Pulse of the Fanbase?

[Mercalius]

With the end of mini-camps today, we're going into a relatively dry spell for football discussion.  There really won't be much to talk about for the next few weeks, outside of maybe some contract signings (Mariota) or the shuffling around of some non-vital players that likely won't have much impact once real football begins.

In relation to where you were roughly 2 months ago (right around draft time), how are you feeling about the Titans immediate (2015) and longterm future?   

The draft picks have hit the field, we've heard reports on both the offense and defense, and fair or not - opinions are starting to form on what to expect of the 2015 squad based largely on what's been the equivalent to grown men playing flag football for the last few weeks.  

It happens every year, even though we swear it won't....brief snippets and commentary about guys running around in shorts dramatically shifts opinions about where the franchise is, and will be, in the coming months.  Putting too much into these reports is foolish, but the media has to report on something to keep the sport relevant.  The good news is (not that there's ever bad news):

*Mariota has looked good, and far outperformed the expectations of those covering him.  Wyatt and Kuharsky have both seemed legitimately impressed.  

*The defense has had strong showings in practice.  Several reports have come out about them "winning" far more often than not.  Could be an indictment on the offense...but hey, let's take optimism where we can.

*We've gotten this far with few significant injuries.  Outside of DGB's hamstring and Orakpo taking it easy, notable players on our team haven't been bitten by the injury bug.  A few backup/depth guys have had some issues, but knock on wood, so far so good.

*Team chemistry seems to be trending upward.  Following a lot of quotes on Twitter, I asked Wyatt directly about this on Periscope.  He admitted that times like these often lead to inflated team chemistry (offseason before any real losses add up), but that there is a tangible feeling of unity and players seeming to buy in to what the coaching staff is selling.  Lebeau influence maybe?  Mariota looking ahead of schedule?  Year 2 for many of them leading to increased confidence in the system?  Could be any, or all, of the above.  We hear similar things every year, even last year before the trainwreck of 2014, but again...it's something that has been reported and we have to take our optimism where we can.

Delanie Walker just gave an interview about half an hour ago where he said he's expecting 8-8 as a floor for the 2015 squad.  He's typically a pretty grounded, realistic voice.  Is the heat getting to him?  Or are we finally witnessing the foundation for a team trending upward after nearly a decade of desperately attempting to stay relevant and tread water (often without success)?

So how do you guys feel?  

Edited June 18, 2015 by Mercalius

[TF_Titan]

I'm as pessimistic about the team long term as I've been since they moved to Nashville. I think they'll be better this year, but it would be hard to be worse.

This draft smelled of desperation to me, which almost never ends well.

[Mercalius]

Comments like Whitehurst's definitely don't help keep expectations in check:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13107319/tennessee-titans-give-marcus-mariota-strong-reviews-minicamp

 

"It's kind of funny, the way I look at it is, the offseason is over and, I don't mean this in the wrong way, I didn't see tons of progress," Whitehurst said. "It's just like he came in here and he looked like he'd been doing it for a couple years already.

"There was never anything that I saw where it was like, 'Well that needs to be worked on.' He was pretty damn good at everything when he got here, and he's better now. I don't want to get ahead of it, who knows what's going to happen. I think he's going to be a heck of a player."

Whitehurst had no specific advice to offer Mariota as he heads into time off until the Titans report to camp on July 30.

"If I was going to say, 'Hey, here's one thing that you need to work on when you go home,' not that it's my job, I'm not sure that I could think of one thing. Just keep going, keep doing what you're doing. And I certainly like what I see."

[Mercalius]

Regarding the Delanie Walker comments from above:

http://www.tennessean.com/story/titansinsider/2015/06/18/titans-delanie-walker-49ers/28930539/

"I say we go (at least) .500,'' Walker said. "I don't want to make Super Bowl predictions, but we should be a great team."  "It is early. I sense that we have some playmakers here,'' Walker said. "But time will tell how good we should be. I think the make-up of the team has changed. We have a lot of guys in different rooms that can take someone's spot that was here before. So I think the make-up has changed and I think guys realize ownership and coaches are not playing any more."

[Rogue]

It's hard not to trend upward after a 2-14 season.  Unfortunately, trending upward also means getting back to where we were prior to last year, which isn't particularly comforting, yet that is what we are hoping for.  We assume at some point, the team will be a competitor again.   All the preseason stuff is the same each year.   Nothing will matter until game time, although the preseason games can get you excited and something to talk about.  

I think it's going to come down to Whisenhunt and if he's worth a shit or not.  That's not an option, but to me that's what it will all boil down to.  

