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The Tennessee Titans convene for mandatory minicamp this week, marking the first opportunity for anyone to see the full Titans depth chart together at once in the Robert Saleh era.
To mark the occasion, let's go position-by-position with every spot on the roster to ask a simple question: Do the Titans have a position battle? In some spots, the answer is obvious. At other positions, the question is a little bit loaded.
With the Titans' final opportunity to practice before summer break upon us, here's a look at the whole Titans roster and the position battles that will define training camp and beyond.
Cam Ward is unambiguously the Titans' starter. Mitchell Trubisky is the backup. Not much controversy, no matter how long Will Levis sticks around.
Saleh said Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are the Titans' "bell cows," so there's no real competition to speak of at the top. That said, the battle for RB4 behind Pollard, Spears and Nick Singleton figures to be fascinating. There'll be real competition at the bottom of the roster between Michael Carter, Kalel Mullings and Julius Chestnut.
It probably doesn't matter if Calvin Ridley, Carnell Tate or Wan'Dale Robinson is the "true" No. 1 option, but the Titans have time to figure that out. Decisions about how many receivers to carry on the active roster and the relative merits of K.J. Osborn, Bryce Oliver and Xavier Restrepo have to be made too.
Gunnar Helm and Daniel Bellinger are safe in their roles. Jaren Kanak, the seventh-round pick, has some upside to play with. It's hard to say there's any competition here, but it's a spot where no one knows how many additional tight ends will make the final roster.
The headlining competitions are for starting jobs at center and right guard, with veterans Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson leading over younger players like Jackson Slater and Pat Coogan. There's also going to be competition for the No. 3 tackle job; watch out for Austin Deculus, Ryan Hayes and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson there.
Not much competition to speak of, especially because Saleh's scheme calls for an eight or nine man rotation. Anyone who can play is going to make the team and have a role of some kind.
Similar principle to the D-line, but it's worth monitoring if or how second-year player Femi Oladejo is able to factor into the rotation after missing out on OTA practices and if this hurts him in the battle for playing time.
Between Cedric Gray, Cody Barton and Anthony Hill, there figures to be an odd man out. Can Hill win a spot as a rookie over Barton, or will Barton's experience and savvy carry more weight? Also, what does the depth look like behind them as James Williams Sr., Mohamoud Diabate and Dorian Mausi fight for spots?
There's no guessing what the Titans' cornerback depth chart looks like after Alontae Taylor, Cor'Dale Flott, Marcus Harris and Joshua Williams. Four CBs isn't enough, but it's all the Titans really have. Someone's going to have to step up.
Think of this spot similar to spots like running back and tight end. There's no real question about the gaggle of top contributors: Kevin Winston Jr., Amani Hooker, Tony Adams. But that next group of players like Kendell Brooks, Jerrick Reed II and Sanoussi Kane make up a potential crew of down-roster players who could make the team depending on numbers.
Not much competition to speak of here with just one kicker, punter and long snapper on roster and with Chimere Dike back as a reigning All-Pro return specialist.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Every Tennessee Titans position battle for mandatory minicamp
Continue reading...
To mark the occasion, let's go position-by-position with every spot on the roster to ask a simple question: Do the Titans have a position battle? In some spots, the answer is obvious. At other positions, the question is a little bit loaded.
With the Titans' final opportunity to practice before summer break upon us, here's a look at the whole Titans roster and the position battles that will define training camp and beyond.
Tennessee Titans depth chart: Titans roster position battles for minicamp
Quarterbacks
Cam Ward is unambiguously the Titans' starter. Mitchell Trubisky is the backup. Not much controversy, no matter how long Will Levis sticks around.
Running backs
Saleh said Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are the Titans' "bell cows," so there's no real competition to speak of at the top. That said, the battle for RB4 behind Pollard, Spears and Nick Singleton figures to be fascinating. There'll be real competition at the bottom of the roster between Michael Carter, Kalel Mullings and Julius Chestnut.
Wide receivers
It probably doesn't matter if Calvin Ridley, Carnell Tate or Wan'Dale Robinson is the "true" No. 1 option, but the Titans have time to figure that out. Decisions about how many receivers to carry on the active roster and the relative merits of K.J. Osborn, Bryce Oliver and Xavier Restrepo have to be made too.
Tight ends
Gunnar Helm and Daniel Bellinger are safe in their roles. Jaren Kanak, the seventh-round pick, has some upside to play with. It's hard to say there's any competition here, but it's a spot where no one knows how many additional tight ends will make the final roster.
Offensive line
The headlining competitions are for starting jobs at center and right guard, with veterans Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson leading over younger players like Jackson Slater and Pat Coogan. There's also going to be competition for the No. 3 tackle job; watch out for Austin Deculus, Ryan Hayes and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson there.
Defensive line
Not much competition to speak of, especially because Saleh's scheme calls for an eight or nine man rotation. Anyone who can play is going to make the team and have a role of some kind.
Edge defenders
Similar principle to the D-line, but it's worth monitoring if or how second-year player Femi Oladejo is able to factor into the rotation after missing out on OTA practices and if this hurts him in the battle for playing time.
Inside linebackers
Between Cedric Gray, Cody Barton and Anthony Hill, there figures to be an odd man out. Can Hill win a spot as a rookie over Barton, or will Barton's experience and savvy carry more weight? Also, what does the depth look like behind them as James Williams Sr., Mohamoud Diabate and Dorian Mausi fight for spots?
Cornerbacks
There's no guessing what the Titans' cornerback depth chart looks like after Alontae Taylor, Cor'Dale Flott, Marcus Harris and Joshua Williams. Four CBs isn't enough, but it's all the Titans really have. Someone's going to have to step up.
Safeties
Think of this spot similar to spots like running back and tight end. There's no real question about the gaggle of top contributors: Kevin Winston Jr., Amani Hooker, Tony Adams. But that next group of players like Kendell Brooks, Jerrick Reed II and Sanoussi Kane make up a potential crew of down-roster players who could make the team depending on numbers.
Special teams
Not much competition to speak of here with just one kicker, punter and long snapper on roster and with Chimere Dike back as a reigning All-Pro return specialist.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Every Tennessee Titans position battle for mandatory minicamp
Continue reading...
