An underrated Titans problem that still needs to be addressed
One of the more underrated issues the Tennessee Titans have and refuse to fix is their approach to the kicking game. Tennessee released veteran Randy Bullock following the 2022 season after Bullock made 17 of his 20 field goal attempts and 16 of his 18 attempts from inside 50 yards. Those numbers may look serviceable […]
One of the more underrated issues the Tennessee Titans have and refuse to fix is their approach to the kicking game.
Tennessee released veteran Randy Bullock following the 2022 season after Bullock made 17 of his 20 field goal attempts and 16 of his 18 attempts from inside 50 yards. Those numbers may look serviceable on paper, but Bullock's limited range proved to be a real detriment for the Titans' offense when they got across mid field.
Heading into 2023, it appears that the Titans have not adjusted their standards for a placekicker. Tennessee seems content to have a kicking competition between last year's backup, Caleb Shudak, and 2023 undrafted free agent Trey Wolff.
Shudak and Wolff each have intriguing upside that is worth taking a look at during OTAs and training camp, but they have one career NFL game combined. Even with the lack of experience the two former UDFAs have, Tennessee doesn't seem too interested in bringing in a veteran option.
Titans special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman spoke to the media on Tuesday and was asked if Tennessee was still actively looking for help at kicker.
"Obviously Caleb Shudak, he's one of the guys. Trey Wolff, we brought him in as an undrafted free agent," said Aukerman on Tuesday. "Those guys have been doing a really good job this offseason and we'll let them battle it out through OTAs, veteran minicamp, and then training camp and we'll see who ends up winning. I feel really good about both of them right now. Both obviously have some good strengths and some weaknesses and we'll continue to work with them and find out who's the best for us. We're always looking, but we like what they're doing right now."
As for the team's inability to hit from 50+ over the past two years? Aukerman and the Titans don't believe it will or should be a priority for the team moving froward.
"You can look at it that way, but I'm looking at more of the money zone from 40 to 49 yards. If we can make consistent kicks from there, great," said Aukerman when asked about needing more range at the position. "50, 50-plus is also great, but I wouldn't say that that's a major thing that we're going to be looking at."
The Titans were dead last in kicking points per game in 2022 (5.4), and since the start of 2021 when Bullock signed with Tennessee, the Titans have made just two field goals of 50 yards or more. Only the Los Angeles Chargers have made less (1) over that time with many NFL teams well into double digits.
Keep in mind, the Titans punted 11 different times in 2022 with the ball across midfield. For an offense that we know lacks weapons out wide and has a tendency to stall out in enemy territory, the ability to steal points with a kicker that can hit from 50 yards with ease (or even push 60) is huge.
If only there was a kicker available that the Titans could bring into camp with veteran experience that has been consistently accurate from 40-49 yards out and has the power to hit from 55 and beyond…Oh wait, there was!
Brandon McManus, a nine-year NFL veteran, was released by the Denver Broncos earlier this week. Over the last three seasons, McManus is a perfect 26-for-26 on kicks between 40 and 49 yards. Over that same stretch, he has made 23 field goals from 50+ including a career best 61 yarder in January of 2022 in Los Angeles.
McManus was available…but the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars scooped him up on Thursday morning, leaving the Titans once again rolling the dice that Shudak or Wolff emerges this fall.
Shudak and Wolff deserve a fair shot, but I don't think we've seen the last of the Titans' kicking problem, and from Aukerman's comments on Tuesday, it may be a while before we see the Titans extend their scoring range like most teams around the NFL are in today's game.
