Inside linebacker has become sort of a forgotten need for the Tennessee Titans. Avery Williamson is a solid starter, but Wesley Woodyard is reaching the twilight of his career. Though Williamson improved as 2016 rolled along, his coverage skills were exposed a bit. Truth be told, the Titans don’t exactly have a good coverage guy inside at all. Maybe one isn’t necessary with the proper pieces around them, but judging by the eye test, it’s a major need in this defense.
General manager Jon Robinson has a certain type of player in mind when tackling free agency. You’ve probably been exhausted of ‘exotic smashmouth’ talk, so I’ll spare you on it. But, Robinson seems to like emerging players who exhibit a gritty, team-first mentality. He missed out on the Dont’a Hightower sweepstakes, and now, the number of free agents who fit the bill is thinning out…
Linebacker Kevin Minter is signing with the Cincinnati Bengals, a source tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
Minter, who turned 26 in December, has been the Cardinals’ starting inside linebacker the past two seasons after spending the first two seasons of his career being groomed for the role of the defense’s quarterback.
Minter, who is known as a “thumper” for his hard hitting, had 81 tackles and a career-high 3.5 sacks last season.
He told ESPN that he feels his career has been on a four-year upswing, from his head swimming as a rookie in 2013 to having control of the Cards’ second-ranked defense last season. He lost more than 20 pounds before the 2015 season to get in condition to be a sideline-to-sideline linebacker.
The Titans were never rumored to be in on Minter, but he is a player I thought to be the type of guy Robinson and head coach Mike Mularkey like. The former Cardinal is the “team captain” type, a hard hitter, and played his best football after a few years in the NFL (isn’t that the definition of “emerging” or nah?).
Now, guess what – HE GONE. Lapped up by the Cincinnati Bengals, this son of a gun’s going to get lean and mean, and subsequently become a tackling machine. Great for the Bengals.
But, man – the available pool of inside linebackers that fit “the Titan way” (is it safe to start referring to it that way? Maybe New England South?) is dwindling in a hurry. It’s basically down to Gerald Hodges of the San Francisco 49ers. Otherwise, you’re looking at descending players like Perry Riley and Zach Brown. Hodges has yet to sign, but has said he wouldn’t mind a reunion with the Minnesota Vikings. Things seem quiet on Riley’s front, while Brown is visiting Miami.
Bottom line – if you’re in the market for a starting inside linebacker now, it ain’t lookin’ too good.
I’m no insider – keep in mind, this is The SoBros Network. We’re just regular dudes calling it like we see it. I don’t know why Robinson didn’t really kick the tires on Minter. But, the fact that the Titans were in on Hightower deep into negotiations tells me that Robinson recognizes inside linebacker as a need.
Now, he may be stuck needing to spend a high draft pick on the need or hoping someone emerges from a pool of late-round draft picks, undrafted free agents, or scraps from the current free agent pool. That isn’t an advantageous position to be in when you need a starter.
Let’s see how it all plays out. In Robinson we trust, I guess.
Stoney Keeley is the editor of the SoBros Network, Tennessee Titans Featured Analyst for Pro Football Spot, Contributor to FanSided’s Bama Hammer, and covers the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @PFSpot, @WrestlingNewsCo, @Bama_Hammer
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