Episode 12 - Looking Ahead (Special guest Scott Wright of draftcountdown.com)

[Jamalisms]

The debate afertwards is the best part.

Agreed, it's supplementary to and maybe an instigator of discussion. What could be better?

I agree that most people have either tired of being corrected or have finally recognized that 'CJ is fine' and 'CJ is not the entire problem' are vastly different statements. Looking back I am still surprised how difficult it was to help people realize that saying the latter means I believe the latter.

[freakingeek]

That's what happens when you ignore the position for 10 years. You get left with everyone else's trash.

To be fair, both Thigpen and Givens were good WRs when the Titans signed them and injuries pretty much trashed both their careers. We drafted horribly for 10 years until Britt. It's not like they didn't try. They hit on Mason but even Dyson was a dispointment considering his draft position. Experimental guys like Calico and Troupe set us back by spending high draft picks on risky players. Calico was probably the best of those until R Williams trashed his knees. We just flat out have been snake bit at the position.

[OILERMAN]

Look at Britt, another example

[freakingeek]

Look at Britt, another example

Exactly. We're cursed

[NashvilleNinja]

To be fair, both Thigpen and Givens were good WRs when the Titans signed them and injuries pretty much trashed both their careers. We drafted horribly for 10 years until Britt. It's not like they didn't try. They hit on Mason but even Dyson was a dispointment considering his draft position. Experimental guys like Calico and Troupe set us back by spending high draft picks on risky players. Calico was probably the best of those until R Williams trashed his knees. We just flat out have been snake bit at the position.

Dyson was a disappointment more because of who we could've drafted there instead than because of where he was drafted.

Injuries certainly have taken their toll on the Titans roster, but drafting well at the position would have supplemented that. The Titans were just amateurs at drafting WR's. Maybe they still are, but we won't know that for certain until Munch makes his first splash with a high pick at the position.

[abenjami]

To be fair, both Thigpen and Givens were good WRs when the Titans signed them and injuries pretty much trashed both their careers. We drafted horribly for 10 years until Britt. It's not like they didn't try. They hit on Mason but even Dyson was a dispointment considering his draft position. Experimental guys like Calico and Troupe set us back by spending high draft picks on risky players. Calico was probably the best of those until R Williams trashed his knees. We just flat out have been snake bit at the position.

I agree we have been snake bitten but that's no excuse for how the position has been handled. Look at teams like the Pats. They lose Welker and have a guy in Edelman who comes in and is very productive. The Steelers have for years been drafting very good WR's to replace the ones they let to in FA.

This team's MO with the position has been to either use a high draft pick or sign a good one in FA once every 4-5 years and that's about it. It takes more than one good WR to win in this league.

[freakingeek]

I agree we have been snake bitten but that's no excuse for how the position has been handled. Look at teams like the Pats. They lose Welker and have a guy in Edelman who comes in and is very productive. The Steelers have for years been drafting very good WR's to replace the ones they let to in FA.

This team's MO with the position has been to either use a high draft pick or sign a good one in FA once every 4-5 years and that's about it. It takes more than one good WR to win in this league.

Absolutely. We're probably in better shape at the position now than we've been in years. Britt, Cook, Williams and Washington are all very capable if we can just keep them healthy.

[Jonboy]

I'm not sure the question had the effect I was hoping. We've had numerous discussions regarding Fishers "style" and what it takes to win in this league. I was simply curious if the guys thought we may see a big shift from what he's done in the past.

Personnel will obviously play a big role as will his coordinators. Fisher and Bradford will be an interesting pair to watch.

I second Guru. Thank you all for listening and keeping the discussion going.

[OILERMAN]

but its funny how the conversation about the run game has completely shifted to fixing the interior of the OL.

The talk is what to do at RG where Scott is a free agent, it's not because of the struggles of the run game. Plus Munchak announced CJ would be back. Nothing else to talk about.

