My Thoughts on the Jake Locker Accuracy Tour

The Jake Locker "Accuracy Tour" is in full swing and I was going to sit it out, or at least watch from the bleachers, but I elected to join the party. That's me I'm just a a social butterfly that way. I wrote extensively about Locker, his injury and his performance last season and analyzed individual games if you are interested. You can find them on this blog. I concluded that the Titans did Locker a disservice by electing to keep him on the active roster and  the "Accuracy Tour" just reinforces that opinion.

Much was made of Locker's accuracy coming out of college and there is some foundation for it certainly. He struggled his last year at Washington behind a putrid offensive line and the results were fairly predictable. Sound familiar Titans fans? The Titans drafted Locker at the overall 8th pick in the 2011 draft, and he is now heading into his third year in the league.

What many forget is how electric and exciting Locker was to watch when he debuted in 2011. He didn't get a lot of playing time but made the most of it leaving everyone to think big days were ahead for him. After a much heralded quarterback competition between him and Matt Hasselbeck, he was positioned to enter 2012 with high hopes.

Locker actually looked pretty good his first 3 games before suffering the most severe injury to his left, non throwing, shoulder against Houston in game 4. Against New England, where he initially injured the shoulder, he was 23 of 32 for 229 yards, a completion percentage (Hi!) of 71.9, a QBA of 89.2, 1 TD, 1 INT, a bad lost fumble, and 2 sacks. He rushed for 11 yards on 2 attempts (5.5 avg).

In game 2 against San Diego he wasn't as good going 15 of 30 for 174 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 0 sacks, and 0 fumbles. He rushed 2 times for 21 yards (10.5 avg). Game 3 against Detroit was perhaps his best game of the year where he was 29 of 42 for 378 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 0 sacks and 1 fumble lost. He rushed 4 times for 35 yards (8.8 avg).

After getting hurt at the beginning of Game 4, he missed the next 5 games and it was widely reported his left shoulder injury would require surgery after the season. He suffered a dislocation and his shoulder continued to pop in and out during the course of the season. I invite you to peruse my game blogs where I talk extensively about his guarding issues and how it affected his play.

In any event, his play after returning from injury was sporadic at best. Much is made of the inability of the Titans to score early on when he was the quarterback but those issues continued even after Hasselbeck assumed the helm. The Titans offense was offensive for many reasons: offensive line issues and injuries, a lackluster and then spotty running game, the disappearance of Kenny Britt in games, the "Palmer issue" amongst others. On top of that the emergence of young quarterbacks like RGIII, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick and Andrew Luck made Locker's struggles look even worse.

I also wrote and I believe this more than ever that it would be unfair to judge Locker on the 2012 season because of the injury and the other issues facing the offense. The "Accuracy Tour" was as predictable as it is maddening and the Titans are completely to blame for it.

I know hindsight is 20/20 but they did Locker a disservice by keeping him active after it was patently obvious he was struggling. The "Accuracy Tour" is a direct result of their decision to keep playing him instead of shutting him down and putting Hasselbeck back in charge.

Speaking of hindsight, I think in time people will look back on the Titans 2012 and 2013 seasons as the years where decisions were made because people were concerned about losing their jobs. Time will tell whether those decisions worked out. For Locker, it means 2013 is a big year for him.


You can find Locker's full stats here:  Locker NFL stats

Which Titan on Offense Will Step Up and Lead?

The Titans lack leadership and direction. This is hardly a surprise to anyone who follows the team or pays any attention to the NFL. Is this coaching? Is it personnel? Both? Yeah, I think I will have to go a bit with both. In my opinion it's pretty clear leadership on the field needs to be better. Who are the likely candidates? Let's take a look.

On offense, the clear choice has to be Jake Locker. Am I right? The starting quarterback is generally a leader, if not THE leader, on offense and Locker has already shown he has those attributes. The Titans are hopeful he will stay healthy in 2013 and if he can he should be the clear leader on offense.

Are there any other candidates? I think so.

Nate Washington has proven he can be a dependable veteran and go to guy for the Titans. Was he a leader last year? I think its debatable. Can he be a better leader? I think without question he can be a better leader both on the field and in the locker room. I would like to see him be more vocal with the young receivers.

This may seem an unlikely choice because offensive lineman AND he is super quiet. I am not of the opinion you have to be a loudmouth to be a leader. Roos is the best offensive lineman on the Titans roster and one of the best left tackles in the game. He comes across as intelligent and his knowledge of the game particularly the offensive aspect is unquestionable.

This might seem another unlikely candidate since it is rare you would find a backup player, much less the backup quarterback, a leader on the team. Hasselbeck can pull this off. His accomplishments in the game speak volumes and he has a proven track record as a leader. Finally, Hasselbeck is a smart guy who is not afraid to voice his opinions. He has embraced whatever role the Titans have asked of him and been all class about it.

