NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ryan Tannehill's comparable in many ways to Marcus Mariota. He's thrown for over 4,000 yards a couple times, something Mariota's never threatened to do.

(Photo courtesy Miami Dolphins)

That will doubtlessly get some fans riled up and wanting a training camp competition.

They will be disappointed. [Unlocked.]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In Ryan Tannehill, the Titans have acquired the best backup Marcus Mariota has had in his career, and thus the best chance the team has to win games in the starter’s inevitable absence.

(Photo courtesy Miami Dolphins.)

The franchise cannot count on Mariota to play 16 games.

In his four seasons, he’s missed four, one, one and three starts, not to mention the games he couldn’t finish that led to those misses.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – All NFL GMs have a list of mistakes, but plenty hold on to them too long out of principal.

Jon Robinson is not afraid to eat his.

The #Titans are releasing Josh Kline.

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) March 15, 2019

He raised his hand and said my bad on Kevin Dodd. He bailed on Matt Cassel after one year and made at least a bit of an upgrade in turning to Blaine Gabbert. traded out Johnathan Cyprien for Kenny Vaccaro. He cut Sylvester Williams. He admitted things couldn’t work with Rishard Matthews when he released him. He let go of Nick Williams right after his dropped TD cost the Titans a game in Buffalo. [Unlocked]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Kenny Vaccaro said he did a lot of retweeting while waiting on his new deal with the Titans because there was so much positive stuff coming at him on social media and he knows how unusual that is.

All those good vibes were flying at him because of the way he played for the Titans in 2018. He brought the team a style and level of production that, paired with his personality, made him a big-time fan favorite.

After Vaccaro chatted with us, what struck me most as two of the Titans three outside additions – Adam Humphries and Rodger Saffold -- met the media is that they are in line to be just as well-liked. [Unlocked.]

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- A bit in campus and certainly in size, Battle Ground Academy reminds me a bit of a little place in Somerset, N.J. know as Rutgers Preparatory School, where yours truly was in the class of 1987 and joined the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

David Jackson joined me for our newest edition of Take a Lap at BGA, where he pays some tuition, this week. 

We fought through the wind and talked about the Titans' Nashville-long failings at wide receiver, the need for some sandpaper in a locker room, how free-agency so far affects the team's draft strategy, coaches as scouts and my top Springsteen concert.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- When the Titans’ new deal for Kenny Vaccaro came to light on Monday, I ran through their list of needs:

“The Titans need at least one outside linebacker, at least one defensive lineman, at least one interior offensive lineman, at least one receiver and they should upgrade at backup quarterback from Blaine Gabbert.”

Wednesday, at or shortly after 3 pm, they will announce they’ve signed Rodger Saffold, a guard, Adam Humphries, a receiver, and Cameron Wake, an edge-rushing outside linebacker.

That ends them as a player in Tier 1 free agency.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With the Antonio Brown pursuit over, Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel stepped back and assessed what was available they didn’t force something that wasn’t there.

In Adam Humphries, they landed a guy who’s nothing like Brown in style and skill (or price). But there is no all-around receiver No. 1 on the free-agent list. There never is. There is also no clear-cut deep threat to back defenses up.

Rather than trying to force those expectations on someone, they found a guy who’s good at what he does. It is certainly a narrower role but something the Titans need.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As Titans' defensive line coach, Jim Washburn scouted pass rushers everywhere.

So in 2007, after a CFL scout friend Paul Jones tipped him off to a kid named Cameron Wake,

As with many promising pass rushers on his radar, Washburn maniacally followed the player's every move. And when Wake fulfilled his obligation in Canada, Washburn made his case to the Titans' front office.

As Washburn remembers it, the Titans could have had Wake in 2009 for a deal with $1 million guaranteed.

But a front office lieutenant didn’t like Wake and nixed it.