Titans’ Gray on plusses of three veteran safeties

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Titans Insider, Apr 16, 2013.

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  1. Titans Insider

    Titans Insider Titans News

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    Safety was a constant source of concern for the Titans last year, as Michael Griffin bounced back and forth between free and strong safety while the team tried to find the right fit next to him – using Jordan Babineaux, Robert Johnson and Al Afalava at different times.

    Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray expects the signing of two veteran safeties with significant starting experience – Bernard Pollard and George Wilson – to make a big difference.

    It seems likely Pollard will get the starting nod alongside Griffin. But Gray doesn’t want to focus on starters and non-starters, noting the Titans may well use three-safety packages at times to combat offenses that have put an increasing emphasis on tight ends.

    “I think offenses are doing a tremendous job of playing two receivers, two tight ends and a running back, or even sometimes three receivers and two tight ends and then no backfield,” Gray said. “They’re actually making you put your lesser guy in that you don’t deem as a starer. So what we have to do a better job of on defense is actually getting guys who are starters, who can say, `Coach I can start for you if you give me a chance.’

    “Then it just so happens that when they play those two-tight end sets, there are three safeties on the field and you’re actually winning (the battle). You’re playing a better person instead of saying, `This just happens to be my third safety.’

    “That’s where I think we want to get that mindset out of our guys and (have them saying), `Hey, look, I’m not just a third safety, I’m a guy that can start for you if you give me the chance.’ In that way, (opposing teams) can’t just say, `Well that’s a back-up,’ when they look at us on film anymore.”

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    Source: Titans Insider
     
  2. RockyTop Fox

    RockyTop Fox Offensive Coordinator

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    Babineaux, Johnson, and Afalava should never see the NFL field as a starting Safety. Gray, just hush up and do whatever Gregg Williams says.
     
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  3. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    In all fairness Jerry Gray has always talked a good game.
     
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  4. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    I do like the stuff Gray is saying, because he's right.

    This same line of thinking is what makes me believe we're taking a CB early. At the moment we only have 2 NFL CB's on our roster, and you definitely need 3 these days.
     
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  5. TitansWillWin2

    TitansWillWin2 Pro Bowler

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    I just think its funny how we gave wilson the big contract but he wont be starting. Instead Pollard will be. Which is fine by me, but I would have rather signed Pollard to the multi year deal and gave wilson a 1 year deal! In reality we should have went after gohldson (or however you spell his name from the 49'ers) the most! He can cover and lay the wood!
     
  6. FLA Titans Fan

    FLA Titans Fan The GM

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    Wouldnt mind a CB early, I feel like there will be great value at pick 40 for one. Id love for Jonathan Banks or Jamar Taylor to fall to that pick.
     
  7. GOFIGURETITANS

    GOFIGURETITANS Pro Bowler

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    Don't want to keep Alphalfa in that list. He was just a rookie. He has the tools and could come along nicely for us. Just give him some time on the sidelines to learn.
     
  8. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    Banks would be good.
     
  9. The Hammer

    The Hammer Ace Degenerate

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    He is thinking:

    "I will not look so incompetent with safeties that can actually play"
     
  10. RockyTop Fox

    RockyTop Fox Offensive Coordinator

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    Very true, but having three NFL CBs is useless if they play 10 yards off the WRs EVERY SINGLE FREAKING PLAY especially when we NEVER BLITZ MORE THAN FOUR GUYS. Oh god I could go on about how much I hated Gray's playcalling last season.. Hopefully he will turn out to be like leSchwartzy, who sucked it up for a while before giving us two of our best defensive years ever in 2007-2008.
     
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