Cecil Lammey's Thoughts

The Titans backfield is filled to the brim with talent. It will be interesting to see which RB can earn the trust of the coaching staff and win the starting job.  The Titans should rely heavily on their running game to help open up their weak passing game.  The starting RB will need to be more than one-dimensional, and the ability to pass block will be among the biggest factors when choosing a full-time RB.  All of the players that are being considered are more than capable of being the starter in Tennessee, or nearly any other team in the league.  Each of them has questions surrounding them, and this will be one of the most hotly contested battles in training camp.  There is a chance that at least 2 of the 3 could form some sort of RBBC if a starter doesn’t separate from the pack during the grueling August practices.  That could really kill any fantasy value that these backs have, so before considering drafting Chris Brown, LenDale White, or Travis Henry one must be sure to get value on that pick.   

Questions about the Tennessee RB Corps coming into 2006:

Who will be the starter on opening day?
The starter on opening day will be the back that has impressed most in camp.  Chris Brown has the early lead because of his familiarity with the offense, and pass blocking skills.  LenDale White could win the job, and he is exactly the type of workhorse back that the Titans need.  However, he is a rookie, and thus will need to really outshine Brown for the job.  Travis Henry is the former 1,000-yard rusher that is still waiting for an opportunity with his new team.  If the decision were to be made today, it would be Chris Brown by default.  However, this is an open competition and the decision could come down to the wire.   

Will said opening day starter hold onto the job?
Things change quickly in the NFL, and RB’s are never guaranteed to finish the season as the starter with their team.  Injuries are usually the reason behind a RB losing his job, and that could be the case in Tennessee.  If Chris Brown does win the starting job, it will only take one pulled hamstring to open the door for LenDale White.  White is a pure power runner and he has shown the ability to play through pain on many occasions.  Brown and White would have to both be injured for Henry to get his shot as the starting RB.

Can Chris Brown stay healthy for an entire year?
It would be great for him if he could.  One thing that has been consistent with Brown is his injury history.  He has bulked up this offseason, putting on an additional 10 pounds of muscle.  He is also planning on running with a lower pad level.  Brown has a unique running style, ala-Eric Dickerson, where he runs very upright.  This style exposes his mid-section and he absorbs a lot of punishment because of it.  Unlike Eric Dickerson, Brown cannot play through injury, and his numbers suffer because of it.  A RB’s style is more instinctual and it would be difficult for Brown to change it at this point in his career.   

How good can LenDale White be?
LenDale White can be a superstar in this league.  He was a superstar in college, and ended his career as USC’s all-time leading TD machine.  He split time his entire career with Reggie Bush, yet one never heard him complain about playing time.  And despite splitting carries, he led USC in rushing 2 out of 3 years, and finished just 10 yards short of Reggie Bush for career rushing yards.  The strength of the Titan’s OL is in the middle and that just happens to be where White makes his living.  He is a great interior runner that has patience, vision, and power.  The coaching staff in Tennessee was very excited to draft White, and with Norm Chow calling the shots on offense, White feels right at home.  Falling to the 45th pick might have been the best thing for White’s career.  Now he is motivated and is out to prove the entire league wrong.  That being said, he is still a rookie and shouldn’t break into the top 10 RB’s even if he’s the starter for the entire year.
 
Has Travis Henry’s value evaporated to nothing?
Travis Henry’s value is at an all-time low.  Last season he was traded to Tennessee with hopes of reviving his career.  Well, those hopes were quickly dashed and Henry had one of the worst seasons of his career.    Injuries limited his playing time, and he failed to show the ability that made him a 1,000-yard rusher in Buffalo.  He needs to stay healthy in order to make more of an impact in what is likely his last season in Tennessee. 

Could Henry or Brown still be traded?
No Titans RB rushed for over 100 yards in a game last year.  Thus, LenDale White was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2006 draft.  White is a favorite of the coaching staff, and Henry or Brown could see themselves traded before the start of the regular season.  The Titans shouldn’t expect to get much for them, but if the right scenario presented itself either of these two backs could be expendable.  Injuries could also play a role in whether or not one of these backs is traded. 

Positives

• Tennessee plans on running a lot more in 2006.
• Brown has good speed, and gamebreaking ability.
• White is pure power, and has a great nose for the end zone.
• Henry has shown the ability to be a workhorse when healthy.

Negatives

• Lack of a threat in the passing game means defenses will stack the line to stop the run.
• Brown hasn’t shown the ability to stay healthy, dating back to his days in college.
• White is unproven as a receiver, and there are questions about his work ethic.
• Henry has lost his confidence, and now runs tentatively.

Final Thoughts

When entering your fantasy draft make sure to proceed with caution when drafting a Tennessee RB. Hopefully for us fantasy owners this situation will be decided in the pre-season. If a starter does not emerge from the mire of August, then this could turn into an ugly RBBC. If that is the case it appears that LenDale White would have the most value because of his ability as a goalline runner. And if Chris Brown wins the job outright, it would be very wise to handcuff White to him in a later round. Either way, don’t expect more than a RB2 at best, from this corps in Tennessee.

Quotations from the Message Board Thread

To view the entire Player Spotlight thread (there's a ton of fantastic commentary in there), click here.

Q-Bert:
I am currently camped out on the LenDale White bandwagon and my projections reflect that. I actually really like Chris Brown and think that he is a talented player. But I think that his past history has forced the Titans to look for a more dependable option. Brown's last two years were incredibly frustrating. First he looked fantastic but couldn't stay healthy. Then he stayed relatively healthy but put up pedestrian numbers. Something in my gut tells me that when Jeff Fisher looks at LenDale White he sees Eddie George.

Grid71:
An overweight rookie RB to help a rookie QB develop? I don't think so. Look for Tennessee to mimic the rushing attack of the Super Bowl champs. Brown is perfect for the FWP role. White will take on the Bus role. (I doubt his footwork will be as sweet as Bettis though) White will likely play a short yardage role in the offense to get him some touches & game experience to help his development. (5 to 7 touches per game) Your best bet for White to succeed is flat out, an injury to Brown.

jurb26:
This is very simple to me. White is the most talented RB on the roster and the talk out of Tenn is that he is already getting into shape, just a little behind the other guys (as he should be). His Hammy has not been an issue and it looks as though the rest everyone was so mad at him for taking a few months ago has greatly paid off. White still has plenty of time to not only get into game shape, but claim the starting RB spot. He knows the system already too which should be a plus for his pass blocking and things like that.

waylander:
Tennessee faithful, myself included, feels strongly that we will see a much improved defense. Not top 10, but if TN is in the teens as far as Defensive rating goes, that will be a huge improvement. Fisher has already said they are going to get back to running the ball more, and using a ball control offense. So I believe we will spend less time playing catch up, thus allowing the rushing attempts to increase, as well as the coach being committed to running the ball more.

Chris Brown Projections

SOURCE	RSH	RSHYD	RSHTD	REC	RECYD	RECTD
Cecil Lammey	150	645	2	29	245	2
Message Board Consensus	190	797	4	26	228	1