’ve been seeing it in practice. He showed up day 1 hitting the ground running,” Jefferson said. “I told (rookie WR) Justin Hunter today, everything that Kevin Walter does, you mimic that guy. He’s a pro. If the route calls for 22 yards, he’s at 22 yards, not 22 and a half. He’s going to be great for a guy like Justin and some of these younger guys. I think that’s what’s been missing from this group — just the little details that will pay off for us down the road.”

Jake Locker’s Left Shoulder “Feels like it’s Back to Normal”

Jake Locker said his left shoulder “feels like its back to normal” and the third-year quarterback will “definitely” be cleared for contact at training camp in late July.

Locker’s injury last season and backup status in 2011 has translated into only 16 games played with 11 starts over his first two NFL seasons — not a large body of work for evaluation.

Despite the injuries and playing behind a depleted offensive line a year ago, Locker has thrown for 2,718 yards and 14 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions in those 16 games. He improved his completion percentage from 51.5 in 2011 to 56.4 in 2012 and ran for 291 yards and a TD last season.

His career-high 378 yards passing in a win over Detroit showed he’s more than capable of moving the ball downfield.

Locker admits he “can improve in a lot of areas” as he looks to become more consistent and find ways to keep the offense on the field in 2013.

“There were a lot of third downs and situations where if we would have converted and kept drives alive, it could change a game,” Locker told NFL Network. “A lot of times it came down to one or two plays and just finding ways to maybe not make the flashy play but do what you can to move the sticks; just kind of learning the value in that.”

Locker said he doesn’t worry about critics.

“I go out and I’m always trying to get the best out of myself no matter what the situation,” he said. “It won’t be any different for me, I won’t approach it any different. I’m just excited about this season.”

Locker said he’s excited about the team’s recent additions and what they’ve already added on the field and in the locker room. He spoke highly of departed QB Matt Hasselbeck and said he’s looking forward to working with Ryan Fitzpatrick and having the veteran QB push him.

He also believes the Titans will look to establish the run in 2013.

“You look at this team four or five years ago when they were having a lot of success, they were really establishing a ground game and using the play-action pass to keep teams on their heels and win football games that way,” Locker said. “We’re going to try to do that same thing this year.”

Munchak on John Abraham: “We know what kind of player he is”

Multiple media outlets have reported the team’s interest in free agent defensive ends John Abraham and Dwight Freeney.

Head coach Mike Munchak confirmed the interest following Friday’s rookie mini-camp practice, saying the team has spoken with Abraham, the former Falcon who posted 10 sacks last season.

“We talked to him, spent some time with him. It’s looking at what he wants, what we want,” Munchak said. “We’ve been talking to him; nothing’s been done. He hasn’t obviously made a decision, and (I don’t know) how quickly he’s going to make the decision.”

“It’s a business thing, so we’re talking to him, Munchak said. “Obviously, we know what kind of player he is and has been. He’s going to be playing in this league. We all know that. It’s just a matter of where the best fit is going to be.”

Freeney is the other high-profiled defensive end on the market.

“I think we talk to everyone really, but we haven’t had him in, obviously,” Munchak said. “We know what a great player he’s been, and it’s one of those things where you have to bring guys like that in because you have to see where they are physically and where they’re at mentally and what their thinking is. There’s a lot more to it with the older guys, to see exactly what kind of situation they’re looking for. You really don’t know that until you bring them in.”

Bernard Pollard “Flips Switch” on Football Field

Bernard Pollard didn’t pull any punches during Tuesday’s off-season media briefing at Baptist Sports Park, but it was a message Titans fans are undoubtedly glad to hear.

The veteran safety who played a key role in the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens’ secondary is looking to bring his same hard-hitting, aggressive mentality to the Titans.

Pollard’s play last season earned him a spot on NFL Network’s list of Top 100 players for 2013.

“For the most part all I can do is lead by example,” Pollard said. “I’m a guy that flips that switch on the football field. All I can do is hope that my teammates…I hope everybody has switches, because if you don’t, this is the wrong sport to be in.”

Pollard called Tennessee’s young talent on defense “amazing” and likes the direction head coach Mike Munchak has the Titans headed.

“I truly believe they’re right there on the edge,” Pollard said. “They’ve added some veteran guys and players in the draft to help this team be better. We’ve got to go out there and go all out. You have to understand you don’t win games in the media, you win games by going out and beating the guy in front of you and that’s the concept and understanding we need to have on this defense – beat the man across from you.”

And Pollard will let most of his talking come from his play on the field.

“I’ll say a few things, but for the most part I’m going to go out there and knock the fire out of somebody on the field, and hopefully you follow. That’s the mindset we have to have on this defense,” Pollard said.

Pollard doesn’t put much stock in Tennessee’s 2012 defensive rankings. He’s simply focused on helping this current defense play hard, physical, winning football.

“That’s what’s going to keep those seats full, that’s what’s going to keep us winning games and that’s what’s going to keep us getting to the playoffs,” he said. “Everybody’s talking about what we haven’t accomplished. Well, that’s the past. You look at what we’re doing now — we’re putting in a scheme and we have some tremendous athletes and we just have to have 11 dogs on the same page on the field.”

“When it’s all said and done, we’re going to go out there and play football — and it’s smack you in the mouth football, fight you football and it’s straight to the point,” Pollard said. “There’s no hiding. You can’t hide in this defense, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Jason McCourty: Defense Will Look “A Lot” Different in 2013

Veteran cornerback Jason McCourty took time out Monday to interact with fans on the Academy Sports + Outdoors Titans Caravan.

Back at Baptist Sports Park, McCourty and his teammates have been engaged in the team’s off-season program in preparation for the 2013 season. McCourty says Phase II of the program is about getting better, both individually and as a team, with on-field conditioning and work in the weight room.

