ESPN NFL

Reading the coverage:

John Clayton looks at the state of backup quarterbacking and you can imagine what he concludes.

An interesting formula for predicting quarterback success, from John Lopez.

A first look at Football Outsiders’ views of the Colts, from Nate Dunlevy.

Reggie Hayward wasn’t surprised about his release and leaves on good terms, says Vito Stellino.

The Jaguars’ ticket sales chart shows what’s left.

The second installment of Kirk Morrison taking questions.

Doug Farrar had a chance to talk with Chris Johnson about his early football career.

Cortland Finnegan thinks high school football is the best, says Bill Vilona.

The Titans have waived two guys, according to Brian McIntyre. Means they need room for draft picks to officially be on the roster once signed.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

Ben Tate chatted on the NFLPA’s website.

A look at the interior line from HoustonDiehards.com.

Indianapolis Colts

Tony Dungy returned to Indianapolis to talk about the importance of family, writes Robert King.

The Colts are fourth in ESPN The Magazine’s Ultimate Standings.

Jacksonville Jaguars

A youth movement and a slow recovery meant the end for Reggie Hayward, says Vito Stellino.

Kirk Morrison takes questions at the team’s website.

Tennessee Titans

A second-year outlook for the Titans' 2009 draft class from Drexel Perry.

Houston Texans

Danny Clark is just trying to fit in, writes Jordan Godwin.

Andre Johnson talks about his new agent, from Godwin.

The Texans continue to groom Dan Orlovsky, writes Jeffrey Martin.

Ben Tate is way behind, says Alan Burge.

Stephanie Stradley talks corners with K.C. Joyner.

Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Gonzalez is back in the mix for the Colts, says John Oehser.

Breaking down the Colts’ third-down defense in 2009 with Stampede Blue.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are trading for guard Justin Smiley, says Gene Frenette.

Reggie Hayward was back to practice, says Vito Stellino.

The latest “Ask Vic.”

Tennessee Titans

Bo Scaife rejoined the Titans Monday and will practice Tuesday, reports Jim Wyatt.

J.I. Halsell picks up where we left off last week and puts together a two-year extension for Chris Johnson. It’s worth $19 million in new money for an average per year of $9.5 million. The deal guarantees $11 million with a guarantee per year of $5.5 million.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Do little as a rookie, and the expectation is a second-year jump.

Produce, and the talk is of the potential for a sophomore slump.

I’m not sure I get that. But when I look at the Jacksonville Jaguars' continued effort to remake their defense, I look to two second-year players as key components.

If cornerback Derek Cox and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, third-rounder picks last year, get better, so will Jacksonville.

Now how do they make it happen?

“That’s the one thing that our first-year guys coming back as second-year guys have to understand is, what they did last year is not good enough,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “In this league you’ve got to continue to improve or people are going to pass you by.

"Those guys got off to a good start in their careers by playing 16 games, but we’re going to need more from them and the rest of that group. They can’t rest on their laurels and think that they’ve figured it out. That’s what leads to that sophomore problem that we don’t want to see.”

Cox was a solid pass defender as a rookie, ending the first drive of his career with an end-zone pick of Peyton Manning. He usually stepped up to make tackles when needed, though he is working to improve that area. Generally, he drew strong reviews.

He played with poise and his body language made him seem more like a fearless veteran than a rookie out of a smaller program like William & Mary.

Jacksonville is counting on a revamped defensive line to produce a far better pass rush, but it didn't add any help at safety. So top quarterbacks like Manning and Matt Schaub, who face the Jaguars twice a year, will feel they have room to work if they have time to do so. That increases the pressure on Cox and Rashean Mathis.

“Now, I have experience, I’m more aware and it’s not new territory for me,” Cox said. “Now my biggest thing is I want to be more football savvy and be more a student of the game -- learning offenses, their habits, their tendencies, what somebody is trying to do to you.”

There is only so much a quarterback, receiver and passing offense can do, it’s just that they find different ways to do them. Cox said he's determined to boil it down to the basic parts so he can recognize them when they’re used as pieces of bigger, more complicated scenarios.

He is used to relying on his athleticism and reacting to what he sees, he said.

“But I want to make plays by actually processing, having the game slow down and having my vision go from being in a tunnel to being broad and opening up,” he said.

