Titans’ tight ends closing in on NFL mark for most catches
Who are they?
The San Diego Chargers’ tight ends in 1984 who caught an NFL-best 163 catches as a group that season, a mark the Titans easily could pass with two games left this season. Kinney said Thursday that hasn’t been their focus this season.
“We just now heard about that. That hasn’t been on our radar screen. We just try to do all we can to help the team. We’ve been called upon to make plays in the passing game and be a dependable force in the game. That’s the way the offense is built, and we’ve been able to make plays when we’ve been called upon.”
The Titans’ tight ends have combined for 134 catches this season led by Kinney, the sixth-year veteran enjoying the best season of his career with a team-high 54 catches. The group total currently is third-best among tight ends behind only the 1984 Chargers and 1983 Chargers (144).
Troupe is in his second year and is third on the team with 46 catches and coming off a career-high 116 yards receiving in last week’s loss to Seattle. Scaife, the sixth-round pick out of Texas, has 32 catches and is fourth behind Troupe. Undrafted free agent Gregg Guenther has two catches.
Kinney has missed the last two games after taking a questionable hit on his right knee and needing arthroscopic surgery. But he is hoping to play Saturday when the Titans (4-10) visit Miami (7-7).
“I’m feeling pretty good. Hopefully, it doesn’t swell up on me too much … and I can be part of the game the whole way through,” Kinney said.
The offense under first-year coordinator Norm Chow wasn’t designed to load up on passes to the tight ends. But the receiving corps has had its share of injuries with Drew Bennett and Tyrone Calico each missing three games and rookies Brandon Jones and Roydell Williams lost for the season with four games left.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher thinks the high numbers over the past couple of weeks are a result of the tight ends’ improvement and quarterback Steve McNair becoming more comfortable with them.
“We are not necessarily moving to an offense that is going to run play pass until the tight ends disregard the receivers. The receivers are your best way to make your big plays and get your chunks,” Fisher said.
The athletic 6-foot-4 Troupe, in his second season, showed flashes of what the Titans think he can do against Seattle when he had a 35-yard catch and averaged 19.3 yards per reception.
“When Ben Troupe first came in here, we looked at him as a speedster,” McNair said. “We wanted to isolate him on linebackers, isolate him on strong safeties. We’re trying to build him up to be a Tony Gonzalez, a Todd Heap, the guys who are not only able to block as well as be able to catch the ball intermediate and also deep.”
For now, the tight ends know they are a valuable part of the Titans’ offense.
“We definitely need to make the most of the opportunities while they’re here,” Kinney said.