An interesting thought: in the twelve seasons that I've been watching the NFL prior to this one, the Titans had a win record of 99-93. With numbers like that, you'd realise that I've been backing a pretty mediocre franchise, at best.
And that's fine, I'm used to it. I got onboard this bandwagon right at the end of its apex, and have been watching a decade-long rebuild ever since. What's not okay, however, is the state of the current Tennessee Titans. I don't like them. I don't like them at all. And to think, I forked out money for LeaguePass this year to watch all of the games live. Honestly, I didn't get my money's worth, and if I were a lesser man, I'd demand a refund. Observe how I'm making this post with three games left on the schedule. Observe also how if the Titans won two of those games, they would double their win total.
They suck. Shut it down. Trim the fat. Gut this franchise from the top down, I'm tired of watching real football teams become relevant while the best I can hope for is .500 ball and playoff hopes last until week 12.
Quarterback
#3 Vince Young (2006-2010)
#2 Matt Hasselbeck (2011-2012)
#1 Steve McNair (1995-2005)
Poor old Jake Locker. After the promise he showed at the beginning of last season, this was the year it all went bust. One last injury was enough for them to give up, and his only appearances since have been as an emergency backup, and boy, has he looked terrible in that role. I wish him nothing but the best for his next stop: he's an awesome dude, and hopefully he can repair his career with a better team. People have since waved Zach Mettenberger's accomplishments about as though he's a viable replacement, but I've been unimpressed. His first games saw too many check-downs for no gain, and his last few were ensured strip fumbles and pick sixes. I'm tired of settling for 'maybe okay' at QB. Draft Mariota, make us feel beautiful. So... yeah. This group of QBs doesn't look like they're going anywhere for a while. Steve because he was a juggernaut and leader. Hass because he was reliable and safe. Vince because he was exciting and found a way to win. None of these qualities lurk on the horizon for Tennessee.
Running Back
#3 Chris Johnson (2008-2013)
#2 Chris Brown (2003-2007)
#1 Eddie George (1996-2003)
It sure would be nice for Bishop Sankey to bump CJ from the rankings, but that would simply be foolishness. The Titans, as a team, have amassed 1,121 rushing yards through thirteen games this season. Johnson, during his brief but brilliant peak, would have surpassed that himself weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, Bishop has looked good, but has been lost in the running back shuffle and hasn't had much success to write home about. Still have faith in him. So CJ keeps his golden teeth sunken into the three-slot, CB continues to bewilder all who see him at #2 (himself included, perhaps), while Eddie George runs through the rankings as though they were would-be tacklers. Please, Tennessee, just re-sign Eddie and put him on the field. He's still built like a tank.
Fullback
#1 Ahmard Hall (2006-2011)
I already went into detail with choosing Ahmard over Lo-Neal last year, so there's no need to elaborate. If you're interested in a more robust set of rankings, however, it may interest you to know that Jackie Battle is likely the #3 guy in my list of fullbacks. I haven't given it much thought, really, but maybe he lands on the Tony's Titans practice squad? I might actually make one up someday...
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)
Justin Hunter was banging on Tyrone Calico's door last year, demanding entry into the Tony's Titans wide receiver rankings. And alas, by the looks of things, it has done severe damage to his hands, because he wasn't able to catch a damn thing this season. Tyrone simply peered out the window, blowing kisses, and knowing that he's safe for another day. Frankly, Tyrone could have been a key member of the Titans, had Roy Williams not disassembled his legs like Murphy in RoboCop 2. Kendall Wright has had moments of glory during 2014, but Delanie Walker has been the only Titan you could consistently trust on offense. He slumps in at #4. Nate has been more quiet than a monk in 2014, but much like Kendall, he's had a revolving door of QBs, and he's at least been a locker room leader. I will be happy to see Nate with another team next year. Not because I don't want him on our team, but because I want to see him play for a team that's actually good. Meanwhile, Derrick Mason and Drew Bennett continue the slap fight for the gold medal, D-Mase still shellshocked that he got demoted last offseason. Drew continues to hold strong. Will Mason ever take back the title? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Tight End
#2 Erron Kinney (2000-2006)
#1 Frank Wycheck (1995-2003)
The reliable duo lives on, undeterred. As I mentioned previously, Delanie Walker has been the ringmaster among a circus filled with clowns this year, but that's not enough for him to make an appearance at this point. Titans aficionados may be horrified to know how far down the totem pole he actually resides, behind Wycheck, Kinney, Jared Cook, Alge Crumpler and the talented but clueless Ben Troupe. Don't worry, though, for he's ahead of Bo Scaife, so it's not like I've gone entirely mental here. In all honesty, even Shad Meier is ahead of Bo Scaife, and that's certainly saying something.
