SB Nation User Blog: August West

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Shortest Edition Yet Edition

August West — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:17:39 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Gloria Estefan and Hank Williams Jr. tape the new opening segment for ESPN's Monday Night Football in Nashville... because who screams relevance more than Gloria Estefan and Hank Jr?

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Well, there isn't much news to be found in Titans land right now, and I'm taking tomorrow off from the links. If you have good stuff to post feel free to do so in the comments, fanposts or fanshots. Enjoy the 4th of July everybody!

Jim Wyatt says Jared Cook was the most impressive of the rookies in the recently closed OTAs, but Britt hasn't seen much practice time due to his nagging hamstring issues.

ESPN is putting out this year's edition of their 'Ultimate Standings', which rate franchises of all sports on various categories. The Titans jumped from 50 to 15 this year, thanks to their on the field domination all through the regular season last year.

Now that the slower period of the off-season is upon us your help in finding out of the way Titans stories is more important than ever. If you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com! (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you glowing, semi-anonymous credit.)

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: 100% Chance Of Charlie Batch Ruining My Morning Edition

August West — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:36:15 -0000

More photos » by MARICE COHN BAND - AP

Donte Stallworth was probably going to get to play, but then he got high.

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LenDale White knows he could sabotage all of his off-season conditioning by pigging out between now and mini-camps in late July, but Lendale is vowing to be under 230lbs. when he weighs in again. In other news I'm still a little hot over LenDale not doing this when he had the starting job on a silver platter and we needed his absolute best in 2007... I just can't let this go that easily.

On the heels of signing Gerald McGrath yesterday, the Titans also announced the signing of 3rd round pick, CB Ryan Mouton to a four-year deal worth between $2.4 million and $3 million. I'd expect the contracts of Marks,Britt and Cook to take a good bit longer though.

ESPN/Football Outsiders scribe Bill Barnwell takes a look at the great unspoken dead-zone of first down conversions: passes right at the sticks. His studies show that you're far more successful going either short or long, but passes right at the first down marker have a significantly less success rate.

Charlie Batch told Mike Florio's 'league source' that there's a 100% chance of a lock-out in 2011. Of course, you're going to hear a lot of BSing (ed. note: is that similar to BBSing?) and posturing over the next year and a half because to show compromise now would lead to getting killed at the negotiating table.

Have you ever considered becoming Beelzebub an NFL agent? Then take some notes from Jack Bechta at The National Football Post, because he's gonna crack an egg of knowledge all over ya.

The Commish just got some ammunition to hammer Donte Stallworth without coming off like an unchecked appellate court bent on doling out populist retribution: Stallworth's toxicology report from that night showed trace amounts of marijuana, which could qualify as a failed test with the league. That's going to be what they pin a monster suspension on, just wait and see.

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: USO Tour Edition

August West — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:57:38 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Don't worry Rockettes, your jobs are safe.

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The changes in Kerry Collins just keep becoming more and more evident: this year he's been a leader throughout the off-season program, where in the past he'd be out of dodge the first chance he got:

Usually this time of year, I got home and I wait till the very last minute to come back to camp, but I’m going to come back at least 10 days early and make sure that I’m here and doing all the things necessary to make sure I’m ready once camp starts," Collins said.

"We don’t have a lot of practice time till our first preseason game. I’m more in tune to my role and the fact that I’ve worked hard this off-season. I don’t want to stay away from it as long as I have in the past."

Coach Fisher is headed off to the middle east on a USO tour with a few other coaches to visit the troops.

Coach Washburn has Jason Jones focusing on his hand placement and overall technique this off-season. We need big things from Jones this year... I'd hope he'd be the one guy who really anchors that interior rotation.

The Football Outsiders are killing time by collectively projecting running back results for next year as compiled by their researchers and writers Twitter followers. Here's what they have on Crazy Legs:

Wednesday: Chris Johnson

Average Prediction: 270 attempts, 1350 rushing yards, 11 TD

Maximum Prediction: 320 attempts, 1685 rushing yards, 16 TD

Minimum Prediction: 220 attempts, 1150 rushing yards, 5 TD

Yes -- you read that right. An average prediction of 1350 yards for Johnson, who gained 1228 yards last year. And I thought KUBIAK loved sophomore runners ...

My concerns with Johnson are simple. I think he's going to get banged-up, although we're not accounting for that in these predictions. I also think the Titans aren't going to win as many games in 2009 as they did in 2008, which will prevent Johnson and LenDale White from combining for 451 carries again. I think that White will lose more carries than Johnson does, and Johnson will remain a viable threat out of the backfield as a receiver, but 1350 rushing yards seems extremely high for a back who might only get 200 carries next year.