Honorable Mentions:

The Titans offensive line was in disarray in 2012 but Fernando Velasco was a bright spot. Unfortunately,  he is a free agent and there has been no information on whether the Titans will bring him back. Rookie wide receiver Kendall Wright was also a bright spot and is also a likely candidate to be a leader on offense.

Those are my choices. What say you? Who would you choose and why?

A Look Ahead At the Titans 2013 Salary Cap

Ladies and Gents, meet your list of Titans players who will be free agents at the end of the 2012 season:

Xavier Adibi, LB

Dave Ball, DE

Rob Bironas, PK

Jared Cook, TE

Keyunta Dawson, DE

Kyle DeVan, OG

Zac Diles, LB

Leger Douzable, DT/DE

Leroy Harris, OG

Quinn Johnson, FB

Deuce Lutui, OG

Sen’Derrick Marks, DT

Kevin Matthews (RFA), OG/OT

Gerald McRath, LB

Ryan Mouton, DB

Darius Reynaud, KR, RB/WR

Javon Ringer, RB

Fernando Verlasco, C

Will Witherspoon, LB

Jarius Wynn, DE

Now meet some of the highest paid Titans for 2013:

Eugene Amano

2/15/2010: Signed a five-year, $26.247 million contract. The deal contains $10.337 million guaranteed, including a $7.25 million signing bonus and $3.087 million of his first-year salary. 2012: $3,182,500, 2013: $3.685 million, 2014: $4,187,500, 2015: Free Agent

Matt Hasselbeck

7/29/2011: Signed a three-year, $20 million contract. The deal included a $6 million signing bonus. Another $1 million is available through incentives. 2012-2013: $5.5 million, 2014: Free Agent

Steve Hutchinson

3/15/2012: Signed a three-year, $16 million contract. The deal contains $6 million guaranteed, including a $4.5 million signing bonus. 2012: $2 million, 2013: $4.75 million (+ $500,000 roster bonus), 2014: $5 million, 2015: Free Agent

Chris Johnson

9/1/2011: Signed a six-year, $55.26 million contract. The deal contains $30 million guaranteed, including a $20 million signing bonus. 2012: $8 million, 2013: $10 million, 2014-2015: $8 million, 2016: $7 million (+ $2 million roster bonus), 2017: Free Agent

Jason McCourty

8/23/2012: Signed a six-year, $44.26 million contract. The deal contains $17 million guaranteed -- a $9 million signing bonus and all of McCourty's first two base salaries. 2012: $3 million, 2013: $5 million, 2014: $3.5 million (+ $3 million roster bonus), 2015: $6.8 million, 2016-2017: $7 million, 2018: Free Agent

Mike Roos

4/25/2008: Signed a six-year, $43 million contract. The deal contains $15 million guaranteed, including a $9 million signing bonus and a second-year roster bonus of $4 million. Another $1.5 million is available through escalators. 2012: $5.5 million, 2013: $6 million, 2014: $6.625 million (Voidable Year), 2015: Free Agent

Dave Stewart

6/27/2008: Signed a six-year, $38.9 million contract. The deal contains $10 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus and a first-year roster bonus of $2 million. 2012: $5 million, 2013: $5 million (+ $1 million roster bonus), 2014: $6.4 million (Voidable Year), 2015: Free Agent

Nate Washington

3/2/2009: Signed a six-year, $26.8 million contract. The deal includes $9 million guaranteed. 2012: $3.4 million, 2013: $4.2 million, 2014: $4.8 million, 2015: Free Agent

Kam Wimbley

3/20/2012: Signed a five-year, $35 million contract. The deal contains $13.5 million guaranteed, including a $9 million signing bonus and all of Wimbley's first-year base salary. 2012: $2.5 million, 2013: $4 million, 2014: $6 million, 2015: $6.5 million, 2016: $7 million, 2017: Free Agent

**credit to RotoWorld for all the contract numbers. Great site if you aren't familiar check it out.

Now meet a list of Titans who will go into the 2013 season underpaid in my opinion and who are possible candidates for new contracts:

Jurrell Casey 
7/29/2011: Signed a four-year, $2.732 million contract. The deal included a $617,436 signing bonus. 2012: $490,000, 2013: $580,000, 2014: $670,000, 2015: Free Agent

Brett Kern
2/24/2010: Signed a four-year, $5.2 million contract. The deal contains $2.1 million guaranteed. 2012: $706,000, 2013: $821,500, 2014: $937,500, 2015: Free Agent

Colin McCarthy

7/28/2011: Signed a four-year, $2,495,400 contract. The deal included a $455,400 signing bonus. 2012: $465,000, 2013: $555,000, 2014: $645,000, 2015: Free Agent

Alterraun Verner

6/15/2010: Signed a four-year, $2,317,140 contract. The deal included a $527,140 signing bonus. 2012: $540,000, 2013: $575,000, 2014: Free Agent

NFL Salary Cap Information under the new 

CBA:

For the record, the NFL salary cap numbers have not been released but the cap is expected to be at approximately $120.6 million. A team may "carry over" room from one League Year to the following League Year by submitting notice to the NFL prior to 4:00 p.m. ET on the day before the team's final regular-season game indicating the maximum amount of room that the club wishes to carry over. A team may carry over one hundred percent of its remaining room from the prior year.
 