Tackle
#4 Jon Runyan (1996-1999)
#3 David Stewart (2005-2013)
#2 Michael Roos (2005-present)
#1 Brad Hopkins (1993-2005)
Depending on how you look at it, it's either a very sad or very exciting time to be following the Titans offensive line going forward. Very sad, because stalwart Michael Roos' time has just about come to an end. Very exciting, however, because Taylor Lewan looks like the real deal. It's just a shame that Michael Oher was such a flop on the other side, because I have no idea who you bookend across from him. Maybe David Stewart, who's still without a team? Meh, neither here nor there. More rankings with nothing to report. Runyan could be in jeopardy if Lewan performs next season, but the combined nineteen seasons of service between Stewart and Roos means he'll have a long wait before rising any higher. As for Hoppy? Man, he's in my Titans hall of fame, he's not being budged. Perhaps that's another thing I'll create, if I could be bothered.
Guard
#4 Jacob Bell (2004-2007)
#3 Jake Scott (2008-2011)
#2 Benji Olson (1998-2007)
#1 Bruce Matthews (1983-2001)
A list of guys that will always be Bruce Matthews and whoever else is playing for second. There probably won't be another Bruce on the Titans within my lifetime, though I'm still hopeful that Jake will sign with Tennessee and continue the legacy. Some of the others aren't quite so safe. Bell and Scott were great for a short period of time, but the brevity of their stay could jeopardise their position at some point down the track. As for Benji? Ha! Don't make me laugh. The only reason he isn't a runaway winner is because of Bruce. Unless I opened these rankings up to include Oilers history, he's probably never slipping down, either. So get used to it!
Center
#2 Kevin Matthews (2010-2012, 2013)
#1 Kevin Mawae (2006-2009)
Did you really think the 2014 efforts of Brian Schwenke were enough to bump Kevin Matthews? You silly fool! If anything, he's just slithered down towards mediocrity. After all, my dream rankings for Tony's Titans would have had a starting lineup of Matthews at center, with his dad and his brother bookending him at guard. Alas, it's not to be. For what it's worth, Mawae may have been one of my favourite Titans had he played there during their glory years: he was an anchor, and he looks kind of like David Zayas. That's more than I could say for myself, after all.
Defensive End
#4 Kenny Holmes
1997-2000
21.5 sacks, 2 interceptions (17 yards)
All-Time Career
127* combined tackles, 38.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 deflections, 2 interceptions (17 yards)
*Tackles since 2001
It was really just a matter of time until I got sick of seeing Jason Babin so smugly sitting there at fourth before I was going to do something about it. It's just remarkable that it took me this long. Kenny Holmes, to me, will always be the 'other guy' across from Jevon Kearse during the golden years, but to dismiss him as just that would obviously be besmirching the man. The fact is, he was part of some of Tennessee's great defences in the past. His career lasted seven years, but it seemed to me as though it burnt out before he could reach his full potential. He was great in Tennessee, pretty good in New York, and then - poof! Gone. Keep in mind, I've worked at my job for seven years now and it's felt like an eternity, but it's a mere blip on the radar when compared to this next guy...
#3 Kevin Carter
2001-2004
Titans Career
175 combined tackles, 23.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 7 deflections
All-Time Career
364* combined tackles, 104.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 safeties, 14 deflections
*Tackles since 2001
Yep, there he is. No doubt, if you've been following these rankings over the last few years, you might have been wondering why Kevin Carter isn't featured, particularly considering the only guys he'd have to leapfrog are Babin and Travis LaBoy. And in all honesty, I'm not too sure of the reason why. After all, he was there in those last few gasps of glory, but for some reason, I most strongly associate him with two bad things: the defeat to the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV, and the lacklustre 2004 campaign. It's not his fault, but he appeared in some yoga-related piece that season, and it's stuck with me for a decade now. Anyway. With him and Kenny Holmes now residing in the rankings (and Robaire Smith claiming a conservative #5, now that I've stopped forgetting he existed), we can finally rest easy, knowing that the defensive end rankings are credible, at last.
#2 Kyle Vanden Bosch (2005-2009)
#1 Jevon Kearse (1999-2003, 2008-2009)
Defensive Tackle
#3 Jurrell Casey (2011-present)
#2 Albert Haynesworth (2002-2008)
#1 Tony Brown (2006-2010)
Copy and paste last year's summary, and you'll get an accurate description of the ongoing tragedy of Jurrell Casey. If you were to list all of the 'must-have' prospects on the Titans' defence this year, it would begin and end with Casey. Indeed, I could only think of about four or five players overall who would qualify. And as such, he can't seem to navigate around the planetary presence of Albert Haynesworth. Also, if you're still curious as to why Haynesworth, who at one point was the most dominant DT in all of football, ranks behind Tony Brown, an obscure journeyman who has long since been forgotten by most, the reason is simple: I sat there, waiting for the development of Haynesworth for years. I stuck by him while he was stomping on heads and getting suspended, and when at long last he played up to his potential, it was only for two seasons. Two. One franchise tagged year, one contract year. Then he bailed out to gobble up Washington's salary cap. In comparison, Brown was solid during his entire tenure, and was a handy piece to have. That trumps those two seasons in my book.
