Bleav in Titans

The Tennessee Titans were featured prominently in 'Bullies of Baltimore,' the latest ESPN 30 for 30 film, because it was Eddie George, Steve McNair and the rest who posed the biggest challenge to the eventual Super Bowl XXXV champions. Included was an allegation from then-Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer that the Titans stole his playbook during the teams' regular-season encounter in Nashville and used it to great advantage – although not well enough to win – in the playoff game. Denard Walker has vivid memories of that game and the atmosphere that surrounded it and shares his thoughts on what was said. ... The three hosts have similar feelings about which time, the Philadelphia Eagles or Kansas City Chiefs, will win Super Bowl LVII, but they have different feelings about how competitive a contest it will be. ... Finally, before the 2023 NFL Draft happens, Titans executives will have to revisit the 2019 draft and decide whether they want to – and/or can afford to – two keep pending free agents, guard Nate Davis and linebacker David Long. Both have been important parts of the team in recent years.

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Two of the biggest personnel moves the Tennessee Titans made in 2022 remain topics of discussion after the Philadelphia Eagles, with wide receiver A.J. Brown and punter Brett Kern, reach the Super Bowl. The Titans traded Brown to Philadelphia in a draft-day deal that continues to haunt the franchise given his personal success and Tennessee's regression in the passing game this season. The argument even can be made that Brown has a lot to do with why Philadelphia is still playing. Kern lost his job to undrafted rookie Ryan Stonehouse. That move worked out for both sides as Stonehouse set an NFL record for Tennessee and Kern, after spending most of the season out of action, gets a chance to cap his career with a championship. ... Speaking of the Super Bowl, the Titans faced both teams -- Philadelphia and Kansas City -- during the regular season. Tennessee lost both but in decidedly different manners. ... Ran Carthon will have to cut players to get under the salary cap and does not have a ton of draft capital. His first offseason as Titans general manager, therefore, will be drastically different than Jon Robinson's first (2016), which was a turning point for the franchise. ... Carthon also has gone on the record with what he likes in a quarterback and one of the current Titans fits the bill. But it is possible that he could call on connections with his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, at that position along with a few others.

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The word "collaboration" was used often during Ran Carthon's introductory press conference as Tennessee Titans general manager. Whether it was in the way he talked about working with coach Mike Vrabel, his unscheduled visit with the local media ahead of that event or several other things, there was nothing to suggest that the use of that word is just lip service. Carthon gave the impression that his experience, his ego and his personal expectations are all secondary to the success of the team. ... Tight ends coach Luke Steckel will interview with the Los Angeles Chargers in that team's search for an offensive coordinator. Having been with Tennessee for a decade and a position coach for two years, the son of former Titans offensive coordinator Les Steckel has not been considered a factor in the search for Todd Downing's replacement. Should people have been looking at this guy, and is Mike Vrabel doing exactly that? ... The Titans' 2022 draft class remains a work in progress with the likes of Malik Willis (third round), Treylon Burks (first round) and Chance Campbell (sixth round) having had little or no opportunity to show what they can do. But the contributions of Roger McCreary (second round), Nicholas Petit-Frere (third round) and Chig Okonkwo (fourth round) along with those of undrafted players such as record-setting punter Ryan Stonehouse, cornerback Tre Avery and linebacker Jack Gibbens made Tennessee's rookie class one of the best this season, based on an ESPN analysis that used metrics from two advanced statistics sites. ... Finally, the hosts each pick a statistic that best sums up the Titans' 2022 season.

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The Tennessee Titans have selected Ran Carthon to be their next general manager. The 41-year-old has worked his way up the personnel ranks with three different franchises. He has the experience of an NFL player courtesy of a brief career as a running back. He has an NFL pedigree as the son of former New York Giants fullback Maurice Carthon. He has a history of successful team-building, particularly with the 49ers and their general manager Pro Football Hall of Famers John Lynch. And Carthon has a reputation as someone who gets along with everyone, which dates back to his college days at the University of Florida when teammates dubbed him "The Mayor" because it seemed he knew everyone in Gainesville, Fla. Finally, he removes the Titans, founded in 1960 as the Houston Oilers, from the small list of NFL franchises that never have had a minority as head coach or general manager. With Carthon on board, attention turns to the search for a new offensive coordinator, which also includes candidates from outside the organization.

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The end came suddenly. A fumble return by the Jacksonville Jaguars provided the decisive points in the Tennessee Titans' 20-16 defeat. In a way, that play and that game were perfect microcosms of the challenges the Titans faced – and ultimately couldn't overcome this season. ... Four members of the coaching staff have been relieved of their duties. Because of injuries and other factors, those four had some of the hardest jobs of anyone on the staff. When all was said and done, though, that did not matter and they are gone. ... One of the fired coaches was offensive coordinator Todd Downing, and there is a good chance that his replacement already is on the staff. One question that must be answered, though, is how quarterback Malik Willis fits into the picture and whether the new coordinator must be able to develop Willis, build an offense around him or if the third-round pick out of Liberty won't be part of the equation at all. ... In his season-ending press conference, coach Mike Vrabel called out several players, most notably cornerback Kristian Fulton and linebacker David Long for consistent injury issues. It was any atypical moment for Vrabel, and probably an impactful one. ... One thing certain about the offseason is that the Titans currently have the No. 11 pick in the draft. A look at some of the players who might be available to them at that spot.

