The Tennessee Titans have a recent history of rookies making an immediate impact on the offensive side of the football.
In 2006, Vince Young emerged as the league’s offensive rookie of the year as a result of his stellar play during his debut season. Last year, the wheels of Chris Johnson revitalized a once-stagnant Titan offense by providing the team with a legit threat to take it to the house on any given play.
First impressions are lasting, and judging by the rave reviews received by WR Kenny Britt and TE Jared Cook, we may be on the verge of witnessing yet another breakout performance by a Titan offensive rookie in 2009.
Breaking the franchise’s over-a-decade drought of not selecting a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft, Kenny Britt has impressed many with his tireless work ethic. Blossoming under the tutelage of former Pro Bowl WR/mentor Rod Smith, Britt seems poised to contribute during his rookie year.
Outside of starters Justin Gage and Nate Washington, the Titan receiving corp is littered with unproven young vets such as Lavelle Hawkins, Chris Davis and Paul Williams. With a strong training camp/preseason, Britt appears to be in a great position to make an instant impact as the team’s #3 WR in 2009.
Unlike Britt, Jared Cook’s road to playing time is blocked by the presence of accomplished veterans. With Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife penciled in as the Titans’ top two tight ends, 2009 could very well be a learning year for Cook.
However, if he continues to put on impressive displays of athleticism, agility and speed, Cook could get his share of opportunities as soon as this year. Blessed with a ton of God-given talent, Cook has already turned many heads with great catches in mini-camps.
So who will have the biggest rookie impact in ’09? On paper, Britt appears to be in the best position to make plays on a consistent basis during his rookie campaign. His chief competition: Hawkins, Davis and Williams, have only combined for a measly total of 15 catches in their NFL careers.
Despite Britt having the upper-hand, I’m still not going to count out Cook in his bid to have the bigger rookie impact. Cook has the look of a special player who could accomplish a lot in this league and if he’s able to master the mental side of playing in the NFL, don’t be shocked if Mike Heimerdinger finds plenty of ways to get the ball into Cook’s hands as early as this year.
Your turn, Titan fans. Kenny Britt vs. Jared Cook: Who will have the better rookie season?
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