NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Thoughts on the Titans' initial 53-man roster, and depth charts built out of it.
💥 Five undrafted rookies, four on D: LB Otis Reese IV, CB Anthony Kendall, OLB Caleb Murphy, S Matthew Jackson, WR Kearis Jackson.
Reese surprised me the most. I felt Mike Vrabel’s affection for him but I did not see him pop.
Kendall may have outplayed Eric Garror on special teams, but Garror seemed to be more of a playmaker on defense. Special teams are a big factor for the fifth or sixth corner, depending on how you’re counting Elijah Molden, who’s the dime.
Matthew Jackson kept showing up as a punt return team gunner, and the Titans aren’t going to waste those snaps in [Unlocked]
preseason games if they don’t think the guy getting them has a realistic chance ot taking that experience into games.
Kearis Jackson also got himself an edge with special teams work, even as he did not get big chances as a punt returner in the finale against New England. He’s almost certainly the last of seven receivers and needs to solidfy things for himself for when Kyle Philips' knee is healthy. Perhaps the Titans will be done with using Philips as a returner if they’ve got a good alternative.
💥 The Titans made a low-cost trade for a reliable kicker in Nick Folk, trading a 2025 seventh-rounder to New England. But kickoff issues are ahead.
In the last four seasons, he has not missed a field goal from under 40 yards. He’s 32 for 37 from 40 to 49 yards and 11 for 6 from 50+. The big question comes with regard to kickoffs. In 2019 and 2020 he only kicked off four times and in 2021 it was only 12 times with three touchbacks. Last year he kicked off 33 times and had just three touchbacks.
Returners can now fair catch anything they field inside the 25 and get the ball at the 25. Maybe the Titans figue that will take care of Folk’s short kickoffs.
Vrabel said Monday the Titans wouldn’t use punter Ryan Stonehouse for kickoffs beyond emergencies.
He’ll cost about $2.8 against the Cap. The Titans cut Randy Bullock in part to save $2 million. Folk is a better field goal kicker.
💥Monty Rice makes it, after an invisible camp. He vaguely indicated he was dealing with personal issues.
#Titans LB Monty Rice said it's not been injury that's kept him off field since playing a few snaps against Minnesota in first preseason game.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) August 28, 2023
The reason? "Life. Life and God. That’s the best way to put it.”
That’s mysterious. But the fact remains that early in camp he was getting outplayed by a wide margin by Jack Gibbens, who’s a heady player but not a guy who’s got a lot of range.
Rice was drafted to be next in line in the Avery Williamson, Jayon Brown, David long chain and he’s a long way from doing that,
💥 Only three tight ends, at least for now, Thomas Odukoya was solid and has grown a great deal as a blocker. But behind their ace at the position, Chig Okonkwo, the Titans kept blocker Trevon Wesco, and rookie fifth-rounder Josh Whyle, who clearly needs some time to get used to NFL play.
If Odukoya clears waivers, he gets a free spot on the practice squad because he’s part of the NFL’s international program.
💥 The Titans put Hassan Haskins on IR Monday. He’s been out with an injury for a while and may have fallen as low as sixth running back. He was fourth at the highest for a team that kept three.
He’s facing a felony charge for aggravated assault by strangulation for which he is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning.
Perhaps the team knew what was coming. Because right at the time roster cuts were due the NFL announced Haskins was moved to a different list.
Hassan Haskins, recently placed on IR by the #Titans, has been placed on the commissioner's exempt list. He may not practice or attend games while on the list.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 29, 2023
He's got a court date tomorrow pertaining to a felony charge.
Here are the depth charts:
Two-tight and three-wide offense
Base and nickel defense
Special teams
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