Double The Pleasure - Can Kevin Ayers follow in Big Brother's Footsteps?

Lost in the flurry of the big names in the draft, a player currently flying under the radar is Kevin Ayers, strong safety and brother to Titans linebacker Akeem Ayers, who tried out at the rookie mini camp for the Titans. An undrafted free agent out of Arizona State, Ayers played at Pasadena City College and then transferred to West Los Angeles College. At the beginning of his junior year he committed to Arizona State where he had a solid 2 years, playing in the secondary and excelling on special teams.

He would block 2 punts his senior year, one against Arizona State that led to a safety. A versatile player who has played linebacker, free safety and strong safety, Ayers is likely a long shot to make the Titans roster. However, he could very well make a good practice squad candidate where he could hone his skills and possibly make it onto the 53, either with the Titans or elsewhere.

Ayers is listed officially at 6' 0" tall and 202. His best 40 time was 4.57 with his official being 4.66 which compares favorably to other top drafted safeties. His vertical jump was 33 which is a bit sub-par compared to other top safeties drafted. He benched 19 reps.

It is often said timing and opportunity is everything and there is certainly opportunity at the safety position with the Titans. There is going to be a lot of competition at the position and watching Ayers when training camp opens should be interesting should he get the opportunity. His appearance at rookie minicamp was on a tryout basis and it is unclear whether he will get an invite to training camp.

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Would the Titans Draft Jamie Collins in the 1st Round?

Much has been made of the Titans dismal defensive performance in 2012 and with good reason. I wrote extensively about it on my other blog Breathe If You Love Football. While other factors like the inability of the offense to stay on the field contributed, as well as the gaping hole at MLB left by injuries to Colin McCarthy and Zac Diles, the defense had issues of its own. What doesn't get enough credit is how the defense improved once the Titans began taking advantage of the athleticism, speed and quickness of its two young linebackers Akeem Ayers and Zach Brown. The Titans showed some interesting defensive looks taking advantage of those two excellent players, so when Jamie Collins had such a standout combine performance, I took a good hard look at him and I like what I found.

Would the Titans draft Collins early and by early I mean first round? This is an idea I have been floating in my mind for a while and the more I think about it the more I like the thought. A converted high school quarterback and safety, Collins is an impressive 6' 4" and 245 pounds. His high school and college resumes are impressive on their own. Collins showed his impressive athleticism at the combine in Indianapolis last week. One of the more impressive numbers is his 41.5 vertical jump. It was simply off the chain. 

I wrote about him in my draft prospective here Defensive Linemen Prospects. He is a versatile explosive defensive player who can play many positions and do  a lot of things. However, he excels at being disruptive and getting to the passer and he has played from a 3 point stance. I imagine Gregg Williams and Jerry Gray are drooling at the thought of what they can do with him, and how he would improve the Titans defense. Would they take him at #10? Its a bold move for sure but I like bold moves if you like a player a lot. You have to consider whether you think he would be available in round 2 and after his impressive combine that certainly is a real question, especially when you consider teams that run the 3/4 are likely to be looking at him quite hard. 

His pro day is March 8 in Hattiesburg and I imagine there will be quite the crowd at hand to watch this impressive draft prospect.

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Linebacker Prospects for the Titans - Kiko Alonso

KIKO ALONSO - LINEBACKER OREGON

I wrote about Kiko Alonso in my pre-combine draft blog and I still like him as a player the Titans should consider. The health of Colin McCarthy is a real question for the Titans and adding depth at the position is a must. At 6' 3" and 238 pounds, Alonso is a very good inside linebacker who can also swing outside and play the weak and strong side. A wrist injury has kept him from participating in the Senior Bowl and at the combine so he will have to be cleared medically as injury issues have surfaced in the past.

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Linebacker Prospects for the Titans - Zaviar Gooden

ZAVIAR GOODEN - LINEBACKER MISSOURI

I wrote about Zaviar Gooden in my pre-combine draft blog and I was just as impressed with his combine as I expected. At 6' 1" and 234 pounds, Gooden had the fastest time of all linebackers at the Combine with a 4.47 time. At 27 bench press reps, a 131 inch broad jump, a 6.71 second 3 cone drill, a 4.18 second 20 yard shuttle, and an 11.28 second 60 yard shuttle and Gooden may soon go higher than I anticipate the Titans drafting a pure OLB. If he makes it past round 2 then he is definitively a player who would improve the Titans roster at a position that is weak at the back end.

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