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In general, we expect too much from late-round picks. (And from overall draft batting averages.)

In a recent conversation with former Denver general manager Ted Sundquist, he pointed to an article he once read in Ourlads by Joe Landers. Apologies, I couldn’t find the link.

“Using some common sense and a little investigative research, you'll find that it's rare, at least according to Landers’ study, to find a cornerback or running back or wide receiver that's really going to help you in the last three rounds,” Sundquist said. “And yet you'll find teams constantly take a reach on one of these positions.

“Evidence shows you're more likely to find a defensive tackle, offensive lineman, safety or tight end in the later rounds. Why? Most conventional wisdom says don't draft a safety or tight end high due to escalating rookie salaries and the going market at the position. As for defensive tackles or offensive linemen, it’s probably because of the greater numbers at the position. Both circumstances force down talented players at those positions.”

I went back and combed over the AFC South drafts since 2002, to see how many picks they spent on each side of the ledger Sundquist sets forth and how often the Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans did well with a fifth-, sixth- or seventh-round pick at those spots. This is, of course, highly unscientific. Metrics guys can probably shred it. But I thought it worth fiddling with.

Notables are players who played significantly, even if it’s been with another team, or recent picks who appear on track to contribute.

Houston Texans

WRs, RBs. CBs: 9

DTs, OL, S, TEs: 14

Most: Six safeties, four receivers, corners and defensive tackle

Notables:

• Cornerback Brice McCain, 2009 sixth round
• Safety Dominique Barber, 2008 sixth round
• Receiver David Anderson, 2006 seventh round
• Safety C.C. Brown, 2005 sixth round
• Corner Demarcus Faggins, 2002 sixth round
• Defensive tackle Howard Green, 2002 sixth round

Colts

WRs, RBs. CBs: 7

DTs, OL, S, TEs: 13

Most: 13 offensive linemen

Notables:

• Tight end Brody Eldridge, 2010 fifth round
• Receiver Pierre Garcon, 2008 sixth round
• Guard Jamey Richard, 2008 seventh round
• Tackle Charlie Johnson, 2006 sixth round
• Safety Antoine Bethea, 2006 sixth round
• Guard Jake Scott, 2004 fifth round

Jaguars

WRs, RBs. CBs: 12

DTs, OL, S, TEs: 9

Most: Five receivers, four offensive linemen

Notables:

• Tight end Zach Miller, 2009 sixth round
• Running back Rashad Jennings, 2009 seventh round
• Guard Uche Nwaneri, 2007 fifth rounder
• Defensive tackle Derek Landri, 2007 fifth round
• Safety Gerald Sensabaugh, 2005 fifth round

Titans

WRs, RBs. CBs: 14

DTs, OL, S, TEs: 16

Most: Seven offensive linemen, six wide receivers

Notables:

• Corner Cortland Finnegan, 2006 seventh round
• Running back Quinton Ganther, 2006 seventh round
• Defensive tackle Antonio Johnson, 2007 fifth round
• Offensive lineman Daniel Loper, 2005 fifth round
• Tight end Bo Scaife, 2005 sixth round
• Guard Jacob Bell, 2004 fifth round
• Center/guard Eugene Amano, 2004 seventh round
• Safety Donnie Nickey, 2003 fifth rounder
• Guard/center Justin Hartwig, 2002 sixth rounder

Of the notables from the division drafted since 2002, 73 percent (19) have been from the positions Sundquist says teams should concentrate on late while 27 percent (seven) play positions he believes should generally be avoided.

I'd be fine with the Titans not wasting yet another late pick on a receiver and with the Texans using late-rounders on something other than corners and receivers for sure. But it's not like Houston's spending late picks on safeties or the Colts use of such selections on offensive linemen have paid huge dividends either.

I'd love to read your thoughts.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

In one day of roster moves the Titans admitted two mistakes.

Tuesday they signed veteran return man Mark Jones and defensive back Kevin Kaesviharn. They made room by cutting running back Chris Henry and putting punter Craig Hentrich on IR.

Bringing Jones back is a huge admission of culpability for Jeff Fisher. Such a reversal is rare during his tenure with the franchise, which dates back to 1994, especially when not prompted by injury.

Jones, a middling receiver who’s been a reliable returner, was cut to get the Titans' roster down to 53 at the end of the preseason. Fisher was determined to use rookie running back Javon Ringer as the kick returner and rookie corner Ryan Mouton as the punt returner (after Cortland Finnegan filled in for one game).

