Professor

Titans seek talent that can do it all - Nashville, Tennessee - Friday, 08/10/07 - Tennessean.com

excerpt:

In an age of specialization, many football players are asked to focus on a very narrow skill set.

There are receivers who line up only in the slot and defensive backs who concentrate strictly on covering them. There are linebackers assigned to stuff the run, then leave the field in passing situations. There are kickoff specialists and long snappers who don't do anything else.


The Titans often talk of putting players into position to do what they do well, and not asking them to do anything more. That would seem to butt heads with another line of thinking that says the most versatile players give themselves the best chance of earning roster spots.

Titans General Manager Mike Reinfeldt said the philosophies don't really conflict. Young players securing roster spots benefit from being multifaceted, but once they earn their way in the league they can taper those skills and sort out their strengths.

"That's how you make a roster, is your versatility," Reinfeldt said. "And then over time, over the course of a season and an offseason, that's really where you hone your skills and become more of a specialized person and you kind of grow into what you are best at as you go forward."

A path in

For several Titans who won't likely be starters, their ticket to a roster spot will be punched based on their ability to present a diversified portfolio.

Offensive lineman Daniel Loper works at both tackle and both guard positions. Tight end Casey Cramer will get a long look because he can do the work of the F-back — the tight end who shifts around a lot — as well as line up as a fullback.

Cramer has also played on every segment of the kickoff return unit — except as the returner — and contributes on other special team units.

"I know that I don't have a specialty that's just amazing, I don't stand out at anything in particular," said Cramer, who's played in 22 games in three seasons with Carolina and Tennessee. "But roster spots are always hard to fill and a guy that can do more than one thing is a little bit more valuable because he can be a couple different pegs and fit in more than one hole.

"I think the more I can do the better chance I have. You have to compensate. But I think as we get more and more specialized, it gets a little bit harder to have a more versatile player."

Other Titans who score points for being multidimensional include Vincent Fuller (a safety who can play cornerback), Cortland Finnegan and Kelly Herndon (corners who smoothly move inside or out), first-round pick Michael Griffin (a corner who was a college safety), Bo Scaife (a tight end who can play on the line or shift around and also line up like a fullback or even a receiver) and Tony Brown (a defensive tackle who's comfortable at end).

And while plenty of long snappers fill only that role, Ken Amato works with the linebackers and has seen game time there on occasion.

Loper said he rotates regularly in practice so that he's getting time at tackle and guard on both the left side and the right. Eugene Amano and Leroy Harris work at center and guard in a similar fashion.

But the vast majority of those snaps come with the second and third teams at this time of year, and on a scout team that's helping prepare the starters during the season.

"We only get to suit up seven offensive linemen for a game," Loper said. "So you're going to have to have some guys who can play either side. … They always say it's harder to back up in the NFL than to play because not only are you not getting the practice reps, but also because you might be thrown in anywhere. You have to know."

Wide receiver Roydell Williams said it's far better to know all three wide receiver spots than to be pigeonholed into one, because receivers coach Fred Graves and offensive coordinator Norm Chow look to the versatile player anytime they are in need.

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