 

 

[Titans279]

PK just said Mariota looked like clearly the best QB out there by a wide margin. He said of course there's not hitting and they aren't in pads but that this is exactly what you like to hear. 

[Denali]

My pulse is almost 0 due to puff piece overload.  I need resuscitation.  Training camp in a few months will help.  In the meantime, I guess maybe a visit to the local doctor nudie bar will provide a temporary cure.

[TF_Titan]

I'm filing all the wind being blown up our skirts in the "get back to me when the season starts" folder.

[MIKE75]

I think the team is finally set to move up after spending the last four years basically hopeless. Mariota has breathed new life into what was a very stagnant team and given them hope for the future that things will change. I think those running the team,media and even the fanbase feel like Mariota is a winner.

Back in 2011 there was a coaching change and a QB change and both of those crippled the team. Even though Fisher had just left the organization had mostly won in his twelve years 1999-2010 and made the postseason often. Munchak ended up losing to the 0-13 Colts and the next year 0-10 Jags and in 2012 by the end of the year i think a lot of folks knew Munchak was the wrong coach and Locker with his accuracy issues and injuries was the wrong QB.

Almost every one of Locker's games in 2011 and 2012 he would average around 45 to 50% throwing passes and might have one good game that would skew his stats a bit. Even the first two games in 2011 that he ever played in weren't that good either. He was 9 of 19 against Atlanta good for 47.4% Against New Orleans he was 13 of 29 for 44.8%

Between the injuries and terrible games like the 55-7 game against Green Bay at the end of 2012 where Locker completed 13 of 30 passes which was 43% it was quite clear this team was going nowhere with Munchak or Locker and i think most players knew that. Other games that year Locker completed 9 of 21 passes against Miami that same year good for 42.9% completion rate. He completed 21 of 45 against Houston that year for 46.7% Completed 15 of 30 that same year against San Diego good for 50% you can't win games with that accuracy and completion rate.

Then you had Kenny Britt and some others who could've been the cancers Delanie Walker talked about that were souring things in the locker room. Maybe the losing as well as the wrong leadership at head coach and QB was getting to most of the players and the culture of the team wasn't good.

With Whisenhunt the team didn't start off well but he is way better than Munchak just like Mariota is much better than Locker. Whisenhunt is wise enough to realize he has to change the playbook and game plan for Mariota to succeed and he is doing that. I think he is doing everything in his power to make sure Mariota will succeed in the offense. The team drafted heavily on offense to give Mariota the things he needs to win.

All it takes is one good player to change a franchise and Marcus Mariota is that player. With Mariota he is great physically and mentally and can beat teams with his arm and his legs. He won nearly every game he played 36-4 and had one of the best ratios ever 105TD/14INT. Mariota has a great work ethic and determination to win. Mariota will change things for the better.

Edited June 18, 2015 by MIKE75

[EagleEye]

I think Marcus is so dynamic in everything, he is raising the bar higher than what they even envisioned.  He demands excellence without shouting it.  Lebeau is doing the same thing on defense.  So I see a 10-6 record.  

What would you prefer, that the coaches and players say  that Mariota is struggling even though he's not?  Maybe to surprise opponents?  Or say what they're been saying?  Sometimes playing low ball is better.

[IsntLifeFunny]

I like what I've heard so far. Hearing from multiple people that Mariota is clearly the best QB on the field every practice is a huge plus and really shouldn't be discounted as they've also mentioned Mett looks more mobile and pretty good as well. Hopefully it isn't bullshit, but I don't think PK is the kind to blow that kind of smoke. 

[MIKE75]

I also like hearing from Delanie that he thinks they could at least go 8-8. If Mariota plays well and the defense can be respectable i definitely think the team can hit .500 because after all this is one of the easiest schedules in quite a while. Between the bye i think they have over a month where they don't even leave home. The roughest stretch is December three out of four on the road going into the cold northeastern winter against New England,NY Jets and Indy with one home game two days after Xmas against Houston. Nothing would be cooler than going into these games with a chance to make the postseason.

[socaltitan]

PK just said Mariota looked like clearly the best QB out there by a wide margin. He said of course there's not hitting and they aren't in pads but that this is exactly what you like to hear. 

It is, and Kuharsky's not a guy who just blows smoke.Him and Jefferson have been very complimentary of Mariota.

[reo]

 Training camp in a few months will help.

looking to start camp sometime in September are we?

[Face]

I pay zero attention to player's comments, there totally useless. I do, however, pay a lot of attention when PK talks about how good Mariota has looked. The one thing you have to give PK is he's pretty much a straight shooter, and he also didn't want Mariota. I put some serious stock into his comments.