Tag: Jack Gibbens

Titans’ Mike Vrabel names team’s 6 offseason award winners

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel recently listed the six players who won the team’s offseason award.

Over the last few years, Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, has made it a point of emphasis to publicly acknowledge the six players who had a strong offseason leading up to training camp.

This year’s winners on the offensive side of the ball were quarterback Ryan Tannehill, tight end Thomas Odukoya, and interior lineman Corey Levin.

As for the defense, Tennessee’s three winners were defensive lineman Jayden Peevy, inside linebacker Jack Gibbens (Dr. Gibby), and outside linebacker Arden Key.

However, Vrabel did make sure to mention how second-year signal caller, Malik Willis, who he also stated made a “glaring improvement” throughout the offseason. Vrabel said Willis was “very, very close.”

The Titans head coach chose to go with his starting quarterback, who seemingly spent the entire offseason training and rehabbing his ankle in Tennessee as opposed to previous years when he would occasionally stay away from the facility for lengthy periods at a time to train on his own.

Vrabel also went out of his way to individually praise the noticeable improvements made by each of the other recipients on the list, while continuing to harp on the contagious energy Key brings to the entire building.

Unfortunately, these offseason awards have seldom turned into anything meaningful in terms of performance during the season. For example, last year’s award winners included Dillon Radunz, Tory Carter, Dez Fitzpatrick, Caleb Farley, and Amani Hooker.

DeMarcus Walker was the most successful offseason winner from the 2022 group, producing career-highs in practically every major statistical category by season’s end.

Let’s hope the majority of this year’s recipients of the offseason recognition are able to translate the success they had in the spring and summer to the upcoming fall and winter.

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Titans’ linebackers room ranked among worst in NFL

PFF recently ranked the Titans’ group of linebackers as one of the worst in the NFL.

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The Tennessee Titans are entering the 2023 season with one of the more inexperienced linebacker groups in the NFL. Not a single one of the Titans’ starting options at inside linebacker eclipsed 500 defensive snaps last season.

Ben Niemann led the way with 484 snaps, while Monty Rice, Azeez Al-Shaair and Jack Gibbens each tallied fewer than 400 defensive snaps.

This type of inexperience is a major reason why Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus had the Titans’ linebacker unit ranked No. 29 overall in a recent article where he ranked each team’s inside linebackers room.

Here is what Wasserman had to say about the Titans’ ranking:

Former 49er Azeez Al-Shaair figures to take one starting spot. He’s a proven run defender who hopefully learned some of Fred Warner’s coverage skills in San Francisco.

Alongside Al-Shaair could be veteran Ben Niemann, who also played well in a part-time role for the Cardinals. Third-year man Monty Rice also lingers as an option who played reasonably well last year for the Titans. Tennessee will just have to wait and see if any of these players will step up when given the lion’s share of snaps.

As intriguing as some of the Titans’ young options are, you really can’t blame anybody for being skeptical about the unit as a whole considering there’s only one linebacker in the room (Al-Shaair) who has at least one season in which they totaled a minimum of 700 defensive snaps.

Back in 2021, the former 49ers linebacker was forced into the starting lineup for the majority of the season, and he more than held his own.

Al-Shaair started a combined 13 games that year, tallying 102 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one interception.

The Titans will be tasked with trying to get the Florida Atlantic product to improve upon that type of production now that Al-Shaair will presumably have his chance to be a full-time starter in 2023.

When it comes to the rest of the group, this is the type of opportunity that can elevate a player’s career if truly seized.

Rice, Niemann, Gifford and Gibbens (among others) have a chance to go from being reliable depth pieces to an integral part of an NFL defense if they can find a way to win that vacant starting spot.

Regardless of who ends up winning it, don’t expect to see Tennessee’s crop of inside backers getting the benefit of the doubt from many people. This young group will have to earn respect on the field come the fall.

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Titans’ best undrafted free agent signings of 2022

The Titans 2022 UDFAs who stood out the most this past season.

It’s no secret that the Tennessee Titans’ 2022 season was rather disappointing.

On top of missing the playoffs in an embarrassing fashion, several of their top players missed significant playing time throughout the year, ultimately robbing fans of seeing their favorite players compete.

However, if there’s one positive in the situation,  the Titans were essentially forced to give playing time to several younger players and got to see who would sink or swim.

