Report card for receivers
New Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger breaks
down the eight receivers on the roster, not counting the
injured Roydell Williams and the undrafted free agents, for
The Tennessean. Players listed in alphabetical order:
Chris Davis
¦ NFL seasons: 2.
¦ The skinny: Davis caught just 5 passes for 38 yards last
season and played because of injuries to other players late in
the season.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He just has to be consistent catching the ball. Right now he is running pretty good routes. He
has a good feel for what we are doing. But he has to block in
the run, put his face in there and just stay consistent catching it, which he has been doing the last couple of weeks.’’
Biren Ealy
¦ NFL seasons: 2.
¦ The skinny: An undrafted free agent, Ealy was promoted
to the active roster last season. He had only one catch, but
got the coaching staff’s attention.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He is working on everything. He is
working his butt off, working on run after the catch, turning it
up hard and run blocking. He is doing some good things, but
he is young and sometimes receivers are so worried about
routes and where they are supposed to be they forget about
the run game.’’
Justin Gage
¦ NFL seasons: 6.
¦ The skinny: Gage tied for the team lead in receptions (55)
and led the Titans in receiving yards (750) last season. He
signed a new four-year deal in the offseason.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “I like Justin’s work ethic. I like his
hands; his technique is good. He is a very good player. He
just has to keep working.’’
LaVelle Hawkins
¦ NFL seasons: Rookie.
¦ The skinny: Hawkins was a fourth-round draft pick by the
team in April.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He has great quickness and great
hands. As far as what he is supposed to be working on, it is
going to be everything because it is going to come at him
fast.’’
Brandon Jones
¦ NFL seasons: 4.
¦ The skinny: Jones is regarded as one of the team’s more
talented receivers, but injuries and inconsistencies have kept
him from taking off.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “Brandon makes a big play every
day, but he has to block in the run and he has to be consistent catching the ball. He can’t make a mental mistake every
day. He has to keep concentrating. He has a good feel for
things, but he can’t space out and has to catch the ball and
not make mental mistakes.’’
Justin McCareins
¦ NFL seasons: 8.
¦ The skinny: McCareins had great success under
Heimerdinger from 2001-03 with the Titans and signed a
one-year deal to rejoin him.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He just has to keep doing what he is
doing. This is the most relaxed I have seen him. He is not
uptight every day like he used to be. The fun part with him is
we have been together for so long he knows what I am doing.
He is doing some really good things.’’
Mike Williams
¦ NFL seasons: 4.
¦ The skinny: After failed stints in Detroit and Oakland, an
overweight Williams signed with the Titans last November.
He looks better after losing more than 30 pounds earlier this
offseason.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He has great ability. It’s a new
scheme to him, a new thing, so he has to stay on top of what
we are doing. And he has to keep working to stay in shape so
he can run more than two routes in a row.’’
Paul Williams
¦ NFL seasons: 2.
¦ The skinny: A third-round draft pick in 2007, Williams was
inactive all 16 games and became a forgotten man.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “I like Paul’s size. I like his strength. I
think Paul just needs to get more reps and keep seeing it and
seeing it and seeing it. Everything is new for him, especially
with the new stuff. He just has to settle down and be more
consistent catching the ball and he has to stay on top of it
studying.’’
lol at the bold.......i hope he was being sarcastic.....
ealy MIGHT be dingers new BRANDON MARSHALL.......
New Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger breaks
down the eight receivers on the roster, not counting the
injured Roydell Williams and the undrafted free agents, for
The Tennessean. Players listed in alphabetical order:
Chris Davis
¦ NFL seasons: 2.
¦ The skinny: Davis caught just 5 passes for 38 yards last
season and played because of injuries to other players late in
the season.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He just has to be consistent catching the ball. Right now he is running pretty good routes. He
has a good feel for what we are doing. But he has to block in
the run, put his face in there and just stay consistent catching it, which he has been doing the last couple of weeks.’’
Biren Ealy
¦ NFL seasons: 2.
¦ The skinny: An undrafted free agent, Ealy was promoted
to the active roster last season. He had only one catch, but
got the coaching staff’s attention.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He is working on everything. He is
working his butt off, working on run after the catch, turning it
up hard and run blocking. He is doing some good things, but
he is young and sometimes receivers are so worried about
routes and where they are supposed to be they forget about
the run game.’’
Justin Gage
¦ NFL seasons: 6.
¦ The skinny: Gage tied for the team lead in receptions (55)
and led the Titans in receiving yards (750) last season. He
signed a new four-year deal in the offseason.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “I like Justin’s work ethic. I like his
hands; his technique is good. He is a very good player. He
just has to keep working.’’
LaVelle Hawkins
¦ NFL seasons: Rookie.
¦ The skinny: Hawkins was a fourth-round draft pick by the
team in April.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He has great quickness and great
hands. As far as what he is supposed to be working on, it is
going to be everything because it is going to come at him
fast.’’
Brandon Jones
¦ NFL seasons: 4.
¦ The skinny: Jones is regarded as one of the team’s more
talented receivers, but injuries and inconsistencies have kept
him from taking off.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “Brandon makes a big play every
day, but he has to block in the run and he has to be consistent catching the ball. He can’t make a mental mistake every
day. He has to keep concentrating. He has a good feel for
things, but he can’t space out and has to catch the ball and
not make mental mistakes.’’
Justin McCareins
¦ NFL seasons: 8.
¦ The skinny: McCareins had great success under
Heimerdinger from 2001-03 with the Titans and signed a
one-year deal to rejoin him.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He just has to keep doing what he is
doing. This is the most relaxed I have seen him. He is not
uptight every day like he used to be. The fun part with him is
we have been together for so long he knows what I am doing.
He is doing some really good things.’’
Mike Williams
¦ NFL seasons: 4.
¦ The skinny: After failed stints in Detroit and Oakland, an
overweight Williams signed with the Titans last November.
He looks better after losing more than 30 pounds earlier this
offseason.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “He has great ability. It’s a new
scheme to him, a new thing, so he has to stay on top of what
we are doing. And he has to keep working to stay in shape so
he can run more than two routes in a row.’’
Paul Williams
¦ NFL seasons: 2.
¦ The skinny: A third-round draft pick in 2007, Williams was
inactive all 16 games and became a forgotten man.
¦ Heimerdinger’s take: “I like Paul’s size. I like his strength. I
think Paul just needs to get more reps and keep seeing it and
seeing it and seeing it. Everything is new for him, especially
with the new stuff. He just has to settle down and be more
consistent catching the ball and he has to stay on top of it
studying.’’
lol at the bold.......i hope he was being sarcastic.....
ealy MIGHT be dingers new BRANDON MARSHALL.......