Last-minute scouting reports from Jon Robinson on top prospects at No. 19

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- I'm not going to pretend to know who the Titans are taking if they pick at No. 19 tonight. If you forced me to give you a name, it'll be Clelin Ferrell, the Clemson edge rusher. (Pictured.)Ferrell

My favorite analysts talk of his smart hand use, his balance, his toughness and his variety of rush moves. And, oh yeah, he notched 27 sacks in three seasons at a high level.

Here's what Jon Robinson told me about Ferrell: "Edge guy. 4-3 end to outside linebacker in an odd-man front. Good technician. Savvy rusher. I don't think he's going to win with a ton of just flat-out speed. But I think he's a really good football player."

Some Robinson thoughts on some other prospects, starting with a Clemson teammate of Ferrell's, who I don't think will last until the Titans' pick.

Write comment (4 Comments)

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  -- There are many misconceptions about the draft and draft analysis. In what amounts to a carcast edition of the podcast, I run through several of them and some of what the Titans are working to overcome.

PodcastYazooArtSquare

This week is a freebie open to all. If you're a non-member and like it, you should rush to join up for this weekend's draft coverage which will include multiple private Facebook Lives/ Periscopes.

It's neatly packed for you, unlocked below the line.

You can also find it on iTunes, here, or directly through the Vokal website, here. Feel free to hook us up with a rating and review on iTunes.

You can find the history of this site's podcasts right here.

Write comment (0 Comments)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – At what point in the draft equation does a high-quality player destined to miss a big chunk of his rookie season, if not all of it, become worth selecting?

That’s a question facing the Titans at No. 19 where Mississippi State interior defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons may well be available, and would likely bring them a skill set of which they are in dire need. He’d also bring a repaired left ACL he tore in February.Simmons

That could see him return during the course of the 2019 NFL season, but he’s won’t be making an impact on opening day or anywhere close to it. And it’s possible his first year could be a wash.

Write comment (9 Comments)

Scout's take: Blake Beddingfield's round-by-round Titans' options

BY BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special contributor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- In every draft room, there is a draft board with 1,000-plus names that are not draftable and won’t get a chance as a free agent and a second draft board that contains 300+ names that will get drafted or sign free agent contracts. 

DraftLogo2019There are also other boards in the draft room. A Top 100 player board ranked in order. A board with all seven rounds with each pick in order. There is a board with all 32 team’s draft choices that they own by number under the name. And last, in Nashville, there is a Titans’ team needs board to fill out the remaining roster spots.

The most important of these boards is the Titans’ positional grade board. It will be used the most during the draft.

The board is set up by position starting with C, G, T, TE, QB, RB, WR, DE, DT, ILB, OLB, CB, S, Spec. Every team uses their own specific numerical grading system to determine the value of the player. The most popular grading system is the “old” national football scouting grading system.

Write comment (3 Comments)

Pickers mailbag: Fifteen question edition, something for everyone

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Draft excitement is about to boil over. I've worked hard on this mailbag to help us work our way to Thursday night.

Here's some schedule talk from earlier this week.

On to your fine questions, which I appreciate.

In your years of covering the Titans and in honor of the nfl draft, who is the biggest bust and biggest overachieving draft pick made by Titans???

— Robert White Stuard (@Robertdeerfish) April 20, 2019

ArmoredFanJaguars

PK: It’d be hard to find anyone who did better than Cortland Finnegan, a seventh-rounder who was a first-team All-Pro

Write comment (1 Comment)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- NFL owners tend to be eccentric and somewhat mysterious, operating behind the scenes.

Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk interact with fans more than most, and Thursday night she made the sort of appearance that few of her peers would consider.EveningAmyAdamsStrunk1

In front of an audience of 300 people in downtown Nashville at an event to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Tennessee, she spoke for over an hour with John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. It was an off-the-record conversation -- no reporting, no recording. [Unlocked]

Write comment (0 Comments)

Scout's take: How pre-draft meetings work from someone who's been in them

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Paul asked me for a look at the pre-draft process through the eyes of someone who's been involved. So here we go.

Draft Meetings: The pre-draft meeting process for most NFL teams start two weeks before the draft. Depending on who runs the draft (GM, HC or owner) the pre-draft meetings could range anywhere from a month long to just a few days. The process can be a long one for all involved. Most meeting times will start at 7 am and run until 9 pm in the evening.

Finch

Photo: Outside linebacker Sharif Finch got $42,000 guaranteed as an undrafted free agent from the Titans last year.

The pre-draft meetings and the process that the teams go through are vital to stacking the board and properly categorizing players into groups. Ranking players within position groups and also in tiers. A draft board is stacked by position vertically with players in groups based on their final “team grade.” Grades are given by multiple scouts/coaches in an organization, but the final team grade is determined by the decision-maker.

The vertical stacking is important to rank players at each position, but the tier group stacking is also important to rank players at each level or round. The vertical stacking makes it easy for the GM to decide on players when it is the team's

Write comment (9 Comments)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. The cries of disrespect are flowing from Titans’ fans as they typically do at scheduling time.

They want a bigger presence on primetime TV. They want to head to Nissan Stadium for a big game under the lights.TitansGoldLogo

And in 2019, barring a flex into Sunday Night Football, they’ll get Week 3 Thursday Night Football in Jacksonville and that’s it.

The Titans should have a home Monday or Thursday night game.

But beyond that, I don’t think there is a giant complaint and I don’t think it’s some giant sign of NFL disrespect. On four Sundays they will play in the late afternoon slot, though two of those are dictated by geography – games in Denver and Oakland are always later. [Unlocked]

Write comment (6 Comments)

Page 8 of 118

Paul Midday logo 2b 2