Thanks to Justin Gage’s bum hammy, Kenny Britt has been pressed into duty as one of the Tennessee Titans’ starting wide receivers. Last Sunday against the Cowboys, Britt did anything but disappoint, as he snagged 4 grabs for 86 yards and a score.
No disrespect to the veteran Gage but at this point in their careers, Britt brings more to the table and regardless of #12’s health, in my opinion, Kenny should keep his starting spot.
There are a couple of reasons behind my viewpoint that Britt should continue to start whether or not Gage returns to the playing field anytime soon.
First, as I alluded to in the opening of this piece, Britt’s playmaking abilities provide an added dimension to the Titans’ offensive attack. While Gage is a steady producer with the ability to occasionally make a play downfield, Britt is a guy who has the physical skills to be a difference-maker.
With his size/speed combination, Britt has all the tools to emerge as a legitimate #1 receiver in this league and in my opinion, keeping him on the bench behind Gage is only going to slow that process.
The second reason behind my belief that Britt should keep the starting job is due to Kenny’s maturation as an NFL wideout.
Coming off a promising rookie campaign, Britt had a nightmarish offseason to say the least. Due to his inability to stay in shape and some off-the-field issues, Britt created a hole for himself due to his mostly self-made adversities.
Despite his mistakes, Britt has fought through situation by continuing to keep at it. There has certainly been times when his concentration lapses were frustrating to watch but through it all, Britt has kept battling and is now starting to display some level of consistency, as evidenced by catching a touchdown pass in each of his last three games.
Of course, Britt could revert back to his previous ways by having a setback or two but considering the success he’s experienced as of late that’s contributed to his growing confidence, I think a more likely scenario is for Britt to continue his development into potentially being the franchise’s best WR since the days of Derrick Mason beating opposing cornerbacks on autumn and winter Sundays in Nashville.
Don’t get me wrong, Justin Gage has been a solid producer since coming to the Titans in 2007. Signed off the scrap heap as a free agent that offseason, Gage emerged into an unlikely contributor and has been a decent performer for the team over the last few years.
However, with Britt beginning to tap into his vast potential, it’s certainly time for Gage to step aside and allow Britt to display what he brings to the table on a more consistent basis.
There’s an unwritten NFL axiom that states that a starter shouldn’t lose his job to injury. In the case of the Britt vs. Gage debate, hopefully, Jeff Fisher will make an exception to the rule by allowing Britt to keep the starting job whether Gage is healthy or not.
Your turn(s), folks. Kenny Britt vs. Justin Gage: Who should start?
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