Said general manager Gene Smith during the team’s recent minicamp: “I think Derek Cox out here has been outstanding. You see a guy who’s bigger physically. He’s trusting his eyes a little bit better, I think. He’s a little bit more technique-conscious.”

Knighton was a hard-to-move run-stuffer who persevered through what could have been a difficult season despite a high ankle sprain. His upside is also big, though there may also be a concern about him getting too big.

Smith said he expects Knight to be better, and to regularly draw the sort of double teams that allow for the other tackles to have one-on-one matchups with guards who should be beaten.

Knighton is focusing more on block recognition and the sort of maneuvering he will see from players like Colts center Jeff Saturday. He’s studying film and formations and concentrating on what an offensive lineman’s initial hand placement and eye location means.

Veteran defensive end Reggie Hayward had talked to Knighton about the extra attention he will face in his second go-round.

“The first few weeks those double teams may not make a difference,” Hayward said. “But the season is long. It’s going to take its toll on him. He has to be mentally strong. They can’t double team you every single play. So if you don’t take a play off, when you don’t get double teamed you are going to make some plays.”

Four rookie linemen will look to Knighton as a leader, and he is trying to bring the constant energy that new defensive line coach Joe Cullen demands.

“Nobody wants to have the sophomore slump,” he said. “I played good against the run, I wasn’t so good against the pass as I wanted to be, so that’s something I am focusing on. I want to develop that high motor. Even though Tyson [Alualu] is a rookie, he brings that energy to the D-line because he’s one of those non-stop guys.”

The Jaguars hope that while Cox and Knighton will stay on a good growth curve, the members of their rookie class can emerge as big contributors from the start the way those two did. It's fair to say that as players drafted in Smith's first year, Cox and Knighton created a standard for first-year defenders.

Now, perhaps, they’ll create another for second-year members of Del Rio’s D.

Hayward said he’s talked to Knighton about Year 2, and what he’s had to say certainly can apply to Cox as well.

“I try to tell him, your second year is always your hardest year,” Hayward said. “Because you’ve had some success, you’re not going to be surprising anyone. They’re ready for you. So you’re going to have to work extra hard to make the plays that you made. So be ready.

“Don’t let it go to your head. Stay humble. And just know you’re someone that they are going to talk about when they do their scouting report. You’re someone that they have their eyes on."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The volume’s been turned up to 11 over at the defensive line area of the Jaguars’ practice.

Joe Cullen prowls and hollers, prods and hoorays as he pushes a revamped group that’s expected to revitalize Jacksonville’s defense.

Last year’s 14 sacks were the fifth-worst total in the league since it started keeping sack stats in 1982. Enter Cullen, a once successful coach in Detroit who made national headlines for passing through a drive-through naked, a stunt that ultimately landed him out of the league.

Now he’s been given a second chance as well as the first four picks of the Jaguars’ draft and a veteran rusher in free-agent addition Aaron Kampman.

The Jaguars didn’t do much behind that line. Veteran linebacker Kirk Morrison, acquired in a trade with Oakland, is the only real notable addition. A better pass rush, they say repeatedly, will do much to cure other ills like those at safety.

As Cullen had each lineman weave through four tackling dummies at minicamp practices that wrap up Monday, clubbing and ripping each one before turning left and flattening a fake quarterback, he left little unsaid.

“It’s time to get double-digit sacks around here Harv,” he bellowed to end Derrick Harvey, the team’s top draft pick in 2008. “Not four sacks. That’s what you were brought here to do: Rush.”

He urged “tempo, tempo” and his assistant, Ben Albert reminded the troops: “We’ve got to reclaim the line of scrimmage.”

“I think this is a great group they’ve given me to work with,” Cullen said. “…It all starts up front. Basically the organization and the team is depending on us to lead the team, to lead the troops.”

Two veteran linemen, newcomer Kampman and Reggie Hayward who came here in 2005, both love Cullen so far.

“I love his passion,” said Kampman, the former Green Bay star. “The position is so much about relentlessness, tenacity and obviously those are some of his strong characteristics as a coach. He knows a lot about rushing the quarterback. He’s learned from a lot of great guys in his career and one thing I’ve learned is you always look at the pedigree.”