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When the Titans lost 36-22 to the Jaguars on Dec. 11, they knew that even if the worst happened, they still would have a chance to win the division in the final week of the regular season. Well, the worst happened. So, Tennessee (7-9) faces Jacksonville (8-8) on Saturday, and the winner will finish first in the AFC South. ... The Titans come into the game having lost six in a row but with a little extra rest because they played on Thursday in Week 17. The Jaguars come into the game with four straight wins and five in their last six games, including two in a row by comfortable margins. ... Josh Dobbs will be Tennessee's starting quarterback for the second straight week. It will be the second start of his six-year career. Dobbs injected some life into the offense against the Dallas Cowboys, but can Tennessee put up enough points with him in charge. ... Rookie Malik Willis will be Dobbs' backup, but coach Mike Vrabel suggested that he might be involved in the gameplan to some degree. ... Not only does Dobbs have a chance to get the Titans to the playoffs for the fourth straight year, he has a chance to add some drama to their long-term situation at quarterback if he plays well. ... Vrabel rested veterans Derrick Henry, Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry and others during the loss to the Cowboys, which should be of a benefit to them. That certainly was the case for Henry in 2019, when he sat out a meaningless Week 16 defeat and delivered a dominant Week 17 performance that got Tennessee t the playoffs. ... Speaking of Henry, fumbles have been a new but consistent issue in recent weeks. It cannot continue in this contest. ... How confident is everyone that the Titans will win this game?

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If nothing else, a 19-14 loss to the Houston Texans provided clarity. The Tennessee Titans now know that they have to win at Jacksonville in Week 18 in order to finish first in the AFC South and reach the postseason for the fourth straight year. ... That means that Thursday's game against Dallas is meaningful, and Mike Vrabel has said he might rest some players to ensure their availability for the next one. Professionalism and the need to get a win after five straight defeats might dictate otherwise. ... Increasingly, the absence of big plays and consistent contributions from the wide receivers is becoming a problem. It is even more so with Malik Willis at quarterback given that the rookie needs guys to make plays for him. ... It also doesn't help that Willis is operating behind an offensive line without two (maybe three) starters because of injury. ... Then, there is the fact that the one thing the Titans could almost always count on to be a difference between victory and defeat no longer delivers in the same way. ... When the offseason comes, the Titans will hire a new general manager. An examination of whether that person should embark on an immediate rebuild or work to plug the obvious holes in the roster.

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A 17-14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers dropped the Tennessee Titans to 7-7, one game ahead of the surging Jacksonville Jaguars. With each passing week, a winner-take-all showdown with the Jaguars in the regular season finale looks like more of a possibility. Will the Titans hold on to their place at the top? ... Next up is the Houston Texans, the team with the NFL's worst record but also a team that has pushed two of the league's elite to the limit in the last two weeks. ... Derrick Henry has a history of running over the Texans, but – based on the week's first injury report – he likely will be running behind a makeshift offensive line. ... Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has another ankle injury, which will limit his mobility (if he plays). Given the state of the offensive line, that could be a problem. ... If Tannehill can't go, rookie Malik Willis will make his third start. The good news is that one of his first two (and his only victory) was against the Texans. ... Based on their last two games, the Texans will use two quarterbacks. That will give Tennessee's defense, which played its best game in weeks against the Chargers, something else to consider. ... Both teams will have to deal with some unusual elements. The forecast calls for the temperature to be in the 20s with high winds for kickoff at Nissan Stadium. That is bound to have an impact on how both teams approach things.

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The Tennessee Titans are now 7-7 after a fourth straight loss, 17-14 to the Los Angeles Chargers, and their lead in the AFC South is now one game over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The odds still favor the Titans, but how confident is everyone that the Titans will finish first and make another playoff appearance? ... Up next is a game against the Houston Texans, a team with one win on the season but also a team that has pushed two of the NFL's best to the limit in the last two weeks. ... Derrick Henry has a history of running over the Texans, but -- based on the week's first injury report -- he is likely to be running behind a makeshift offensive line. ... Ryan Tannehill is hurt again. Given the state of the offensive line, this is not a good time for him to lack mobility. ... If Tannehill can't play, Malik Willis will make his third start of the season. His first (and his only victory) was against Houston, which is bound to give everybody a bit of confidence. ... The Texans likely will play two quarterbacks as they have for the past two games. That gives a defense that played so well against the Chargers something else to consider. ... Both teams will have to deal with some unusual elements. Temperatures at kickoff are expected to be in the 20s with a strong wind. That is bound to have an affect on how the game is played.

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Not that long ago, the Titans' lead in the AFC South looked insurmountable. That is no longer the case as Tennessee is just two games up on Jacksonville with four to play. ... Mike Vrabel's team has lost three straight for the first time since 2018, and its eight-game home win streak against the Jaguars is gone, but things could be a lot worse. Computer models overwhelmingly predict the Titans will finish first for the third consecutive year. And even if the worst happens between now and Week 18, Tennessee will face a winner-take-all matchup at the end of the season. ... Say this about the Jaguars, though, even though it is unlikely they will unseat the Titans this season, it seems certain will be the leading threat to Tennessee's place at the top in the coming seasons. ... Another unlikely hero emerged for a Titans' opponent in the passing game as injuries to the secondary continue to create problems and limit the defense's ability match up with every weapon available to the other team. ... Where have the turnovers gone? A big part of the Titans' recent struggles can be traced to their inability to create takeaways. That certainly was an issue against Jacksonville. ... Not all of the news is bad. Derrick Henry looked much more like Derrick Henry in recent weeks, and the tight ends, particularly, rookie Chig Okonkwo look more and more like reliable and consistent options in the pass game.

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