Ringer lost his job after two games, and Mouton started Sunday in New York against the Jets in both roles. But he fumbled a kickoff and a punt, which both led directly to Jets scores and the Titans fell to 0-3.

Fisher and the Titans have also been stubborn with Henry, who survived cuts when Quinton Ganther was hurt in the preseason finale but who was clearly not one of the team’s best 53 players and certainly was not worthy of being among the active 45 the last two weeks.

Henry was a second-round choice out of Arizona, 50th overall, in 2007. The Titans got wowed by his combine performance but forgot to give sufficient weight to his football instincts.

If a fourth running back is in the game-day mix, he’ll have to be a better special-teamer than Henry was.

Mouton may be the nickel while Vincent Fuller is out a month or more to recover from a broken arm. But Mouton or another rookie corner, Jason McCourty, could be in the mix to start with Finnegan potentially out of the lineup with a hamstring injury.

Kaesviharn gives the Titans a veteran defensive back to have in the mix as they explore alternatives and wait on key people to get healthy.

Posted by ESPN's Paul Kuharsky

Houston Texans

• Richard Justice welcomes Dunta Robinson back and says he makes everybody better.
• Rex Grossman is fired up that Gary Kubiak called the backup quarterback competition even, says John McClain.

Indianapolis Colts

• The Colts' success is usually built on a hot start and a roll as the hunted team, writes Phil Richards.
• Jim Caldwell is a meticulous note taker, says Phil Richards.
• Bob Kravitz has the Colts going 12-4 and not losing a division game.
• Five things the Colts must do to regain control of the division, from John Oehser.
• Oehser’s roster analysis.
• The Colts signed safety Aaron Francisco, claimed linebacker Glenn Cody and cut safety Matt Giordano, says Mike Chappell. I'm sad to see Giordano go so soon after he helped me out with this.

Jacksonville Jaguars

• GM Gene Smith decided to go with newcomer Cade Luke McCown as the lone backup quarterback, leading Michael C. Wright to wonder about what happens if David Garrard gets hurt in the opener.
• Maurice Jones-Drew is the face of the franchise, says Wright.
• The Jaguars’ ticket troubles are a national story, says Vito Stellino.
• Smith’s work as GM so far has been nothing if not bold, says Vic Ketchman of jaguars.com.
• The Mike Smith connection: Brian Williams, cut by Jacksonville, signs with Atlanta.
• A cutdown analysis from Jonathan Loesche.

Tennessee Titans

• LenDale White doesn’t regret stomping and would stomp again, he said in a discussion of the Terrible Towel controversy of 2008. Jim Wyatt and Terry McCormick both wrote it. Warped logic from White that he can buy whatever house he’s in. Unless he got a bonus I don’t know about, I’m pretty sure he couldn’t afford Heinz Field.
• Chris Hope doesn’t know what to expect in his first trip back to Pittsburgh, says Gary Estwick.
• Quinton Ganther’s injury was significant, says Wyatt.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Biggest surprise: Chris Henry survives again? It’s hard to think that if they look to add someone in the next couple days it won’t put the running back at risk. But the third-year runner got at least an initial spot as the Titans waived-injured Quinton Ganther, a more valuable and versatile player as the fourth back He suffered a calf injury in the preseason finale. Hardly as big on the list of surprises: the end for veteran linebackers Ryan Fowler, Josh Stamer and Rocky Boiman, leaving the team with very young depth; Patrick Ramsey sticking as a third quarterback; and the survival of cornerback Cary Williams.

No-brainers: The Titans kept nine defensive linemen. The lowest ranking of the bunch is probably second-round pick Sen’Derrick Marks and the Titans certainly intend to give him time to develop. They kept four tight ends, a move never in doubt with Jared Cook in his first year and Craig Stevens in his second. Receiver Paul Williams showed very little in two seasons since the Titans spent a third-rounder on him and it was certainly time to look to someone like rookie Dominique Edison instead.

