The Tennessee Titan will lastly shut out the preseason on Saturday evening after they host the Arizona Cardinals at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Tennessee has cut up every of their first two exhibition contests, however profitable isn’t a very powerful factor within the preseason. Somewhat, it’s about seeing how competitions flesh out, in addition to how rookies are acclimating to the NFL.
Following their preseason finale on Saturday evening, the Titans will work to trim their 80-man roster all the way down to the ultimate 53. The crew will then put collectively the apply squad the next day.
With all that in thoughts, that is the ultimate alternative for gamers embroiled in beginning or depth competitions to point out their stuff. Right here’s a have a look at the six largest competitions the Titans have happening proper now, and what’s the scenario at every.
Cornerback
AP Picture/Nick Wass
On the outset of the preseason it was thought of nearly a foregone conclusion that Caleb Farley would man the beginning spot reverse Kristian Fulton. Nonetheless, the addition of Roger McCreary has made issues fascinating.
Whereas Farley has had an up-and-down camp and preseason, McCreary has been one of the vital constant gamers on the crew in that very same span, rookie or not.
That mentioned, Farley has actually come on robust the previous few weeks, beginning together with his stable exhibiting in preseason Week 2. The second-year professional has since carried that momentum into apply this week.
A robust exhibiting in preseason Week 3 will cement Farley because the starter, however he has already carried out sufficient in our eyes. Including to that, the Titans’ want to get one thing out of a former first-round decide additional helps Farley’s trigger.
Proper sort out
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Identical to with Farley and the cornerback spot, the expectation was that Dillon Radunz can be the proper sort out in 2022.
Sadly for the North Dakota State product he has struggled, opening the door for rookie Nicholas Petit-Frere, who has been a nice shock and higher than anticipated at this early stage.
Primarily based on Professional Soccer Focus grade, NPF outplayed Radunz in preseason Week 2, particularly in cross safety. Within the week that adopted, NPF has been getting the appears to be like at proper sort out, whereas Radunz has slid inside.
Head coach Mike Vrabel did point out the Titans wanted our bodies on the within, which led to Radunz seeing time there this week, but it surely’s not like he would admit the competitors is already determined if that have been the case.
Proper now, it appears to be like like that is Petit-Frere’s job to lose.
It’ll be fascinating to see who will get the primary appears to be like at proper sort out on Saturday evening. Radunz bought the honors in preseason Week 1, whereas Petit-Frere bought the beginning in preseason Week 2.
Left guard
AP Picture/Gail Burton
It’s arduous to compete for a beginning job whenever you’re on the shelf, and that has been the case with Jamarco Jones in his quest to beat out Aaron Brewer for the beginning left guard job.
Jones has missed a ton of apply time, and within the course of Brewer has been stable in apply and the preseason. Even when Jones has been wholesome, Brewer has gotten nearly all of appears to be like with those.
It isn’t clear if Jones will play, however this competitors appears to be like prefer it’s already wrapped up. The one potential wild card is Radunz, who might now be competing for the job after seeing time there in apply this week.
Vast receiver
Syndication: The Tennessean
The Titans seem to have 5 roster locks on the place in Robert Woods, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips, Treylon Burks and Racey McMath, though McMath has not been as robust as he was earlier in camp.
Placing that apart for now, if we assume 5 spots are taken, there shall be one spot up for grabs. The favorites for that spot are Dez Fitzpatrick, Mason Kinsey and Reggie Roberson.
Fitzpatrick and Roberson posted stable showings in preseason Week 2, whereas Kinsey was quiet. Kinsey can not afford a repeat of final week’s efficiency if he hopes to seize that ultimate spot.
If we needed to guess who wins, we’d go along with Fitzpatrick. Granted, he hasn’t regarded all that nice, however the Titans are doubtless curious about giving Fitzpatrick at the very least yet one more take care of drafting him within the fourth spherical final 12 months.
So far as our private favourite of the three is anxious, it’s simply Roberson, somebody we imagine has essentially the most upside of the group because of his velocity and explosiveness. Roberson may very well be a deep menace and returner for Tennessee.
Quarterback
AP Picture/John Amis
Malik Willis has been ok, and Logan Woodside has been dangerous sufficient, that one could make the argument Willis needs to be the No. 2 behind Ryan Tannehill.
Nonetheless, even with that being the case, the Titans may not really feel comfy having Willis one harm away from seeing the sector earlier than he’s prepared, which might save Woodside.
However after the Titans explored their choices at quarterback by holding a tryout with Kurt Benkert, it’s very attainable Tennessee gained’t simply sit pat with Woodside if he continues to wrestle.
Regardless of the case could also be, Woodside must rebound on Saturday evening or else he might discover himself lower come Tuesday, whether or not it’s in favor of Willis or one other backup quarterback the Titans ultimately signal.
Punter
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Whereas I’ve by no means been bought on the truth that the Titans would transfer on from Brett Kern this offseason, Ryan Stonehouse has carried out all the pieces essential to make it a risk.
Stonehouse has flashed an enormous leg each in apply and preseason, booming punts 60 yards or extra. The issue for the rookie is he struggles with contact and the accuracy to pin opponents deep.
That’s the place Kern has a significant benefit, as he’s nonetheless probably the greatest within the sport at doing that. The priority with Kern is his points with accidents the previous two years (six video games missed), and his declining yards per punt common since 2018.
Stonehouse did come shut, however that is Kern’s job so far as we’re involved, which is considerably unlucky in the identical breath as a result of the rookie seems to have what it takes to be a starter on this league.
If the Titans need Stonehouse because the heir-apparent to Kern, who’s on the ultimate 12 months of his contract, they’ll must maintain an additional punter on the 53-man roster, as there’s no manner the rookie makes it by means of waivers.
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