Well, another NFL season is in the books. I mean, officially speaking, it's still underway, with the playoffs about to unfold, but no matter what happens (short of realising some sort of seeding mistake), the Titans will not be present. And though there are some teams I'd much rather take home the Lombardi than others (the Saints or Lions, instead of the Ravens or Patriots, for example), I can't really say I have much of a vested interest in what happens from here on.
Until I get a situation like I've had the last two years, where I ecstatically revel in the Colts and Steelers getting put in their place. ...Which I'll probably have to hope happens again.
Anyhow, there's an off-season of roster shake-ups to be had, so I thought I'd see who appeased me enough in the 2011 season to have made the cut. There are seven new nominees from the year gone by, which is a pretty good number, but only a few will take their places in the echelons of Titandom!
Quarterback
#3 Matt Hasselbeck
2011-present
Titans Career
319-518 for 3,571 yards, 18 TDs, 14 Ints, 82.4 rating
20 rushes for 52 yards, 4 fumbles, 2.6 Avg
All-Time Career
2891-4797 for 33,150 yards, 194 TDs, 142 Ints, 82.2 rating
326 rushes for 1,191 yards, 8 TDs, 60 fumbles, 3.7 Avg
The very first name off the board already sees a shake-up. Whereas Kerry Collins made the cut for having one great Titans season, Matty Cool gets the Alge Crumpler treatment: I admired his work elsewhere, and I'm happy to see him in two-toned blue. It's not a fair decision, but it's not a fair world, baby cakes.
Hass' first season as a Titan was great at the start, and then tapered off to become fairly average once the team kind of fell into the 'okay' category, but he has still given us stability at the QB position that we have not seen since the departure of Steve McNair. He's a heady quarterback, a fiery leader, and can nail them right in there. Undoubtedly he would have had a better season had his top target, Kenny Britt, not bit the dust in week 3.
All these things and more should put him in the coveted two slot, because I currently fancy him a whole lot better than Vince Young, but I'm trying to do this fairly, and in my opinion, I liked VY better then than I like Hass now. Hopefully another season can shift this change, though the brief yet stellar appearances by Jake Locker have put Hass in the hot seat. Incidentally, yes, Jake has already also usurped K-Colls for the fourth spot. I'm a brutal man.
#2 Vince Young (2006-2010)
#1 Steve McNair (1995-2005)
Running Back
#3 Chris Brown (2003-2007)
#2 Chris Johnson (2008-present)
#1 Eddie George (1996-2003)
Fullback
#1 Ahmard Hall (2006-present)
Wide Receiver
#5 Nate Washington
2009-present
Titans Career
163 receptions for 2,279 yards, 19 TDs, 14.0 Avg
5 rushes for 12 yards, 1 TD, 2.4 Avg
All-Time Career
267 receptions for 3,984 yards, 31 TDs, 14.9 Avg
14 rushes for 38 yards, 1 TD, 0.4 Avg
Oh, hello Nate! It took you a little time, but you finally cracked the fab five. And it wasn't without hesitation on my end, either, because for two weeks after making this entry, Marc Mariani possessed the five slot. Yes, Marc Mariani with all of five career catches. Simply because he was a late-round pick who came out of nowhere, whereas Washington was signed to become a bonafide #1, and up until this last season, it didn't look like it was going to eventuate.
But the stats don't lie. This year, 74 catches, 1,023 yards and 7 TDs. That makes up for more than a quarter of his career catches, a quarter of his career yardage, and over 20% of his career touchdowns. A quarter of career production, out of a seven year career of quiet obscurity. Assuming my mathematics hold up, which they probably don't.
Also, he was a monster in the single game of Madden '12 I played this year, and that almost always assures inclusion in the depths of my heart.
#4 Tyrone Calico
2003-2005
All-Time Career
42 receptions for 501 yards, 4 TDs, 11.9 Avg
If last year's Randy Moss got you cock-eyed, surely this has you seeing red. My #4 receiver of the last ten years is a second round bust?
Yup. Don't blame me. Blame a decade's worth of crappy Titans receivers.
