Kirchner And Paton Among Best GM Candidates Titans Need To Bring In

[MIKE75]

Trent Kirchner is director of pro personnel in Seattle. Kirchner has served an important role in the Seahawks success over the last five years. Along with GM Schneider, has helped oversee an extensive overhaul of the Seahawk's roster since 2010. He has a major hand in free agency and helped work on the signings of big names like Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett and helped facilitate the trade for Marshawn Lynch. Seattle consistently has one of the best rosters in football. It's a group effort, of course, but Kirchner gets a lot of credit for helping put it together.

Seattle ended up cutting 22 players that first season and started changing the way things were usually done in Seattle. They moved quickly cutting many long time favorites in the process.

Among the players let go those first two years were Matt Hassellbeck,Deion Branch,Julius Jones,TJ Houshmandzadeh,Darryl Tapp,Seneca Wallace,Josh Wilson,Lawrence Jackson,Nick Reed,Deon Butler,Brian Russell,Kelly Jennings,etc.

One of their philosophies was to admit their mistakes early especially ones in the draft quickly and not have players hanging around who weren't good enough to play. They are willing to move along quickly from bad draft picks to give more undrafted free agents opportunities to make the roster. One of Tennessee and GM Ruston Webster's main mistakes was not wanting to admit they were wrong early and move on leading to a growing group of players that weren't quite good enough but were taking up lots of roster space.

Seattle's focus was on keeping the best players no matter how those players were aquired. The Seahawks also lead the league in keeping undrafted free agents because during the preseason they give many new players time to play so they can hopefully sign as many players as possible. They also searched everywhere for talent the CFL,undrafted free agents,players other teams considered done,etc.

Marshawn Lynch was becoming an afterthought on a Buffalo team that was starting Fred Jackson and had chosen C.J. Spiller in the first round. Seattle acquired him for two picks in the latter half of the draft, and two years later Lynch had concluded the third-most productive rushing season in franchise history.

In April of 2010, the Seahawks sent a 2010 5th round pick in exchange for RB and KR Leon Washington and a 7th round pick. Washington scored 3 kick/punt return touchdowns in 2010 for Seattle.

Cornerback Brandon Browner was an even bigger bargain, someone the Seahawks signed after he spent four years playing in the CFL. The lesson? Just because a player didn’t fit someone else’s prototype doesn’t mean he can’t be a productive, even Pro Bowl-caliber, contributor.

Chris Clemons, whom the Seahawks acquired in a 2010 trade, was gotten along with a fourth-round pick for Darryl Tapp, a restricted free agent at the time.

Offensive tackle Breno Giacomini was signed off the Packers’ practice squad and started at right tackle. Left guard Paul McQuistan was added in 2011, not on an NFL roster when the previous season concluded. Seattle traded a seventh round pick to Philly for offensive lineman Stacy Andrews.

During his six seasons in Seattle, the team has qualified for the postseason five times, appearing in the Super Bowl twice and winning the championship in 2013. Starting in 2010 the new head coach Pete Carroll, GM Schneider and Kirchner all set out to make the team better. In the draft for 2010 they got Russell Okung,Earl Thomas,Golden Tate,Walter Thurmond and Kam Chancellor. In 2011 they drafted James Carpenter,KJ Wright,Richard Sherman,Byron Maxwell. 2012 they drafted Bruce Irvin,Bobby Wagner,Russell Wilson,Robert Turbin,Jeremy Lane,Winston Guy,JR Sweezy. Those three drafts were how the roster was built along

Doug Baldwin,Jermaine Kearse,Ricardo Lockette,Michael Bennett,Steven Hauschka,Thomas Rawls were all undrafted but contributors along with free agents like Cliff Avril,Michael Bennett,Marshawn Lynch,Percy Harvin.

How does all this relate to Tennessee?  They could certainly use some advice and guidance because of the hole they are in. The reason i put the Seahawks methods i thought it was interesting the way they had a plan and stuck with it from the very beginning.

Whoever this team brings in as GM they along with the new head coach will have to try and turnover as much of the roster as possible to make the team more competitive. No reason at all that the new GM can't bring in help at RB possibly Lamar Miller and a WR or two possibly someone like Marvin Jones along with drafting another one like Corey Coleman. Also fix some of the line in free agency. With a better running game and receivers the offense should move better in 2016.

Not saying it will or will not happen but there have been teams drastically improve in the first season with a new coach and GM. It has happened recently with the NY Jets 4-12 last year 10-5 this season mainly due to some fantastic moves in free agency. Kansas City went from 2-14 to 11-5 in one season as well recently. With some good moves in free agency and a strong draft this team could very well be much improved.

The very best way to insure good things happen the team needs to be aggressive and sign a good GM plus head coach.

 

[MIKE75]

One of the most underrated GM candidates this season is George Paton. Paton has been in consideration for openings with the Rams and Jets in recent years, before pulling his name out of the running. Rick Spielman's longtime aide has played an integral role in the Vikings' aggressive drafts (eight first-round picks in the last four years), and has shown a keen eye for under-the-radar players, like defensive tackle Tom Johnson, thanks in part to his knowledge of the CFL.

Paton's had a long time to learn the tools of the trade and he is a strong candidate. Look at the drafting below that is superb and among the best jobs i've seen a team do over a three or four year period totally rebuilding the team in the process. Paton could stand toe to toe with Duke Tobin in the drafting department.

