TN Note: "Ryan Mouton has his eyes on the prize — starting cornerback for the Titans — but he has to prove he's willing to fight for it. That's because the coaches can't contain their enthusiasm about Jason McCourty, who's doing everything right. The 2009 draft picks are part of a six-man battle to replace Nick Harper, who was not re-signed, on the side opposite former All-Pro Cortland Finnegan."
About the 6-man competition for their open starting CB spot, Titans defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil said:
"Right now it is a completely open position. … No one is ahead of anybody. You hope that somebody steps up and says, 'I'm going to be that guy. I am going to be someone who can be trusted, and I am a starting cornerback in the NFL.' He has to be someone his teammates can trust as well.'' (TN)
TN Note: "McCourty might be the dark horse — he was a sixth-round pick, while Mouton was a third-rounder. The Titans also signed veterans Rod Hood and Tye Hill, a former first-round pick, and last month drafted UCLA's Alterraun Verner in the fourth round. Free agent Jamar Love has put himself in the mix as well, Cecil said. For now, however, McCourty is running with the first team, a reward for a great offseason."
About being with the first team now, McCourty said:
"The offseason is about trying to get better each day. So I am not really worried about the spot and what is going on with it, who is in the front or the back right now. … I think each one of us wants to show we are the guy that can get it done.'' (TN)
TN Note: "Mouton and McCourty were thrown into the fire last season when Harper and Finnegan were injured, and the results weren't always pretty. For instance: They started at New England and saw Tom Brady throw for 380 yards and six touchdowns in a 59-0 stomping."
About his struggles last year at CB and returner (he had a lot of problems as returner in the Jets game), Ryan Mouton said:
"We had to go through the struggles. Now we've learned a lot. I lost confidence, I can't lie. After that Jets game, that was a big blow, especially as a rookie. That held me down for a little while. But I have the utmost confidence in myself right now." (TN)
TN Note: "Mouton already has needed a little jolt, however. He missed part of the team's voluntary conditioning program earlier this offseason, but said some of his absences had to do with complications from being sickle cell trait positive. It's not as serious as sickle cell disease, but he did experience blood clotting during a visit to Colorado and underwent a number of tests. High altitude was at fault, and he's fine now, he said. Yet Mouton admitted he didn't take his job as seriously as he should have until a reminder from Cecil."
About how he had to tell Mouton to work harder, Cecil said:
"I told him, basically, you need to step up. We drafted him in the third round last year. … We handpicked him. Our hope is that he'll step up and be that guy.'' (TN)
About how he's been working hard ever since that talk with Cecil, Mouton said:
"Since then I have been here every day and I want to show people that I am accountable, and I want to progress every day.'' (TN)
About their CB options, safety Chris Hope said:
"They can run, are physical. I don't feel like there's anybody they put out there that I'll be afraid or less confident in.'' (TN)
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100514/SPORTS01/5140361/2080/SPORTS
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