Those influences include Chicago defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and Indianapolis defensive line coach John Teerlinck.

Said Hayward: “[Cullen’s] whole motto is to work hard, to go after it. He’s an intense little guy from upper New York or Jersey or somewhere. He says ‘tonic’ and not ‘soda’ and he’s a little fireball. That’s what you need, man. I think he’s perfect for what we’ve got going on.”

“The identity of the D-line is going to be hard work. We may not be as big as John Henderson or Marcus Stroud. But most of the time making plays is just effort. Do you give up? Or do you continue to work?”

The Jaguars hired Cullen in January with the blessing of commissioner Roger Goodell.

The quick recap of his fall: Cullen drove through a suburban Detroit Wendy’s naked in 2006 -- a scene later revisited through a Jon Kitna Halloween costume. Cullen was arrested for that and separately for a DUI, incidents that led to a suspension for one game by the team, another game by the league and a fine of $20,000 for conduct detrimental to the league.

The two cases resulted in fines and 10 days of community service as well as a judge's order to attend outpatient treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

“Motivated guys are great, right?” asked head coach Jack Del Rio. “Players or coaches, that’s what you want… I know Joe’s very hungry for an opportunity, when he’s been in the league and the line’s he’s worked with he’s done a nice job with and I think he’s very thankful for a second shot.”

“All I know is that there isn’t a single one of us that’s perfect, I know I’m not,” Kampman said. “This profession obviously puts you in a fishbowl and the great thing is that I know he’s addressed it with the group and is moving forward. Each and every one of us needs to be about redemption.”

Cullen started off our chat with an emphasis on how grateful he is to owner Wayne Weaver, GM Gene Smith and Del Rio for the second chance.

In three seasons in the same post in Detroit, he had pretty good line play on pretty bad teams. In 2007 the Lions jumped from 24th to ninth in the NFL in sacks, and the defensive line accounted for 28.5, seventh-most in the league.

But he was exiled in 2009 when the Lions started over with a new coaching staff. He spent the year as an assistant at Idaho State.

He and his 2010 draft class will get a lot of attention this year. His rookie pupils include tackle Tyson Alualu, the 10th overall pick from Cal, third-round tackle D’Anthony Smith and fifth-round ends Larry Hart and Austen Lane.

“They’re very talented, they’re very gifted,” Hayward said. “This is the time for someone to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got a lot at stake here. Now do you want to mess it up by being a goof off or do something special?’”

Cullen isn’t so much worried about quantity as quality in the sack department. He said he craves “impact sacks,” the kind that come with strips or turn field position at a crucial spot in a game.

The defensive line won’t be judged on sacks and can affect games in many more ways, Smith said.

“I think it’s about making the quarterback move,” Smith said. “You’d like to get him down a lot. But you make him move, most quarterbacks who can’t set their feet to throw, cannot throw the ball accurately. So you get opportunities for more pass break-ups, for interceptions and you certainly get opportunities to get off the field with an incompletion.”

Cullen’s hardly set modest goals, especially considering it’s a team with one very big star in running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

“We’re going to be the face of the organization and really be the group that creates a relentless attitude about getting to where we want to be,” he said. “So we’ve got to not just be good, we’ve got to be great in everything we do.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- There are vastly different schools of thought on rookie indoctrination.

Since Thursday, the Tennessee Titans had their new players in by themselves, easing them through an orientation to get them ready for when they will join the veterans.

Meanwhile Saturday, on the practice fields adjacent to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jack Del Rio watched his new players mix with his old, 94 in all, as the Jaguars started their offseason minicamp.

To make things even more difficult on the draft class of six; 18 undrafted rookies; and eight tryout players, the temperature soared to 94 degrees.

“I like the shock factor,” Jack Del Rio said. “I’m kind of old school in that regard. I like them to come in and be swimming and playing catch-up a little bit and see how much ground they have to make up instead of telling them. I think they all hear it: The game’s faster, the guys are bigger and stronger. You hear all that. But they knew that before they got here.

“So to bring them in by themselves and then tell them that again, I’m not sure that helps them. But when they come in here and work with the guys, see grown men that have children to feed that they are fighting for spots with, that gives them a different perspective when they go back home. And when they come back in a few weeks, they are dialed in.”

