Preseason Starts Tonight

Hello everyone…
This is Nathan Brooks…Sports Producer/Photographer here at News 2 Sports. I’ve been putting in 12 to 18 hour days over the last week, trying to bring you all the best coverage of Titans training camp. After all that preparation, we’ll finally get our first look at the 2006 version of the Tennessee Titans on the grass at LP Field. Kickoff is just about four hours away, but here are a few things to look for in tonights game. First and foremost, there will be a tremendous amount of attention on Vince Young. Coach Fisher said Young will likely enter the game in the second quarter, and play through the third quarter. The rookie has a long way to go in terms of being the main man under center. What I would look for tonight is for him to make a couple spectacular plays, but also make several bad plays. The Titans want to win tonight, but I expect them to try to get VY as much experience as possible, especially with the first team offensive line so he doesn’t get hit too often. A couple other players to watch are Tyrone Calico and Andre Woolfolk. Calico is deep down on the depth chart at wide receiver…maybe as far down as 6th or 7th on the chart. He has to make some big plays over the next few weeks to make the regular season roster. Woolfolk, the first round draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2003 as a cornerback, hasn’t lived up to his billing. Reynaldo Hill and Pacman Jones are the likely starters at his position, and Woolfolk hasn’t shown the coaches anything compared what the young guns such as Keon Raymond have.
I’m personally excited about seeing Reggie Bush play. The running back has tremendous skill, and I expect him to put on a show tonight. It could be fun if both he and Young make some big plays.

Don’t forget, you can see all the action on News 2 beginning at 7. We’ll have all the highlights right after the game on News 2 Sports at 10.

Don’t forget…This is Nathan. Joe will still be posting on here every once in a while.

……….Clarksville is over!!

Well Titans training camp at Austin Peay is over but not without some drama on Thursday. Lendale White and just about the entire defense came to blows several times and once, it was a all out melee. Coach Fisher wasn’t too happy and there is some speculation that Lendale White spit in the face of Donnie Nickey and of course, he went off and took his helmet off as well and started pounding on Lendale……Fisher stopped practice, yelled at everyone around and after practice, he had a team meeting……

Fisher also outlined his plan for Saturday’s game against the Saints. Billy Volek will start and play a quarter and half, Vince will play in the 2nd and then the entire 3rd quarter. Pre-season games aren’t all that exciting but to see Reggie Bush and Vince Young, should make this game better than most……..Another good part of preseason games is watch special teams. Special teams are made up of guys who are on the bubble and they play their tails off the entire time….They are running down the field, just cracking on guys and getting cracked back, hey it is better than watching the starters on the sidelines….

Don’t forget, the only place to see the game is on News 2, starting at 7……

………..TITANS UPDATE: Aug. 8th

Another hot and very humid day at Austin Peay as training camp is winding down for the Titans in Clarksville. Some highlights from today were Bobby Wade, once again, catching balls over the middle, in the flat and on streaks. The guy is going to be a delight to watch. Vince Young, once again, when given time can make some great plays and he is making some great decisions. Chris Brown is running very good and there is going to be a good battle between him and Travis Henry and Lendale White.

On the Defensive side, Keith Bulluck continues to be the man. The guy just flies all over the field and with David Thornton on the other side and Pete Sirmon in the middle, they have a very good linebacking corps. PacMan continues to play very good at corner and good surprise a ton of people this year…

The first preseason game is this Saturday and like I have said before, this should be a pretty good preseason game. You have Vince Young, expected to play quite a bit and then you have Reggie Bush for the Saints in his NFL Debut. Fisher commented today that they dont have much tape on the Saints to go by so this should be a fun game because players are just going to go out there and play and fly to the ball.

For a number of undrafted free agents, this is where their future is determined. One guy in that category is former MTSU DB Keon Raymond. His nickname in camp is ‘one a day Ray’ because he has picked off a pass every single day and in one on one drills, is holding his own. Since Fisher is a former DB, he has a keen eye towards that position and ‘one a day ray’ is making himself known…

…….TITANS: August 7th….

As you have heard by now, the Titans were roused out of their beds at 430 Monday morning by soldiers from the 101st. The soldiers put them thru quite a workout and it was something Fisher had been planning for months. Talking to the players, it was something that they enjoyed and it was a way for this young team to bond…

Injuries: Troy Fleming had knee surgery, he will be out at least 2 weeks. He was the Titans’ only healthy fullback. Brandon Jones returned to practice, first time since he injured his knee late last year…

Titans camp concludes this Thursday in Clarksville. Of course, the first preseason game is this Saturday night at LP Field against the Saints. The players are about tired of camp, the media is getting tired of camp and hopefully, there will be a lot to report after the game on Saturday.

We will have another Titans update tomorrow…

………TITANS TRAINING CAMP UPDATE.

The guys enjoyed a much deserved and needed day off on Sunday. With the injury to Rien Long, the Titans are going thru camp in good shape. Of course there are the usual bumps and bruises but everyone seems to doing well.

It is hard to believe that the first preseason game is only this Saturday. This game should be better than most preseason games since they are playing the Saints and Reggie Bush.

