Tag: Craig Aukerman

Titans ST coach talks returner candidates, Caleb Shudak injury

Titans special teams coach Craig Aukerman revealed who may be competing for a return job in 2022.

The Tennessee Titans began their three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, which will be the only session that is open to the media.

But before hitting the field, Tennessee’s coordinators met with the media, including special teams coach Craig Aukerman.

Aukerman touched on the competition for punt and kicker returner, revealing which players are likely to compete for each spot. The only player currently on the roster who returned kicks or punts for the Titans in 2021 is running back Dontrell Hilliard.

At kick returner, Aukerman says running back Trenton Cannon and wide receivers Reggie Roberson, Kyle Philips and Racey McMath could all compete for the job.

At punt returner, Aukerman estimates that Philips, wide receiver Mason Kinsey and safety Amani Hooker will battle it out.

Tennessee’s special teams coach went into more detail in regard to what he likes about two of the aforementioned candidates, Cannon and Philips.

While Philips figures to be a near-lock to make the roster, the same cannot be said for Cannon, but there’s no doubt his special teams prowess will help his cause.

Aukerman also provided an update on UDFA kicker Caleb Shudak, who was impressive in rookie minicamp and during organized team activities before suffering a leg injury last week.

Shudak will not participate in practice on Tuesday, and there is no timetable for his return to the field.

The Titans could definitely use a shot in the arm in the return game. While Tennessee did finish ninth in the NFL in punt return average in 2021, they also finished 27th in kick return average.

The only gripe we have with the candidates listed here is Hooker, who is set to return to his starting role in 2022. Hooker is far too valuable to the defense to risk as a returner, so we hope the Titans won’t ultimately settle on him.

[lawrence-related id=91020,91017,91000]

[listicle id=90971]

Titans’ Mike Vrabel talks potential role of assistant ST coach, Chase Blackburn

“I think we have two very good coaches there that could split those special teams duties up,” Vrabel said of Chase Blackburn and Craig Aukerman.

The Tennessee Titans made a change on their special teams coaching staff this offseason after letting Matt Edwards go and bringing in former NFL linebacker, Chase Blackburn, to take his spot.

Blackburn, who spent 10 seasons in the league, worked his way up from an assistant to special teams coordinator over six seasons on the Carolina Panthers’ coaching staff.

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel recently revealed that Blackburn will assist in evaluating special teams guys for the 2022 NFL draft, and will then work with Vrabel and special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman about kickoff return philosophy, according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.

“We just kind of talked about his teaching background and I felt like just his knowledge, we’re really adding a very good football coach for that role,” Vrabel explained. “Right now, without having players here, it’s about evaluating special teams guys for the draft, he’s going to assist in special teams with Craig (Aukerman), work with myself and Craig about this kickoff return philosophy and what we want to do.”

From there, Vrabel went on to say that special teams duties will be split up between the two coaches (Aukerman and Blackburn), with Blackburn working with gunners, for example, while Aukerman is elsewhere.

“And that’s where he’ll (Blackburn) be right now… I think we have two very good coaches there that could split those special teams duties up,” Vrabel said.

The Titans have seen issues across special teams in the past few years, which has led to Aukerman coming under fire from media and fans alike. Hopefully Blackburn can bring a new perspective into the building that helps Tennessee improve its special teams units in 2022.

[lawrence-related id=86397,86393,86379]

[listicle id=86367]

Titans’ special teams ranked in bottom half of NFL by SI

It was an up and down year for the Titans on special teams in 2021.

The Tennessee Titans had an up-and-down year on special teams, leading many to believe the team should part ways with special teams coordinator, Craig Aukerman, who just finished his fifth season in Nashville.

While Aukerman hasn’t gotten the boot, the Titans did make a change under him, parting ways with special teams assistant, Matt Edwards.

Rick Gosselin of Sports Illustrated recently ranked the special teams play of each team in the NFL, and Tennessee’s unit finished 19th with an overall score of 377.

Of the 22 categories used to compile the rankings, the Titans finished in the top five in just one of them: average opponent starting point after kickoffs (tied for fifth, 24.1).

For a team with a head coach who emphasizes special teams, and so much so that it might have cost Josh Reynolds an opportunity to play before he was let go, you’d expect better than what this team has produced in recent years.

We don’t want to make it sound like it was a total dumpster fire this past year — there were definitely some positives and Brett Kern and Randy Bullock both played well — but there’s no question the Titans need to coach better and play better on special teams next season.

[lawrence-related id=81915,81911,81905]

[listicle id=81743]

Titans ST coach: Dontrell Hilliard, Golden Tate will get looks at KR

The Titans are in search of a new kick returner after Marcus Johnson was placed on IR.

With the injury to wide receiver Marcus Johnson, who was placed on IR for a second time, ending his season, the Tennessee Titans must look to a new player to return kicks the rest of the way.