What's next: Sixth-round draft pick Jason McCourty, looks to have an early chance to be a special teams contributor and should survive ahead of Cary Williams at cornerback if the Titans make a move to upgrade depth. But corner depth and the punt return job remain the two largest concerns.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

The Titans’ official list of cuts:

DE Larry Birdine

LB Rocky Boiman

TE Casey Cramer

CB Tanard Davis

G Ryan Durand

CB DeMarcus Faggins

FB Rodney Ferguson

LB Ryan Fowler

RB Quinton Ganther (injured)

S Tuff Harris

WR Mark Jones

DT Mitch King

T Cory Lekkerkerker

WR Phillip Morris

TE Matthew Mulligan

G Jason Murphy

DT LaJuan Ramsey

S Nick Schommer

LB Josh Stamer

P A.J. Trapasso

OL Fernando Velasco

WR Paul Williams

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky


Javon Ringer’s turned heads in training camp and preseason action.

I don’t see how he’s not the third person the team would want to give carries to if it goes beyond Chris Johnson and LenDale White, by choice or necessity.

But I’ll be surprised if he bumps Quinton Ganther, the incumbent third back, off the roster.

I expect the Titans to keep four running backs, as they did last year. They ended 2008 with nine players at running back, fullback and tight end, and they're likely to have nine for those three spots again.

The difference will be that all four running backs can contribute on game day as opposed to 2008, when Chris Henry only dressed for the meaningless regular-season finale. Henry is the fifth back, at best, now, and the Titans won’t be keeping that many.

Ganther can carry, he can catch, he can block. He is the alternate fullback in case something happens to Ahmard Hall, though I think the team would go with more two-tight end sets if Hall is out. And Ganther plays on the four major special teams units -- punt and punt return, kickoff and kickoff return.

“Q is a professional; Q is going to be ready, whatever I’ve asked him to do, he’s been ready to do,” said Earnest Byner, the Titans' running backs coach. “... You always want to keep good players who are good people as well, and Q is one of those guys. He’s always fought, he’s always had a me-against-the-world type mentality and that has driven him …

“I talked to him about the stress of the situation. In reality, if you focus on the stress, then you are not going to be able to perform at the highest level. I think all of those guys are trying to not let the stress get to them but be driven by those emotions.”

Ganther has been a steady, quiet player who helped on special teams and ran a lot of quality scout team for the Titans since they spent a seventh-round draft pick on him in 2006 when he came out of Utah.

During his first two seasons, he got into four games but spent a lot of time on the practice squad. Last year, he played in 13 games, getting just nine carries while working primarily on special teams.

Saturday night in a preseason loss in Cleveland, Ganther saw time in the second half. He had two carries for 5 yards and two catches for 40 more. He turned a short pass from Vince Young over the middle into a nice 26-yard scamper.

“These guys know what I can do, I’ve been here four years now, so whenever I get a chance, if I get a chance, I’ve just got to make sure I am ready,” he said. “When I worry about the competition aspect of it and not getting reps and carries in a game, that’s when I lose focus on things I am supposed to be doing -- special teams, what route to run, blitz protection and things like that.

“I have no idea what they are thinking, what they are doing. That’s not for me to focus on. I have to focus on making sure I know what I am doing. Whatever the case may be, it’s on me to make it a tough decision for them.”

Last week on kickoff returns, they put him at a left wing in the back when he’d been studying left tackle. He has now studied up on both spots, just as he studies fullback and running back to be ready for any situation.

“The more you can do,” he said with a smile.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

The Titans lost at Cleveland Saturday night, but took a lot of good developments out of their fourth, and most important, preseason game. Some thoughts from the 23-17 loss:

• It's been clear for some time they will wind up carrying four tight ends -- Bo Scaife, Alge Crumpler, Jared Cook and Craig Stevens. Scaife and Cook on the field together caused some difficulties for the Browns. Stevens did some nice things in the second half of this game. So did the versatile Quinton Ganther, who is going to make them keep four running backs too. No way he's not one of their best 53 players.
• Mark Jones could have gotten away with all types of stumbles in his first action as the primary return man candidate. Fumbling one return away was not one of them. A year removed from a very solid year for the since-departed Chris Carr, the return jobs remain a giant question mark. Titans Radio said Jones suffered a stinger later when he was smothered on a kickoff return.
• In relief of Kerry Collins, Vince Young had one great run and threw the ball decisively much of the time he was in the game. But his two bad plays were big. The first was a lost fumble at the goal line just before the half. And the pick-six interception he threw deep in the Titans' own end was the sort of gaffe that does an awful lot to offset the good. It was good that he bounced back to lead a touchdown drive and threw a scoring pass to end it. Patrick Ramsey, who's dealing with sore ribs, didn't play.
• Cornerback Cortland Finnegan worked on the left instead of his usual spot on the right, getting some work in case the Titans need to shuffle or for an occasion when he might draw a particular receiver and have to follow him over there. Corner depth remains an issue -- Cary Williams started in place of Nick Harper, who sat out, and didn't fare particularly well. DeMarcus Faggins did well to force Braylon Edwards out of the end zone before he could get a second foot down during a remarkable one-handed catch.
• Cleveland played starters into the fourth quarter, while the Titans' went only to halftime.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- I took a great interest in a drill Sunday that pitted linebackers against running backs in a pass protection scenario.