[Jamalisms]

The talk is what to do at RG where Scott is a free agent, it's not because of the struggles of the run game. Plus Munchak announced CJ would be back. Nothing else to talk about.

Most people disagree.

I could see them getting rid of Scott for a better run blocker. It won't matter if Amano continues to start at center though. He's 10 times worse than Scott in every phase of the game.

I agree oldschool...Amano is the weak link, and we have to address C. I am a supporter of getting rid of Scott and either moving or benching Amano.

Cut Amano...

Works for me.

I think the offensive line is only as good as it's weakest link and Amano owns that title outright. I think Harris could play much better next to a different center or move him back to center and sign/draft a good run blocking guard. I think Amano has a weakness in his ability to read defenses and lacks quickness that Mawae had. Stewart, Roos, Harris and Scott are a great front four. We just need a good anchor at center. I do think Scott has lost some speed and that's one reason the run blocking has suffered. IMHO, imporving both lines should be the focus of this years draft.

[OILERMAN]

And those same people would be saying to cut CJ if Munchak hadn't come out and said they were keeping him.

[OILERMAN]

I never said Scott was a stud, I said he was a very good pass blocker, which he is. I also said Amano was grossly overpaid. I've already stated that I would just move Velasco into the RG position.

All I ever said was the OL was fine and not the reason the run game sputtered. Which many qualified people agreed with

[Alcibiades]

The OL was a big reason for the run game struggles, and your articles from October don't change that. CJ was also to blame, obviously. Maybe I should just make this my sig so I don't have to keep repeating it.

But this podcast was about the draft. I'd be thrilled to get the top OG in the class, so if that's where Wright has us going I hope he's correct. I would also love to draft either of the WRs named Wright. Kendall Wright is a first rounder, IMO, and would not be a reach at 20. I think he'd give Locker that one extra weapon that would make our offense almost impossible to defend, from a skill position perspective. We would then need some linemen, though.

I'm a bit worried, because we suddenly seem to have several needs. I'm surprised by the value we got out of this past draft. REALLY surprised. I think our LBs are set, which really stuns me. I didn't think they'd get that fixed so quickly. Our secondary is in good shape, and Casey looks like the real thing. Even so, we still need:

1. At least one Safety, possibly two. This is my biggest flat out worry because if Griffin walks, I feel like we have nobody here. Babineaux is pretty good, but not great. We need a playmaking safety. I think we have to keep Griffin at this point.

2. A replacement for Jake Scott. I agree with Oman that Scott played well at pass blocking, but I still think he gets blown up too much in the run game. I'd prefer to replace Amano, but that's very unlikely. So upgrade Scott, who is likely to be gone anyway (FA).

3. A true pass rushing DE. I still think Morgan will improve with a healthy offseason. It often takes a full season to recover from his injury, so I'm hopeful he'll step up. But he's not a speed rusher, really, and we need one. I don't see where we will find this, however, so this is a big worry. I really like Melvin Ingram out of South Carolina, but I don't think we'll get him, and he's not a stud DE. I just like him.

4. A massive DT. Ta'Amu in the second round, if he is there, maybe? This is a hard position to fill, so I have no idea how we can do it, but we could use a guy here.

5. A WR to help complement Britt and act as insurance. This is where Kendall Wright would help, I think. He's fast and shifty, but undersized. I still think he can be a top WR, though.

Those seem to be the big needs. We could use a better backup RB, probably, though I think Ringer will be fine there. Wouldn't hurt to get a pure RB that could step up if CJ continues to struggle.

Any thoughts?

[OILERMAN]

The only way this team should draft a guard at 20 is if every other possible player ranked that high is gone and they can't trade down.

[Alcibiades]

Disagree. If you can get another Munchak or Matthews type player, you take him. Now, my personal wants for that pick are either Mark Barron or Kendall Wright. But I'd still be happy with Decastro because he's a fantastic player and would help protect our franchise QB and open up holes in the run game. I thought in a different thread, you agreed that RG was becoming an important part of every team.