The Titans also changed the titles of many returning coaches this week.
It looks like there will be no defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2020.
Tennessee “finalized” its coaching staff on Thursday afternoon by hiring Jim Haslett to take Tyrone McKenzie’s place as the team’s inside linebackers coach.
“Adding quality coaches to our staff has always been my priority with the ability to teach, develop and inspire,” coach Mike Vrabel said in a report by the team’s Jim Wyatt. “I have known Jim (Haslett) since my rookie season at Pittsburgh and was impressed with how he taught and developed the players on our defense. Over his career, he has experience and success as a head coach, defensive coordinator and linebacker coach. Anthony (Midget) was a coach I worked alongside at the Texans. He brings great experience in our defensive system along with great energy and passion for his players.”
Haslett joins the Titans as a veteran coach of with 24 years years of experience, including three seasons (2016-18) as the linebackers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals and 12 seasons as an NFL coordinator between the New Orleans Saints (1996), Pittsburgh Steelers (1997-99), St. Louis Rams (2006-08) and the Washington Redskins (2010-14).
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The Titans also changed the titles of many returning coaches this week – Ryan Crow (assistant special teams), Matt Edwards (defensive assistant), and Scott Booker (safeties).
Things didn’t end so pretty for Vince Young with the Tennessee Titans, and it’s safe to say he may not have enjoyed having an NFL career much at all.
Things didn’t end so pretty for Vince Young with the Tennessee Titans, and it’s safe to say he may not have enjoyed having an NFL career much at all.
At least, not in comparison to his younger days of playing ball.
“The NFL, it’s not fun in the same way that playing with your boys in high school is fun,” Young wrote in an essay published by The Players’ Tribune. “It’s not fun the same way college is fun. It’s not the playground anymore. Maybe it’s not supposed to be. Fact is, I had a hard time finding the same joy in the game when I got to the NFL.”
Young lost his father back in 2009, football just wasn’t the same for him.
“Fact is, I had a hard time finding the same joy in the game when I got to the NFL,” he wrote. “And just as a human being, I never really saw the game the same way after Pops died in 2009. What people don’t understand is that I didn’t just lose a mentor or a friend. I lost a father.”
The 36-year-old had some turbulent times after being drafted third overall by the Titans back in 2005, and believes there was wrongdoing on both sides.
“Sometimes it seems like that life was a million years ago, when I was still an NFL quarterback. It really does. Like, “Was that really me? Did that happen in this lifetime?,” he wrote. “Jeff Fisher. Bud Adams. The mistakes I made. The mistakes they made. We could talk about it all day, and I don’t think I’d convince anybody to think any differently than they do now.”
The Bengals RB has a good point about Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
It has been a befuddling few days for Cincinnati Bengals fans and general onlookers as the national discussion has speculated as to whether Joe Burrow really wants to join the Bengals.
But an important point remains that the national perspective seems to forget here — it doesn’t matter who outside the organization says what…if the Bengals want to draft Burrow, they’re drafting Burrow.
And who better to calm down the Bengals fanbase while stressing this point than star running back Joe Mixon?
Mixon did just that Thursday:
LMAO why is it so much controversy over a pick? Idk if y’all know but nobody word outside the team has anything to do with them getting drafted. That’s not how it works🤷🏽♂️
Again, regardless of the noise in the media over the coming weeks and months before the draft, the only way Burrow to the Bengals doesn’t happen is if someone from the team says it won’t or they trade away the No. 1 pick.
Right now things are boring from a national NFL perspective, as this is probably the most guaranteed, boring No. 1 pick since Andrew Luck. Naturally, some noise will pop up during these slow periods.
Mixon’s lesson is something to keep in mind while riding out the storm.
The Ravens didn’t end up in the Super Bowl but with a great young core, they’re one of the brightest teams in the NFL power rankings.
The 2019 season is finished with and though the Baltimore Ravens didn’t end up where they were hoping, there are plenty of positives to be had. With the league’s best regular-season record and dominance last season, Baltimore sits high atop the power rankings to wrap everything up.
“The Ravens were the best team in the league most of the season — until they were stunned by Tennessee in the divisional round. Lamar Jackson won Most Valuable Player, Mark Ingram topped 1,000 rushing yards and the defense played consistently well. There’s no need to blow up this team because of one loss. The Ravens remain loaded with talent. They’re going to be a Super Bowl contender again next year.”
The Ravens actually exceeded expectations last season, which is impressive when you consider how well they played. But in reality, most were looking at the 2020 season as Baltimore’s real run at a Super Bowl.
