Mike Vrabel keeps emergency plan alive for Titans right tackle
The Tennessee Titans are still looking for the answer at right tackle two weeks into training camp. Offensive tackle Jamarco Jones, who had previously been taking right tackle reps with the offensive starters, was released by the Titans on Thursday after getting into multiple altercations with teammates during practice. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel told […]
The Tennessee Titans are still looking for the answer at right tackle two weeks into training camp.
Offensive tackle Jamarco Jones, who had previously been taking right tackle reps with the offensive starters, was released by the Titans on Thursday after getting into multiple altercations with teammates during practice. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Friday that the decision was made to “protect the team."
With Jones out of the picture, recent free agent acquisition Chris Hubbard took snaps with the starting offense on Friday. But make no mistake about it, the Titans' right tackle search is far from over.
When Mike Vrabel first discussed the right tackle competition at the beginning of training camp, he listed a number of players that would be given an opportunity to compete for the job. One player not listed was offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill, who has been starting at right guard and been praised by Vrabel in the past for being able to play all five offensive line positions.
In my eyes, Brunskill is a viable option for the Titans at right tackle. Moving him over would require either Corey Levin or Jordan Roos to take over at right guard, but both players have proven to be serviceable starters inside.
In Vrabel‘s eyes, Brunskill is an emergency plan for the position. Brunskill was not going to be with the first group of players getting reps out there in camp, but if needed, he could step up and do the job.
As things would have it, that emergency plan is still very much on the table. Vrabel told me on Friday afternoon that it was not too late to move Brunskill over and that the Titans would continue to move some pieces around. Tennessee’s head coach even suggested that the team could bring in some players from outside the organization for workouts.
"I think that could go on. We would still have time," Vrabel said about the possibility of reshuffling the deck on the offensive line. "I don't think we're past that. I don't think we're at that point right now. But we'll keep evaluating and I'm sure we'll bring some guys in here to work out and keep moving guys around and see what gels and what works."
Vrabel has been very complementary of the professionalism and day-to-day approach that Hubbard has brought to the Titans. That being said, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Titans are not satisfied just yet with the right tackle situation. Hubbard is a good veteran presence to have on the roster, but he may not be a six-game starter.
As far as I’m concerned, this thing is still wide open. Tennessee's starting right tackle for Week 1 might not even be on the roster yet.
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