I thought Stephen Tulloch was especially impressive going against the Titans running backs in the team's first practice in shoulder pads.

Here's a mini-breakdown of some of the matchups:

• Ryan Fowler ran right over Chris Johnson, and later said he intended to bull rush, which is a bit of a no-no in this scenario. He said Johnson was on him quickly and he simply did the only thing he could, not meaning to circumvent protocol.
• Tulloch just clobbered Chris Henry, who held up better in a rematch.
• Javon Ringer got beat by Colin Allred.
• After a false start, Quinton Ganther did well against Josh Stamer.
• Stanford Keglar blew past Rodney Ferguson II, which prompted Ahmard Hall to tell Ferguson "don't just stop."
• David Thornton dominated Rafael Little.
• Keith Bulluck got to the tackling dummy serving as the quarterback quickly, but Hall held him up, maybe long enough to qualify as a win.
• Keglar beat Henry to the outside.
• Ganther did well versus Gerald McGrath.

After practice, I was considering my notes/scorecard and sought clarification from running back coach Earnest Byner on what amounted to a win on a snap of the drill.

"If a guy gets good contact, shows the ability to get on a guy and then tries to run him by, that's pretty good," he said. "In that drill, the defense is supposed to win. That's really a defensive drill. If a guy can get any contact and maintain the contact for like two seconds, that's a win."

A couple important notes for context:

If they weren't on the line of scrimmage, the backs lined up very close to it. In game situations they wouldn't be so close to the defender they need to block at the snap. At a practice the backs are without one major tool -- the cut block that would take a linebacker's legs out and put him on the ground. Ganther said ideally a back will push the rusher outside, buying a quarterback who is stepping up in the pocket additional time.

"It's much easier in a game," Byner said. "You have the ability to cut block, you have the ability to use your line a little more. If you can block in that drill, the game is easy. I thought the guys did well. They sit tight, hard to the defender. I wanted that. I didn't want them to sit and be cautious and not do anything. I wanted the aggression, and I was pleased with that. We can learn from that."

Some other practice observations:

• Cornerback Tanard Davis, who finished last year on the practice squad, had a strong afternoon and has been good so far, though working against lesser players. He muscled his way in front of Chris Davis to intercept a short Vince Young pass in one-on-ones. Later, in a team period he moved in front of Paul Williams to grab another pass from Young.
• Rob Bironas, who was due back from his mystery injury, did not return. Fisher continued to decline to say what the injury was, on a day when Kenny Britt talked openly about the right hamstring that landed him on PUP. If Bironas' injury is so insignificant, than why wouldn't it be shared? It gives us all reason to believe something odd is up.
• Britt is still dealing with a right hamstring issue, so he starts out on the PUP list. Fisher didn't quite rule Britt out of the Hall of Fame Game against Buffalo, but said it's "probably unlikely." Britt sounded pretty upbeat. Fisher made it sound as if a week would be the most Britt misses.
• Jared Cook went to the ground to scoop a Young pass. He has made a lot of catches on the run or going up to get the ball, and I took note that he also looked comfortable going to the ground.
• During a two minute drill period, a sliding Nate Washington caught a Kerry Collins pass on the right with Chris Hope and Nick Harper closing. It was too close to call as to whether Washington had his right knee down in bounds before his left leg crossed the sideline. Both sides pleaded with Fisher, who got a shout out from Hope when he came to a quick verdict and the sides "split the difference" on the gain. The drive produced an Alge Crumpler touchdown catch.
• Paul Williams made a very nice, spinning, leaping sideline catch.
• Jovan Haye stepped up and crushed Henry on a carry the back tried to take up the middle.
• Ringer looks a lot better in pads, and a lot better than he did in OTAs.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Some things I noticed or thought you'd want to know from the Titans' organized training activities session Tuesday:

• Jevon Kearse, coming back from knee surgery, worked with the defensive line but not in team periods. He ran on the side on his own late and looks to be moving well.