The Titans went into 2012 with an estimated $90 million to spend since there was no spending floor. In 2013 and beyond, collectively the teams must spend 95% of the cap and the salary floor for each team individually is 89%. Teams can also "borrow" 3 million from future years that they must pay back but the Titans aren't expected to need that since they are at the top of the league in available spending money.

Also, the new CBA retains franchise tags and there are two possible kinds available: exclusive and non exclusive. Teams can use the tags on either unrestricted or restricted free agents. With the exclusive tag designation, the team has to offer that player a one year "deal" based on the average salary of the top five players at that position as of April 16, or 120% of the player's previous salary. Also, teams can only use one type of tag per player. Teams get one franchise tag designation and two transition tags (if they don't use a franchise tag) per year.

With the non exclusive tag, the player is only offered a one year "deal" at the average salary of the top five players at that position, based on the previous season, or 120% of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater. The player is free to negotiate with other teams, but their current team can match any offer that is made. If they do not match the offer the team gets compensated with two first round draft picks. 

The NFL also retained the little used transition tag. This tag works much like the franchise tag except the "offer" a one year deal at the average salary of the top ten players at that position, based on the previous season, or 120% of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater. Players with the transition tag are free to negotiate with other teams but their current team gets first right of refusal since they are given the opportunity to match any offer. There is no compensation if the the player's current team decides not to match that offer.

Although not a concern with the Titans as the franchised player of 2012, Michael Griffin, was signed to a new deal, continuing to franchise tag a player can cost a team. A player tagged a second time gets 120 percent of his tag figure from the previous year. A third straight tag will cost the team 144 percent of the previous tag number. 

Here are the franchise tag values from 2012 taken from NFL.com

Quarterback: $14.4 million (down from $16.1 million in 2011, $16.4 million in 2010); Drew Brees

Running back: $7.7 million (down from $9.6 million in 2011, $8.2 million in 2010); Matt Forte, Ray Rice

Wide receiver: $9.4 million (down from 11.4 million in 2011, $9.5 million in 2010); DeSean Jackson, Vincent Jackson*, Steve Johnson, Wes Welker

Tight end: $5.4 million (down from $7.3 million in 2011, $5.9 million in 2010); Fred Davis, Jermichael Finley

Offensive line: $9.4 million (down from $10.1 million in 2011, $10.7 million in 2010); Ben Grubbs, Carl Nicks

Defensive end: $10.6 million (down from $13 million in 2011, $12.4 million in 2010); Jason Jones, Mario Williams*

Defensive tackle: $7.9 million (down from $12.5 million in 2011; it was $7 million in 2010); Paul Soliai*

Linebacker: $8.8 million (down from $10.1 million in 2011, $9.7 million in 2010); Stephen Tulloch

Cornerback: $10.6 million (down from $13.5 million in 2011; tag was $9.6 million in 2010); Cortland Finnegan, Brent Grimes

Safety: $6.2 million (down from $8.8 million in 2011, $6.5 million in 2010); LaRon Landry

Review of Titans vs Colts - Offense

Coming off a big road win against the Buffalo Bills where Chris Johnson has his best game of the year, The 3 and 4 Tennessee Titans return home to host the surging Indianapolis Colts. The Titans had won 2 games in a row including a big Thursday Night Football win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Could the Titans keep their offensive momentum rolling? Let's take a look.

Before I begin, I want to say I really appreciate the job Matt Hasselbeck has done for the Titans. He pretty much singlehandedly saved the 2011 season. He handled Bud Adams' courting of Peyton Manning with as much class as you could expect. He handled the quarterback competition with Jake Locker just as well, and from all appearances has been nothing short of an excellent teammate.

Having said all that, I am going to be a bit critical of his performance in this game. Don't get me wrong, he had solid numbers and make some good plays. He finished the game 22 of 29 for 236 yards and a touchdown. He did not throw an interception, although he could have but more on that later. He took 2 sacks and fumbled a snap (more on that later too) but recovered it.

He is a good game managing quarterback who spreads the ball around and who does well. He just can't seem to make the big play anymore to seal a victory, and at times makes some head scratching decisions for a veteran quarterback.He has been pretty lucky not to be intercepted more this year. For the record, the Colts ran 74 plays while the Titans ran 56. Look also at how many yards each possession produces. I think that is really telling.

