Last week, Nashville icon Paul Kuharsky wrote a piece for ESPN projecting the starting lineup for the 2017 season. Granted, PK qualified his projections as players who “could be starting,” because our boy always qualifies his statements well. Plus, it’s Memorial Day week….a lot can change.
For the most part, the offense is pretty predictable and in sync with what a lot of the fan base is expecting. No changes on the offensive line, running back, or (obviously) quarterback. Rishard Matthews and Corey Davis will indeed be the starting receivers barring some unforeseen circumstance. Delanie Walker will start at tight end, though Kuharsky snuck Jonnu Smith into the starting lineup as the second tight end. That’s a bit lofty, but okay – I can roll with it. If Phillip Supernaw hasn’t locked down this spot yet, he probably won’t in 2017 with the emerging rookie pushing him.
Not too many shockers on defense either – a defensive line consisting of Jurrell Casey, Sylvester Williams, and DaQuan Jones. Brian Orakpo, Avery Williamson, Wesley Woodyard, and Derrick Morgan make up the four linebackers. Free agents Logan Ryan and Johnathan Cyprien should be starting in the secondary alongside second-year free safety, Kevin Byard. But, it’s that fourth spot in the secondary, that second cornerback spot that has me stumped right now.
Kuharsky projects that Adoree Jackson will be starting, writing:
A fast corner with great ball skills, the question is about his 5-foot-10, 186-pound frame. The Titans will look to match him up with smaller, faster receivers.
The problem is that they won’t always get to dictate that matchup. There are a lot of big, physical wide receivers in the NFL, and if he’s out there starting, odds are he’s going to come across one.
Jackson has elite playmaking potential – there’s no doubt about that – but, I’m not sure I like the idea of trotting him out there in the first week of the season opposite Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper. He’s a speedster, but he is undersized. Factor in his inexperience, and that’s a disaster waiting to happen. It seems like patience would be the better route to take with Jackson.
Plus, LeShaun Sims played pretty well towards the end of 2016. He might not have the elite speed or the ball skills that Jackson has, but he can cover guys, and he can hit hard. He’s definitely the safer play to start the season as it stands now. Again, it’s only May, and boy – we’re reaching deep into the barrel to find Titans stuff to talk about….but still…
I think this is going to end up as one of the most hotly contested camp battles this summer. And, competition makes teams better, after all.
So, Titans fans – let’s lay down our bets now. Who ya got – week 1 vs. Oakland – Jackson or Sims?
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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