Monday, the Titans practice at 330 and then Tuesday, they have a morning practice and their usual 330 practice and then camp wraps up Thursday night at Austin Peay.

Although preseason games are just that, preseason, we will know a lot about this Titan team come Sunday morning. I got a feeling, it might be better than most think..

…….Former Vandy star gets Released…

With the Titans holding a Friday night practice in Clarksville, here is some news to area sports fans….

The Titans on Friday released former Vanderbilt linebacker Moses Osemwegie, who returned to the practice field earlier this week after missing time with a calf injury.

He had looked decent going thru drills but they are so heavy at that position and they had to free up a roster spot as well.

We haven’t heard the last from him…

…………TITANS TRAINING, FRIDAY AUG.4TH

First off, Friday’s 330 practice is being moved to 730 because of weather concerns. Not exactly the heat, but for stormy weather. Tomorrow’s practice is still scheduled for 330 and remember, there is no practice on Sunday.

After a full week at camp, one thing is for sure, the Titans are in great shape. You have to be in this weather. Not one player has had to leave camp for heat related problems. A bunch have missed because of the nasty stomach bug that is going around and of course DT Rien Long is done for the year with his achilles injury.

Defense wise, they look great. Not good, but great. The front 7 have been dominating just about every play. Vanden Bosch and Travis Laboy, speed rushers on the end, and Big Al Haynesworth blowing up plays in the middle. One astute observer, when overhearing me talk to someone about Haynesworth said, ‘but he is still lazy.” I said to him, “hey I haven’t seen you out here. This your first time.” He says ‘Yes it is.” I then ask, ‘How do you know Haynesworth is lazy this year and not having a great camp?’ His reply? “I just know.” Ok.

Vince Young seems way behind in getting anything done. He has no time to set up and a lot of times looks very confused and throws it to the easiest guy, the running back out in the flat but he is covered up as well. Volek looks a little better, only because he has been thru it already.

One area not a concern? Punting. Watching Craig Hentrich’s punts are almost a thing of beauty and Bironas has been nailing many of his kicks.

But it all means nothing because on September 10th, the New York Jets come to town for game one. We will know a lot more about them then..

…….TITAN’S TRAINING CAMP UPDATE, 8/3

Today, the ref’s made their first appearance at training camp for the Titans. They come every year and help and talk to the players about new rules and all of that.

Another typical practice wth the defense dominating just about every aspect of practice against the offense. Poor Vince Young, they are all over him. He has never, not even in the Rose Bowl, faced competition like this. They are in his face, knocking the ball down, forcing him to get out of the pocket and when he does, they are all up in his grill. It is going to be a long learning process for Vince. Actually, Matt Mauck looks a lot better than Vince, but Matt won’t see the light of day.

Craig Hentrich was hitting field goals today with ease. Rob Bironas wasn’t at practice so Hentrich was booming them. Brandon Jones was at practice today, going thru some passing routes. He is still favoring his knee but was catching passes pretty good.

Another typical training camp practice. I don’t know but it seems like the Titans are more focused, more of one unit and playing like a team. But the offense is going to need some help, lots of help. I still think 12-4 for some odd reason.

……….TITANS TRAINING CAMP, DAY 6

HOT, HOT AND HOT!! Those are the main things happening at Titans training camp right now. I gotta tell you though, the Titans defense looks awesome. Not just good, but they are flying to the ball and making all of the plays.

A guy having a monster camp is Albert Haynesworth. He is blowing up plays, left and right. Anything that comes near him, he is making the play. With him and Vanden Bosch, those two are some of the best in the NFL.

On offense, a guy making a play to be a big part of the team is Bobby Wade. He is catching any and everything thrown to him. Fisher just raved and raved about him at his press conference.

Other than that, nothing to spectacular happened at camp today. Your typical training camp.

Titans practice 830 and 330 tomorrow. We will have more then….

………TITANS TRAINING CAMP: DAY 5

Another hot, very hot, incredibly scorching hot day at training camp in Clarksville. But so what, right? It is hot everywhere.

Titans went thru a 2 hour practice Tuesday afternoon, and worked a lot on 7 on 7 drills. Billy Volek looked very sharp, Vince Young looked ok but he was missing receivers a lot. The Titans Defense was everywhere once again and I gotta tell you, they are going to be loads better this yea with David Thornton and Chris Hope, just hawking guys all over the field.

There is also the issue of a bad, very bad, stomach virus going around. It has affected 15 players and at least 6 coaches. Drew Bennett, Andre Woolfolk, Zach Piller, are just a few of the players that are feeling not to good right now.

But Bennett continues to amaze me. He was schooling DB’s in practice and getting opened every single time. I think some of the DB’s take him for granted and might play him soft but he just abuses those guys. Hard to believe he is entering his 6th year and he was undrafted. Almost unheard of these days.

I will stick by my prediction of 12-4 this year. I don’t know but this team reminds me of San Diego in 04. Not expected to do much, a QB on his way out, a suspect defense and bad offensive line. It will be interesting to see.

More tomorrow….

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