There is a case to be made for bringing in...

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by GLinks, Feb 11, 2009.

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  1. GLinks

    GLinks Second Gear

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    Ohho, nobody is going to like this suggestion, let me just get that out of the way now. I mean nobody. What this is, is our fallback. This is plan 'B' for WR in the offseason, if our annual dreams of landing a true #1 wide receiver DO NOT come obviously to plan. We've thrown out the usual names of who we'd like and what-if-wes, but what if it gets really bad this year? I mean, it's that time once again. All the good-looking ones are paired up and you're hoping you can find "pretty on the inside," and that it's everything you hoped it could be, but you're used to and prepared for disappointment. Like constantly. What's under the surface? Here's what I think, today.


    Realize the fundamental crux of this 'Plan B' or 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' idea, since it's actually "so bad, it might be good" relies on one unheralded WR from the New Orleans Saints. The Other White Meat. Devery Henderson.

    Commence :rolleyes: :moon2: :suspect: and :grrhee:.

    Let's say we're doing this Big Al thing. Or not. Say, we just don't want to give up the draft picks, say, or get outbid in the war for a TJ, a Boldin, whatever.

    We've all talked Nate Washington here. Compares favorably to our own Brandon Jones. Little more production, much healthier, little faster, one championship ring. Number three with a good cast ahead of him. What is Nate Washington really going to get in free agency? I read some Steelers fans value him in the $3-4M range over a four-year period. Said that was fair given his production. Washington can play all three receiver positions, much like Brandon Jones can. He can also get behind receivers better, and has stayed very healthy during four years, missing one game. I myself would be interested in getting Nate Washington on something of a Justin Gage type deal. We all know what Gage's numbers were like before he came here, so nuff said about stats for pretty much any FA receiver. Yet, let's look at some anyway.


    Henderson - 2006, 32 catches, 745 yards, 5 TDs; 2007, 20 catches, 409 yards, 3 TDs; 2008, 32 catches, 793 yards, 3 TDs.

    Washington - 2006, 35 catches, 624 yards, 4 TDs; 2007, 29 catches, 450 yards, 5 TDs; 2008, 40 catches, 640 yards, 3 TDs.

    Brandon Jones - 2006, 27 catches, 384 yards, 4 TDs; 2007, 21 catches, 248 yards, 2 TDs; 2008, 41 catches, 449 yards, 1 TD.


    I'm no exception to not minding Jones back to the team, for the right deal. The thing I like about Washington and Jones together with Gage is that all three guys can line up anywhere and Jones and Washington are kind of used to teetering between the outside and the slot. This gives someone a chance to step up in this area. If both were to outplay Justin Gage, somehow, then that wouldn't be an entirely bad thing, either. Flexibility. Add Henderson as a deep threat guy. Say what you will, but two out of the last three years, he's put great YPC and decent numbers. His hands showed overall improvement this year, enough to think maybe it's not a fluke. All these guys are at about the same point in development, with Henderson having a year on the rest. Consider Antonio Bryant, if you will, but the year he had, his headaches and attitude, he will not be worth the money he will want. Henderson played on a one-year $2M contract in New Orleans. For the poor-man's Bernard Berrian type production he's given in 2006 and 2008, I'd give him the same deal, maybe a bit more. Let him be a guy who gets a chance to earn a contract. I think it's ironic Henderson has his rep as a catcher and all, but look at Donte Stallworth, another New Orleans-drafted receiver, and what he's done the last two years, and how well he's been paid.

    So yeah, I said it. Devery Henderson. The deal is this. I see Henderson as pretty much one thing, and that's a deep-pass specialist. He can keep a defense honest that way, because he will catch that ball more and more if he gets open. He's shown that with greater and greater consistency. Having him on a one-year deal for this purpose would be valuable to our offense, I believe. If Henderson could post 800 yards catching deep balls in Heimerdinger's offense, I'd have to be all for it.

    But wait. The Titans ALWAYS (last two years being always) add that one vet you don't want them to add because there's still no one proven. Well, again, say what you will, but I would feel better about signing Amani Toomer than Eric Moulds and Justin McCareins put together times a million. Toomer can be anywhere from that 1st guy on the depth chart to the fifth guy. I keep not believing year in and out this guy plays to the level he does. He's one year younger than Derrick Mason. He shouldn't cost more than $2.5-$3M, if that, and wants to play on a contender.

    The corps would then look something like this:

    Nate Washington $3M
    Justin Gage $3M
    Amani Toomer $2M / Brandon Jones $2-3M
    Devery Henderson $2M
    Lavelle Hawkins $whatever
    Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin

    This way, your top three receivers can play all three spots. You've got a single-purpose guy who is a deep threat who showed better hands. Give him (Henderson) a chance to supplant someone in a year and earn an extension. You've got your mid-level FA guy (Washington), unproven, but shows promise. Can play outside or slot, like Jones, but you're giving him a chance to start. Then you've got the aged vet, good for another year or two, who has the knowledge to start, the ability to play, but the team has no long-term attachment to or expectation from (Toomer).

