I'm still repeating that 2002 shtick. Yeah, don't worry, I'm getting sick of hearing it too, but we only have to wade through it for another three or four entries. Soldier on, my legion, soldier on...
#5 Chris Carr
2008
Titans Career
31 combined tackles, 5 deflections, 1 interception (0 yards)
67 returns for 1,307 yards, 52 long, 19.5 Avg
All-Time Career
190 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 21 deflections, 6 interceptions (137 yards, 1 TD)
394 returns for 7,201 yards, 62 long, 18.3 Avg
Chris Carr is a unique bit of favouritism on my part in the sense that I was on a very sparsely populated bandwagon before he arrived in Tennessee, and by the end of 2008, everyone was sold on Carr as being a solid offseason acquisition.
His main asset was as a return man, a position that had been miserably lacking since Derrick Mason left town. He wasn't the electric kind of returner who would bust the long one for a TD, but he was wonderfully consistent. Whereas we had been suffering from poor starting position pre-Carr, with him on board we were finally seeing less field between us and the endzone.
Throw in his occasional work as a cornerback, a stint that featured a game-sealing pick against the Jaguars, and he was an all-around, solid contributor to our 13-3 season.
Of course, it meant marvelous bragging rights for me, a Carr fan since his 100-yard pick six against the Steelers in '06, back when he was a Raider. Put simply, Carr came to us cheap, and paid off big.
Tragically, it was a short-lived marriage. Carr jumped ship to Baltimore the very next year, supposedly under the pretense of more time at DB, and the Titans' return game returned to mediocrity.
Indeed, poor return skills cost us at least one game in '09, primarily at the hands of my boy from Hawaii, Ryan Mouton. In case you were wondering, he won't be appearing on this list.
I mean, he's #6, but that's beyond the point.
As far as a return man goes now, however? In Marc Mariani we trust!
#4 Alterraun Verner
2010-present
All-Time Career
101 combined tackles, 1 forced fumbles, 11 deflections, 3 interceptions (41 yards)
This one is part Verner the player, and part Verner the person.
The result of a fourth round pick we got for sending LenDale White and Kevin Vickerson to Seattle, Verner the burner was thrust into action far earlier than expected due to injuries decimating the secondary.
For his part, he did admirably, providing some excellent highlight reel moments. Of course, the pinnacle was an interception against the Cowboys that he nearly took in for a touchdown.
The other aspect that makes me a Verner fan, as aforementioned, is how cool the dude is. He's humble, hard-working, and by far, the most interactive Titan I have ever seen. He answers pretty much any questions fans send his way, and writes articles mid-season, reflecting on games and his performance. Frankly, he's just the kind of guy you want to succeed. He's everything as a person that Pacman Jones wasn't, and we love him for it.
Will he ascend to a full-time starting role? He nabbed time in the slot from Vincent Fuller last year, though I personally believe that Fuller is possibly the most consistent and underrated member of our defence, and Verner should only get better.
We tend to have a rookie cornerback we fall in love with every year. In the case of Cortland Finnegan, it turns out well. In the case of Reynaldo Hill, oopsie.
#3 Andre Dyson
2001-2004
Titans Career
223 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 44 deflections, 16 interceptions (260 yards, 3 TDs)
All-Time Career
317 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, 4 forced fumbles, 61 deflections, 22 interceptions (329 yards, 4 TDs)
Ranking the lesser-known Dyson brother here might seem like more unjust favouritism, but even I was surprised by how solid Andre's stats were.
Andre was never more than a number 2 cornerback, but last time I checked, there was almost always two receivers on the field, so it's still a starting position, just like the 10 other guys out there on defence.
His many deflections and interceptions (a muscular six in '04, with 135 return yards to boot) may have been the result of frequent targeting by QBs too afraid to throw in the direction of Samari Rolle, but stats are stats, bro. Don't hate.
#2 Cortland Finnegan
2006-present
All-Time Career
398 combined tackles, 5.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 57 deflections, 13 interceptions (349 yards, 3 TDs)
Some call him dirty. Others call him feisty. We're just glad to call him ours.
The product of small school Samford and a seventh-round pick, Finnegan brings intensity and tenacity on every play. Like many fans, I generally prefer a thumper to a finesse guy (see: George > Johnson), so Finnegan's play style is right up my alley. Teams hate playing against him, and in his career, he's quickly ascended to the league's top defensive backs, albeit with a year or two of setbacks.
Is he dirty? Oh yeah, probably. Does he get burned sometimes, targeted for his attitude, and flagged for dumb penalties? You know it. But does he bring everything he's got on every down, causing frustration and vexation for his opponent? Hell yes.
And frankly, if Finnegan needs to be a jerk on the field in order to maintain his high level of play, then I definitely say he should keep it up. We've seen enough players come and go who lack attitude, Finnegan is a breath of fresh air who might never change, and probably shouldn't.
Plus, off the field, he's another anti-Pacman. Always a winning quality!
#1 Samari Rolle
1998-2004
Titans Career
162* combined tackles, 8.5 sacks, 39 deflections, 23 interceptions (349 yards, 1 TD)
All-Time Career
298* combined tackles, 9.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 69 deflections, 31 interceptions (425 yards, 1 TD)
* Tackles since 2001
Accuse me of flip-flopping on my previous slander on finesse guys if you must, but the fact remains that Samari Rolle was probably the best Titans cornerback of all, and one of the top five, at least, in franchise history.
The dude was as close to a lock down corner as I've seen on this team; fast, athletic and smart. He was one half of the heartbreaking '05 offseason purge with Derrick Mason, and honestly, when the Ravens made a playoff push in 2006, I have to admit that I was hoping for them to win it all.
After all, if my Titans couldn't qualify for the post-season, why shouldn't I cheer for three of the most beloved pieces of my past in Rolle, Mason and Steve McNair? Especially when you consider the end result: a Colts victory in Super Bowl XLI.
Tragic ending, and Rolle's deteriorating health finally took him out of action after the 2009 season. To his credit, cornerback is definitely a young man's position, and he was able to play in a starting role for ten seasons, eleven years and 148 games in total.
It's certainly more games than I could have played, and I'm twelve years younger than him. Damn side more picks than I would have managed, as well, though I figure I could grab at least three if I was playing Rex Grossman. Just a thought.
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