Anyway, you'd think that such a detestable season would make for a boring, static list. However, this year sees a mighty shakeup courtesy of me finally observing my backlog of Titans seasons, at least in part. As such, this is a much more complete list than ever before. Remember how in year one, I always emphasised that it was a chronicle of my nine years of Titans fandom? This time, I can finally say, that this is my proper list of all-time Tennessee Titans. Sure sounds a hell of a lot better, doesn't it? So let's delve in and take a look at the changes in town...
Quarterback
#3 Vince Young (2006-2010)
#2 Matt Hasselbeck (2011-2012)
#1 Steve McNair (1995-2005)
Still no changes here. Jake Locker's inability to stay on the field sees him unable to make the podium, with time ticking away each season. I've been disappointed to see that Vince can't crack an NFL roster anymore (surely he could be a third option somewhere?), and even more disappointed that Hass and the Titans couldn't secure a deal to keep him in town. How many of those losses in 2013 could have gone the other way had it not been for Ryan Fitzpatrick? And what else is there to say about Steve McNair... Well, fun fact; if you were to assign all of the top-rated quarterbacks in history to an NFL franchise, McNair would make the cut - his 82.8 regular season rating is 32nd all-time.Running Back
#3 Chris Johnson (2008-present)
#2 Chris Brown (2003-2007)
#1 Eddie George (1996-2003)
Another set of unaltered rankings. For the record, I wish Jackie Battle had the speed and elusiveness that CJ purportedly has, because that dude is awesome. It's unfortunate that my opinion of Johnson has soured so much over the years, and I assure you, it's not due to a lack of production: it's all about his personality. The celebrations, fine with those. The grill and the dreads, sure, why not? But his post-game interviews? Nope, not a fan. It's hard to believe that in a few years, one of the most productive and significant players in Titans history could be nothing but a slightly bitter memory. Meanwhile, CB1.7K (I couldn't crack 2,000 yards that lucrative Madden season) sits as a bemusing #2, and steady Eddie remains the top dog. Honestly, he probably will forevermore.Fullback
#1 Ahmard Hall (2006-2011)
THIS. WAS. HARD. I went into this entry with full conviction that Lorenzo Neal, labelled by some as the best fullback in Titans history, was the new king at the position. After all, he was integral in the Music City Miracle, he brought the best out of Eddie George, and he was around during some of the Titans' greatest years. But... to begrudge the unsung achievements of Ahmard Hall would be doing a disservice. He gave six years to Neal's two, he was a member of the spectacular 13-3 campaign in '08, and of course, he led Chris Johnson to 2,006 rushing yards. The highest Eddie got with Lo-Neal at fullback was 1,509. I know - comparing HB numbers is in no way an accurate barometer of a fullback's success... but food for thought. Ahmard Hall stays. Just barely!Wide Receiver
#5 Tyrone Calico (2003-2005)
#4 Kendall Wright (2012-present)
#3 Nate Washington (2009-present)
#2 Derrick Mason (1997-2004)
#1 Drew Bennett (2001-2006)
Sacré bleu! An actual shift!! The touchdowns have been scarce for the receivers as a whole this year, but otherwise, Kendall Wright has had a very distinguished campaign in 2013. He is within striking distance of the all-time franchise record for receptions in a season (maybe I should have waited after all?) and has made Kenny Britt more than expendable. Tyrone Calico clutches desperately to the five-slot as Justin Hunter approaches like a fiery dragon, and Nate Washington just toddles along, content with the bronze medal. D-Mase and Bennett remain solidly entrenched as the 1-2 punch, though I'm sure Mase still feels besmirched by having been demoted in the last offseason.Tight End
#2 Erron Kinney (2000-2006)
#1 Frank Wycheck
1995-2003Titans Career
482 receptions for 4,958 yards, 27 TDs, 10.3 Avg
5-6 for 148 yards, 2 TD, 158.3 rating
All-Time Career
505 receptions for 5,126 yards, 28 TDs, 10.2 Avg
5-6 for 148 yards, 2 TD, 158.3 rating
Welcome home, Frank. We missed you.
At long last, I have been able to rectify what has been among my most cockamamie set of rankings (still got nothing on safety, though) by adding one of the premiere Titans players to my arsenal. Frankly (ho ho!), Wycheck did it all for the Titans as a dependable receiver and a locker room leader. Most importantly, he was crucial in the developmental process of Steve McNair as a release valve in the passing game, as well as a nifty blocker when McNair decided to run it himself. His lateral pass pictured at the header remains one of the few times we as Titans fans have ever felt like magic could happen, and is still one of the greatest NFL moments of all time.
