The Official Tennessee Titans Thread II

[HSVol]

The Eye in the Sky Doesn't Lie--Kendall Wright | The Sideline View

According to several NFL executives Thesidelineview.com spoke to in recent weeks, Wright is widely expected to go off the board somewhere within the first round. Regardless of the smoke screens that NFL teams are putting out this week, the bottom line is that teams go back to the film before they make their draft decisions. This time of year NFL evaluators frequently say "the eye in the sky doesn't lie" when asked if a college player will make a good pro, and most NFL personnel executives that I've talked to say Kendall Wright's film is as good if not better than any receiver in this draft.

[Spartacavolus]

Originally Posted by Burhead

It was pretty damn good before Wright. I'd say Marc since he adds next to nothing in the receiving game and I'm assuming Wright could do returns.

We had nate, dwill and lavelle on the field too much.

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by TrueOrange

Well, Poe and Gilmore are gone...I know some were guessing the latter

Lol @ the Chiefs getting the biggest bust of this draft. Congrats to them.

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by HSVol

Kendall Wright... Hard to believe. Doing things differently now in Nashville. Giving Locker weapons.

I like it.

Love, love, love this pick.

[TrueOrange]

Originally Posted by HSVol

Britt, Nate, Cook, Wright, D-Will, CJ....Track meet on offense.

Best WR corps ever assembled in Nashville.

Which one is cut? Lavelle or Mariani? Lavelle just signed a new contract, not that that matters a lot...

Munch is a lot different than Fisher and most thought he was Fisher 2.0.

if they keep 6, I'd think Hawkins would be more likely to get cut than Mariani



(also much of the difference might be having an actual QB that can throw to build around...some of this seems to mirror what was done with McNair when he started getting so good)

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by Burhead

If you can't tell I'm not happy. He is a small (5'10) and injury prone like Britt. Not to mention he is a product of the Baylor and RG3 system.

You can't be serious. He is a four year starter that got better every single year. Michael Irvin loves him, as do many others. This guy will be a beast, and be productive from day one. I will even make a ban bet with you. He was graded as a top 15 prospect, and was number two receiver on many boards, and number one on a few. Be will be good. Period.

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by Burhead

Wright will be a bust mark this down.

Ban bet?

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by Burhead

Wright will be a bust mark this down.

Wright will be ELITE. mark this down.

[TrueOrange]

ESPN and NFL.com analysis:

What he brings: Doesn't have great size and he doesn't have great ball skills, but he's a big play waiting to happen. He's fast enough to stretch the field and he's competitive in 50/50 ball situations. One of the things he needs to improve is catching the ball in stride, but he's elusive and explosive after the catch.



How he fits: This position has a chance to really improve if the Titans hit on Wright. Kenny Britt is an explosive playmaker, but he's coming off an knee injury that kept him out of the lineup in 2011 and Nate Washington is coming off a career year, but can he repeat it? If both guys play up to form in 2012, Wright could be the perfect slot receiver inside to take advantage of his quickness and that would give the Titans a really good three-wide receiver package. Although, this offense was very vanilla in 2011, with a more complete passing game, they could really open things up. You could see Wright really flourish with yards after the catch inside.

Pick Analysis: Mayock's take: "For people who think he's just a high-level outside guy, I think he's special with the ball in his hands. ... He's built like a running back, a little thicker than wide receivers typically are. He's also got potential as a return specialist."

[TrueOrange]

link for McShay's video analysis of the pick:

Titans Take Wright 20th - ESPN Video - ESPN

[TrueOrange]

various notes and thoughts from the live chat:

What will the Titans do with their only first round pick?
Draft a CB since they lost Cortland Finnegan to the Rams in free agency.
( 35% )
Get a player that can pressure and make life difficult for the QBs in the AFC South.
( 14% )
Protect Jake Locker (or Matthew Hasslebeck). Draft the best offensive tackle available.
( 22% )
Do something we don’t expect, like draft a tight end or wide receiver.
( 29% )

Christopher Harris - ESPN.com Fantasy: Titans take Kendall Wright!

10:07

Christopher Harris - ESPN.com Fantasy: Can't decide if that makes me like Kenny Britt more or less. But that's an upset to me.