I had a lot of conversations that you will see pieces of in coming days. For now, a couple of observations from what I saw and heard in and after the opening practice:

• Mike Sims-Walker made a tremendous one-handed spinning catch of a 15-yard pass on the right sideline that was off target from David Garrard during a drill with quarterbacks throwing to receivers with no defense.
• The starting offensive line was intact from last year. From left to right: Eugene Monroe, Uche Nwaneri, Brad Meester, Vince Manuwai, Eben Britton. Later, Kynan Forney was in Nwaneri’s spot. Del Rio made it sound like the interior three -- where was concern over Meester’s play last year -- will come from Manuwai, who I think is a given, Nwaneri, Meester and Forney.
• Tyson Alualu, drafted No. 10 overall, was with the starting defensive line right from the start: Left to right it is Derrick Harvey, Alualu, Terrance Knighton and Reggie Hayward.
• Gerald Alexander and Anthony Smith worked as the starting safeties with Reggie Nelson with the second-string. But Del Rio advised against reading too much into it and said it could be different at different times in the offseason.
• Only three players were out. Defensive end Aaron Kampman is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last year in Green Bay and fullback Greg Jones is still recovering from an ankle injury. Tight end Zach Miller was out with what Del Rio said is a foot or ankle injury that did not sound serious.

Quentin Groves tweeted this at about 2:30:

Duval County....I LOVE U GUYS...thanks for all your support...New Starts=New Beginnings...OAKLAND HERE I COME!!!!

Chris Mortensen reported he believes the Jaguars got a fifth-round pick for Groves.

Groves told me in an e-mail that it's done “pending a physical.”

The deal gives the Jaguars, who are without second- and seventh-round picks a total of seven selections now, with two in the fifth and two in the sixth. The move is another example of Gene Smith’s willingness to admit the franchise’s errors, acknowledge a non-fit or both.

Among the others disposed of or allowed to walk: Reggie Williams, Matt Jones, Khalif Barnes, Gerald Sensabaugh and Derek Landri.

They were all drafted when James “Shack” Harris was running the front office, but this isn’t about a divide between old leadership and new.

Smith needs all the good players he can get; he’s not clearing out guys he believes can help. It’s to his credit that he’s not compelled to give guys more time than he thinks they need to be sufficiently evaluated.

The Jaguars couldn’t figure out how to get production out of Groves, who was part of the reason they dabbled with a 3-4 last year and was part of the reason the team had only 14 sacks. They started him at linebacker, they started him at end and they shuffled him way down the depth chart.

It just didn’t work.

Now new defensive line coach Joe Cullen’s had time with him and I feel sure his input was factored in.

A team looking to revamp its pass rush now goes with Derrick Harvey and free-agent addition Aaron Kampman as starters with Reggie Hayward and a to-be-drafted player in the mix.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

Kris Brown, PK, Houston Texans: The Texans signed Neil Rackers to a two-year contract worth $4.1 million on Monday. That doesn’t bode well for Brown’s future in Houston. Despite injuries, Rackers missed only one field goal last season. Brown was inconsistent at all levels last year and missed too many clutch kicks.

Brown has 12 years experience in the league and could be declining at this stage of his career, but it isn’t a sure thing that he will be on the outs either, as a competition in training camp could occur between these two veterans.

Rising

Reggie Hayward, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars: This isn’t a real glamorous nomination for this week’s honor, but the Jaguars did decide to bring Hayward back even though he is now 30 years old and is coming off a broken leg that resulted in him missing almost the entire 2009 season.

Newly signed Aaron Kampman should start on the right side and Derrick Harvey on the left, but Hayward is well liked by teammates and did notch 27.5 sacks over a three-year stretch from 2003 to 2005. Still, he is more of a base end at this point. He has the size to play the run and should provide good depth while also contributing in Jacksonville’s defensive end rotation. Although this is good news for Hayward, it certainly doesn’t preclude the Jaguars from further addressing the position in the draft.

Houston Texans

Bob McNair is maintaining his faith in his team and in Gary Kubiak, says Thomas George.

Mike Kerns asks if Amobi Okoye can still pan out.

