Ken Whisenhunt joins the Titans (Kline)

Just a few days ago, Chargers Offensive Coordinator, Ken Whisenhunt was named as the 17^th Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans.  Whisenhunt comes in to Nashville after previous coach; Mike Munchak was shown the door on a 22-26 combined record in 3 seasons for the Titans.  Ever since Jeff Fisher was fired as HC in 2010, the Titans have struggled to find consistency in the team play and the coaching department, and Titans fans should feel confident in Whisenhunt’s coaching abilities as he comes over from San Diego. 

Whisenhunt passed on the Lions job with a solidified Quarterback in Matt Stafford, an elite wide receiver in Calvin Johnson, and a pretty good defense and now comes to Tennessee with some issues he needs to address pretty quickly.  Whisenhunt went 45-51 in 6 seasons as the HC of the Arizona Cardinals leading them to a Super Bowl Berth. 

Of course you have to start with the Quarterback situation.  Jake Locker has had major injury issues in his short NFL career, but has a ton of upside and potential in his 6’3”, 230 lb. body.  Locker is also a cheap option, only being paid around $4 million this upcoming season, so Whisenhunt would be wise to at least keep Locker on the roster next season, if not give him one more chance to succeed in this league.  Ryan Fitzpatrick is the back up who is being paid around $4.3 million, and played a lot last season with Locker’s injuries.  The beard threw 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, and played decently with this Titans offense even though the team posted a 7-9 record in 2013.  The last Quarterback on the roster is Tyler Wilson, who the Titans signed off of the Raiders practice squad in December, who will be used as the 3^rd string/practice squad quarterback as previous 3^rd string quarterback, Rusty Smith will reach Free Agency this offseason. 

Whisenhunt has had success with big-time quarterbacks in his past.  With Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, Kurt Warner at the end of his career in Arizona, and just this past season with Phillip Rivers in San Diego where he helped Rivers get back to the Pro Bowl and lead the league in completion percentage.  After Warner retired, Whisenhunt has trouble with his quarterbacks in Arizona, with names like Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton, Kevin Kolb, and Ryan Lindley led to his firing in Glendale. 

Most new Head Coaches like to draft their own quarterback and start their own regime.  The Titans currently hold the 11^th overall pick in this year’s draft, and are also without a 3^rd round pick because of the draft-day trade that allowed the Titans to draft Justin Hunter.  I don’t think it would be wise to draft a QB with the 11^th pick, because I think all of the primary QB’s will be taken in the top 10.  (Manziel, Bridgewater, Bortles).  There are more needs for the Titans at 11 than another QB on the roster.  If Whisenhunt wants to draft a QB later in the draft, somewhere around the 3^rd-4^th round range, then Ryan Fitzpatrick would likely be the odd man out in Tennessee.  The bottom line is that Jake Locker should be allowed one last chance in Tennessee with Ken. 

Chris Johnson is another big question mark for this team going forward that Whisenhunt needs to address soon.  CJ is due $10 million this upcoming season and its safe to say that the former 2000-yard rusher isn’t worth that money anymore.  He has lost his explosive play-making ability that gave him the nickname “CJ2K”.  The Titans should cut Johnson and look to draft a RB later in the draft especially knowing solid young running backs in the NFL that have been snatched up in the later rounds of the draft.  (Alfred Morris- 6^th Round, Zac Stacy-5^th Round).  With Shonn Greene due $3.23 million, you can assume that the former Jet is safe to make the roster, and have a decent chance to be the starting RB week 1. 

Defensively, Whisenhunt has said he plans on running a hybrid 4-3, 3-4 defense with the Titans.  I like the move… It adds variety and confuses offenses playing against them.  With the young core of Jurrell Casey, Derrick Morgan, Zach Brown, and if they can keep him, Alterraun Verner, this defense can only get better.  Verner though, is a big question mark.  The Pro-Bowl Corner is an unrestricted Free Agent and being a pro-bowler, he expects to be paid like one.  There is always the franchise tag for the Titans, but I don’t see them going this route for Verner.  They either sign him to a big contract or he walks in FA and signs with another team.  I think its absolutely key that the Titans HAVE TO RESIGN BERNARD POLLARD!!!  This is a must.  Pollard brought great defensive play to the Titans this season, but also great leadership in the locker room, which the team lacked in previous years.  With a new coach like Whisenhunt, Pollard is the perfect guy to be the leader in the locker room, and that’s what Whisenhunt needs.  Pollard was brought in after winning a super bowl with the Baltimore Ravens and came to Tennessee on a one-year deal.  He likes being in Tennessee, and therefore I think the Titans will be able to retain Pollard especially if he meets with Whisenhunt before Free Agency begins. 