Emily Schaible:
With the 20th PICK in the 2012 NFL draft, the TENNESSEE TITANS select KENDALL WRIGHT, WR, BAYLOR.

10:07

Matt Williamson: Surprising for sure
10:07

ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky: A surprise for sure. But I like it

Emily Schaible: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Scouts Inc. pros: Shows ability to make the spectacular catch. Displays closing burst when ball is in the air. Is getting his head turned around quickly, which is allowing him to locate the ball earlier. Tracks the deep ball well. Flashes ability to pull in tough catch outside of frame. Even more dangerous after the catch. Explodes up the field immediately and reaches top speed in a flash. Shows above-average open-field vision. Fluid hips, excellent stop-start ability, and pulls some Houdini acts in tight quarters.

Scouts Inc. cons: Needs to pay more attention to detail, especially on intermediate timing routes. Needs to get stronger, as he is too easily bumped off of routes. Does not run a full NFL route tree. An effective cut blocker but appears disinterested in this department and could give better effort. Will chose his battles as a runner after the catch.

espn_afcsouth: I'd heard some #Titans brass preferred Floyd, some Wright. But Wright is different than the WRs they have, and will be a big help for QBs.

Comment From Sean
Jake Locker needs someone else to throw grounders to!!!

Matt Williamson: A Locker-Friendly pick though
10:07
Comment From cob
This draft just keeps getting better and better, didn't expect a WR there.

Comment From TitanSized
Seriously? Kendall Wright with S. Hill still on board?
10:08

Christopher Harris - ESPN.com Fantasy: Agree, cob! But the more I think about it, the more I think Britt & Wright are a good combo for a less-accurate QB. Wright is a west-coast, get a shorty and run kind of guy, and Britt just needs to go with his arm up. Neither should require pinpoint accuracy, and benefit from a big arm.

Once Britt's healthy: Britt, Washington, Wright, Williams and Hawkins amount to the best WR corps team has has since relocation.

[HSVol]

The drafting of Wright represents the Titans' recognition that the NFL is a passing league now. No more "3 yards and a cloud of dust" crap. I think they decided they want to be elite on offense, rather than improve a 24th-ranked defense to a defense that would finish no better than the middle of the pack. The Giants won the Super Bowl with the 27th ranked defense and the last ranked rushing offense! And the Titans still have the chance to upgrade the defense with their picks today. Remember the years of drafting WRs such as Joel Filani, Paul Williams, Jake Schifino, and Dominique Edison? How many of those late round picks panned out? The Titans have drafted more WRs than any other position group in the last decade and they've had among the worst WR groups in the entire NFL. So this is a legit philosophy change. How surprised were we during the Baltimore game when Hasselbeck shredded the Baltimore defense? Jeff Fisher would've run CJ up Amano's tail into Haloti Ngata all game praying for a miracle.

And how many people have whined and cried about the Titans' conservative drafting philosophy? A ton of people were crying about not drafting WRs early in the draft. I bet those same people are doing the same thing now. Kendall Wright might not pan out. But they could've taken a defensive player that has about the same chance to pan out as the WR. There are a lot of defensive busts like Jamaal Anderson and Jerry Hughes out there, too. Would you be happy with a guy in the 1st with the career of Amobi Okoye or Travis Johnson?

You're not guaranteed anything in the draft. I appreciate the philosophy change.

/rant

[volinreallife]

I am sorry, but you do not take a slot receiver with your first round draft choice. They needed a linebacker/DE with that pick.

Does anyone think we pick up any of the Alabama linebackers in the 2nd round?

[HSVol]

So, 2nd round pick...I like Jared Crick, Vinny Curry, and Devon Still as possibilities. Maybe Lavonte David or Mychael Kendricks at OLB. Crick seems like a guy Munch would like.

Lot of good defensive players left to draft.

[DefenseisDesire]

Originally Posted by HSVol

So, 2nd round pick...I like Jared Crick, Vinny Curry, and Devon Still as possibilities. Maybe Lavonte David or Mychael Kendricks at OLB. Crick seems like a guy Munch would like.

Lot of good defensive players left to draft.

Janoris Jenkins