The offense starts to sputter in the 3rd quarter. The first possession is a 3 and out. The second possession leads to a missed Rob Bironas field goal. On that possession, Hasselbeck throws a screen pass in coverage to Kendall Wright, who doesn't turn toward his blockers that only goes for 4 yards. He doesn't even look at Jared Cook who is in man coverage with Jerraud Powers and has him beat.

As far as the missed field goal is concerned, the only thing I can say is that wind wasn't a factor and Bironas just hit it to the right and it was WIDE right. In any event, the Titans hold the ball a little less than 6 minutes in the 3rd quarter.

The plays in particular I want to talk about occur in the 4th quarter. The Titans start the 4th quarter with the ball 1st and 10 on the Tennessee 30 yard line. The Titans are up 10 to 6. The Titans have a nice drive going and have the ball 1 and 10 on the 10 yard line. The Titans run CJ one play up the middle for 3 yards, leading to a 2 and 7, and end up with a field goal out of the possession. What happens on 2 and 3rd down are really telling so let's look at them in detail.

On 2nd down, Hasselbeck inexplicably fumbles the snap. There really is no explanation for this occurrence, but it drives the ball back to the 11 yard line.

What is even more maddening about that fumble is that rookie tight end Taylor Thompson was wide open and could have waltzed into the end zone.

On 3rd and 11, Hasselbeck is in the shotgun formation looking to pass and he takes a sack. It will go down as a coverage sack but let's take a look. First, he has Reynaud open on a screen pass to his right with daylight, but he doesn't throw him the ball.

On that same play, Jared Cook is one on one over the middle with daylight and he doesn't get targeted either. Kendall Wright ends up open in the endzone along with Reynaud. Hasselbeck ultimately turns his back on his receivers trying to escape and ends up with a sack.

On the next Titans offensive drive, Hasselbeck again has Cook one on one on 2 and 9 but just overthrows him. This drive maddens me more than anything. We go have a nice drive going and then Hasselbeck overthrows Cook on 2 and 9. Cook was again one on one and had that pass connected would have surely been a touchdown.One side note here I'm not sure why Cook and Washington appear to be running toward the same spot but in any event Cook heads toward the end zone.

The third down play was an incomplete pass to Kenny Britt. This is where Hasselbeck almost gets intercepted. He throws into coverage and the ball just hits Pat Angerer in the check and he just doesn't hold onto it.

On 4th and 9, we elected to punt. I hate this decision. In all fairness, a field goal would have been roughly 60 yards and Bironas has made one of those. He also missed a 45 yard field goal try earlier. You play to win the game though and we elected to play not to lose. I really thought Munchak had more of a different mentality.

In good news, Chris Johnson still looks good and almost broke 100 yards. he ended the day with 22 carries and 99 yards. He did drop a screen pass but he made up on it the next play with a first down run. I was particularly impressed with this run at 10:33 in the first quarter.

The wide receivers I thought did well even after being victimized by 3 terrible offensive pass interference calls. The 2nd OPI on Kenny Britt was particularly bad because it negated a touchdown.

All Britt did was move Powers' arm off him who either just falls down or flops. A terrible call but what was worse was the call on Kendall Wright. Even the announcers couldn't justify that call. Having said that I absolutely love the aggressiveness and I hope the receivers don't change a thing.

Nate Washington just continues to make plays and Kendall Wright is really coming along well. He had the only touchdown pass of the day for the Titans. The catch was simply amazing.

It is no secret that tight end Jared Cook is unhappy, and with good reason. According to Jim Wyatt who covers the Titans for the Tennessean, Cook was on the field for 25 of the team’s 59 offensive snaps (42 percent) as the Titans lost to the Colts 19-13 in overtime on Sunday. He was targeted only four times and finished with three catches for 45 yards. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck overthrew Cook on what would have been a go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes.

Cook has played less than 50 percent of the snaps in six of the eight games so far. He was limited against the Lions and Texans because of a shoulder injury.All these stats were taken from Wyatt's article here http://www.tennessean.com/article/20121029/SPORTS01/121029007/Titans-no-plans-trade-Cook-Munchak-says?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|s&nclick_check=1.

I have talked a little bit about how Cook had opportunities earlier in the blog. the Titans simply must get him the ball more it is inconceivable that he doesn't play more and get more targets.

Not really much to say this week about the offensive line except that overall I thought the young guys did well. Fernando Velasco is just a beast.

Mike Otto I thought acquited himself really well.

My final word is that I find it so hard to believe we could only score 13 points with all the talent we have on our offense. I think the Titans need Jake Locker back in the offense and that a playmaker at quarterback could make a big difference and help the team score more points.