They’ve got a great core of young talent, led by NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. With a little more cap space expected than in previous years, the Ravens also have a chance to fill some remaining holes in free agency with a dream free agent if they wish. And with nine picks expected in the 2020 NFL draft, Baltimore can restock their depth with even more young talent as well.
The Ravens are situated nicely and arguably have the biggest Super Bowl window of any NFL team. Though they finished in a lackluster fashion, they’re right at the hump and just need a little push to be the best team in the league both in the regular season and postseason. That rightfully makes them one of the best teams currently and with a good offseason, might be able to get them over the hump in 2020.
Should the Bengals bring back Tyler Eifert in free agency?
One of the tougher calls the Cincinnati Bengals have to make this offseason centers on free agent Tyler Eifert.
Eifert was an unknown going into the first year under Zac Taylor and ended up playing a limited role while managing to stay healthy for all 16 games.
So the issue is simple: Should the Bengals bring him back and hope for continued health or let him walk?
Pros of bringing Eifert back
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) takes the field during introductions before the first quarter of the NFL Week 15 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The Patriots led 13-10 at the half.
New England Patriots At Cincinnati Bengals
Eifert finally stayed healthy and played a full 16 games for the first time in his career. It was the first time since 2015 he managed to play a double-digit game count.
The production wasn’t all that terrible either, as Eifert saw 63 targets and caught 43 of them for 436 yards and three scores. It was a little strange he wasn’t used more often in big situations as a chess piece, but growing pains with a new staff, quarterback changes and needing to help block alongisde a miserable line played a role.
Should Eifert return, he’d only be 30 years old next season and a big-bodied target for a rookie quarterback. If the offensive line is improved, he might find himself freed up to make an even bigger impact in Taylor’s system.
On the financial side, many of the questions the Bengals could ask about Eifert right now are also questions other teams have, which could keep him in a reasonable price range.
Cons of bringing Eifert back
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) completes a catch in the third quarter of an NFL Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Steelers lead 10-3 at halftime. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 27-3. The Cincinnati Bengals fell to 0-4 on the season.
Cincinnati Bengals At Pittsburgh Steelers Sept 29 Monday Night Football
There’s no guarantee Eifert can stay healthy given the rare occurrence that was 2019. And while Eifert played in all 16 games, he only saw the field for 45 percent of the team’s offensive snaps.
Is that 45 percent better than none at all? Maybe. This was Eifert’s healthiest season since 2015, the difference being he scored three times compared to 13 times in 2015.
Bringing Eifert back could mean a lesser role for C.J. Uzomah, a guy the Bengals extended and could feature in the offense in a similar manner. And the team likes what it has elsewhere on the depth chart with guys like Mason Schreck and Cethan Carter, never mind the ability to add big talent elsewhere in free agency or during the draft.
We know the Bengals don’t like to spend a ton of cap and doing so on Eifert here could mean less money for other free agents like A.J. Green and Darqueze Dennard. It could also mean less money for critical extensions like Joe Mixon and William Jackson.
Verdict
Nov 29, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) against the St. Louis Rams at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 31-7. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Is this going to be a team-friendly deal? That’s probably the deciding factor here. If so, it couldn’t hurt to have the potential massive upside of Eifert on the field at even a 50-percent clip if Taylor can get him more involved as a weapon.
Eifert is a major risk for obvious reasons. But if the offense doesn’t collapse in on itself if he gets hurt like it has in the past, it’s an easier gamble to accept. In the name of helping a rookie passer as much as possible, the upside of a player like Eifert at a cheap cost is hard to dismiss.
Here are some edge defenders for the Bengals to target in free agency.
The Cincinnati Bengals have made it clear they intend to add some depth to the defensive line and front seven this offseason.
And while the draft seems like a good place to do so, free agency offers up some interesting ideas too as the unit keeps moving toward more of a multiple look under Lou Anarumo.
Here are a few free agent egde defenders to keep an eye on who could potentially be in the team’s price range. We’ve already looked at free agents in the offensive tackles,guards and linebackers areas.
Vic Beasley
It’s hard to get a read on what Beasley could earn on the open market after his team up and announced they just aren’t interested in having him back.
But plenty of onlookers suggested the Falcons just weren’t using the No. 8 pick from 2015 correctly:
Vic Beasley was miscast, misused & poorly developed in Atlanta. We’ll see if his next team knows how to use him better and gets more out of him.
