That running back committee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt is trying to build may be getting another board member.
A day after swapping a conditional draft selection for Browns tailback Terrance West, the Titans might be in the works for Jonas Gray, who they'll be hosting this week, according to ESPN.
Gray went unwanted on waivers after the Patriots ditched him on Saturday.
He's most remembered for a herculean 201 yard rushing night in a rout of the Colts out in Indiana on a Sunday night in November. He averaged 2.1 yards per carry, but after winding up on the wrong end of head coach Bill Belichick's temper, scarcely saw the gridiron down the stretch.
Tennessee had to put David Cobb out to IR pasture last week, but are still fielding Bishop Sankey, Dexter McCluster, Antonio Andrews, West, and now possibly Gray. The surge in population in the Titans' backfield seems to illustrate what is a lack of faith in Sankey, the team's second-round pick last year, to take and keep the job himself.
Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt said he'll distribute rush attempts among his running backs depending on individual matchups each week, according to ESPN's Paul Kuharsky.
Tennessee doesn't have one primary back, and used a committee during their exhibition campaign to well enough effect.
They used four rushers last season: Bishop Sankey, Shonn Greene, Dexter McCluster, and Antonio Andrews. The club drafted David Cobb in the fifth round of the NFL Draft in April.
Sankey was the main back, carrying for a team-high 152 rushes last season as a rookie from Washington. Greene and McCluster combined for 134 in relief, while Tennessee's backs rushed for six touchdowns, the second-least in the NFL.
The Titans dealt offensive offensive guard Andy Levitre to the Falcons in exchange for a sixth-round pick on Friday, the Titans announced.
A conditional pick in a future draft year is also part of the trade.
The Titans handed the veteran a six-year, $46.8 million deal two years ago and he started all 96 games in his six year NFL career.
The emergence of Byron Bell in his place, however, during the team's last three exhibition games made him an expensive reserve player. He would have been due $6.5 million this year, the second-highest paid man on their roster.
Atlanta needed a veteran boost on the interior of their front protection as they look to protect quarterback Matt Ryan, who they expect to have a breakout campaign in 2015. Ryan was the fifth-most productive quarterback in the NFL last season.
The Rams did, in fact, take the field on Sunday night, though they've yet to show anything for it as Tennessee leads St. Louis 20-0 after the first half.
Nick Foles, the Rams' banner addition this offseason courtesy of Chip Kelly, helped the Titans get their first points, flinging an errant ball for Tavon Austin, which instead found defensive back Perrish Cox, who went the other way for 24 yards and a touchdown.
St. Louis (0-1) posted the fifth-worst offensive eleven in the NFL last season and Tennessee the fourth-worst. They're both hoping their new quarterbacks can reverse that course.
While the Rams have little to show from this effort, the Titans are more optimistic.
Marcus Mariota engineered three drives for Tennessee (0-1), looking every bit the man he wasn't in his debut in Atlanta one week ago. He went 5-of-8 for 59 yards, and should've had a touchdown, if not for Dexter McCluster dropping a wide open pass play that slipped off his mitts in the end zone.
A good deal of help can come in the form of Bishop Sankey, the Titans' rusher who on the night carried for 45 yards on six attempts, gaining on plays of 18 and 19 yards over a confused strong-side defense that looked twice too often at what Mariota might do.
A strong run game is what the Titans hope can settle their rookie to find his way in the pocket after a strong showing in training camp this summer.
Mariota also found Craig Stevens on a 35 yard gain on the sole scoring drive of his night, a 27 yard kick from Ryan Succop, before Zach Mettenberger and the relief men came into pitch. To great effect, as it happened.
Mettenberger flung a 3rd-and-3 ball for Hakeem Nicks, who slithered through a pair of tackles on a 40 yard advance five yards into the red zone. David Cobb took a well-designed draw play through the middle of the line nine yards to the 3 and Chase Coffman snagged the deciding catch to put the Titans ahead by 17.
It being the preseason, the Titans look efficient and inspired, and following the first quarter of business on Sunday night, they lead the St. Louis Rams 10-0.
Marcus Mariota looked considerably more situated in the pocket to start his second preseason game than he did his first, a two-turnover bonanza in Atlanta that put a streak of worry into those hopeful eyes around Nashville. The rookie ended up 3-for-5 on 52 yards, but it was a defensive play that put the Titans on the board.
Parrish Cox had five interceptions with the 49ers last season, and thanks to Nick Foles, secured his first as a Titan, stepping in front of Tavon Austin on a miscommunication and darting the other way for the 24 yard score.
Both squads are looking to provide some jolt to what last season were anemic offensive units. Foles spearheads a group that in 2014 was the fifth-worst in football and Marcus Mariota a Titans unit that was one-step worse than that.
Bishop Sankey ran riot over the Rams in the opening session, collecting 45 yards on six rushes, including runs of 18 and 19 yards over a St. Louis defense that overcommitted to the duel-threat Mariota, leaving holes mostly to the right side for Sankey to put the Titans in position.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After a few months of negotiations, quarterback Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans agreed to terms on a contract on Tuesday, the team announced.
Titans G.M. Rushton Webster confirmed a deal had been "done" with the No. 2 overall selection and Oregon's first Heisman Trophy-winning player.
"We are glad to have the deal with Marcus done, and I'd like to thank both Marcus and his representatives for their diligence in working with us to finalize this contract," Webster said in a statement.
"We were confident that Marcus would be under contract before training camp, and we look forward to him starting his career on time with his teammates when we open camp next week. This is an exciting time for the Tennessee Titans organization, and we look forward to a bright future."
Mariota completed 105 touchdowns for over 10,000 yards in 41 appearances for the University of Oregon over three seasons. He threw for 4,454 yards and 42 touchdowns last season, rushing for an additional 770 yards and 15 touchdowns before falling to Ohio State in the national championship game.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Titans running back Shonn Greene didn't show at the team's voluntary offseason workout program as he chose to stay at home with his newborn son.
As those workouts turn mandatory this week, though, it looks like the seven-year veteran will make an appearance as scheduled, according to the Tennessean.
It's not surprising that Greene has announced his arrival there, as he would have been subject to fines following any absence. But with the current situation in the Titans backfield, one wonders what he could do to improve his stature with the franchise.
He won't exactly be the only option when he arrives at St. Thomas Sports Park.
Greene is currently expected to hold the third-string position behind Bishop Sankey and rookie fifth-rounder David Cobb. He carried 171 times in two seasons for 687 yards in Nashville. Due to collect $3.25 million, he isn't much of an option catching passes out of the backfield, either, so he'll have his work cut out for him as he looks to keep his job.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Fifth-round tailback David Cobb and the Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on Thursday, the team announced.
Cobb finished his collegiate career at Minnesota with 2,893 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging over five yards per attempt. He added 339 yards receiving over four years.
He was an All-Big Ten second-teamer in 2014 before being selected by Tennessee at No. 138 overal in the draft.
Gil Brandt of NFL Media labelled Cobb a potential 1,000 yard rusher and first-day starter, though he'll have some competition when he gets there with last season's back Bishop Sankey, who underwhelmed his last time out.
The Titans could use some help in that backfield, a unit that posted the seventh-worst rush last season (90.4 ypg) behind Sankey, and 29th in total offense. The club also inked fourth-rounder Jalston Fowler, a powerful. 53-game fullback from Alabama.
With the disappointment in Sankey and Shonn Greene in declining years, Cobb and Fowler could find themselves competing for valuable playing time as the club looks to bolster their chances in the AFC South race with signal caller Marcus Mariota under center.
That running back committee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt is trying to build may be getting another board member.