Another interesting note is how confident readers are of Johnson's ability when he does get the ball. Johnson would average 5.27 yards per carry under that maximum prediction ... and 5.23 yards under the minimum prediction.

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Lil' Wayne Wouldn't Play 1930's Baseball Anyways Edition

August West — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:40:26 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Apparently Schwartz is trying to teach the Lions' players what it's like to be a fan of the franchise: constantly teased, but ultimately grasping at thin air.

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Crazy Legs explained to fans and journalists that he's completely team-first, and that his cockiness shouldn't be mistaken for selfishness. Looking at everything he's said and done so far I'd agree. Football is supposed to be fun, boisterous and joyous. This isn't 1930's baseball, folks.

Did Lil' Wayne take Chris Davis' spot on the roster?

I'd like to extend a particularly offensive finger to the Tennessean for playing This is Your Life with Keith Bulluck, and there by making it sound like an obituary for his career in Tennessee. Do I know this might happen? Yes, but please don't make me deal with it this early, man. That's very un-dude.

The Titans ended their OTAs on Friday, despite having two more days of practice available under the CBA. Jeff Fisher says the idea is to not wear the guys down (especially important since we have 5 preseason games this year), and to encourage guys to come to the facility on their own accord. How was it received by the team? Not a single session had to be made mandatory, mostly because attendance was so good.

Which Titans rookies have the best chance to contribute right away? Jared Cook should be on this list, if he's going to be worth next year's 2nd rounder...

Here's David Climer doing what he does best the most: poop on the Titans' parade. Of course to do so he cites a guy who isn't a Titan, and two players who didn't say a thing that put themselves ahead of the team (despite trying to spin it that way). Needless to say, this is vintage Climer.

The journalistic obsession with the Wildcat continues, despite that fact that nobody could run it with success by the end of the season. Offensive revolutions should usually take more than three months to figure out and nullify. I mean even Renee Zellweger had more sustained success than three months, and she's just awful.

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: I Changed My Hairstyle So Many Times Now, I Don't Know What I Look Like Edition

August West — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:23:54 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Imagine how many picks Nick Harper will get this year now that he's had lasik surgery.

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Chris Henry has about as good of an attitude about what's happened in his short term with the Titans as anyone could expect, and coaches say they can see an improvement in the former 2nd round pick's play. Still, it may not be enough to save his roster spot during training camp. He'll definitely be the most interesting name to watch when the cut dates come. One thing that could help Henry: the extra preseason game will mean more reps for the guys at the bottom of the depth chart, not the guys at the top, meaning he'll get his chance to prove he can do more than just run into the back of his linemen.

I know this has been hard on Chris Henry. I mean, this ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around... it's Life During Wartime by the Talking Heads for this week's Friday Jam!

Justin Gage is ready to build upon his career a very solid last half of 2008, after losing much of the early season to knee and hamstring injuries.

Ryan Moutan Mouton says his hamstring has completely healed, and he's ready to start full practices. Personally, Mouton better light the world on fire since he was the pick over D.J. Moore.

Jeff Fisher is approaching this season like it is his first, or so he says in this Q&A with The Sporting News.

Stephen Tulloch updated his blog with some thoughts on playing the Hall of Fame Game, and how much it means to him that one of his heros, Derrick Thomas, is being inducted.

Gary Estwick catches up with newly promoted Titans secondary coach, Marcus Robertson.

There are very few players in NFL history I'd rather go back and watch than the legendary Deacon Jones, so it's nice to see that he'll have is number 75 jersey retired by the Rams. Just take 5 minutes today and watch this. You'll fall in love with the NFL's best, and most entertaining, pass rusher in history.

MCM Overtime: Memphis Grizzlies no.2 Pick in the NBA Draft... Who ya got?

August West — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:39:01 -0000

I'm a Grizzlies fan, even though they make it damned hard to be sometimes, so I'll be keeping an eye on the NBA draft at the bar while roughing up the neighborhood know-it-alls at Trivia Night. If the Griz keep their pick, the hands on favorites are Spaniard Ricky Rubio and Uconn's Hasheem Thabeet.

Shout out to 3 Shades of Blue, the best Grizzlies blog on the web.

If you were Chris Wallace, who would you pick?

(note: David Stern had one of the all-time underrated mustaches back in the day.)

Poll

Who ya got at the no.2 spot and why?