In a one-on-one red zone period:

• Receiver Craphonso Thorpe let rookie corner Jason McCourty pry a ball free after Kerry Collins delivered a nice pass to the back left of the end zone. "He wanted it more than you," offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger told Thorpe.
• Dominique Edison gained ground with a very good first step and beat Vincent Fuller to the back right corner where he pulled in a pass from Vince Young.
• Paul Williams made a nice play to go up and take a ball away from Cary Williams, but injured his left leg on the landing. Jeff Fisher later said it's a groin injury that probably costs Williams the team's final two OTA practices.
• Fuller rebounded with an excellent play against Chris Davis in roughly the same spot. Davis went up to make a nice catch and survived Fuller's first attempt to strip it, but let it come free the second time.

In seven-on-seven work:

• Nate Washington reached down and collected a pass from Collins that fit nicely between Cortland Finnegan and Chris Hope but was still difficult to get to.
• DeMarcus Faggins broke up a pass intended for Davis (missed the quarterback, sorry), but then got up slowly. He was fine as he had another interception later in what was a very good practice for him.
• On a play that was dead, Patrick Ramsey threw up the right sideline. Michael Griffin, out of the play but watching from the boundary stepped up, picked it one-handed while holding his helmet by the facemask in the other hand, ran with the "interception" up the sideline a bit, then punted the ball. Irrelevant, but entertaining.
• David Thornton sliced into the backfield and caught Chris Johnson in a way that forced a fumble.

In full-team work:

• LenDale White got hardly any work, and Fisher said it was a matter of work distribution. Chris Henry, Javon Ringer, Quinton Ganther and Rafael Little all got some touches. Henry dropped a low pass to the flat that was behind him, but still hit him in the hands. I think I've been a little overly optimistic about Little, who didn't stand out.
• Justin Gage muscled a pass away from Nick Harper as he went out of bounds facing back to the ball.
• Rookie tight end Jared Cook dropped a backward pass in the flat and rookie linebacker Gerald McRath was smart to pounce on it. Officials worked the practice and the one near us on the sideline confirmed Ramsey's throw was a lateral.
• Tight end Matthew Mulligan drew the fury of Heimerdinger when he made a mistake lining up that forced the offense to re-huddle.
• Working in the red zone, Young rolled left and hit Craig Stevens who was moving with him just short of the goal line. Stevens booted it.

*STANDARD OTA DISCLAIMER: PUT STOCK INTO THESE DEVELOPMENTS AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans' rookies mixed with the veterans for the first time Tuesday. Thursday's second go-round was open to the media.

Here's what I saw that I found to be of interest:

Receivers: First-round pick Kenny Britt had hamstring tightness and did just the individual period and a bit of red zone work. Nate Washington was excused and Lavelle Hawkins was also limited. That gave Chris Davis a chance at a lot of first-team snaps and he took advantage with a solid day. While he had one bad drop, he also had one nice stretching reach for a catch in a seam with no concern for what defenders were approaching (they were late anyway).

Davis knows he's on the hot seat and that his fate could depend on winning one or both of the return jobs. But quarterback Kerry Collins said Davis has improved as much as anyone, a real public pat on the back.

Different strokes: The practice was largely focused on red zone work, and in an early period the quarterbacks threw balls from about 12 yards out to the pylon, over the receivers' outside shoulder as offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger offered very detailed instructions and assessments.

Fourth-stringer Alex Mortensen, an undrafted rookie, got an earful after he threw one well inside of where Heimerdinger wanted them and was told it was an interception if there was coverage. Vince Young threw a very similar ball and Heimerdinger asked that it be "a little more outside."

That's the difference between being the third pick in the draft and a camp body. It was one snapshot; I don't want to overvalue it. Young could be regularly getting yelled at when he does things wrong. But this instance struck me as one of those baby-him moments that haven't served him well in the big picture.

Double duty: Third-round tight end Jared Cook split time in one period, working with the tight ends against linebackers for a while before joining receivers to go against corners. He's a specimen, and if he can avoid the drops -- he had some, even with defenders tugging on him -- he sure looks like a guy who can be a weapon.