Tackle
#4 Jon Runyan1996-1999
Titans Career
58 games, 48 starts
All-Time Career
207 games, 192 starts
I now present to you mildly obscure former tackle-now turned politician-hard to find a Titans photo of Jon Runyan! Funnily enough, I've actually been a fan of Mr. Runyan for quite some time, however that was during his much more storied tenure as an Eagle. For ten seasons, he was a stalwart at tackle for Philadelphia, and in much the same way as it was for Matt Hasselbeck and Alge Crumpler, I was delighted for him to have been a Titan... albeit... beforehand. He featured in a Super Bowl or two, and was also the last active member of the Oilers in the NFL. That's sorta fun, isn't it?
You know what isn't fun, though? The weird formatting his tiny little picture is causing. Damn you, Runyan! You won't get my vote this year.
#3 David Stewart (2005-present)
#2 Michael Roos (2005-present)
#1 Brad Hopkins (1993-2005)
Guard
#4 Jacob Bell (2004-2007)
#3 Jake Scott (2008-2011)
#2 Benji Olson (1998-2007)
#1 Bruce Matthews
1983-2001All-Time Career
296 games, 176* starts
Starts since 1991
Well, obviously!! Bruce Matthews is known to many as the best Tennessee Titan of all time, one of the finest to grace the franchise dating back to their years in Houston and, according to NFL.com in 2010, the 78th greatest football player of all time. A transcendent stalwart, Matthews was there when Warren Moon was operating the run and gun, and he was there when Steve McNair and Eddie George brought this franchise as close as it's ever gotten to a championship.
Bruce was consistently amazing, and amazingly consistent, an iron man on the o-line who excelled at any position. Bruce was not only the clear-cut #1 at guard, but head and shoulders above Mawae at centre - and maybe, just maybe, could push my man Hoppy at tackle.
Center
#2 Kevin Matthews (2010-2012, 2013-present)
#1 Kevin Mawae (2006-2009)
Due largely to a lack of alternatives, the centres remain untouched. Kevin Mawae will likely occupy this position for a long time yet, but has there really been nobody more notable to me than Kevin Matthews, based entirely on the fact that he's Bruce's son? I guess so. Back in my golden years, Justin Hartwig was a pretty good centre, but other than him and Mawae, it's been pretty dismal. Maybe Brian Schwenke will become a man of notoriety, but until then, the nepotism lives on.
Defensive End
#4 Jason Babin (2010)
#3 Travis LaBoy (2004-2007)
#2 Kyle Vanden Bosch (2005-2009)
#1 Jevon Kearse (1999-2003, 2008-2009)It really shouldn't be hard for someone, anyone out there to crack this list. Babin used us and abused us to restart his career, and Travis LaBoy's greatest accomplishment to me is the fact that he is freakin' Hawaiian. That's some puerile stuff right there, man! Derrick Morgan had all of the potential in the world coming out of college, but has been so incredibly unspectacular, and the high hopes I had for Kamerion Wimbley have never been met. At least Vanden Bosch and Kearse provide some credibility to this otherwise tepid group of Titans.
Defensive Tackle
#3 Jurrell Casey (2011-present)
#2 Albert Haynesworth (2002-2008)
#1 Tony Brown (2006-2010)
Allow me to say, Jurrell Casey has been so damned good this season, he has absolutely earned the right to move up in the rankings. Had he been a defensive end or OLB, it would have been a certainty. Unfortunately for him however, the Titans have had an embarrassment of riches at DT, from the briefly dominating Haynesworth to the speedy, dependable Brown. How long can Casey continue to sparkle while those around him are dull and uninspiring? ...Hopefully a long, long time.
Outside Linebacker
#4 Akeem Ayers
2011-present
All-Time Career
226 combined tackles, 9.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 13 deflections, 1 interceptions (2 yards)
I'm basing this one a fair bit on faith, honestly. I quite like Ayers' style, and he shot out of the gates nicely in his rookie season. The athleticism he and Zach Brown bring from the outside is fantastic, but his 2013 campaign was certainly not one for the ages. We as Titans fans have been teased with athleticism and potential before - Troupe, Britt, Calico, etc... But more often than not, we're left wondering what if?
Prove 'em wrong, Akeem. Make Keith Bulluck (with whom you have no association I'm aware of other than having played the same position for the same franchise) PROUD.
