2017 concerns

[nine]

Mariota has also done a much better job of protecting himself when running.   As a rookie and in the first few games last year, he would try to milk every last yard out of the play....and took some big hits and had a couple fumbles as a result.

  But after fumbling a couple times early in the season,  he became dramatically better at protecting himself (and the ball) by either sliding or stepping out of bounds 2-3 yards before impact, thereby avoiding the big hits that could result in turnovers or injury.

[Huston]

2 minutes ago, nine said:

Mariota has also done a much better job of protecting himself when running.   As a rookie and in the first few games last year, he would try to milk every last yard out of the play....and took some big hits and had a couple fumbles as a result.

  But after fumbling a couple times early in the season,  he became dramatically better at protecting himself (and the ball) by either sliding or stepping out of bounds 2-3 yards before impact, thereby avoiding the big hits that could result in turnovers or injury.

Haven't heard one comment about his fumbling in here since Ive been back so that's one check box marked for young Marcus.

[Titans279]

My main worries are related to Mariota's injuries. 

[SleepingTitan]

22 hours ago, abenjami said:

If Dodd gets healthy and turns out to be an impact player, that would make a HUGE difference IMO.

Dodd, I think, is a 4-3 backup. We want a 2-3 down guy, but we're getting a Klug. Dodd is a vagina dressed up like a football player. 

[Stan17]

4 minutes ago, Titansgoodluckcharm said:

Last year we had some of the best pass rushers in the league. Both  Morgan and Orakpo had solid numbers for the season. And were solid against the run.

 

An injury to either and we're up shitncreek without a paddle though

[cenj]

1 minute ago, Titansgoodluckcharm said:

Last year we had some of the best pass rushers in the league. Both  Morgan and Orakpo had solid numbers for the season. And were solid against the run.

We played some absolutely atrocious QBs, and lucked out in the timing of several games (ex: Vikings losing Bridgewater a week before our game). When we played good QBs, the defense was torched and we were useless generating pressure. Luck particularly embarrassed us.

DLB's exotic schemes are particularly brutal against inexperienced QBs. The games against solid offenses showed the mediocrity of our pass rush. One of the reasons the DBs looked so bad last year is that we put them in really tough situations with little help; it was a partial byproduct of having to manufacture pressure with extra numbers and confusing schemes. The DLB defense takes awhile to grasp.

It's going to be tough to win in January if we have to sell out to get to the QB. Hopefully Byard at FS and the improvement at CB will help with that, or the offense will be good enough to outscore opponents, but it's something to watch going forward. 

I also think that to help with this, JRob seems to be going to route of undersized LBs and oversized safeties. It's easier to find these types and use them in specialty packages than it is to find the pure 3-down dominant OLB. I'm guessing that Morgan and Orakpo (and Dodd) are enough for more run-focused offenses, and for the pass-heavy 3-4 WR teams we'll use more 3 safety sets and undersized LBs to match up. 

[socaltitan]

I definitely think next year we're going to be hearing a lot about pass rushers from MM and JR. Wouldn't be surprising if the next draft or two is heavy front 7. Just looking at the moves we've made the past few years and our upcoming FA. It kinda points it in that direction. 

We've got our QB. Two OT. We'll have to see it with Davis and Adoree. On paper, in theory, we have our #1 WR and #1 CB right now. The next major piece is that young pass rusher. A stud pass rusher, probably more likely an OLB than a DE, who can be a guy we can build the front 7 around

[socaltitan]

7 minutes ago, Titansgoodluckcharm said:

I actually thought our pass rush wasn't the issue. Thought it was our corner play. Couldn't even put it all on the S's. I think they were rarely in a position to make a play, and even when they were they'd end up just making the tackle... after the catch.

 

I'd love to have some more pass rushers, but I wouldn't call it a need. I don't think we have ideal depth, but we have starters who can play in all positions. I think if Davis and Jackson are hits we're playing for the division with some very good division competition.

It's a need, but not as big of as need as CB. It felt like even when we did get a pass rush, we were still getting torched. the QB could get the ball out so quick because our secondary was such a sieve

Can only fix so many things at once. Last year, it was RB and OL. This year WR, DB, and ST. Next year, maybe even the next few years will probably be about pass rushers. Upgrading the LB core.

[cenj]

I liked the draft in totality a lot more than I liked the individual value of picks.

WR at 5? Passing on OJ Howard? Forgoing that 2nd? Trading a 4th? Not my favorite moves.

But the roster, top to bottom from the end of the season to now looks strong.

Let's assume JRob hit on the picks (or the majority of them). Say we have that #1 WR who is our on and off Probowler for the next 10 years. Let's assume T.Taylor is the new slot WR and can win some deep. We got our developmental TE who can block and catch and keep the the system working if Walker goes down.Our CB will match up with speed WRs like Hilton, Ross, and Fuller, they'll develop his technique, and he'll add the ability to create turnovers (unlike past CBs who could smother the WR and still get beaten) -- plus he may immediately be a dynamic returner. Coupled with the FAs on special teams, we should be able to flip field positioning and add some extra points in tight games. Add some developmental OL, coverage LBs, and a potential 3rd down RB/returner.

Dodd, Johnson, and Henry were all 2nd rounders last year -- that makes two 2nd rounders, a first, and a third rounder (Byard) all on the defensive side (DL, EDGE, CB, S). Plus, you factor in another starting SS, CB, and DT from free agency this year. The roster moves have actually been very balanced.

Perceived value doesn't matter if you get the right guy for your system. We'll just have to wait and see how the prospects pan out, but both the top end talent and overall depth improvement in 2 years is astounding. Just as important, we're getting guys in who you don't worry as much about being busts or mailing in their check. 

[titanruss]

Add ILB talent and the falloff of G play at the end of the year and I think you have everything covered. 

[Sifublue]

2 hours ago, SleepingTitan said:

Dodd, I think, is a 4-3 backup. We want a 2-3 down guy, but we're getting a Klug. Dodd is a vagina dressed up like a football player. 

I just don't understand how anyone can look at Morgan's career arc and then turn around and be so sure that dodd is only a 4-3 injury prone bust. 

[SleepingTitan]

10 minutes ago, Sifublue said:

I just don't understand how anyone can look at Morgan's career arc and then turn around and be so sure that dodd is only a 4-3 injury prone bust. 

Attitude. 

It is you attitude and not your aptitude that determines your altitude. 

[GLinks]

11 hours ago, cenj said:

I liked the draft in totality a lot more than I liked the individual value of picks.

WR at 5? Passing on OJ Howard? Forgoing that 2nd? Trading a 4th? Not my favorite moves.

But the roster, top to bottom from the end of the season to now looks strong.

Let's assume JRob hit on the picks (or the majority of them). Say we have that #1 WR who is our on and off Probowler for the next 10 years. Let's assume T.Taylor is the new slot WR and can win some deep. We got our developmental TE who can block and catch and keep the the system working if Walker goes down.Our CB will match up with speed WRs like Hilton, Ross, and Fuller, they'll develop his technique, and he'll add the ability to create turnovers (unlike past CBs who could smother the WR and still get beaten) -- plus he may immediately be a dynamic returner. Coupled with the FAs on special teams, we should be able to flip field positioning and add some extra points in tight games. Add some developmental OL, coverage LBs, and a potential 3rd down RB/returner.

Dodd, Johnson, and Henry were all 2nd rounders last year -- that makes two 2nd rounders, a first, and a third rounder (Byard) all on the defensive side (DL, EDGE, CB, S). Plus, you factor in another starting SS, CB, and DT from free agency this year. The roster moves have actually been very balanced.

Perceived value doesn't matter if you get the right guy for your system. We'll just have to wait and see how the prospects pan out, but both the top end talent and overall depth improvement in 2 years is astounding. Just as important, we're getting guys in who you don't worry as much about being busts or mailing in their check. 

I almost posted (I think) by end of draft we drafted 6 players on offense, 3 on defense, and last year it was 5 defense, 4 offense. 10:8 in 2 years, and I bet the FA was similar, but I was too lazy to check because a-round the draft we bought my wife an SUV and our youngest turned 4. Live lot, sleep little.

But offensively, re:  2TEs and whatnot, I still think as a team exec quotedon walterfootball posted about us taking Howard, "They're gonna do the two TE thing. Just watch."

Well, maybe with a variety (up to 3 maybe) RBs and Davis, et al., maybe we're doing some of the Falcons thing, as well as the Patriots. This has probably been mentioned prior to the draft, but the finality really solidified it for me, especially if our last pick gets out there and plays. 

[EagleEye]

In the 2nd Jags game, this was what the Titans looked like...

[freakingeek]

On 4/30/2017 at 11:51 AM, abenjami said:

If Dodd gets healthy and turns out to be an impact player, that would make a HUGE difference IMO.

VERY big if at this point. I get the distinct impression the coaching staff feels he should be doing more too.