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Titans' off-season was a little off
Adam Schein / FOXSports.com
Posted: 2 hours ago
I'm searching to find reasons for optimism for the 2007 Tennessee Titans.
Right now, I can't find many.
Sure, Vince Young had a magical rookie season and he's only getting better. Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck, Kevin Mawae, and Chris Hope are great at what they do. And I've argued for years that Jeff Fisher is an elite coach and he has put together a fantastic staff with Jim Schwartz, Norm Chow, Dave McGinnis, Mike Munchak and Jim Washburn.
Still, I think this team has regressed in the off-season.
Frankly, I have no idea what they are doing.
In truth, the madness really started when the team didn't pick up Travis Henry's 2007 option. When the season ended in January, there wasn't a person associated with the Titans who thought that would happen. While Young got the headlines and rookie of the year honors, the true team MVP was Henry. It was the running back who bloodied the Commanders and Eagles on the road en route to wins. It was Henry who battered the Colts in a December upset. And it was Henry churning out 135 yards against the Bills on the road in Week 16 that kept the Titans' playoff hopes alive for the final weekend.
And then the Titans don't pick up Henry's $8 million option despite having oodles of cap room.
The lack of execution of that simple move has created a downward spiral.
Tennessee tried to get a veteran back to replace the team MVP. It failed, largely because it wouldn't give up the necessary compensation to trade for Chargers backup Michael Turner.
And to compound matters, last year's second-round pick LenDale White, has major maturing to do.
Bulluck has talked about White dedicating himself to football and being a starter. And on Wednesday, Chow told us the same thing. But the question still remains, can White grow up and become the starter?
"He has to." Chow said. "Unless we somehow manufacture some guy, he is going to have the opportunity. He is going to have to be the guy and commit himself. Hopefully he does that. Hopefully he understands that and takes the opportunity and runs with it."
So how does the light go on for White?
Chow said, "He needs to understand how hard this is. He needs to understand how hard you have to work to be that consistent NFL running back. It is very hard to run the football in the NFL. I learned that. People can take the run away. You have to keep pounding. He needs to be in good shape. He needs to take care of himself off the field.
"And it's not that he hasn't. It's that it is such a big change from college. It's such a big change from being a backup. If you are going to do this, and do it well, down in and down out, you have to be committed. That starting running back, the Travis Henrys of the world, they take a beating. They know how to work. And we lost Travis. So LenDale White has to step up.
There is no other choice. Last year I think he realized he wasn't going to be the No. 1 guy and worked himself into shape. Well, now he has to be the guy. LenDale has to grow up some. He is in the NFL now. It is his opportunity. I think he's done OK so far in the off-season."
I've always liked White, but he has to seize this opportunity, because the Titans didn't find any immediate help at running back in the draft.
Marshawn Lynch was off the board when Tennessee picked in Round 1. So the Titans grossly reached on combine wonder Chris Henry midway through the second round of the draft. The Arizona product barely even started in college. Who cares that he ran a blazing 4.32 at the combine? What exactly does that do for the Titans this year? And in the second round?
If the Titans had just picked up the option on Henry, they wouldn't have reached for a college reserve.
And if they just would've held onto the veteran, they wouldn't be scared about White being ready for the gig.
You can't make it up.
I'm not quite sure what new general manager Mike Reinfeldt is thinking.
And even Chow confessed that there is incredible youth at the receiver position.
The club tried, and failed, to trade for Mike Williams, who thrived under Chow at USC.
Tennesse never properly replaced Drew Bennett, who left for greener pastures in St. Louis.
Keyshawn Johnson would be a welcome, and needed, addition.
And this team still has some major holes on the offensive line, defensive line, linebacker position, and the obvious void of replacing Pacman Jones, who was becoming a Pro Bowl cornerback and returner.
And then there's this — Jeff Fisher still hasn't received a contract extension.
Sure, the Titans picked up his option for 2007. But where is the long-term deal for one of the elite coaches in the NFL?
I feel badly for Fisher.
I feel badly for Vanden Bosch, Bulluck, Mawae, and Hope.
I feel badly for Young.
The quarterback's skill and leadership will carry the Titans to some wins. And he will be a thrill a minute. But I cannot see the Titans being a very good team at all.
Adam Schein hosts the Afternoon Blitz on Sirius NFL Radio with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller from 3-7 ET. Schein is the NFL insider for Sports Net New York. His "Scheintology" columns appear daily and his video NFL picks video reports appear every Friday on FOXSports.com. Email him at adamjschein@hotmail.com
Adam Schein / FOXSports.com
Posted: 2 hours ago
I'm searching to find reasons for optimism for the 2007 Tennessee Titans.