This forced said players to either prove they could handle the life of a backup in the NFL, while others simply couldn’t hack it. One of them even had a historic season and looks every bit like a generational talent at his position.

This article is going to highlight four undrafted rookies who not only made the team, but found a way to positively impact the squad throughout the year.

Before we go forward, here’s a look at the 17 UDFAs the Titans signed last offseason: OLB David Anenih, CB Tre Avery, RB Julius Chestnut, DT Haskell Garrett, ILB Jack Gibbens, S Michael Griffin II, G Hayden Howerton, WR Brandon Lewis, OT Jalen McKenzie (Southern Cal), C/G Xavier Newman-Johnson, DT Sam Okuayinonu, DE Jayden Peevy, WR Reggie Roberson, OL Andrew Rupcich, K Caleb Shudak, P Ryan Stonehouse, CB Tre Swilling.

Now, let’s dive right into the three undrafted rookies (and one honorable mention) who impressed most in 2022.

4 Titans who should see a bigger role in 2023

Shaun Calderon lists four Titans who should have a bigger role in 2023.

It’s safe to say that the Tennessee Titans had a disappointing season in 2022.

What started with an offseason filled with confusing and controversial moves ultimately culminated in an inconsistent and injury-riddled product the fans had to endure for far too long.

Later in the season, head coach Mike Vrabel claimed the team was at a crossroads, but that statement couldn’t be any more true than it is right now.

These next few months will be crucial in deciding which way the franchise is going to head for the foreseeable future. Expect plenty of new faces to be on the 2023 opening-day roster that weren’t even in the building last year.

Nonetheless, the Titans do have some familiar faces that will be back.

Several of them were severely underutilized, while others seemingly popped up out of nowhere after waiting for their overdue opportunity.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in to the Titans who should have a bigger role in 2023.

Titans’ snap counts takeaways from Week 18

Jack Gibbens not only started over Dylan Cole, he also out-snapped Monty Rice.

The Tennessee Titans’ 2022 season ending on Saturday night was no doubt a bittersweet moment for fans, who went through a lot this year.

Sure, it was a heartbreaking loss that came at the hands of a division rival and completed an embarrassing collapse, but now the Titans get a better draft pick than they otherwise would have, which will help the coming revamp.

Also on the bright side, we’ve likely seen the last of offensive coordinator Todd Downing (he MUST be fired), and we’ve definitely seen the last of Dennis Daley and this offensive line as a whole.

Speaking of Downing, one of the many issues he’s had is terrible personnel decisions, something we saw once again on Saturday night. However, there was also one good takeaway from the snap counts, as well as an interesting one.

First we’ll show you the snap counts on both sides of the ball, then underneath that are the biggest takeaways from them.

Titans film study: Paging Dr. Gibby as LB injuries mount

Tyler Rowland goes through the film of Jack Gibbens’ impressive performance for the Titans in Week 16.

It is no secret that the Tennessee Titans are in injury hell, especially at the linebacker spot where both starters, David Long and Zach Cunningham, have been unavailable at times this season.

One of those times was much of the game on Sunday against the Houston Texans. Cunningham returned in this game, but managed to only make it through a few drives before re-injuring his elbow.

Enter: Jack Gibbens, or as head coach Mike Vrabel playfully calls him, “Dr. Gibby.”

Gibbens is an undrafted free-agent rookie who was never supposed to be a starting player for the Titans, but here we are. He played pretty well against the Texans after he came in for Cunningham.

Gibbens registered the highest defensive grade in Week 16 with an 81.4, per Pro Football Focus. In the box score, he put up eight tackles and an interception.

Gibbens had some down moments, especially in run defense, but  had a solid day overall. As always, let’s dive into the film to see how he did it…

Titans’ best and worst PFF grades, stats from Week 16

While filling in for Ben Jones, Corey Levin had the highest run-blocking and pass-blocking grades on the Titans in Week 16.

With the Tennessee Titans’ latest ugly loss in the books following a Week 16 defeat at the hands of the Houston Texans, it’s time to take a look at the best and worst of the team’s Pro Football Focus grades and stats.

The Titans’ highest-graded player on either side of the ball was running back Derrick Henry, who notched an 89.4. Henry tallied 126 rushing yards and a touchdown, but also had a costly fumble.

On defense, linebacker Jack Gibbens pulled in the highest overall grade with an 81.4. Dr. Gibby had some big tackles, an interception, and he had the highest coverage grade on the team with an 88.3.

Now, the rest of the best and worst from Week 16.

Titans sign Jack Gibbens to practice squad among 3 roster moves

The Titans announced three roster moves on Monday.

The Tennessee Titans announced three roster moves on Monday, adding one player to the practice squad and two to the active roster.

The team announced it is promoting linebacker Joe Jones and running back/returner Trenton Cannon from the practice squad to the active roster. Both players were elevated for the Week 1 contest;

Tennessee is also inking 2022 undrafted free agent signing and linebacker Jack Gibbens to the practice squad.

The moves to add a linebacker to the active roster and practice squad come as no surprise after the team lost rookie linebacker Chance Campbell to a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve.

Gibbens had a solid offseason with the Titans, so it came as a big surprise when the team didn’t originally sign him to the practice squad. Dr. Gibby recently got a look from the Atlanta Falcons via a tryout, but he ultimately ends up back in Tennessee.

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Falcons host former Titans LB Jack Gibbens for tryout

Former Titans UDFA and LB Jack Gibbens had a tryout with the Falcons on Tuesday.

Former Tennessee Titans 2022 undrafted free agent signing and linebacker Jack Gibbens received a look from the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.

According to the league’s transactions wire, the Falcons hosted Gibbens for a tryout. It isn’t clear if the team intends to sign him, though.

Gibbens was signed by the Titans following the 2022 NFL draft and did a solid job during training camp and the preseason. He even received some praise from head coach Mike Vrabel, who nicknamed him “Dr. Gibby” because of his ability to pick things up quickly.

“Dr. Gibby is smart. He’s picked up the defense extremely well,” Vrabel said. “He gets everybody lined up. He knows exactly what to do. He can help other guys. He’s always around the football. That’s kind of what we saw last year watching film at Minnesota.”

While it wasn’t exactly surprising to see Gibbens not make the 53-man roster, we did expect to see him retained on the practice squad, but that did not end up happening.

Gibbens is just the latest former Titan to get a look from the Falcons, who are run by Tennessee’s former offensive coordinator, head coach Arthur Smith.

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Titans’ Jack Gibbens talks preseason debut, ‘Dr. Gibby’ nickname

Titans LB Jack Gibbens talked about the nickname given to him by head coach Mike Vrabel.

Linebacker Jack Gibbens has made a positive impression on the Tennessee Titans since being signed as an undrafted free agent in May, and he has even earned a nickname from head coach Mike Vrabel.

Vrabel, who calls Gibbens “Dr. Gibby,” recently explained how the nickname came about and heaped praise on the rookie for his progression and ability to answer questions and help his teammates out.

“Dr. Gibby is smart. He’s picked up the defense extremely well. He’s going to be fun to watch playing in the [preseason opener],” Vrabel said. “He gets everybody lined up. He knows exactly what to do. He can help other guys. He’s always around the football. That’s kind of what we saw last year watching film at Minnesota.”

After practice on Saturday, Gibbens touched on the nickname bestowed upon him by Vrabel.

“He started out calling me ‘Gibby’ early on and then I guess a couple of days into being here for OTAs, I was kind of answering some questions right and, I don’t know, he thought maybe I was a doctor and he started calling me ‘Dr. Gibby,'” Gibbens said.

“I didn’t really get it, I was like ‘coach, you know I wasn’t pre-med.’ I thought that maybe he thought I was studying to be a doctor. He was like ‘it’s just a joke,’ Gibbens added. “I guess that one went over my head. But I guess it’s good to have a nickname. I feel like it’s a positive one, so I’ll take it.”

Gibbens, who made his preseason debut against the Baltimore Ravens and led the team with nine tackles, also touched on his first live-game action in the NFL.

“It’s just football out there. Kind of get a little pre-game nerves but once the ball is snapped, it’s the same game you’ve been playing,” Gibbens said. “It was a lot of fun… just obviously some plays you want back, some things you want to do different but I felt like it went well.”

Gibbens is facing an uphill climb in making the roster at a position the Titans already have three roster locks at, but his ability to catch the attention of Vrabel and Co. will go a long way towards helping him make the cut.

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