We are not doing this today. I repeat, WE ARE NOT DOING THIS TODAY!!! I gave them the benefit of a doubt in the past but as of now, I’m done. The Titans opened up their organized training activities to the media today. Before practice, members of the Titans coaching staff spoke to the media and proceeded to make everyone scratch their heads.
Titans Special Teams Coordinator Craig Aukerman was the first to speak to the media. When asked about Tyjae Spears as a potential kick returner, he had this to say:
This is my issue with when it comes to the Titans and kick returners. They seem to never invest in getting a legitimate kick returner. It feels like they always end up just taking dudes that are already on the roster and attempt to turn them into a returner. Why won’t they just go sign a guy that specializes in returning kicks?
The Titans last kickoff return for a touchdown was on November 29th, 2020. It came by way of an onside kick that was returned by A.J. Brown. The Titans last punt return for a touchdown was on December 30th, 2012 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Darius Reynaud scored on a 69-yard punt return and on an 81-yard punt return. It’s been too damn long. The Titans need to place a higher priority on finding legitimate returners.
Aukerman wasn’t done. He explained what the Titans needed in a returner. He also spoke about the kicker situation.
While Kyle Phillips had flashes as a returner, he also muffed a punt in back-to-back games against the Giants and Bills last season. They replaced him with Amani Hooker who muffed a punt his self. Robert Woods ended up taking over afterwards.
The problem at kicker is something else the Titans don’t want to acknowledge. He mentioned that Randy Bullock was 17 for 20 at 85% last year. He had the 23rd highest FG percentage. Bullock also was 6-8 in FGs from 40-49. He only attempted 2 FGs from 50 and beyond. He went 1-2 with his longest being a 51 yarder. His longest FG puts him in a tie for 30th in the league.
I’m going to leave this here and move on to an even bigger problem the Titans won’t acknowledge.
I’m one of those who consistently tell people to have faith in the team. I will continue to do so but, I’d be lying if I said that I’m not pissed about the Titans WR room this season. The Titans done little to nothing to address their lack of talent at that position. The Titans new Offensive Coordinator Tim Kelly was asked if the Titans have enough WRs. Kelly’s response:
I can feel my blood pressure rising as I write this. Unfortunately, there’s more. Jared Stillman of 102.5 The Game asked Kelly why does he feel comfortable that he has enough at receiver. Kelly gave a number of examples of his WRs making plays in games. While I don’t want to take away from those plays, we have multiple WRs that are who they are at this point in their careers. Treylon Burks and Kyle Phillips are the only WRs on the Titans roster who have upside.
I understand that Kelly isn’t going to throw his guys under the bus and criticize them publicly but, he’s not fooling anyone or convincing anyone to believe the Titans have a good group of WRs. Many believe that the Titans have the worst group of WRs in the league. I can’t say I disagree with anyone who thinks that.
The stubbornness of the Titans could easily be their downfall if they don’t acknowledge their problems and go about solving them in an appropriate manner. The lack of talent at returner and at WR is a problem that many fans have grown tired of. It’s downright disappointing. I hope this battle between Caleb Shudak and Trey Wolff ends up giving the Titans a kicker that everyone is confident in, not just the coaches. I think I speak for the fan base when I say that I’m tired of not only kicking FGs when we reach the red zone, I’m tired of being a nervous wreck every time we kick a FG!!!