Indianapolis Colts

A run through of the Colts at quarterback from John Oehser. (They're in pretty good shape.)

In this video diary entry, Tony Dungy sorts through Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow. His conclusion surprises me.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Reggie Hayward confuses me by telling Michael C. Wright the Jaguars’ linemen deserved more credit last season.

A breakdown of the Jaguars' defensive line from Jonathan Loesche.

A chat with Terrance Knighton through Jaguars Daily. (Video.)

Tennessee Titans

This has picked up speed but is no surprise to people who’ve paid attention. Chris Johnson isn’t at Titans offseason workouts, just as he said he wouldn’t be, writes Jim Wyatt.

Wyatt talked to Stephen Tulloch, who's training in Florida.

Tennessee’s corners are a short group, writes David Boclair.

Cortland Finnegan says the Titans are high on Ryan Mouton, writes Jonathan Hutton.

The Titans’ history says that Kyle Wilson's return ability is not as much of a plus factor as people may think it is, says Tom Gower.

Who knows exactly what Reggie Hayward has left?

This will be his 10th season, he’s coming off a broken leg suffered in last season’s opener and he just turned 30.

Still, re-signing the unrestricted free agent as the Jaguars did Wednesday is a smart move. He’s experienced, he has the sort of personality the team wants and those qualities can be a benefit to the younger players. He’ll adapt to a role even if it’s not as big as the one he hopes for.

I praised the Titans for giving themselves options at cornerback, a weak spot. I do the same here for the Jaguars, who added a big free agent in Aaron Kampman and now bolster their depth by retaining Hayward.

Pass rush is still a draft priority. But a Kampman, Derrick Harvey, Hayward trio is a solid start on a better year for quarterback pursuit.

Maybe it even opens first-round options for a team that is currently without a second-round pick.

Toni Monkovic looks at a project that intends to grade talent evaluators.

Houston Texans

A thorough look at the state of the Texans from Stephanie Stradley.

A look at five-year draft grades from Alan Burge.

Indianapolis Colts

Indy Football Report’s first mock draft has the Colts taking Maurkice Pouncey.

Mike Chappell takes questions.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Mike Sims-Walker's catches were originally intended for Troy Williamson. Vic Ketchman looks at the speedy receiver.

Collin Streetman considers what to do with Reggie Hayward, Clint Ingram and Reggie Nelson.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans believe Leroy Harris is ready, says Jim Wyatt.

A video preview of 2010 from the team’s Web site.

Houston Texans

To earn his big new contract, DeMeco Ryans “did everything the right way,” says GM Rick Smith, reports John McClain.

Texans faithful are relived and excited about Ryans’ deal, writes Alan Burge.

Indianapolis Colts

Looking at needs in Colts’ context with John Oehser.

Robert Mathis had a meeting with a whale and Stampede Blue has the photographic evidence.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars should bring back Reggie Hayward, says Alfie Crow. I agree.

Expect a continued focus on acquiring value, says Vic Ketchman.

Jeremy Mincey’s clinging to his dream, writes Ketchman.

Tennessee Titans

Interest in Chris Simms or Patrick Ramsey could help the Titans gain leverage with Kerry Collins, says Jim Wyatt.

The addition of Tye Hill kept the Titans’ focus on defense.

Houston Texans

An erratic year means Kris Brown will have competition, says John McClain.

The Texans are expecting to play the Cowboys in the preseason as well as the regular season, says McClain.

Indianapolis Colts

Breaking down Jim Caldwell’s comments at the owners meetings with John Oehser.

The shift in the Colts’ staff is bigger than it seems, says Pete Prisco.

Andy Benoit assesses the Colts' 2009 season and needs.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jack Del Rio plans to stay cool in the hot seat, says Vito Stellino.

The Jags and Reggie Hayward still have some interest in each other, says Stellino.

Benoit assesses the Jaguars' 2009 season and needs.

Tennessee Titans

Jeff Fisher talked stability.

The Titans' total list of draft picks, from Tom Gower.

Jacksonville general manager Gene Smith is very much a best-player-available drafter, and the Jaguars' ability to land free-agent prize Aaron Kampman means Smith won’t be nearly as predictable with the 10th pick in the draft as mock drafters have previously believed.