Kerry Collins needs to make personal history, quickly

August West — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:35:35 -0000

Kerry Collins needs to make personal history, quickly

Paul Kuharsky delivers the book on Collins heading into this season, and there's one chapter I don't think I'd heard before: Kerry has never led a team to back-to-back playoff appearances.

Ever.

Not once.

That being said, Kerry wasn't the same QB with the Panthers or Giants that he is today, and I don't think those teams were as deep or well coached as this particular Titans squad.

Still, there's no better time to cast off that burden then this year!

Albert Haynesworth: "I’m kind of glad I didn’t work out something there because it was time for me to go." UPDATED

August West — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:51:33 -0000

Albert Haynesworth: "I’m kind of glad I didn’t work out something there because it was time for me to go." UPDATED

Big Albert really unloaded in this interview on SIRIUS NFL Radio (Update: Paul Kuharsky got a transcript from SIRIUS). Here's another very interesting quote:

"Vince is a really good friend of mine and everything, but I just don't see it happening in Tennessee. I think he has to go elsewhere and start elsewhere because I've been in that organization long enough and I know how kind of when you fall out of the good graces with certain people that you're not going to get back in it. I don't think they'll trade him because his cap number is too high, but he'll probably have to do his legacy elsewhere, which I definitely think he can because I think he's an awesome quarterback. He has amazing talent.

"He's a very passionate guy. He just loves to win and play the game. When things ain't going his way he's sitting on the sidelines trying to figure out himself. Now, all reports saying he refused to go back in the game and then he goes and gets hurt. I mean, that's not the case. They kind of blew it out [of proportion]...They can make or there or they can break you there. That's why I think it's time for him to go and start his career elsewhere and become that Hall of Fame quarterback that I know he can be."

Paul Kuharsky swears the highlighted comment is completely untrue, and that VY did ask out of that game in Jacksonville. Either way, it's a an interesting comment from a guy who was on the sidelines and in the locker room after that game...

(hat tip to DannoE for finding this first!)

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Haye In The Shade Edition

August West — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:48:14 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

Only 45 more days. Only 45 more days. Only 45 more days. Only 45 more days. Only 45 more days. Only 45 more days. Only 45 more days. Only 45 more days. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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Terry McCormick catches up with Dave Ball, who is adjusting to playing on the left side this year, where he'll line-up opposite of Boom King. Ball is also adjusting to not getting cut.

Crazy Legs and LenDale are taking shots at each other on Twitter and via the media, with some seeing the 2nd year stud as looking more and more selfish. Personally, I hope they both play angry... I'd love to see two 1,000 yard rushers.

Keith Bulluck got a custom-made cowboy hat from Tim McGraw.

The competition for the kick and punt return spots won't start until minicamps in a month, but Gary Estwick has an early look at the potential applicants. I better not see Cortland Finnegan or Michael Griffin back there either.

Here are some good notes, including one on Jovan Haye learning new techniques.

Peter King chimes in on the VY-Collins mentor/mentee relationship again in his mail bag column.

Ross Tucker talks with current players, all of whom are interested in broadcasting after they retire, about current broadcasters.

Jeff Fisher waxes philosophic about off-season programs, OTAs and mini-camps.

August West — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:17 -0000

Jeff Fisher waxes philosophic about off-season programs, OTAs and mini-camps.

Good stuff here from Coach Fisher on the pluses and minuses of pushing players in the off season.

- via Paul Kuharsky (ESPN)

SB Nation User Blog: August West

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Shortest Edition Yet Edition

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: 100% Chance Of Charlie Batch Ruining My Morning Edition

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: USO Tour Edition

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Lil' Wayne Wouldn't Play 1930's Baseball Anyways Edition

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: I Changed My Hairstyle So Many Times Now, I Don't Know What I Look Like Edition

MCM Overtime: Memphis Grizzlies no.2 Pick in the NBA Draft... Who ya got?

Who ya got at the no.2 spot and why?

Kerry Collins needs to make personal history, quickly

Kerry Collins needs to make personal history, quickly

Albert Haynesworth: "I’m kind of glad I didn’t work out something there because it was time for me to go." *UPDATED*

Albert Haynesworth: "I’m kind of glad I didn’t work out something there because it was time for me to go." *UPDATED*

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Haye In The Shade Edition

Jeff Fisher waxes philosophic about off-season programs, OTAs and mini-camps.

Jeff Fisher waxes philosophic about off-season programs, OTAs and mini-camps.

Albert Haynesworth: "I’m kind of glad I didn’t work out something there because it was time for me to go." UPDATED

Albert Haynesworth: "I’m kind of glad I didn’t work out something there because it was time for me to go." UPDATED