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Mailbag: On the Titans and Dick LeBeau, Leonard Williams and Adrian Peterson

Paul Kuharsky: I’ve said until it’s announced that Dick LeBeau is official in Arizona that I wouldn’t count the Titans out. Jerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette knows LeBeau and still has the Titans in play. I feel confident the Titans would love to have him. Ken Whisenhunt and his staff are coaching the Senior Bowl today, so maybe things pick up next week.

Paul Kuharsky: I’m surprised if the continuity theme goes so far as to keep everyone employed. But I don’t know the guys on this staff well enough at this point to be able to say who was a primary issue with his group's poor performance, and outside of tight ends I don’t know that we could say any group performed well. Typically, a new coach hires someone he didn’t know well or inherits someone that he doesn’t hit it off with, which leads to change. There is no indication of that so far. I think the staff will remain intact unless LeBeau is added. If Whisenhunt parts with ways with someone now, he’s hurt that guy in terms of his next employment opportunity as staffs are filling up.

Paul Kuharsky: How else would they build but through the draft and free agency? They’d love to build everything through the draft, but seven picks won’t do enough to fix this team, so they are going to have to make other moves. And it wouldn’t be a smart strategy to predetermine a focus on one side of the ball in the draft vs. free agency, because it should depend on who’s available to them via which avenue. If there is a free agent they love, they should jump and not wait on the draft at the spot.

Paul Kuharsky: Picking up on the previous answer, I don’t know that it’s particularly wise to say, “We must have an experienced X and we can more easily have a rookie Y.” It’s all player by player, spot by spot, so long as they wind up with a mix. It’s easier, historically, for a running back to step in out of college and play right away. (I don’t think, by the way, they’d put it on the list on the same level as a lot of those spots.) If I had a choice of experience at one of the spots on your list, I think I’d pick safety. But if there isn’t a decent experienced safety, I wouldn’t force it. Devin McCourty from New England would be an incredible get and he and his twin brother, Jason McCourty, could play together. Here’s a list of safeties heading toward free agency.

Paul Kuharsky: I can’t pretend to be able to predict Bud Adams if he were alive. But the biggest thing about Vince Young for Bud was that he was from Houston and went to Texas. Jameis Winston is from Bessemer, Alabama, and went to Florida State.

Paul Kuharsky: I’m sorry but it’s simply too early for me to be able to offer an opinion on that. I know Leonard Williams is widely regarded as a top defender. But Greg Cosell of NFL Films said his initial review led him to think the USC end is not especially explosive. I think the Titans would be well-served by explosiveness out of that pick if it’s a defender.

Paul Kuharsky: I’ve not asked anyone about Adrian Peterson, but I don’t see them chasing a guy who’s had the issue he’s had. And I don’t see them making one of their big moves at running back, though given the guys they’ve chosen to believe in, addressing the position -- again -- wouldn’t be the worst idea.