Johnson had been performing fairly well in that area. Over nine returns, the wide receiver was averaging 19.9 yards per, placing him tied for No. 30 in the NFL.

On Wednesday, special teams coach Craig Aukerman indicated that running back Dontrell Hilliard and new wide receiver Golden Tate, who was signed to the practice squad on Tuesday, would both get looks at a spot in which they have experience.

While Tate has plenty of experience in punt returns (111), he doesn’t have a ton with kickoffs specifically. In fact, the 33-year-old has just seven kickoff returns during his 11-year career and hasn’t fielded one since 2017.

Hilliard, who fielded three kick returns for 65 yards (21.67 yards per) in Week 11 against the Houston Texans, actually has more returns than Tate despite playing in seven less seasons. His career average is 23 yards per.

However, the Titans might be wise to keep Hilliard away from returns after he was Tennessee’s best back on Sunday, leading to his promotion to the active roster.

Tennessee’s returner issues don’t just stop at kickoffs, though. In Week 11, wide receiver and punt returner Chester Rogers made a massive blunder, allowing a punt to go off his foot that was recovered by the Texans at Tennessee’s six-yard line, leading to points for Houston.

For now it appears that Rogers, who is the only Titans player to return a punt this year, will keep his job, as Aukerman stated the team still has confidence in him in that role.

The Titans will travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots this Sunday, with kickoff set for noon CT.

[lawrence-related id=78127,78123,78111]

[listicle id=78024]

Titans’ Mike Vrabel won’t make preseason finale; ST coach also in COVID protocol

Vrabel is feeling better but hasn’t received a negative COVID-19 test yet.

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel won’t be on the sideline when the team takes on the Chicago Bears in the preseason finale on Saturday night.

Vrabel revealed that he has yet to receive a negative test after testing positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. Therefore, he remains quarantined and won’t be available for preseason Week 3.

He also noted that special teams coach Craig Aukerman, who was filling in for Vrabel during Monday’s practice but has been absent since, is also in the COVID protocol and likely won’t be on the sideline on Saturday night, either.

Vrabel, who says he is feeling better and along with other players believes the vaccine helped lessen their symptoms, did not reveal who would be running the show in his own absence.

Aside from Vrabel and Aukerman being in the COVID protocol, the Titans currently have seven players on the COVID-19 list, including quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who was placed there on Thursday.

The other six players include outside linebacker Harold Landry, linebackers Nick Dzubnar and Justin March-Lillard, running back Jeremy McNichols, defensive lineman Anthony Rush, and tight end Geoff Swaim.

[lawrence-related id=70003]

Vrabel believes that all players who are currently on the COVID-19 list will be ready for the start of the season.

Tennessee has begun taking extra precaution at their facility in the midst of all this, as players, coaches and staff are now required to wear a mask inside the building.

Tennessee and Chicago will meet at Nissan Stadium on Saturday night, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT.

[lawrence-related id=70045,70007,70015]

[listicle id=70024]

Titans ST coordinator Craig Aukerman lists candidates for return duties

Who are the Titans considering for return duties in 2020?

Tennessee Titans special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman spoke to the media via Zoom call on Friday and discussed who the team is considering for return duties in 2020.

The Titans were sluggish in the return game to start the season and couldn’t seem to get anything going on either punts or kickoffs. Thankfully, wide receiver Kalif Raymond was able to improve both in the second half of the season.

On kick returns, the Holy Cross product finished with 22.4 yards per return, which would have placed him tied for 11th in the NFL had he qualified. Raymond’s Pro Football Focus kick return grade was also the eighth-best in the NFL.

While Raymond is no doubt the favorite to land the job once again this season, it looks like he’ll have some competition from Darrynton Evans, according to Aukerman.

That isn’t much of a surprise considering Evans was an electric returner for
Appalachian State. During his college career, the running back totaled an impressive 25.7 yards per return — including a career-high 32.7 in 2018 — and notched three scores.

On the punt return side, Aukerman named Raymond once again, as well as wide receiver Adam Humphries and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson. I think Cameron Batson is another name we should throw into the mix as well.

Humphries led the Titans in punt returns last season with 12, but was mostly ineffective with 6.5 yards per return. Jackson also tried his hand at returns in 2019, but after a costly fumble against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3, Jackson didn’t see another punt return the rest of the season.

What Humphries and Jackson have in common aside from their returning punts is that they both missed a significant amount of games due to injury. Including playoffs, Humphries missed six and Jackson missed five.

The Titans might be better served leaving them out of the return plans in order to avoid yet another avenue either player could get hurt.

More likely than not, Raymond and Batson will be the Titans’ top options to return punts, with Raymond having the advantage to land the job thanks to having more experience and his posting a solid 11.3 yards per return last season.

[lawrence-related id=41460,41446,41435]

[vertical-gallery id=40884]