In my column on Robert Mathis, I quoted Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt talking about players who get a reputation they can’t shake.
“The sad thing is it takes longer to lose the reputation than it takes to gain the reputation,” Reinfeldt said. “I think people just get it set in their minds a certain way and don’t re-examine the situation. If they’d re-examine it, they’d realize a guy’s become a more complete player.”
I think Mathis is a giant example of that. He started out as a situational pass-rusher, and while many still think of him as less than a full-time player, he’s become a well-rounded player.
Looking through the rest of the division, there are no players who fit the category as neatly. But here are three guys I think may face a little of what Mathis does:
Receiver Nate Washington came to the Titans with a reputation strictly as a deep threat. He has not offered much of that -- his season average is 9.4 yards per catch, way low compared to his career average coming into the season (16.4). But he's shown he can make tight catches in short quarters and be productive in the red zone. He leads the team with five TD catches, already as many as he’s had in a full season.
Jacksonville tight end Marcedes Lewis has long been regarded as a disappointment because he didn’t turn into the pass-catcher scouts expected him to be based on what he did as a collegian at UCLA, setting a school record for tight ends with 126 catches for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns. But while he was inconsistent as a receiver in his first three seasons as a pro, he developed into quite a good blocker and now may finally be rounding out.
In Houston, Jacoby Jones has failed in previous chances to become a regular contributor as a receiver, winding up as more of a returner. But he’s now making a contribution to a potent offense with an 18.3-yard average and three touchdowns on 13 catches and could be looked to more with Owen Daniels out for the year.
Are these good choices? Bad ones? Who else in the division has a reputation that doesn’t match how he plays?
“The sad thing is it takes longer to lose the reputation than it takes to gain the reputation,” Reinfeldt said. “I think people just get it set in their minds a certain way and don’t re-examine the situation. If they’d re-examine it, they’d realize a guy’s become a more complete player.”
I think Mathis is a giant example of that. He started out as a situational pass-rusher, and while many still think of him as less than a full-time player, he’s become a well-rounded player.
Looking through the rest of the division, there are no players who fit the category as neatly. But here are three guys I think may face a little of what Mathis does:
Receiver Nate Washington came to the Titans with a reputation strictly as a deep threat. He has not offered much of that -- his season average is 9.4 yards per catch, way low compared to his career average coming into the season (16.4). But he's shown he can make tight catches in short quarters and be productive in the red zone. He leads the team with five TD catches, already as many as he’s had in a full season.
Jacksonville tight end Marcedes Lewis has long been regarded as a disappointment because he didn’t turn into the pass-catcher scouts expected him to be based on what he did as a collegian at UCLA, setting a school record for tight ends with 126 catches for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns. But while he was inconsistent as a receiver in his first three seasons as a pro, he developed into quite a good blocker and now may finally be rounding out.
In Houston, Jacoby Jones has failed in previous chances to become a regular contributor as a receiver, winding up as more of a returner. But he’s now making a contribution to a potent offense with an 18.3-yard average and three touchdowns on 13 catches and could be looked to more with Owen Daniels out for the year.
Are these good choices? Bad ones? Who else in the division has a reputation that doesn’t match how he plays?
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Paul Kuharsky
Kuharsky joined ESPN.com in 2008 after 12 years covering the Oilers/Titans and the NFL for The (Nashville) Tennessean. The New Jersey native and Columbia graduate lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
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