Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak and offensive line coach Bruce Matthews were Hall of Fame offensive linemen who are currently on the Titans' coaching staff. This creates very high expectations from the offensive linemen. The Titans have shown that they're eager to restructure their offensive line despite having only surrendered 24 sacks in 2011 and a combined 66 sacks from 2009 through 2011.
The Titans have already replaced one of their starting offensive linemen from 2011 when they signed five-time All Pro guardSteve Hutchinson to a three-year contract. The move was rumored to have been an attempt to entice Peyton Manning to join the Titans because both players supposedly share a friendship. This signing basically guarantees that 31-year-old Jake Scott won't be re-signed.
The New England Patriots drafted Koppen with a fifth-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Koppen will turn 33-years-old in September 2012. The nine-year pro was placed on injured reserve after he broke his ankle in the 2011-12 regular-season opener. Koppen was a Pro Bowler during the 2007-08 season.
The good thing about Koppen is that he specializes in more than pass-blocking. The Titans need better run-blocking from the interior of their offensive line. As I previously mentioned, the pass protection has always been there. Koppen should also be a more-than-affordable option in their offensive line.
Any upgrade at center would likely mean that Amano would be released. The Titans could also move him to guard and release Leroy Harris. Amano is scheduled to become a free agent in 2015 while Harris will become a free agent in 2013.
If Koppen is signed, then I still think it's important that an interior offensive lineman is drafted in the middle or bottom portions of the 2012 NFL Draft. I say this because Koppen and Hutchinson are both older and becoming more prone to injuries. Mike Otto probably isn't a long-term answer if either player retires within the next couple of seasons. I wouldn't expect Amano or Harris to be kept for a backup role due to financial reasons.
Amano appears like he's a last resort for the Titans. Even if the Titans don't sign Koppen, they might go after somebody in the 2012 NFL Draft. This upcoming draft will feature some quality prospects at center like Peter Konz.
If Amano returns in 2012? Hopefully, he'll use this offseason as a source of motivation and a realization that he must improve.
Joshua Huffman graduated from Middle Tennessee State University as a marketing major in 2009. He's been a Middle Tennessee resident from 1986-88 and 2001-present. He lived in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin from 1988-01 and for approximately eight months in 2009-10 as he completed a 20-game volunteer position with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers. His favorite sports organizations include the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. He can be found on Twitter HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment