Verner wins starting job at CB

The Titans officially named cornerback Alterraun Verner their week one starter at Pittsburgh on Sunday, after the fourth-year pro won the offseason competition with Tommie Campbell.

The move didn’t come as a surprise, considering Verner started three of the team’s four preseason contest and spent recent practices working with the first-team defense. He also started all 16 games last season.

It’s no secret, however, that Verner wasn’t necessarily the top choice at the beginning of the competition.

The team thought he outperformed Campbell to win the job.

“We had a plan, and after watching the body of work from practice to OTAs to games, we just felt Vern was the most consistent, and so we’ll start with him,’’ Munchak said. “Obviously Tommie’s still going to be a part of what we are doing on defense, and on special teams. He’ll still play a big role, but to start the game out it will be Vern.

“Vern stepped up and handled it well, from the first day we started about making adjustments. He got better and made plays on the field. I give him as much credit as anything.”

Jason McCourty will be the starter opposite Verner, and Coty Sensabaugh will be the starting nickel back.

Verner, at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds, maybe doesn’t fit what the Titans were initially looking for size-wise, considering they want to play a more physical, man-coverage on defense this fall.

Verner ignored that school of thought from the get-go, and continued to work to keep his job.

“Competition is going to make you a better player,’’ Verner said. “Tommie I thought did an excellent job and he is a (heck) of a player. It definitely made us both better in the end I feel like. I know I gave my best effort and I know I have to still get better. I am not going to get complacent; I know I have to keep working hard.”



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Posted In: League News, Team News

Source: Titans Insider