Right now, I can't find many.
Sure, Vince Young had a magical rookie season and he's only getting better. Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck, Kevin Mawae, and Chris Hope are great at what they do. And I've argued for years that Jeff Fisher is an elite coach and he has put together a fantastic staff with Jim Schwartz, Norm Chow, Dave McGinnis, Mike Munchak and Jim Washburn.
Still, I think this team has regressed in the off-season.
Frankly, I have no idea what they are doing.
In truth, the madness really started when the team didn't pick up Travis Henry's 2007 option. When the season ended in January, there wasn't a person associated with the Titans who thought that would happen. While Young got the headlines and rookie of the year honors, the true team MVP was Henry. It was the running back who bloodied the Commanders and Eagles on the road en route to wins. It was Henry who battered the Colts in a December upset. And it was Henry churning out 135 yards against the Bills on the road in Week 16 that kept the Titans' playoff hopes alive for the final weekend.
And then the Titans don't pick up Henry's $8 million option despite having oodles of cap room.
The lack of execution of that simple move has created a downward spiral.
Tennessee tried to get a veteran back to replace the team MVP. It failed, largely because it wouldn't give up the necessary compensation to trade for Chargers backup Michael Turner.
And to compound matters, last year's second-round pick LenDale White, has major maturing to do.
Bulluck has talked about White dedicating himself to football and being a starter. And on Wednesday, Chow told us the same thing. But the question still remains, can White grow up and become the starter?
"He has to." Chow said. "Unless we somehow manufacture some guy, he is going to have the opportunity. He is going to have to be the guy and commit himself. Hopefully he does that. Hopefully he understands that and takes the opportunity and runs with it."
So how does the light go on for White?
Chow said, "He needs to understand how hard this is. He needs to understand how hard you have to work to be that consistent NFL running back. It is very hard to run the football in the NFL. I learned that. People can take the run away. You have to keep pounding. He needs to be in good shape. He needs to take care of himself off the field.
"And it's not that he hasn't. It's that it is such a big change from college. It's such a big change from being a backup. If you are going to do this, and do it well, down in and down out, you have to be committed. That starting running back, the Travis Henrys of the world, they take a beating. They know how to work. And we lost Travis. So LenDale White has to step up.
There is no other choice. Last year I think he realized he wasn't going to be the No. 1 guy and worked himself into shape. Well, now he has to be the guy. LenDale has to grow up some. He is in the NFL now. It is his opportunity. I think he's done OK so far in the off-season."
I've always liked White, but he has to seize this opportunity, because the Titans didn't find any immediate help at running back in the draft.
Marshawn Lynch was off the board when Tennessee picked in Round 1. So the Titans grossly reached on combine wonder Chris Henry midway through the second round of the draft. The Arizona product barely even started in college. Who cares that he ran a blazing 4.32 at the combine? What exactly does that do for the Titans this year? And in the second round?
If the Titans had just picked up the option on Henry, they wouldn't have reached for a college reserve.
And if they just would've held onto the veteran, they wouldn't be scared about White being ready for the gig.
You can't make it up.
I'm not quite sure what new general manager Mike Reinfeldt is thinking.
And even Chow confessed that there is incredible youth at the receiver position.
The club tried, and failed, to trade for Mike Williams, who thrived under Chow at USC.
Tennesse never properly replaced Drew Bennett, who left for greener pastures in St. Louis.
Keyshawn Johnson would be a welcome, and needed, addition.
And this team still has some major holes on the offensive line, defensive line, linebacker position, and the obvious void of replacing Pacman Jones, who was becoming a Pro Bowl cornerback and returner.
And then there's this — Jeff Fisher still hasn't received a contract extension.
Sure, the Titans picked up his option for 2007. But where is the long-term deal for one of the elite coaches in the NFL?
I feel badly for Fisher.
I feel badly for Vanden Bosch, Bulluck, Mawae, and Hope.
I feel badly for Young.
The quarterback's skill and leadership will carry the Titans to some wins. And he will be a thrill a minute. But I cannot see the Titans being a very good team at all.
Adam Schein hosts the Afternoon Blitz on Sirius NFL Radio with Solomon Wilcots and Jim Miller from 3-7 ET. Schein is the NFL insider for Sports Net New York. His "Scheintology" columns appear daily and his video NFL picks video reports appear every Friday on FOXSports.com. Email him at adamjschein@hotmail.com
