NASHVILLE, TN — Though the Titans are popular favorites to repeat as AFC South champions, they recognize that there are problems that must be addressed for them to truly be a championship contender. While the defense was often sub-par last season, special teams were also a problem, and in particular the kicking game. The Titans have had erratic kicking for the past two seasons, and this year have two unproven kickers on the roster in Tucker McCann and Blake Maubell.
Last Friday they hired former Tennessee kicker James Wilhoit as an assistant to aid the kickers. He kicked for Tennessee from 2003-06, and spent a brief period in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. Last year’s kicker Stephen Gostkowski made only 10 of 17 tries and wasn’t brought back for this season.
“I think that anything we can do to help guys do their job better is what we’re going to try to do,” Titans head coach Mike Vrabel told USA Today Tennessee Friday. “(After) meeting with Auk (special teams coach Craig Aukerman) and we looked at a few guys (we feel) that he (Wilhoit) can assist us as we move forward toward the season. We’ll do our bes and I know we’ll find guys that are going to make some field goals.” Wilhoit is not on the roster and hasn’t been given an official title.
The Titans also signed center Patrick Morris in a clear sign the team was unhappy about problems with the QB/center exchange in last week’s practice. Morris had previously appeared in three games with the Denver Broncos over the last two seasons and was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of TCU as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
The current starter at center is Ben Jones, with the backup being Daniel Munyer. The Titans also signed offensive lineman Spencer Pulley Friday. He’s a former Vanderbilt player (2011-15) who’s previously started 26 of 49 games for the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants after going undrafted in. 2016.
Training camp continues this week. The Titans open the preseason on the road against the Atlanta Falcons August 13.
James Wilhoit when he was a kicker for University of Tennessee.