#3 Peter Sirmon (2000-2006)
#2 David Thornton (2006-2010)
#1 Keith Bulluck (2000-2009)
Middle Linebacker
#2 Colin McCarthy (2011-present)
#1 Stephen Tulloch (2006-2010)
I'm not too sure what happened here: an injury sidelined Colin McCarthy early on this season, but even when he returned to good health, he was unable to supplant Moise Fokou in the starting lineup. Is the McCarthy administration over already? In any event, it seems as though Tully stays safe for a long time yet.
Cornerback
#5 Jason McCourty (2009-present)#4 Andre Dyson (2001-2004)
#3 Alterraun Verner (2010-present)
#2 Cortland Finnegan (2006-2011)
#1 Samari Rolle (1998-2004)
No official reshuffling at cornerback this year: this one is really one of the more solid units overall. McCourty continues to bring his lunch pail to work every day, but is still a rung below Dyson. Another year of brilliance sees Alterraun practically moving his stuff into the comfortable lodge of #2, one more season of his wonderful personality and kindness, regardless of his on-field performance, likely cements his new place over Finnegan. Poor old Finny, I'm already starting to forget what it was like having him on our team for some reason... as for Samari? Nope, he ain't a-goin' nowhere.
Free Safety
#2 Vincent Fuller (2005-2010)
#1 Marcus Robertson
1991-2000
Titans Career
1.5 sacks, 22 interceptions (428 yards)
152* combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, 5 deflections, 24 interceptions (458 yards)
Tackle data from 2001
Damn these incomplete defensive statistics!! The fine, lengthy career of Marcus Robertson is very poorly reflected by what's presented on NFL.com: rest assured, he did more for the Oilers and the Titans than catch 22 picks and a sack and a half. I swear. According to an article on Bleacher Report (so you know it's probably true), he actually tallied 648 tackles with the franchise. That sounds about right to me.
Robertson was a fine safety for a long time, roaming the defensive backfield and nabbing errant throws from the opponents. No offence to Anthony Dorsett, but Robertson's dependable skills were definitely missed in Super Bowl XXXIV - could his extra oomph have led to a Titans victory? I'd rather not think about it, honestly.
Strong Safety
#2 Chris Hope (2006-2011)
#1 Blaine Bishop
1993-2001
Titans Career
24* combined tackles, 13.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 deflection, 5 interceptions (103 yards, 1 TD)
64* combined tackles, 15.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 deflections, 5 interceptions (103 yards, 1 TD)
Tackle data from 2001
Yeah baby, here's the big man! The more impactful member of the stellar safety duo he made up with Robertson (above. Obviously.), Bishop is still a fan favourite among most of the Titans loyal. And why wouldn't he be? He just absolutely smashed people's faces in, a man who was synonymous with the hard-hitting defence the Titans would be known for in their best years.
On a related note, Bernard Pollard reminds me of Bishop in many ways, and I love that. A true throwback to how defenders are supposed to play. The multiple flags Pollard gets for pithy calls are embarrassing, and I'm sure Blaine has yelled at his TV more than a few times, too. And then tackled it. Because that's what he did.
Kicker#1 Rob Bironas (2005-present)
...Unless you thought Al Del Greco would make a surprise appearance?
Punter
#1 Craig Hentrich (1998-2009)
Pardon my lack of elaboration, but you know how I feel about this man. Watch as he celebrates with Rob Bironas. Celebrate with him, if you feel so inclined!
Head Coach
#1 Jeff Fisher (1994-2010)Poor old Munch. It doesn't seem as though things are going to work out as we'd hoped and dreamed. The thought of him working for any other team makes me feel icky, and as such, I'm disappointed to hear he's rebuked interest about the Penn State job. Anyhow, Fish still can't get the ball rolling over in St. Louis, and one begins to ponder how much time he has left over there. I still dig his style, though.
Favourite Game
Steelers 14, Titans 31 (December 21, 2008)
Surprise! The Music City Miracle isn't able to surpass this rather obscure little gem. Largely because I haven't seen the whole game, so I can't really judge it based on anything other than that one play. I'm sure once I watch it in full, with all of my old guys romping about, I'll change my tune. Until then, STOMP THOSE TOWELS!!
Tony's Year
2006 (24 Tony's Titans)
That's right, my old school homerism still isn't enough to supplant 2006 as the roster with the most Tony's Titans. If you wanted a more accurate view on my favourite team, of course, you could then take into account where each player was ranked, but it's far too late for that. This year saw some competition from 2003 (18), 2005 (19) and, surprisingly, 2007 and 2009 (21 each), but the year Vince Young almost brought us back to the playoffs still has the roster with the most goodies.
