| |
Draft Preview: Tennessee picks 16th
Posted: Thursday April 01, 1999 12:12 PM
For the next 16 days, CNN/SI will offer a daily look at one pick from the 1999 draft, finishing with Cleveland. Check back for a new preview each day. The Tennessee Titans, quite simply, are stuck. For the last three seasons, they've finished with an 8-8 record, one game out of the playoff picture in the AFC. Changing cities didn't help, but perhaps changing mascots will. The April draft will be the Titans' first chance to put the mediocrity of the Oilers in the past. Tennessee has been a major competitor in the free-agent market, bidding for defensive end Chad Bratzke and signing defensive tackle Jason Fisk of the Vikings and defensive end Mike Jones from the Rams. They should be a front-runner for linebacker Jamir Miller, now that the Cardinals appear to be out of the running. The Titans are hoping an improved defense will mean an improved chance of making the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Tennessee folded at the end of 1998, losing four of their last six games and giving up an average of 25 points in those four losses. Best bet for No. 16 Tennessee's pick will likely go on the defensive side, but could go almost anywhere in their front seven. The Titans could use help on the inside and outside, on the line and at linebacker, so their pick could be largely dictated by which defensive player is the best still on the board. The Oilers had just 30 sacks last season, ranking 27th in the league. Linebacker Lonnie Marts led the team with four sacks, and it wasn't until December that any player had more than one sack in any game -- that came when rookie cornerback Samari Rolle picked up two.
Tennessee would benefit from a pass rusher who can disrupt opposing offenses and tally double-digit sacks. Signing Fisk helped offset the loss of Gary Walker to the Jaguars, but the team could still add a defensive tackle like LSU's Anthony McFarland for certain -- former first-round pick Henry Ford managed just 15 tackles in 12 games last year. As often as the Titans blitz, it's crucial that they have pass rushers who can get around the corner and attack the quarterback. They're probably too low to get the best pass rusher in the draft, Florida's Jevon Kearse, but they will have a good shot at the next best thing, North Carolina's Ebenezer Ekuban. You'll see Ekuban paired with the Titans as often as any pick in most mock drafts -- Ekuban has jumped into the first round despite only two years of experience on defense. The converted tight end has tremendous speed, however, and could be a dominant pass rusher if given time to develop in a system that plays to his strengths. Look for Tennessee to give him that chance. Click here if you have a question or comment about the upcoming NFL Draft. We'll answer a few questions and publish selected comments once a week between now and April 17.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