Ball-security message: After the last OTA I saw, LenDale White talked about how he is still haunted by his costly fumble in the playoff loss to Baltimore. So I was struck when he joined the coaches' chorus urging guys to lock the ball up. Maybe that's a topic he should stay quiet for now.

Dropsies: Running backs did not catch the ball particularly well. I saw drops by Chris Johnson and Quinton Ganther and a bobble that may have turned a pass into an incompletion by rookie Javon Ringer.

Justin Gage: Justin Gage looks good. He made the sort of aggressive play Titans receivers too often lack when he snatched what looked to be a Cortland Finnegan interception away from the cornerback for a touchdown from about 12 yards out. Later Gage made a nice play to stop and cut in front of overmatched rookie corner Jeremy Haynes for another TD reception from Collins.

Rowdy: Tight end Matthew Mulligan and linebacker Ryan Fowler brawled during a special-teams period, with Mulligan attempting to knee Fowler in the belly or chest. Both landed several blows and their helmets came off, but it ended when they both stood with their hands in fighting position waiting for the second round. Mulligan told Colin Allred, a linebacker a good distance away, how he wasn't going to back down.

Right tackle David Stewart and defensive lineman Larry Birdine also came to blows. The fights and some other intense moments gave the session the feel of a second-week training camp practice, not the second full-team OTA.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

NASHVILLE -- Here's my prediction for the Titans' running back pecking order after the first three games of a five-game preseason this summer:

1. Chris Johnson: The once and future king.
2. LenDale White: Likely to bust his hump in a contract year and still get a lot of carries in situations favorable to posting impressive statistics.
3. Javon Ringer:  Picked as a fifth rounder who can carry when needed who will likely take over for White in 2010 but can contribute regularly on special teams in the meantime.
4. Rafael Little:  Spent last year working his way back from a knee injury he suffered in his final year at Kentucky and could wind up on the practice squad if they can't squeeze him onto the 53-man roster.
5. Quinton Ganther:  A hard worker who does what's asked but won't be able to climb higher than this to maintain a roster spot or a role if the three veterans ahead of him are healthy.
6. Chris Henry: A second-round workout warrior from 2007 when he was drafted 50th overall, who's heading for the waiver wire before the Titans are due to cut him another pay check.
   

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

There will be picks on Saturday and Sunday that prompt brows furrowed into question marks on the faces of fans of the four teams of the AFC South.

So in advance of this weekend's draft, the AFC South Blog is here to warn you: Don't be surprised when the Colts look to cornerback; don't be shocked when the Titans turn to a tight end and/or a defensive end. Should the Texans invest a reasonably high pick in a receiver or the Jaguars dip again in to the pool of defensive ends, they won't be making redundant roster choices.

They'll be thinking more about 2010 than about 2009.

We've discussed the current needs of all four teams a lot in the build-up to the draft. But teams obviously have to look further ahead than that. They can't count on the CBA expiring and the rules of free agency changing. Because if a new labor deal is struck and free agency continues to operate in the fashion we are used to -- with players who've logged at least four years and have expired contracts hitting the free market -- teams have to be prepared to lose people, and they need to have replacements ready.

Some of those potential replacements are already lined up, of course, working as backups. But others must be targeted.

"You're not just drafting for this year, you're drafting for future years too," Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said. "You have to have the vision of what they might be in two or three years. ... You're always building depth on your team and you're getting, especially in the later-round guys, traits that can be developed."

Here is a look at the issues teams may be facing in terms of departing free agents in 2010 with some suggestions, courtesy of Scouts. Inc.'s Matt Williamson, on mid- and late-round picks who could fill the holes.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Jon in silver spring writes: Paul, love the blog...have a question about the Texans draft needs. Im an old school Houston guy, and have been watching this team since they been in existence and one MAJOR aspect thats lacking is secondary...yet all i hear is them picking another LB or DL...when Malcolm Jenkins is out there, the guy from Mizzou is out there...what gives? Thanks.

Paul Kuharsky: I think it's that the linebackers are perceived to be more worth the 15th pick than the corners -- this corner class is getting middling reviews. I agree it's a need, especially when there is no guarantee of Dunta Robinson beyond this year. And they could well take a corner at No. 15. Really, it's too bad there is no first-round caliber safety. That would be a real solution, but this draft doesn't appear to have one. "The guy from Mizzou," I presume, is safety William Moore. He's rated as a second- or third-rounder and they could go for him there.

