INDIANAPOLIS – The Titans' top football people are at Lucas Oil Stadium to watch and meet with prospects. But while Ran Carthon, Brian Callahan, Chad Brinker and Anthony Robinson have the scouting staff with them, Callahan’s new coaching staff is not part of the evaluation process at the scouting combine. 

That’s a departure from what Callahan is used to, as Cincinnati has a sparse scouting staff and leans heavily on its coaching staff.

And the big three --- Carthon, Callahan and Brinker – will head back to Nashville in time to be part of Thursday afternoon’s groundbreaking for the new Nissan Stadium.

“Just the way it goes,” Callahan said of the schedule conflict, which seems like something that could have been avoidable.

Greetings people.

No dateline as I am moving between New Jersey and Indiana on Monday. Exciting times.

So here is a pre-combine mailbag as we get ready to hear from Brian Callahan and Ran Carthon on Tuesday as the combine starts to get rolling. Hopefully, we'll get a good deal of new information and insight to discuss out of that and then we'll get to know some prospects a bit.

It’s obvious that all of the needs won’t be met in one offseason. If I gave you these 3 position groups and asked which one you would defer til next season which would they be and why?
- Safety
-Edge
-Interior DL

— The General (@mac9nj) February 23, 2024

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

Regardless of your feelings towards Mike Vrabel and the job that he and his staff did over the past two seasons, there is no denying that a big part of the team’s failures over that period can be attributed to a roster that has rapidly deteriorated since the 2021 season. The offensive line stands out as the biggest weakness, but it’s far from the only below-average position group in Tennessee.

In fact, I’d argue that the Titans are currently subpar in every unit on the roster as currently constituted.

To give an idea of just how much help the roster needs as of today, here is the full list of players that are both under contract and very likely – better than a 90 percent chance – to make the 53-man roster when the 2024 season starts (listed in descending order of cap charge):

1. Jeffery Simmons
2. Harold Landry
3. DeAndre Hopkins
4. Amani Hooker
5. Peter Skoronski
6. Arden Key Read More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The buzz from those around the Bengals is that the team is likely to put a franchise tag on Tee Higgins, the receiver who would be the top free agent at the position.

That will cost Cincinnati $21.67 million, a big number but one it can make worth given an estimated $53.2 million in effective cap space per overthecap.com. The franchise-tagged safety Jessie Bates in 2022 before losing him as a free agent to Atlanta last season.

The tagging period starts Tuesday and runs through March 5.

The Titans are desperate for receiver help and would likely court Higgins were he to hit the market given his 6-foot-4, 219-pound build and steady production – 24 touchdowns in 58 games to go with nearly seven targets and five catches a game that have produced an average of 63.5 yards a game and 14.3 yards a catch.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans move into 2024 with one reliable receiver in DeAndre Hopkins.

He didn’t have the suitors many expected when the Cardinals released him on May 26, 2023, and he ultimately accepted a two-year $26 million contract with Tennessee.

Now at least a few of you are wondering about that second year, which comes with a base salary of $8.27 million and a cap number of $18.313 million. Hopkins gets a roster bonus of $4.46 million on March 18 which serves to lock it in.

I’ve heard two primary questions about Hopkins.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As Dennard Wilson introduced himself to Nashville, he was direct, focused and concise about what he will bring to the Titans as their new defensive coordinator

He started with something we heard before but built to something newer and fresher that I think qualifies as an exciting place to start in mid-March.

“It’s not about scheme, it’s about the players,” he said, echoing what Mike Vrabel said for the bulk of his six years with the Titans. “We have to figure out what they do well and then we’ll put the scheme around what they do well, to allow their talents to flourish.

“I can tell you this about the scheme, and I learned this a long time ago, General George Patton said this:

By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

Brian Callahan’s first staff as head coach of the Tennessee Titans is taking shape. On Tuesday, the team announced the hires of 10 new coaches as well as the news that 11 members of Mike Vrabel’s 2023 staff would be remaining with the team.

#Titans' staff: pic.twitter.com/sZi3AWUPrv

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) February 13, 2024

Callahan still has a few spots to fill out, most notably special teams coordinator and head strength and conditioning coach, but this is likely 80 to 90 percent of the final coaching roster that opens the 2024 season in two-tone blue. Here are the coaches who have been confirmed along with their roles:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Frank Piraino was bound to go. After three years where the Titans used at least 85 players a season because of an onslaught of injuries, the strength and conditioning coach, who became director of sports performance along the way, paid the price.

His three assistants remain behind on Brian Callahan's new staff, the bulk of which was announced Tuesday. Brian Bell, Tyler Rouse and Haley Roberts are likely to be judged by Piraino's replacement, running the weight room for players who are  working at team headquarters.

Is the strength and conditioning program likely a piece of what has been wrong for the Titans? Sure.