First off, let me get some things straight. One, yes, he was absolutely dynamite in Madden '05. He was an athletic freak, and a perfect complement in the slot to the duo of Mason/Bennett. Second, yes, he has a fantastic name. As aforementioned, I even named my Animal Crossing: Wild World town after him. And third, the reason he made the cut this year, despite not having played in Tennessee or anywhere else in the last six years, is because... well, shit. I just forgot about him in the last countdown. How else could you explain the inclusion of Roydell Williams?
Tyrone Calico had the athletic potential to be one of the game's premiere receivers, and I'm not exaggerating. Unfortunately, one fateful horse-collar tackle from Roy Williams blew out both of his knees, and he was brought down to earth. Now, his physical prowess was limited, and his poor catching ability became glaringly obvious.
It sucks, man. Calico could have been #1, had he not been robbed of his career by a now-illegal technique. At least he'll always have the JFL championship of 2005 to his credit.
#3 Kenny Britt (2009-present)
#2 Drew Bennett (2001-2006)
#1 Derrick Mason (1997-2004)
Tight End
#2 Alge Crumpler (2008-2009)
#1 Erron Kinney (2000-2006)
Tackle
#4 Daniel Loper (2005-2008)
#3 David Stewart (2005-present)
#2 Michael Roos (2005-present)
#1 Brad Hopkins (1993-2005)
Guard
#4 Eugene Amano (2004-present)
#3 Jacob Bell (2004-2007)
#2 Jake Scott (2008-present)
#1 Benji Olson (1998-2007)
Center
#2 Kevin Matthews (2010-present)
#1 Kevin Mawae (2006-2009)
Defensive End
#4 Jason Babin (2010)
#3 Travis LaBoy (2004-2007) ~ Despite remaining a non-factor in Titans lore, LaBoy is shifted up a spot due to Babin jumping ship after only one year. UH alum vs. Jim Washburn chaser: choice is obvious.
#2 Kyle Vanden Bosch (2005-2009)
#1 Jevon Kearse (1999-2003, 2008-2009)
Defensive Tackle
#3 Randy Starks (2004-2007)
#2 Tony Brown (2006-2010)
#1 Albert Haynesworth (2002-2008)
Outside Linebacker
#4 Will Witherspoon (2010-present)
#3 Peter Sirmon (2000-2006)
#2 David Thornton (2006-2010)
#1 Keith Bulluck (2000-2009)
Middle Linebacker
#2 Colin McCarthy
2011-present
All-Time Career
68 combined tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 3 deflections, 1 interception (0 yards)
Well done, rookie. You went from fourth round pick to starting middle linebacker and #2 Tony Titan in just one season. Looks good so far!
Other than a poor game to end the year (when your body of work is only 13 games, you'd best believe I'll note when one of them is bad), McCarthy came in place of the injured and floundering Barrett Ruud, and was able to command the huddle like a mike backer should. Add to that the fact that he could actually make tackles, plugging holes and stuffing runners who came his way, and you have a recipe for success.
Unfortunately, I would have loved for flashy rookie Akeem Ayers to have been included in the more competitive outside linebacker department, but he really didn't amaze in year one. I mean, he wasn't bad, but he didn't particularly stand out, getting overshadowed by the other defensive rookies: McCarthy, Karl Klug and Jurrell Casey. In time, he should dazzle, but for now, he's behind the Spoon.
#1 Stephen Tulloch (2006-2010)
Cornerback
#5 Chris Carr (2008)
#4 Alterraun Verner (2010-present)
#3 Andre Dyson (2001-2004)
#2 Cortland Finnegan (2006-present)
#1 Samari Rolle (1998-2004)
Free Safety
#2 Lamont Thompson (2003-2006)
#1 Michael Griffin (2007-present)
Strong Safety
#2 Myron Rolle (2010-2011)
#1 Chris Hope (2006-present)
Kicker
#1 Rob Bironas (2005-present)
Punter
#1 Craig Hentrich (1998-2009)
And there you have it. Not as much of a shift as I expected, but with a lot of promising rookies lying on the horizon, you should expect a pretty big shake-up next year. And hopefully, more importantly, a playoff berth to match it!
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