PHOENIX – The Titans are a long way off from making a decision on Jack Conklin’s fifth-year option.
The Titans have until May 3 to tell Conklin if it will pay him a $12.866 million base salary in 2020, which would amount to a $10.249 million raise.
At the NFL Annual Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore, Jon Robinson said variables that will factor into it are still unknown.
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By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special contributor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans are looking to replace two well-respected and longtime veterans and leaders in the linebacker room. Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Orakpo retired after the 2018 season and consistent OLB and former first-round draft choice Derrick Morgan is a free agent.
Both players were largely ineffective as pass rushers in 2018, but still provided the ability to be a force in the run game and demand the respect and attention from offensive blocking schemes. The veteran presence allowed the inside linebackers to create pressure and provide sack numbers.
The team now will be relying heavily on 2018 second-round draft choice Harold Landry, who showed flashes during his rookie year. Landry came into the league with one very successful pass rush. His outside speed rush with excellent balance and bend around the edge proved to have success early in the season, but opponents advance scouting caught up to the young pass rusher and was largely ineffective for the remainder of the year.
Write comment (2 Comments)LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, except my pause of all things Vegas to visit with dedicated site member Kyle Hargis.
I met him at Gary Dexter Park in Southwest Vegas and we strolled another baseball field to chat about offensive line change, positional cap allocation on defense, what he perceives as the Titans' conservative player personality prototypes and the need for the Titans to find their own guy(s) at premium positions -- receiver, edge rusher, corner -- because good long-term solutions generally don't make it to market.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Whoever the Titans add with veteran experience going forward will be a bonus, and the expectations for how they impact the lineup and the roster will be a lot smaller than those for the three free agents that came in early.
In the newest edition of the podcast, I review the additions of Rodger Saffold, Cameron Wake and Adam Humphries as well as the trade acquisition of backup quarterback of Ryan Tannehill.
You can find the history of this site's podcasts right here.
You can find Part 1 on iTunes, here, or directly through the Vokal website, here. Feel free to hook us up with a rating and review on iTunes.
If you're a member of the site, Part 1 and Part 2 are together, and all you have to do is head below the line.
You can find the history of this site's podcasts right here.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- During a day here and the build-up to it, I didn't want to expend great effort finding a football field to stroll with Josh Toomey.
So imagine how thrilled I was when Alex Mayer of the Louisville Bats, AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, was incredibly accommodating as soon as I made contact.
Louisville Slugger Stadium is a beautiful park with a beautiful view, and Josh and I had a nice stroll complete with a visit from a canine friend who was part of the grounds crew preparing the field for a Louisville City FC match.
My son, Simon, did a good job staying out of the shot, as I requested. He got to chew some Bats' gum right from the team's (stale?) stash and then got a good swing on a soft toss with a new wood bat he got down the street at the Louisville Slugger factory.
Josh and I talked about this site and my life as an independent journalist, how to cover a boring quarterback, how people should feel about a team that's had three consecutive winning seasons for the first time ever, modernizing the offense, Ryan Tannehill's standing and some relationships I have with colleagues I don't always see eye-to-eye with
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By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special contributor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans had a very solid unit in 2017 with the best left tackle in the NFL in Taylor Lewan.
In 2018, the team changed offensive line coaches from Russ Grimm to Keith Carter. The team also switched to a zone blocking scheme and went away from their strength and personnel skills. Lewan can function and play in any system, but some players are brought in and only fit in some schemes.
(Photo courtesy Los Angeles Rams)
The Titans signed veteran guard Rodger Saffold to fill the left guard position vacated by Quentin Spain. Spain is a very similar player in size, frame and strength. I was a big backer of Spain. He was a better foot athlete but Saffold is better with his technique and hand use. The Titans decided to go with an older player instead of re-signing Spain.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The concern over just how much salary cap money the Titans have left is generally overblown.
Jon Robinson joked on Friday that until his cap guy, Vin Marino calls and tells him to stop, he’ll keep making moves.
But the GM also said he had nothing in the cooker and it’s clear the Titans are not shoppers in what’s left in phase one of free agency after signing Rodger Saffold, Adam Humphries and Cameron Wake and trading for Ryan Tannehill.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Wow, was that a whirlwind of a week. The Titans have four new players who hit on four majorly deficient areas, plus they re-signed two of their own. So we opened up the mailbag and I dive in.
So Paul name a real good QB in the league that if MM plays real good he would be as good as?
— Coachwill (@willporter101) March 15, 2019
PK: Well, I think it’s a bit more complex than your simple question, which I know you can claim is a cop out.
Because starters in the NFL are basically haves or have nots. Until you are on the list, you’re not on the list. He’s not on the list, which is: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, Philip Rivers, Patrick Mahomes, Matt Ryan, Deshaun Watson and probably Matthew Stafford. Eleven guys.
Can Marcus Mariota be any of them in terms of what he can do as a passer? No.
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