Examining The TN Titans 2010 Draft Class

A small review of the Titans 2010 Draft Class and a look at how the 2011 Draft Class could impact the team will be next. First, a look at the 2010 draft class after one year.

The Titans went defense with their 2010 first round draft pick, taking DE Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech. Other notables the Titans drafted: CB AlterraunVerner and return ace/WR Marc Mariani (pictured). The Titans also selected the much talked about S Myron Rolle of Florida State. Rolle would go on to the practice squad.

Mariani would go on to make the 2010 Pro Bowl as a rookie in the return game. You will have a hard time matching value and need better than the Titans did with this 7th round pick.

Verner would start 2 pre-season games and 12 regular season games. In the regular season, Verner totalled 101 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 3 interceptions. He became a much-heralded pick that should have gone higher than the 4th round.

Morgan was put on injured reserve in October. His effectiveness could not be adequately judged. He might as well be considered an extra 2011 first rounder. It should be noted that he did have 1.5 sacks before he went down. A step above other defensive ends taken in the first round…in the afc south….(hint).

QB Rusty Smith, of the Florida Atlantic, was taken in the 5th round and thrust into action during the 2010 season. He was woefully underprepared to fill in the absence left by injuries to both Vince Young and Kerry Collins. Luckily for Titans fans, Collins managed to come back just in time to beat our Jaguars. Smith, before bowing out to Collins, managed to throw up 4 INTs and 0 TDs on his way to 200 yards through 2 games. He only started 1, a 20-0 loss to the Houston Texas who had been playing awful at the time. Smith averaged 4.5 yards per attempt. That is pedestrian on a good day.

After 1 year, I would give the Titans a B- on this draft class. The 1-year of review certainly adds perspective but it is still too early to make a call on many of these picks, such as 3rd round picks at WR-Damien Williams, USC and at LB-Rennie Curran, Georgia. With the Titans needing a new LB corps and only getting 1 new LBer in the 2011 draft. Curran may continue to develop and possibly be a long-term starter.

As far as Williams, he finished the 2010 season with 16 receptions for 219 yards. I can’t blame him, the QB situation was in constant flux and WR’s generally don’t impact the games for a few years unless they are one of the “All-Earth” selections in the top-20.

I hope you enjoyed the review and let me know your thoughts on the class.

The Titans 2011 Draft class is on the way.

UPDATE: As our reader Evan Marcus ever so ferociously pointed out, I gave you some wrong information. I’ll leave the original as it is above here so that you will see. I mentioned that the Titans QB, Rusty Smith, was drafted in the 5th round. That is not factual as he was drafted in the 6th round. I apologize for my mistake and hope you enjoyed the rest of the article. Thank you for your help, Evan.