The Tennessee Titans entered training camp with a shaky situation at kicker, which is troublesome considering the team has seen major issues at the position the past two seasons.
The Titans are currently seeing a positional battle unfold between a pair of undrafted free agents in Tucker McCann and Blake Haubeil, neither of whom have ever attempted a kick in the NFL.
The concern over this situation came to life on Thursday during Tennessee’s second training camp practice, where McCann and Haubeil both struggled.
According to beat writers on the ground, McCann, a 2020 UDFA, and Haubeil, a 2021 UDFA, both missed two of their five kicks.
McCann made attempts from 33, 40 and 43 yards, but misfired from 37 and 49 yards out. Meanwhile, Haubeil was good from 33, 37 and 43 yards out, but missed his chances from 40 and 49 yards. All four misses went wide right.
Kickers went from 37, 33, 40, 43, 49.
Haubeil wide right from 37 and 49.
McCann wide right from 40 and 49. #Titans.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) July 29, 2021
This comes just one day after Tennessee’s kickers made all of their attempts. McCann appeared to be the more impressive of the two in that instance, though.
When asked about the kicker situation after practice, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged that both had issues while kicking in front of the whole team, which he says was a test for the inexperienced duo.
Vrabel on the kicking competition: we have to make them and we were 60 percent on that today.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) July 29, 2021
#Titans' Vrabel: In terms of evaluating kickers (who both went 3 for 5 today), says kicks in front of whole team during practice — with a rush — are big parts of the evaluation process.
Vrabel says kickers weren't alone in having an off day today.— John Glennon (@glennonsports) July 29, 2021
We still expect the Titans to add a kicker during training camp, and hopefully it’s veteran Stephen Gostkowski, who is the best option available currently and was solid as the team’s starter in the second half of 2020.
During his opening presser of training camp, Vrabel wouldn’t rule out the team making an addition at the position.
Vrabel on kicking situation: We'll work with McCann and Haubeil now and see how it goes. McCann was impressive at times last year. If we have to bring guys in, we can do that. Gostkowski could be an option until he retires @Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) July 27, 2021
If this keeps up, the Titans might be adding that kicker sooner rather than later.
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