Just like Kirchner in Seattle Paton is also very good at finding under the radar players.

I've already seen where Detroit has lined up interviews with both Paton and Kirchner.

I would be estatic with either Kirchner or Paton.

Tennessee needs to get these guys in now either one is in my book a grade A hire.

Below is the last four Vikings drafts. The Vikes bottomed out in 2011 with a 3-13 record just like Tennessee has now. Starting in 2012 Paton and Speilman got very serious with the drafting and that year and each year since leading up to 2015 the team was getting stronger and stronger now all that hard work has lead to a good team with rock solid depth and a young up and coming QB,a good defense,etc. that won the division this year knocking off Green Bay.

 

 

 

2012 draft

1st round--Matt Kalil,left tackle

2nd round--Harrison Smith,free safety

3rd round--Josh Robinson,cornerback

4th round--Jarius Wright,wide receiver

4th round--Rhett Ellison,running back

5th round--Robert Blanton,strong safety

6th round--Blair Walsh, kicker

7th round--Audie Cole,linebacker

 

2013 draft

1st round--Sharrif Floyd,defensive tackle

1st round--Xavier Rhodes,cornerback

1st round--Cordarrelle Patterson,wide receiver/returner

4th round--Gerald Hodges,linebacker

5th round--Jeff Locke,punter

 

2014 draft

1st round--Anthony Barr,linebacker

1st round--Teddy Bridgewater,QB

3rd round--Scott Crichton,defensive end

3rd round--Jerrick McKinnon,running back

6th round--Antone Exxum,safety

7th round--Shamar Stephen,defensive tackle

7th round--Brandon Watts,linebacker

 

2015 draft

1st round--Trae Waynes,cornerback

2nd round--Eric Kendricks,linebacker

3rd round--Danielle Hunter,defensive end

4th round--TJ Clemmings,right tackle

5th round--Mycole Pruitt,tight end

5th round--Stefone Diggs,wide receiver

7th round--Austin Sheperd,left tackle

7th round--Edmond Robinson,linebacker

[begooode]

http://www.titansreport.com/topic/20824-titans-need-to-interview-george-paton/#comment-656182

[TeamRamrod]

Appreciate the post Mike.

[Face]

I know we looked pretty hard at Danielle Hunter, who really looks like a force. Kid is built out of granite. I wish we would've taken him over Poutasi, he's a very good run player & his pass rush really came on as well.

Anyway, I agree, these 2 need to be right at the top for us. It sounds to me like we're all in on DeCosta right now though.

[BudsOilers]

Paton is declining interviews and staying in the Minnesota - I think the Lions beat writer wrote that recently.

[Face]

3 minutes ago, BudAdams said:

Paton is declining interviews and staying in the Minnesota - I think the Lions beat writer wrote that recently.

I haven't heard that, but you could be right. I know he declined interviews last year, hopefully that isn't the case this year. I remember Dan Quinn apparently wanted to be paired with him.

[THE_TITAN]

5 minutes ago, BudAdams said:

Paton is declining interviews and staying in the Minnesota - I think the Lions beat writer wrote that recently.

Everyone is declining the Lions. That is a cursed organization that isn't in a desired location.

[MIKE75]

Damn so now we got Tobin and Paton declining interviews. Strange how these guys just want to stay put.

Well if Kirchner is available TN needs to hop on it quick the guy is good.

Thought i heard Lions interviewed Kirchner if so we need to as well the guy is the best candidate out there besides Decosta.

[MIKE75]

2 minutes ago, Face said:

I haven't heard that, but you could be right. I know he declined interviews last year, hopefully that isn't the case this year. I remember Dan Quinn apparently wanted to be paired with him.

Whats crazy is the team is trying but all the best candidates are refusing interviews.

[Face]

1 minute ago, MIKE75 said:

Damn so now we got Tobon and Paton declining interviews. Strange how these guys just want to stay put.

Well if Kirchner is available TN needs to hop on it quick the guy is good.

I just googled Paton & didn't see anything about him not interviewing.

[THE_TITAN]

Not a fan of Kirchner. Very young, limited college scouting ability. Smacks of someone that has just been 'along for the ride' to me.

[MIKE75]

Just now, Face said:

I just googled Paton & didn't see anything about him not interviewing.

I hope maybe he does show interest and interview here. Seems to me that the team wants to hire a good GM i just hope they don't give up and hire in house(Beddingfield).

[MIKE75]

1 minute ago, THE_TITAN said:

Not a fan of Kirchner. Very young, limited college scouting ability. Smacks of someone that has just been 'along for the ride' to me.

Who do you think are some good candidates at this point in time?

[THE_TITAN]

1 minute ago, MIKE75 said:

Who do you think are some good candidates at this point in time?

Here's some I like:

George Paton (been mentioned we both like him)

Eric DeCosta (longer than long shot probably)

Chris Ballard (done a really nice job with the Chiefs org, drafts weren't great but overall personnel solid, similar market to TN)

Scott Pioli (clearly you can see I like what KC has done, Pioli has re-established himself and is worth an interview, always think his player evaluation is on point)

Brian Gaine (someone I'd look at, the Texans aren't perfect but have had nice player acquisition beyond the QB position which is something that he wouldn't need to worry about in TN.)