Titan fans should be very happy with Whisenhunt especially since people expected him to go to Detroit and not Tennessee.  It helps that he has a track record with great quarterbacks and Jake Locker needs to take advantage of this opportunity to learn from a guy like Whisenhunt and help him maximize his potential because this could very well be his last chance to be the starting QB in Nashville.  Is this team a playoff team with Whis?  It’s too early to tell right now.  Ask me again during training camp, after the draft, after free agency, after Ken hires and Offensive and Defensive Coordinator to really make a solid decision about this team.  But the future looks bright for Tennessee with Ken Whisenhunt at the helm.   

Be sure to tune into Sports Sunday this Sunday (1/19) as we go over our predictions for the AFC & NFC Championship games!!!!

Another New Year= New NBA Superstars (Stamos)

As I have said on Sports Sunday numerous times, I believe that the NBA is still under the reign of the King, yet this NBA season has brought new challengers. The past three Miami Heat teams have never dominated entire seasons—there has always been bumps and bridges across the way. Last year we saw the emergence of a conference foe that could rival the Heat: the Pacers.

            The Pacers are the top team in the Eastern Conference as the Heat tread water until playoff time.  Fast-forwarding time will surely include a Pacers vs. Heat square-off somewhere in the playoffs. A new generation of superstars has shown it’s potential through the first thirty-some odd games this season.

           

Michael Carter-Williams, PG: I start with the only rookie on this list because he does play for one of the worst teams in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers (11-21). However, this Syracuse product’s play cannot be ignored. As a long 22-year-old point-guard, Carter-Williams brings hope to a franchise that planned on tanking this season. Carter-Williams, and possibly Evan Turner (if the 76ers can retain his this offseason) represent leadership of the future team. MCW is averaging over 17ppg and was surely the most exciting rookie to watch at the end of 2013.

Isaiah Thomas, PG: When the Sacramento Kings sent Grevis Vasquez in a deal to acquire Rudy Gay from the Toronto Raptors, more pressure was put onto Isaiah Thomas’s shoulders. No, not the hall of fame Pistons point, and former Knicks coach, the 24-year-old Sacramento Kings point guard. The former Washington Huskies standout has come onto the scene this season as the leader of the Kings. Standing at only 5 ft. 9in. Thomas is developing into the NBA’S next-great small point-guard. Coach Mike Malone recently stated that Thomas is the future at point-guard and is the definite starter moving forward.

Jeff Teague, PG: Teague has long been touted as top point-guard by the Atlanta Hawks front office—this season he has been proving that. During his first four years, Teague played a smaller role behind, Josh Smith and Joe Johnson. Many, including myself, felt like the Hawks would struggle without Smith this season. Paul Millsap’s coming to Atlanta has made the loss of Smith unnoticed, and it has allowed Teague to create more plays for himself. Teague is averaged career highs in points-per-game (17) and assists-per-game (8.2). Atlanta hold the number, 3 seating in the Eastern Conference and Teague could look to expose the usually solid defense of George Hill, and Mario Chalmers come playoff time.

Eric Bledsoe, PG: One of the biggest surprises this season has been the Phoenix Suns. Expected to be at the top of the draft-lottery board, fans of the had little to no reason to believe in the Suns pre-season. But the genius behind uniting the Morris-brothers in Phoenix has given the Suns an aggressive-defensive personality to rely upon. The undisputed puppet-master, of the team on the court, is Eric Bledsoe. For years the Clippers coveted Bledsoe in trade negotiations, now he is doing exactly what the Clippers feared he would be doing: lighting it up. Bledsoe’s athleticism has helped lead the Suns into playoff contention, and above several teams that were expected to compete for the playoffs pre-season (Lakers, Nuggets, Grizzlies).

Damon Lillard, PG: As awesome as those other point-guards have been to be watch, let’s be honest here. One point-guard has risen quicker than the rest of this field and is proving to be the best at the position, across the entire NBA. With Rondo and Derrick Rose out, it’s hard to say who is the best in the league. Standard rationalization would say, easy: CP3. I would argue that this season, Lillard has been more dominating. Lillard is younger and more physical. Also the last year’s NBA Rookie of the Year is more consistent from behind the 3-point line, Lillard leads the NBA in most 3-points made (108). Lillard has guided the Trailblazers to the NBA’s tope record, so far, and is no doubt an MVP candidate.

Paul George, SF: The only non-point guard on the list, George, is the most immediate threat to dethrone King James because of the strength of the team around him. George plays with arguably the best big-man in the game, Hibbert, and one of the deepest benches behind a solid starting unit. The former Fresno State bulldog has proved that he can almost as explosive as LeBron James. George plays the same position and if he can slow down the king during the playoffs, it should be a legendary matchup to watch. Enough can’t be said about what George brings to the Pacers, his emergence levels the advantage of the Heat and puts the Eastern Conference title up for grabs.