If the Tennessee Titans are your favorite team, you need a reliable source for all the information you're going to need throughout the long NFL schedule, and that source is right here – TitansLocker.com. No one on earth follows the Titans like we do, which means if you make our blog part of your regular regimen, you'll follow them like no one else too! We go way beyond the score, keeping you posted on everything you're going to every want to lead your fantasy standings, or place that football bet that turns out to be a winner. We go so far that we can even connect you to the best deals on Titans' gear and merchandise. Whether you've go tickets for the games or not, you'll feel like you're right there at LP Field!
The Titans have lost 22-year old DE Derrick Morgan indefinitely as he has underwent surgery on his left ankle. He played in 4 games for the Titans last year and he had 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 1 pass defensed. This is bad news for the Titans as they had high hopes for Morgan in 2011. He was a first round pick of the Titans’ in 2010.
Even with Chris Johnson’s holdout, the Titans are running the ball well. Rookie 4th round pick Jamie Harper is the leading rusher on the team right now. He has carried the ball 32 times for 146 yards (4.6 ypc) with 3 TD runs so far in the preseason as he has looked outstanding. 23-year old Stafon Johnson has also been really impressive for the Titans so far. He has carried the ball 21 times for 108 yards (5.1 ypc). Javon Ringer (the starting RB if Chris Johnson holds out) has only carried the ball 3 times for 17 yards (5.7 ypc) so far in the preseason. The Titans need Chris Johnson back as soon as possible, but the Titans have to feel good about the RBs who are on the active roster right now.
The Titans were smart to sign veteran Matt Hasselbeck to mentor rookie QB Jake Locker, but also so they can bring him along slowly. Locker has played in all three preseason games for the Titans so far this preseason and he has completed 17 of 32 passes (53.1%) for 184 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT (67.7 QB Rating). He has also carried the ball 5 times for 25 yards (5.0 ypc) so far in the preseason. Locker has all of the tools to be a franchise type QB, but 2011 will be a learning year for Locker unless Hasselbeck gets hurt.
The Titans have released 29-year old DT Jovan Haye. Haye played in 14 games for the Titans last year and he had 31 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed. He played in 29 games in his two years with the Titans and he had 63 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1/2 a sack and 1 pass defensed. The Titans should be able to cover for Haye pretty easily as he didn’t make many big plays the last couple of years.
The Titans didn’t do much offensively but the defense bailed them out with a couple of big plays. Matt Hasselbeck was so-so as he completed 12 of 22 passes for 135 yards without a TD pass or an interception. He also carried the ball 1 time for 7 yards last night. Jake Locker didn’t do much last night as he completed 2 of 4 passes for 13 yards last night. He also carried the ball 2 times for 14 yards (7.0 ypc) in this game. Rookie RB Jamie Harper led the way on the ground last night for the Titans with 36 yards rushing on 13 carries (2.8 ypc) with 1 TD run. Stafon Johnson pitched in with 5 carries for 21 yards (4.2 ypc) last night. WR Nate Washington led the way in the passing game for the Titans last night with 4 grabs for 66 yards (16.5 avg). The Titans rushed for 81 yards on 24 carries (3.4 ypc) last night and they also completed 14 of 26 passes (53.8%) for 139 yards as they only had possession of the ball for 24:23.
The Titans bent a lot without breaking as the Bears rolled up a lot of yards last night. CB Chris Hawkins (5 tackles, 1 pass defensed), LB Colin McCarthy (5 tackles) and safety Michael Griffin (3 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) led the way for the Titans’ D last night. But it was safety Tommie Campbell who turned in the game altering play last night as he intercepted a Caleb Hanie pass and he returned it 90 yards for a TD. The Bears rushed for 148 yards on 35 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 39 passes (56.4%) for 268 yards last night. The Titans are now 2-1 on the preseason.
The Titans have signed 33-year old WR Kevin Curtis. Curtis played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Dolphins last year and he caught 1 pass for 6 yards. He has now played in 81 games (36 starts) in his first 8 years in the NFL and he has caught 253 passes for 3,297 yards (13.0 avg) with 20 TD grabs. Curtis has also carried the ball 9 times for 39 yards (4.3 ypc) with 1 TD run so far in his NFL career. This was a good move for the Titans.
UPDATE: (9/3/2011) – The Titans have waived Kevin Curtis who recently broke a bone in his hand.