McCourty is excited about the team’s recent additions, both through free agency and the draft. But even with a secure contract in hand, the defensive captain is not about to get complacent.

“There’s always competition,” he said. “In this league it’s about production and there’s always a younger guy looking to take your spot no matter how secure you think you are. Each year as you go into the season you have to compete throughout OTAs and training camp to continue to play at a high level and play in the NFL in general.”

McCourty said it’s been “a blast” getting to know all the new players as they look to gel together on the football field.

“Everybody has a reputation that precedes them,” he said. “A guy like Bernard Pollard, we watched him play in the Super Bowl and a guy like George Wilson who’s played as many seasons as he has in the league, those are easy names to remember.”

And those new names will contribute to a much different looking defense in 2013.

“I think it’s going to look a lot different,” McCourty said. “We have new pieces, along with Gregg Williams, who is a new coach for us. He’s bringing more of an attack attitude towards the defense. I’m looking forward to seeing what we’re going to produce once the season shows up.”

Titans Receiving High Grades for 2013 Draft

Count SI.com and USA Today among the media outlets giving the Titans high grades for their selections in the 2013 NFL Draft.

SI.com gave the Titans an ‘A’ for their 2013 draft class that included taking Alabama guard Chance Warmack with the 10th overall pick.

SI.com writer Chris Burke writes: “The Tennessee Titans clearly have committed major resources this offseason toward keeping Locker clean and opening holes for Johnson, first with the free-agent signing of Andy Levitre and now with the selection of Alabama guard Chance Warmack. That Levitre-Warmack combo could be one of the best in the NFL next season, and it fits right into the mold of head coach Mike Munchak.”

Burke concluded: “This might end up going down as one of the best picks in the draft. The Titans let a little bit of chaos ensue above them, then grabbed perhaps the best lineman available — after four other linemen had been picked.”

USA Today also approved of the Titans’ draft class, giving them an ‘A’  in its team-by-team reviews.

Wrote USA Today writer Nate Davis: “ If the Mike Munchak era is to extend beyond this season, it’s time to win now. No better way to do that than by importing quality rookies, four seemingly capable of making their marks instantly. G Chance Warmack (No. 10) and C Brian Schwenke (Round 4) complete an offensive line makeover that should benefit QB Jake Locker and RB Chris Johnson. WR Justin Hunter (Round 2) is a deep threat who might supplant Nate Washington, while CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (Round 3) is a big corner who could take the nickel role and allow Alterraun Verner to shift into the slot.”

Chance Warmack, Titans First Round Draft Notes

* Warmack is the first player from the University of Alabama to be chosen in the first round by the Titans/Oilers.

Chance Warmack Among Six O-Linemen Taken Early in First Round

Alabama guard Chance Warmack was among six offensive linemen chosen in the first 11 picks of the 2013 NFL Draft.

1 – Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher (Kansas City Chiefs)
2 – Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel (Jacksonville Jaguars)
4 – Oklahoma OT Lane Johnson (Philadelphia Eagles)
7 – North Carolina G Jonathan Cooper (Arizona Cardinals)
10 – Alabama G Chance Warmack (Tennessee Titans)
11 – Alabama OT D.J. Fluker (San Diego Chargers)

Warmack was also one of three consecutive Alabama players chosen in the first round, as the Crimson Tide became the first college since at least 1967 to have three consecutive first-round picks.

The New York Jets chose cornerback Dee Milliner with the No. 9 overall pick, Warmack was chosen at No. 10 and the San Diego Chargers snagged Fluker at No. 11.

In all, the SEC had 12 players drafted in the first round, the most by any conference. Since 2000, the SEC leads all conferences with 540 total draft choices.

MOST FIRST ROUND PICKS BY CONFERENCE

SEC – 540
Big Ten – 455
PAC-12 – 396
Big XII – 374
ACC – 338

Peter King’s Mock Draft Shows UNC Guard Jonathan Cooper to Titans at #10

The day before the start of the 2013 NFL Draft, veteran football writer and analyst Peter King unveiled his mock draft, lining up North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper with the Titans at #10.

King has Alabama guard chance Warmack going to Buffalo at #8 and LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo to the Jets at #9. King shows Georgia LB Jarvis Jones slipping to Pittsburgh at #17.

Here’s how King sees the first round going down:

1. Kansas City: OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
2. Jacksonville: DE Ziggy Ansah, BYU
3. Oakland: DT Sharrif Floyd, Florida
4. Philadelphia: DE/OLB Dion Jordan, Oregon
5. Detroit: CB Dee Milliner, Alabama
6. San Diego: OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
7. Arizona: OT Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo: G Chance Warmack, Alabama
9. N.Y. Jets: DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU
10. Tennessee: G Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
11. Cleveland: QB Geno Smith, West Virginia
12. Miami: OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
13. N.Y. Jets: WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
14. Carolina: DT Sheldon Richardson, Missouri
15. New Orleans: DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina
16. St. Louis: S Kenny Vaccaro, Texas
17. Pittsburgh: OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
18. Dallas: S Jonathan Cyprien, Florida International
19. N.Y. Giants: DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State
20. Chicago: TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
21. Cincinnati: RB Eddie Lacy, Alabama
22. St. Louis: WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
23. Minnesota: LB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
24. Indianapolis: CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State.
25. Minnesota: WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee
26. Green Bay: DT Star Lotulelei, Utah
27. Houston: WR Keenan Allen, California
28. Denver: DE Datone Jones, UCLA
29. New England: WR Terrance Williams, Baylor
30. Atlanta: CB Desmond Trufant, Washington
31. San Francisco: WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
32. Baltimore: LB Arthur Brown, Kansas State

So final thoughts from Titans fans before the draft begins in less than 24 hours?