Titans not worried about replacing Carter, Hall
So who’s left, and can they pressure a quarterback?
Left offensive tackle Brad Hopkins thinks the Titans will be just fine with a mix that includes five linemen drafted in 2004 because Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee’s top draft pick in 2002, has taken over the unit.
“It’s his defensive line, and he knows it,” Hopkins said. “With veterans like Carlos and Kevin and Jevon (Kearse) here, he was the puppy. Now he knows he has to evolve. His game has got to go to the next game in order for us to have some success. He’s ready to shoulder that weight.”
The Titans need that.
They had only 32 sacks last season overall, and Carter and Hall combined for 8.5 of those. Only San Francisco and San Diego (29 each), Oakland (25) and Houston (24) had fewer sacks than Tennessee.
With the release of Carter, Haynesworth certainly has the most experience. The Titans added four-year veteran Kyle Vanden Bosch from Arizona, but it’s Haynesworth who has played in more NFL games (38) than anyone else.
His career sack total is only 4.5. But the 6-foot-6, 320-pound tackle has been impressive so far in training camp when he steamrolled left guard Zach Piller in a one-on-one blocking drill and atoned for an offsides penalty in a goal-line period by breaking through to tackle Jarrett Payton for a loss on the next play.
Coach Jeff Fisher said Haynesworth, the 15th pick overall in 2002, has worked hard and is playing physically with good technique.
“The good thing about what he’s doing is that he’s consistent. He’s not picking and choosing. He’s playing hard every down. We don’t expect him to be able to go eight or nine plays full speed and rush the passer right now,” Fisher said.
“But the design of camp is to build him up to where he can do that, and he understands that. So, he’s working hard.”
The rest of the line still has work left to make much of an impression, but they will have their opportunity.
Randy Starks led NFL rookie tackles last season with 4.5 sacks, including four drafted ahead of him. Antwan Odom missed the opening weekend of camp due to the death of his sister, but is back working with the first team at end opposite of Bo Schobel.
End Travis LaBoy, their top pick in 2004, is working his way back from a hernia. He had 3.5 sacks as a rookie, and tackle Jared Clauss is solid in the rotation with two-year veteran Rien Long behind Starks and Haynesworth.
“I just expect this defensive line to be one of the top parts of this team,” Haynesworth said. “We’re never going to be slackers. I expect us to make a lot of plays. I expect us to dominate the game up front.”
Vanden Bosch agrees. Originally a 34th pick overall in 2001 by Arizona, Vanden Bosch has played in only 35 games after injuries to both of his knees, but he loves the talent he sees beside him.
“Everyone still has something to prove, and everybody comes out every day trying to improve. You can see it when we go have meetings, everybody getting a little bit better every day. I’m excited about what I think we can do,” Vanden Bosch said.
Hopkins agrees, crediting defensive line coach Jim Washburn with a great job of coaching.
“These kids are big. They’re strong. They’re athletic, and once they learn to do what they’re told consistently, they’ll wreak havoc on offensive lines across the league,” Hopkins said. “I promise you.”