Tag: Titans 2020 training camp

In our latest installment of Tennessee Titans training camp previews, we take a closer look at both inside and outside linebacker.

Many of the top spots on the depth chart at each position are already locked-in, but there are still some reserve roles up for grabs going into 2020.

Here’s a look at the roster locks and players on the bubble at inside and outside linebacker, followed by a prediction for who will make the cut when rosters are trimmed down to 53 players.

Roster locks: ILBs

Jayon Brown

Rashaan Evans

David Long

Nick Dzubnar

Analysis: Brown and Evans return as the starters in 2020 and will form an inside linebacker duo that is quickly emerging as one of the best in the NFL.

Behind them, Long will serve as the primary backup. The former sixth-round pick saw limited action in 2019, but made the most of his opportunities with some key stops on defense throughout the season and in the playoffs. The speed at which Long plays and the instinct he plays with is truly impressive and fun to watch.

We figure Dzubnar will also have a spot on the initial 53-man roster after being inked to a one-year deal to be a key special teams contributor, although it isn’t clear if he’ll have a role beyond that after playing limited snaps on defense during his career. If not, the Titans have to find their No. 4 inside linebacker behind Brown, Evans and Long.

In our latest installment of previews for the Tennessee Titans’ 2020 training camp, which will start on July 28, we’re going to be taking a look at the offensive linemen.

For this position group, we’re going to see which players are locks to make the roster, which ones are on the bubble, and then make a final prediction for who ultimately makes the cut.

If you’re interested in checking out our other positional previews, we’ve linked to them at the end of this one.

Roster locks

Taylor Lewan – LT

Rodger Saffold – LG

Ben Jones – C

Nate Davis – RG

Dennis Kelly – Possible starter at RT

Isaiah Wilson – Possible starter at RT

Analysis: The Titans are returning four-fifths or their starting offensive line from last season, with the only exception being at right tackle after Jack Conklin departed in free agency to the Cleveland Browns.

Communication and chemistry was an issue for the Titans’ O-line in 2019, which welcomed two new starters in Davis and Saffold, both of whom struggled in their first season in Nashville. It also didn’t help that Lewan got suspended for the first four games, hindering the unit’s progress.

After all five starters were finally able to play together for the first time in Week 5, it took time to develop the aforementioned communication and chemistry needed to improve, which Saffold recently admitted.

However, as time progressed and the linemen became more familiar with one another, the Titans stabilized in pass protection and became arguably the most dominant run-blocking offensive line in the NFL.

Davis, who was one of the culprits of the team’s O-line struggles early on, was forced to miss time because of an injury suffered in camp, so the deck was stacked against him getting off to a good start. He does have something to build off of, though, as he posted an overall PFF grade of 71.5 from Week 15 on after putting up a dreadful 30.1 through Week 14.

Things should be better out of the gate in 2020 as long as everyone stays healthy and the line gets a full camp together. On top of building upon the strides made in chemistry, a point of emphasis will be improving the unit’s pass protection, which was better at the end of the year but still saw the second-most sacks allowed in the NFL.

In order to fill the void left by Conklin, the Titans will have a competition between the veteran Kelly and the team’s 2020 first-round pick, Wilson.

For now, the edge definitely goes to Kelly because of his experience and the fact that he brings continuity to the offensive line. It also helps Kelly that Wilson didn’t have the benefit of a mini-camp.

If Wilson does indeed lose the competition, we can’t put too much stock into it because of the shortened offseason. If he somehow beats out Kelly despite everything working against him, the Wilson hype train will officially leave the station.

The most important thing for Wilson in camp is catching up on the time he lost. The Titans have to be focused on the big picture with him and let Kelly handle things in the short term.

In a normal year, the Tennessee Titans and the rest of the NFL teams bring 90 players to training camp, and then eventually cut the roster down to 53 players ahead of the regular season.

However, this is not a normal year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the NFL continues to take steps in order to help protect its players and stop the spread.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it appears the plan is for NFL teams to carry less than 90 players into training camp, with 75 to 80 players at max being floated as the possible number.

In an effort to combat COVID-19, NFL teams are likely to bring fewer than the regular 90 players they ordinarily bring to training camp, per league sources. One source is predicting 80 per team, another 75, but no one is expecting 90. More coming up on https://t.co/rDZaVFhcDQ.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 2, 2020

This news comes just days after it was reported that the NFL is going to cut the preseason short by two games.

This kind of limitation on the number of players in camp will be a huge blow to players who are already on the bubble to begin with, which is unfortunate seeing as how it’s already difficult to make an NFL roster.

The Titans signed 14 undrafted free agents following the 2020 NFL Draft, and it’s likely many of those players will be impacted by this.

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