Outside Linebacker
#4 Akeem Ayers (2011-2014)
#3 Peter Sirmon (2000-2006)
#2 David Thornton (2006-2010)
#1 Keith Bulluck (2000-2009)
UGH. Akeem Ayers has gone from a promising prospect to a stain on these rankings this season. Not through any fault of his own, mind you, but because he's a reminder of how stupidly this season went. Shipped to New England for a song, he has given the Patriots 16 tackles, 3 sacks and an interception through six games. 327 snaps out of a possible 418 (78.2%) and, per Mike Reiss of ESPN "generally solid play against the run". Does that sound like the kind of guy you should trade for a sixth round pick? What an indictment on the current state of the Titans, particularly when the front office has claimed that the team's issues aren't due to the system. Plug an under-performer into a different system, and voila! He's a cog in a well-oiled machine. You boneheads. You absolute boneheads. Anyway, positions 1 through 3 are reserved for people who played for the real Tennessee Titans. Please move along.
Inside Linebacker
#3 Avery Williamson2014-present
All-Time Career*
67 combined tackles, 3 sacks, 4 deflections
*Season in progress
In honour of the 'fantastic' move to the 3-4, I've beefed up these rankings to include three inside backers. To me, for the record, they will always be known as middle linebackers, but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, meet Colin McCarthy 2.0, aka the flavour of the month on defense. Avery has been one of the few performers on the dreadful 2014 D, and hopefully will be a good piece for us to rebuild with. Whether it's as a member of a linebacking corp that features two former defensive ends and the disappointment that has been Wesley Woodyard, or as part of an actual defensive scheme remains to be seen. We all know, though, that he won't be standing next to Akeem Ayers (unless they trade Williamson, too).
#2 Randall Godfrey
2000-2002
109* combined tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 3 deflections, 3 interceptions (30 yards, 1 TD)
All-Time Career
413* combined tackles, 17 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 2 safeties, 15 deflections, 6 interceptions (47 yards, 1 TD)
*Tackles since 2001
Because watching this year's team has reminded me how much I miss a guy like Randall Godfrey. He only played in Tennessee for three years (16 games in year one, 14 in the next, 8 in an injury-riddled finale), but he made his presence felt, tackling fools like a madman. Honestly, Godfrey may have been the closest the Titans have had to a prototypical mike backer in their entire history. He was consistent, heady, and BALD. For we all know that baldness is what makes linebackers so aerodynamic. I'm happy to finally have him here in the rankings, another member of the Titans' past who really should have been here long ago.
#1 Stephen Tulloch (2006-2010)
Cornerback
#5 Jason McCourty (2009-present)
#4 Andre Dyson (2001-2004)
#3 Alterraun Verner (2010-2013)
#2 Cortland Finnegan (2006-2011)
#1 Samari Rolle (1998-2004)
If you think I was annoyed by the Ayers trade, you can't possibly fathom how angry I am about the offseason departure of his UCLA teammate. Alterraun Verner was everything you wanted from an NFL player. He was hard-working, talented, and a fantastic man. They let him walk, leaving the second corner spot manned by the likes of Blidi (Magnum P.I.) Wreh-Wilson and Coty Sensabaugh. As a result, the Titans have been butchered on every ball that hasn't been thrown McCourty's way, and even when he is targeted, he seems to have lost a lot of the consistency he had last year. As such, he's taken a fall in the process of his ascension past Dyson. Verner... his presence at #3 feels like a tombstone to me. Someone taken from us too early, who I can only wonder what else he had to offer. The only person who's chuffed about the whole thing is Cortland Finnegan, whose silver is finally safe. Samari Rolle scoffs at such immaturity, while making an ill-advised throat slashing gesture.
Free Safety
#2 Vincent Fuller (2005-2010)
#1 Marcus Robertson (1991-2000)
Strong Safety
#2 Chris Hope (2006-2011)
#1 Blaine Bishop (1993-2001)
Kicker
#1 Rob Bironas (2005-2013)
Rest in peace, Mr. Bironas.
Punter
#1 Craig Hentrich (1998-2009)
Head Coach
#1 Jeff Fisher (1994-2010)
For the record, I was a fan of the Ken Whisenhunt signing at first. I loved him as the head coach in Arizona, and I had heard great things about his impact in San Diego. He has quickly worn out his welcome, however. Perhaps I should jump on the BBM bandwagon? (Bring Back Munch, or Big Booty Mafia, if you're so inclined).
Favourite Game
Steelers 14, Titans 31 (December 21, 2008)
Tony's Year
2006 (23 Tony's Titans)
Fancy that! 2006 may have dipped in numbers from last season, but is still the high mark. 2009 claims sole ownership of second place (21), while 2007 and 2008 share third-team honours (20 apiece). Honestly, I would love for there to be some way of quantifying which season actually had my absolute favourite players. ...Stay tuned...
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