Michael Wright reports the Jaguars have agreed to terms with Kampman.

I can’t wait to hear from Kampman about the Jaguars’ sales pitch, because word has been teams like Philadelphia and Seattle were seriously interested, too. He played like a cover operative, keeping quiet about where he’d visit, so much so that there were several mistaken reports and his mom told me she was sworn to secrecy.

But the Jaguars got him to North Florida and got him under contract.

Kampman is coming off a torn ACL and a down year with the Packers who changed from a 4-3, in which he’s best, to a 3-4. After Julius Peppers, Kampman was one of the two best pass-rushers available in free agency, and so the Jaguars pursued him the way they expect he will pursue quarterbacks.

So I pledge that if for some reason he doesn’t work out, the Jaguars won’t take heat from me. If you go get the best guy to help at your biggest weakness, and things don’t go as hoped, you still went for it.

The starting defensive line should now be Derrick Harvey on the left, John Henderson and Terrance Knighton in the middle and Kampman on the right -- a quality group.

Smith is still likely to draft an end -- at No. 10 he will be able to take the player he likes best -- not the player he likes best who addresses the team’s biggest need.

Cue the applause.

With Kampman and receiver/special-teamer Kassim Osgood, the Jaguars have already done better in free agency than I imagined they would or could. If they do nothing else but wait for the draft now, that’d be fine.

Though locking up their own defensive end free agent, Reggie Hayward, who was also hurt last year, would be another good move.

Robert in Los Angeles writes: Hey PK, I typically enjoy your stuff and even when you say negative things about the Colts, I don’t have a problem with it. I mean it’s your job, you call it like you see it. However, there is one article you wrote about that irked me. Calling out Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell when not wanting to discuss what happened in Super Bowl 44. You say (paraphrasing here) "if past is prologue then you must talk about it." Well I’ll counter that with a phrase Tony Dungy coined during his tenure as head coach of the Colts: "The only way to erase disappointment is to move forward.”

Paul Kuharsky: I appreciate the note.

I think you miss my point on “past is prologue.” Polian uses that as his rationale for not talking about the past. Prologue means preface or introduction, so if the past is the introduction to the future, than how can you not use it to talk about what you are introducing? He needs a new crutch quote.

The Colts played 19 games. For 18 they talked about them after the game and then after watching film. There is a big difference between saying after the game “we botched the onside kick, they got us there, hats off to them” and saying after watching film of the game why and how they botched the onsides kick.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that second conversation. What would you think if on a regular-season Monday, Caldwell took the podium and said “That game is in the past, I’m not going to field any questions on it.” Would be weird, no?

All I am saying is that after No. 19, they should do the same as they did after No. 1-18. I’m not eager to talk about the Super Bowl now – it’s ancient history. But if you hide Caldwell until a month after the game and he never has to answer for the questionable decisions he made in the Super Bowl simply because time has passed, is that fair to fans who are still tortured by the loss?

Do you get to not answer tough questions at work by using stall tactics?

Dungy is a reasonable man, and I’m sure he would say that while moving forward quickly is healthy, you also need to put the past to bed in order to do so. The Colts, in my eyes, could have done a far better job of that. I think even the most staunch fan of the organization who trusts in everything Polian does has to admit his PR year wasn’t good with the way he handled speaking of the unimportance of an undefeated season and the way he conducted himself at his season-ending press conference. At least he had one. It’s disappointing Caldwell did not.

Finally, in a real world context: If you had a bad day at work, how would it fly if you just told your coworkers and the people who were responsible for funding a big piece of your business, “Never mind that, let’s not look back, I’m moving forward? The only way to erase disappointment is to move forward.” We both know the answer to that one.

Chase from Chandler, Ariz., writes: Your disinterest and overall stature is annoying to the point I can't check your link. You should, A) Go get your "Dream job" at the New York Times if they have a desire for an individual with the equivalency of child’s writing skills, or B) Find a new field. I find it humorous that you're asked to do a chat every Thursday, yet your answers consist of nothing more than "NOOOOOOOOOOOO" or my favorite "why?” I thought as a blogger your objective is to give valuable insight that answers your reader's questions with thoroughness, why do you not understand that concept?

Paul Kuharsky: I love my job, I assure you.

