Smart and Tough Are Not Enough as Titans Player Qualities

By PAUL KUHARSKY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans keep telling us what they value. 

Inside of that, the question is whether they have enough players whose defining characteristic is talent.

The depth chart looks to be in far better shape, but the team still lacks proven playmakers.

When Mike Borgonzi first spoke of Robert Saleh, he characterized him like this: “He's smart, tough, dependable, and values working with people.” 

Mike Vrabel could have been described the same way, and his best versions of the Titans took on that image. The franchise has the same hope for Saleh’s team.

The Titans keep talking about smart, tough and dependable. That's understandable. They need more of all three. But after going 6-35 over the last 41 games, they also need more players who can simply overwhelm opponents. It’s a difficult thing to say out loud.

Tough and smart are qualities the franchise has valued and emphasized for some time, and they are traits players can grow more than ones that make for “great football player.” Jeffery Simmons is tough and smart, but what makes him the best player on the Titans by a lot? I’d say his explosiveness and his power make him dominant. His toughness and smarts are force multipliers, not lead items.

Players can improve their toughness and football intelligence. Explosiveness is harder to manufacture.

It’s hard not to like smart, tough and dependable.

That’s of particular emphasis on the offensive line.

“I’ve been blessed to have worked with offensive lines that have been comprised of men that are smart and tough,” Carmen Bricillo said. “I think that’s this position. …That’s usually, typically, what the makeup of an offensive lineman is. A smart and tough guy. I think we try to build that culture within the Oline room. A hat on a hat, understanding your assignment and competing and working are things that are prerequisites to having a good offensive line.”

But my sense is the concept extends well beyond Bricillo’s meeting room and section of the practice field.

I presume as we hear them discuss those valued qualities in all their players, underlying and unspoken is a desire for something more: Great football players with singular traits like Simmons’ explosiveness.

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Not everyone is going to have a loaded roster, like the one the Rams just added to with Myles Garrett, or the very strong Seattle team that is coming off a Super Bowl season.

And so, beyond superstars and blue chips, they tend to emphasize a set of characteristics.

The Titans are now aligned with the Patriots (Vrabel now, but Bill Belichick during the dynasty) and to a degree the Ravens and the Steelers. Be dependable and assignment-sound. Be situationally aware. Be mentally tough and resilient. Saleh is emphasizing fast and violent, but those currently stand as goals more than identity.

Certainly, every team wants smart, tough players. The frame around it, I guess, can be different.

Smart and tough wasn’t a big billboard in, say, Miami during Mike McDaniel’s term when the Dolphins accepted certain deficiencies in exchange for speed because they felt they could create matchup issues, create explosive plays and win with juice.

Ultimately, you need firepower, star power, play-makers.

If those guys are smart and tough, terrific.

They certainly can’t be dumb and soft.

But the Titans need more guys whose first adjective isn’t smart or tough.

Dominant. Elusive. Disruptive. Evasive. Skilled. Explosive. Slippery. Powerful. Shifty. 

TALENTED.