Even so, Beasley had eight sacks last year with seven hurries and 18 pressures. Provided the market doesn’t bump up his pricetag to massive heights, he could be an interesting reclamation project for Anarumo to move all over the place while letting him get after quarterbacks.
Never mind Burrow has answered draft questions in a way most draft prospects answer questions. To summarize: He’s happy to be considered for No. 1 and will play wherever he gets drafted.
It just so happens that matches a text Burrow’s father sent to Fox 19’s Jeremy Rauch in an effort to squash some of this discussion:
A text from Joe Burrow's dad on the continuing thought that Joe might not want to go No. 1 (to a certain team):
"Not sure where that information is coming from. We are excited Joe has put himself in a position to be considered a possible high draft choice." @fox19
The national perspective was always going to do this with Burrow and the Bengals. It did it with Baker Mayfield and the Browns and most others.
But one simple fact remains: The Bengals are likely taking Burrow. It’s a shame certain narratives keep going public, but no amount of speculation is going to stop the Bengals from taking an Ohio kid coming off one of the best-ever seasons put on by a passer.
Brown has received praise from his teammates, coaches, fans and a host of former NFL greats.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown put on one impressive rookie campaign, despite not winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award that so many thought he deserved.
He’s received praise from his teammates, coaches, fans and a host of former NFL greats as he’s become one of the team’s biggest assets on offense in a short period of time.
Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones is just one of those who has high expectations for the Ole Miss product’s NFL future, saying he believes we “are looking at one of the next best in A.J. Brown.”
“When I watch A.J. Brown, what I get from it is, no matter where the football is, it’s his ball,” he continued. “If you don’t wrap him up, you aren’t going to tackle him – his yards after catch are special. But the most impressive thing about it all is – inside, outside, in the backfield – he went to work. And for you to be that big of a body and to be able to move around like that as a rookie, and be able to make all the plays that he made, that is special. And when I watch him as a rookie, knowing that he still has a lot to learn, knowing that when he comes in in year two the game is going to slow down for him that much more and they can move him around and use him in so many different ways, that is scary, man.”
Brown finished out the season with 52 catches for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns, along with an average of 20.2 yards per catch that ranked him second among all NFL receivers.
There’s no doubt that Henry deserves the big bucks, but what’s the limit?
There’s hardly a player the Tennessee Titans should be more pressed to keep on the roster than Derrick Henry in 2020.
After finishing the year out with the NFL’s rushing title, Henry propelled the offense through the postseason with his nearly unstoppable contributions to the run game.
So, how much should the Titans pay him to avoid the former Alabama rusher taking his talents to another team?
Henry briefly discussed the subject with Rich Eisen recently.
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Eisen asked if the six-year, $90-million deal the Dallas Cowboys gave running back Ezekiel Elliott just one ago would be “the floor” for what Henry is seeking.
Henry responded confidently, saying “Zeke’s number is the floor.”
But it appears that this got lost in translation — there was most certainly a miscommunication here.
There’s no doubt that Henry deserves to collect a large salary for his efforts, but he didn’t mean what Eisen and others may have thought he did.
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“Misinterpreted what he said,” he wrote. “Thought he was saying “Zeke is the floor” , meaning he holds the floor as him being the highest paid at our position . So I was replying yes lol oh well.”
@KingHenry_2 clarifying his comment about contract. That’s much more reassuring.
He deserves to be paid but the Titans can’t go crazy. Need to keep the team competitive! pic.twitter.com/zLPk35KaD3
The Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of big decisions to make this offseason yet somehow, the Joe Mixon extension dilemma has managed to fall on the back burner slightly.
It’s an interesting topic though, both for the potential Mixon could hold out as well as the polarizing nature of paying running backs big money these days.
Yet in an effort to make predictions for all 32 teams, ESPN tossed out a $45 million-guarantee extension for Mixon, courtesy of Ben Baby:
“Mixon, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons, has been one of the NFL’s most productive running backs and is looking to be compensated accordingly. The Bengals have historically been willing to re-sign their top guys and that shouldn’t change with the 23-year-old Mixon, who will be a building block for the Bengals’ rebuilding process.”
Not a bad way to avoid a contract standoff and keep one of the team’s best players on the field, right?
In the context of most other franchises, the debate about paying big money for a running back would run wild. In Cincinnati, the front office usually takes care of its own at a fair price, so there isn’t much of a reason to suspect anything otherwise here — regardless of the “running backs don’t matter” conversation.
Ezekiel Elliott currently leads the NFL at the position in annual salary at $15 million and checked in at about $50 million in guarantees, for context.