In chats and mailbags, I can play to the lowest common denominator or the highest. I prefer the highest. It helps encourage a semi-sophisticated and more fun dialogue and it keeps my smartest, cleverest readers coming back. Without them you should see what things can devolve to.

When people ask me questions I don’t really get, “why” seems a completely appropriate response. And often they cannot answer it.

“The Colts should let their running backs and receivers throw more on trick plays?” Why? You don’t prefer why to “That’s an incredibly foolish thing to suggest as they have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time back there to throw." Is B better? “The Titans should switch to a 4-3.” After four or five times explaining how drastic a shift that is and how they do not have the personnel or philosophy to fit it, “Why?” becomes a good answer again.

I understand the concept and I hope if you read the blog for a day or a week you’ll find quite a bit of the valuable insight and thoroughness you seek.

And good questions produce blog posts, mailbag answers and chat responses. The more the better for me, honestly. Some of the bad ones have to be answered too. But many of my readers appreciate that we don’t spend a great deal of time on silly or nonsensical stuff and I don’t see that changing.

My personality is a major ingredient in the blog, and I’m not super patient. Sorry that’s not your preferred style or method.

Jacob in Pittsburgh writes: Hey Paul, I liked your analysis of where Tim Tebow might land, but I had one question. In the Texans portion, you stated that the strengths of the backup quarterback should match the strengths of the starter. But then in the Titans section you argued that they should get a traditional pocket passer to be the backup for Vince Young. Why wouldn't they want to acquire a backup that can perform all the bootlegs, options, and designed QB runs that they have for Young?

Paul Kuharsky: I contradicted myself there, didn’t I? Here’s why.

I’m a pocket passer guy. So if you’ve got a good pocket passer, like Matt Schaub, I’m all for his backup being in his image.

Vince Young is, at least, capable of being other worldly when it comes to being a running quarterback. The guy behind him, even if it was Tebow, isn’t going to match VY’s physical gifts. In the Titans’ case, I’d rather see them developing a young guy who is a more conventional drop back guy as an alternative to VY.

You’d like No. 2 to match the strengths of No. 1. But when No. 1’s strength is being unlike anyone else, it doesn’t really work.

Kevin Fitzpatrick in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., writes: Paul, if the Jaguars don’t re-sign Clint Ingram they are going to be extremely thin at linebacker. Also with them not being big spenders in free agency I’m not sure who is out there that would meet their price. From what I’ve read over the last week on jaguars.com it almost makes me believe they will select the linebacker from Alabama, Rolando McClain, but then if they do that we'll be short on the defensive line. I just don’t know how they are going to have any depth at linebacker or end this year. What would you suggest?

Paul Kuharsky: I appreciate your consistent readership and participation.

Ingram got his tender and I’d expect him to be back. They need depth at backer and even more at end. I’d like to see them re-sign Reggie Hayward, draft an end and find a guy with upside like they did with Atiyyah Ellison at tackle last year.

Jim in Memphis writes: I always enjoy the blog and check it regularly. Although Kyle Vanden Bosch says he doesn't feel snubbed by the Titans, do you believe him? Do you think this affects other free agents' view of the Titans? If so, how? I'd like to see Jeff Fisher take a page out of Jim Schwartz's book! Chances of that? About as much as Tiger doing an interview with Barbara Walters.

Paul Kuharsky: I believe him. He understands the ways of the league. It’s not a big loyalty business. The Titans should have communicated with him better, earlier.

But what good does it do them to come out and say “We think he’s not worth the money he’s expecting?”

Let him hit the market. If it’s dry, two months from now, if you’ve not filled the hole, maybe all a sudden there is a chance to reunite. There won’t be if you killed it by being brutally honest about him eight weeks earlier.

Here’s what will impact other free agents with regard to the Titans: How much money do they offer?

No, I don’t see Fisher scouting out a free agent at hit family home at 12:01.

Mike in Philadelphia writes: I am a huge Titans fan, but do you think there is any truth about us considering Kirk Morrison?

Paul Kuharsky: C’mon now. You have to differentiate speculation and discussion from reporting. I wrote a post about potential RFA fits and mentioned Morrision and the Titans. You can’t make the jump to them being interested until someone reports that they are.