The Tennessee Titans are bringing aboard another coach to help out with the kicker competition in training camp.
After Friday’s practice, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel revealed the team has hired former University of Tennessee kicker, James Wilhoit, who will lend a hand in developing the players at the position.
Wilhoite spent four years as the Vols’ kicker from 2003 through 2006, and currently runs the “Wilhoit Kicking Academy”.
Tennessee has a competition at kicker between a pair of undrafted free agents with no NFL experience in Tucker McCann and Blake Haubeil, so the team could use all the help it can get.
The concern here is obvious.
The Titans have recorded the No. 32 and No. 31 field goal success rates in 2019 and 2020, respectively, so their current situation at kicker is far from ideal.
Vrabel’s comment about Wilhoite to the media. https://t.co/12CBXFVH48
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) July 30, 2021
After making all of their kicks on Day 1, McCann and Haubeil struggled on Day 2, with both missing two of their five attempts. That poor showing from McCann and Haubeil might have led to this hiring.
Kickers went from 37, 33, 40, 43, 49.
Haubeil wide right from 37 and 49.
McCann wide right from 40 and 49. #Titans.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) July 29, 2021
Interestingly enough, as beat writer Paul Kuharsky points out, back in 2020 Wilhoit actually questioned why the team didn’t have a coach who focuses solely on kickers. Now, he’s that guy.
Succop & Santos now have kicking coaches on their new teams. Why do the Titans not have someone who is solely focused on assisting the kickers?? https://t.co/jDVENvIpOp
— JamesWilhoit (@JamesWilhoit) October 29, 2020
We continue to believe Tennessee will bring in another kicker at some point during training camp, with the best option being Stephen Gostkowski, the team’s starter in 2020.
Of course, the 37-year-old had his issues early on, but was solid in the second half of the campaign. Vrabel mentioned Gostkowski as someone the team could look at if their current options at the position don’t pan out.
However, with Gostkowski remaining unsigned, it isn’t clear what his future plans are.
Whatever the Titans do, they simply can’t leave this up to the youngsters and should, at the very least, provide more competition for them.
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