25-year old RB Chris Johnson is one of the most electric offensive players in the NFL due to his speed and toughness. He is sitting out of training camp in a contract dispute and the Titans can’t afford not to have him ready for Week #1 of the 2011 season, because the offense revolves around him. Johnson played in 16 games (all starts) for the Titans last season and he carried the ball 316 times for 1,364 yards (4.3 ypc) with 11 TD runs. He also caught 44 passes for 245 yards (5.6 avg) with 1 TD grab last year. Johnson played in 47 games (46 starts) in his first three years with the Titans and he has carried the ball 925 times for 4,598 yards (5.0 ypc) with 34 TD runs. He has also caught 137 passes for 1,008 yards (7.4 avg) with 4 TD grabs so far in his career. The Titans need to get Johnson into practice really soon because the longer he stays out of action, the greater chance that he will get hurt when he returns.
24-year RB Javon Ringer has been lightly used in his first two years with the Titans but that could change if Johnson stays out of camp. Ringer played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Titans last year and he carried the ball 51 times for 239 yards (4.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs. He also caught 7 passes for 44 yards (6.3 avg), which were the first catches of his NFL career as he didn’t catch any as a rookie in 2009. Ringer has now played in 23 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the NFL and he has 59 carries for 287 yards (4.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs. Ringer was the main man in college at Michigan State, so he can handle a much heavier workload if the Titans need him to.
21-year old, 5’11″, 233 pound Jamie Harper was drafted in the 4th round out of Clemson last April. Harper will be the Titans’ power back this year.
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE TITANS RBS IN 2011: With Johnson: A+ Without Johnson: C-
UPDATE: (9/3/2011) – Chris Johnson has ended his holdout after the Titans extended his contract for four years and $53.5 million bucks, with $30 million guaranteed.
The Titans played well on offense despite only scoring 16 points last night. Matt Hasselbeck looked pretty sharp in completing 7 of 9 passes for 74 yards. He also carried the ball 1 time for 5 yards last night. Jake Locker wasn’t anywhere near as good as he was in his debut as he connected on 8 of 18 passes for 82 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT. He also carried the ball 1 time for 9 yards last night. Rusty Smith through 2 incomplete passes for the Titans last night. RB Jamie Harper led the way in the running game for the Titans last night with 83 yards rushing on 11 carries (7.5 ypc) wth 1 TD run. He also caught 1 pass for 24 yards last night. Stafon Johnson also had a solid game with 68 yards rushing on 11 carries (6.2 ypc). Herb Donaldson pitched in with 31 yards on 10 carries (3.1 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 29 yards (7.3 avg) last night. TE Jared Cook led the way in the passing game for the Titans last night with 54 yards on 3 grabs (18.0 avg). The Titans finished up with 198 yards rushing on 35 carries (5.7 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 29 passes (51.7%) for 149 yards as they had possession of the ball for 32:59 last night.
Safety Jordan Babineaux led a pretty solid overall perfrmance by the D last night with 6 tackles. CB Cortland Finnegan (3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 2 QB hits), LB Will Witherspoon (3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit) and LB Colin McCarthy (3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit) also were busy for the Titans last night. CB Alterraun Verner pitched in with an interception last night. The Rams finished up with 44 yards rushing on 21 carries (2.1 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 34 passes (61.8%) for 239 yards last night. The Titans are now 1-1 on the pre-season.
The Titans have signed 28-year old OT Adam Terry. Terry played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Jaguars and Chargers last season. He has now played in 50 games (18 starts) in his first five years in the NFL. Terry will provide the Titans nice depth on the offensive line because he’s capable of playing either tackle or guard. This was a nice signing for the Titans.
UPDATE: (9/4/2011) – The Titans have released Adam Terry.
The offense looked pretty good in the first half last night and the defense played pretty well the whole game, as the Titans got a nice win to open the pre-season. Matt Hasselbeck looked pretty sharp last night in his first action with the Titans as he completed 5 of 6 passes for 55 yards. Rookie Jake Locker followed Hasselbeck into the game and he looked good. Locker completed 7 of 10 passes for 89 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs. Rusty Smith was next up and he didn’t look too good as he completed only 4 of 9 passes (44.4%) for 55 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs. Brett Ratliff finished up this game by completing his only pass attempt and it was good for 1 yard. Rookie Jamie Harper led the way for the Titans on the ground in this game with 8 carries for 27 yards (3.4 ypc) with a TD run. WRs Yamon Figurs (1 rec, 45 yards, TD) and Damian Williams (2 rec, 35 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Titans last night. The Titans finished up with 96 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 26 passes (65.4%) for 194 yards last night.
The Titans were just plain nasty defensively last night. LB Gerald McRath (6 tackles) and safety Myron Rolle (5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit) led the way for the Titans’ D last night. Linebackers Rennie Curran and Colin McCarthy each pitched in with 5 tackles apiece last night. Safety Jordan Babineaux (interception) and DT Jurrell Casey (fumble recovery) also made big plays for the Titans on D last night. The Vikings finished up with 98 yards rushing on 22 carries (4.5 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 32 passes (56.3%) for 150 yards last night. The Titans looked especially sharp on defense last night.