Tennessee Titans Training Camp Report
The Tennessee Titans have several new faces in training camp, replacing a few of the better known players. Centre Kevin Mawae has not being signed by the team and linebacker Keith Bulluck walked into free agency as the Titans made little effort in resigning him after his torn ACL.
Some faces are familiar though. Chris Johnson is in camp looking as fast as ever. Johnson skipped off-season workouts as he campaigned for a new contract. While he was left well short of what he was hoping for, the team restructured his deal, giving him the $2.5 million he was scheduled to make in 2012 onto this year’s base salary originally worth $550,000. While the deal left Johnson happy enough to go to training camp, he is still not satisfied with the deal and negotiations will likely continue after the season.
Johnson is looking to follow his 2000-yard season by doing something even more spectacular. His goal this season is to add 500 yards to last season’s total and break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. Johnson also wants to win the MVP award, which he feels he was slighted from last season.
Another instrumental part of the Titans’ success this season is Vince Young, who is looking sharper than ever running the first-team offence in camp. The team gave Young an $8 million bonus he was due in March because of the strides of improvement he showed last season. He led the season turnaround, going 8-2 in the ten games he started, allowing the Titans to rebound from an 0-6 start.
Wide receiver Kenny Britt seems to be rebounding from a tough off-season in which he was out of shape through mini-camp and had two run-ins with the law. His knee injury caused some poor play and he is on the second-team offence in camp. He is showing a lot of athleticism and promise. Although he has had a few drops, he is improving and may move to the team’s starting offence by camp’s end.
Fans watching the team at Baptist Sports Park are eagerly waiting for Damien Williams to recover from a hamstring injury. The return specialist was electrifying at USC and the Titans selected him in the third-round hoping he could solve the team’s dreadful return issues.
The team’s biggest free agent acquisition was linebacker Will Witherspoon, who’s fitting in nicely in the Titans system. It seems as if he’s been playing for Coach Jeff Fisher for years.
The Titans are also looking for a man to help take some load of carries off of Chris Johnson so their prized back doesn`t get worn out. The Titans are hoping LeGarrett Blount can fill that role.
Blount is a power back and talented, but went undrafted due to character issues. He is remembered for punching a Boise State lineman in the Oregon Ducks season opener a year ago in the NCAA. He was suspended eight games, causing his value in the draft to fall. He chose to sign with the Titans over the 49ers after the draft, thinking he’d be a better fit with Lendale White gone. Blount’s the kind of power back the Titans can use in short-yardage situations and provide some relief for Johnson.
The Titans still have some open spots throughout the defence as the team went with a youth moment on defence this year. Many are watching who will be the no.2 cornerback as well as who can fill other roles in the secondary.
The team is not quite as healthy as they’d like to be with Williams still out and the team’s first round draft pick defensive end Derrick Morgan is rehabilitating from a calf injury - and the coaches are anxious for him to get out there. He’s being relied on to make an immediate impact on the line this year.
Overall many rookies are looking good for the Titans and Jeff Fisher has been through training camp many times. He knows how to get players ready and will have the roster he chooses ready to go by the start of the season.
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