    I would move on from our low guys, Paul Wiliams and Chris Davis. We'd have Hawkins and a rookie to develop, two short-term guys in Toomer and Henderson, Washington and Gage at the top, neither with extremely heavy deals, and our rookie would hopefully develop into Gage's spot in two years.

    I kind of like this plan a lot, and if we could also add Tony Gonzalez, which is do-able since Nate Washington would be the most expensive guy of the three WRs, I would think the passing game would be fairly killer by comparison. If we couldn't get Gonzo, I'd re-sign Scaife at that point. This way, no receiver costs more than $4M/year and there is more room for development in the corps, rather than a large amount being tied to the future of one player.
     
  2. GLinks

    GLinks Second Gear

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    I should say I can see Jones in the lineup or not, and I can see either Paul Williams or Chris Davis, but not both.
     
  3. GLinks

    GLinks Second Gear

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    Knowing us, this is more realistic:

    Justin Gage
    Nate Washington or Brandon Jones
    Amani Toomer
    Devery Henderson
    Lavelle Hawkins
    Percy Harvin/ Hakeem Nicks
    Paul Williams

    That would put us at 7, and depending on what you like and the likelihood of only carrying 6, you could either delete Toomer, Henderson, Paul Williams or the rookie. Who would you subtract given this list to work from?
     
  4. A Fightin'Titan

    A Fightin'Titan Starter

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    I am actually fine with having both Gage and Jones as the 09 starters unless a good deal comes along. It would be nice to get a burner to open up the defense or maybe a bigname guy but only if the price is right. Not if it is going to hurt us else where. IDK ...... I guess what I mean is practically only getting what we can afford without leeching off other positions. WR isn't a big piece of the pie here.


    I would love this:

    Houshmanzadeh, Johnson, Boldin, etc.
    Justin Gage
    Brandon Jones
    Lavelle Hawkins
    Chris Davis
    draft pick


    I would be fine with this:

    Justin Gage
    Brandon Jones
    Mike Furrey (or some mid free agent)
    Lavelle Hawkins
    Chris Davis
    draft pick
     
  5. GLinks

    GLinks Second Gear

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    I would be fine if the FO decided to go with Gage and 2 guys with less experience than Gage, such as Nate Washington and Brandon Jones. I think those guys would be fine, honestly. If we didn't get Harvin in the draft, I do like Henderson for just the year. If we had Nate Washington, Brandon Jones, and Harvin/Henderson to go with Gage (add Lavelle Hawkins, eventually), I would feel like we finally had some guys who could separate constantly. With CJ on the field most downs, someone would be open every play.
     
  6. GLinks

    GLinks Second Gear

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    Also, the upside if you forego that vet and did have Washington, Jones, Gage and a rookie, you potentially have an inexpensive group that has a few years to grow together, probably a solid three.
     
  7. Jwill1919

    Jwill1919 Coach

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    The thing about Henderson is....he's a hard read because he was the 4th,sometimes 5th WR on the field for the Saints and he also had Brees tossing him the rock. I think it would be interesting to see what he could do against the #2-3 CB on the field, but he was matched up favorably in their offensive scheme. Also knowing Dinger and Fisher, only our top 3-4 WRs are going to see the field, can he learn the system, dedicate to run blocking and also make an impact?? I don't know.....David Patten and Terrence Copper also had exceptional years with the Saints, what does that tell you?
     
  8. LT21Titans27

    LT21Titans27 Tebow Apostle

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    Im not high on Henderson, but I would love to get Toomer or Washington
     
  9. GLinks

    GLinks Second Gear

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    :lol: Really? Wait...better yet: "Oh reaheheally?!"

    What year did Terrance Copper have an exceptional year with the Saints? Was it this year, when he was on the Ravens squad and had zero catches for zero yards, or also this year when he played in 5 games for the Saints, but also had no stats. Or was it the year before when he had 126 yards on 15 catches? Wait, I bet you're thinking of 2006, when he had 385 yards on 23 catches. Boy, time flies. I know where you're coming from.

    David Patten had 126 yards on 11 catches this year. Maybe you mean 2007 when he had 792 yards on 54 catches, but I'd hardly call that "exceptional." Also, Patten is going into his 13th season, Henderson his sixth.

    Henderson was third on the team in reception yardage, just behind the injured Colston (745 v 760) but on 15 fewer catches, same number of TDs.

    Henderson would be brought in to be a 4th receiver and compete, and would play behind Gage, whatever FA WR we bring in and Jones, if re-signed. That would be the idea at least.
     
  10. TBC_titan

    TBC_titan Camp Fodder

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    Sorry guys, but Hawkins does not belong any lower than #3 on the depth chart. And I feel that once he does get to start, he won't be any lower than that.
    But when we do run 3 WR formations, put Jones in the slot and Hawk on the outside. Jones is pretty good in the slot, and Hawk is precociously proficient on those sideline/out/comeback routes.
     
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