---

Chris Kirk from parts unknown writes: I've been waiting to see what you had to say about Rhodes leaving for Buffalo but I decided to go ahead and e-mail you for your thoughts. This move has to move Running Back up on the list of the Colts priorities to address in the draft right? I'm as big an Addai-hater as you'll find among Colts fans so I've been hoping for them to address that position anyway. That being said I could have seen Polian standing pat(no matter how much I disagree) since between Rhodes, Addai, and Ball/Simpson we would have had a nice mix of youth and vets in our Running Back corps. Looking back at most of the Addai apologists from your column about replacing a Colt a lot of them brought up Rhodes potential presence in a two-back system as a reason to expect better production from Addai. With Rhodes gone our already anemic run game just went on life support leaving us with one barely proven runner. With a number of mock drafts having Wells and /or Moreno available at twenty-seven and two Receivers already on the roster good enough to start for most teams how can the Colts possibly put Receiver as a higher priority than Running Back?

Paul Kuharsky: I don't think they are crestfallen that Rhodes is off the market, but I think they would have loved to have retained the option of coming back to him after the draft as a low cost guy for sure. This is one of the toughest questions of the offseason -- how much was Joseph Addai responsible for the Colts' run struggles, how much was on the line and how much was it that both were banged up?

I think a third receiver still ranks as at least as big of a need as a second running back, if they still see Addai as the lead guy -- and I expect they do. Look at it this way -- in which situation would you be more confident:

A) Addai goes down and they have to make do with Mike Hart, Lance Ball, Chad Simpson, mid- to low-draft pick or undrafted rookie.

B) Reggie Wayne or Anthony Gonzalez goes down and they have to rely on Roy Hall, Pierre Garcon, mid- to low- draft pick or undrafted rookie.

I think they survive A better than B, which leads me to conclude they spend a value pick on a receiver over a back. Also I think this is a much better draft for receivers than backs and there will be more attractive wideouts at 27 than runnning backs..

Hey, we could see receiver and running back as two of the first three. Bill Polian may think he can fix defensive tackle and linebacker with less than premium picks.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

We know what the compensatory picks are for the four teams of the AFC South in the upcoming draft.

But what have they meant in past drafts?

Using the great website drafthistory.com, I looked at all the picks the Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans have made after the 32nd pick in rounds three through seven since 2004.

The scorecard is unsurprising. The Colts, who've let a lot of players who made big contributions leave via free agency, have had 10 compensatory selections; the Titans have had eight; the Jaguars and Texans three each.

There are some significant names on the list of players acquired with those picks:

Indianapolis: Center Steve Justice, running back Mike Hart, defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock, linebacker Clint Session, safety Antoine Bethea, linebacker Tyjuan Hagler.

Titans: Running back Quinton Ganther, receiver Roydell Williams, guard Eugene Amano.

Jacksonville: Defensive end Bobby McCray.

Houston: Receiver David Anderson.

	Kirby Lee/US Presswire
	Tennessee running back Chris Johnson was a force for the Titans' offense Saturday before being knocked out with an ankle injury.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- One of the biggest differences between the 2008 Tennessee Titans and the 2007 version was that the dynamic playmaking abilities of Chris Johnson -- a home-run threat on nearly every snap.

He had a 32-yard run and a 28-yard catch before suffering an ankle injury in the second quarter that knocked him out of the Ravens' 13-10 divisional playoff win.

And suddenly, against a physical defense, the Titans were a lot less threatening.

They'd shown excellent depth all season -- with Chris Carr playing effectively at cornerback, beating Pittsburgh without Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch, even plugging in Leroy Harris at center Saturday for Kevin Mawae.

But without the Johnson dimension, they relied on the "Smash" of their "Smash and Dash" combo and LenDale White didn't offer the same sort of potential. His fumble just before the half cost Tennessee a chance to grab a 10-7 lead at intermission.

And while Justin Gage was spectacular with 10 catches for 135 yards, Johnson probably proved himself the player the Titans could least afford to lose.

"That hurt a lot," offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said of the loss of Johnson, who was in a poncho on the bench sipping something warm in the second half. "You saw CJ's explosiveness and there were some plays there that CJ probably would have done some pretty good things with. That hurt us a lot. But the bottom line is you can't fumble twice inside the 20 and miss a field goal against a team like that."

Does what happened to the Titans minus Johnson make the case for the Titans adding more dynamic playmakers to the offense?

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