The Tennessee Titans have reportedly signed former Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zac Diles. The Titans needed a backup middle linebacker once Barrett Ruud officially signed with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. The Titans had also interviewed three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu before he agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
Diles will turn 27-years-old in June 2012. He spent his first four seasons with the Texans from 2007 through 2010 before he played with the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011. Diles has appeared in 61 games, 50 with the Texans. His career stats include 226 tackles with three forced fumbles, one sack and one interception.
This signing isn't surprising since they never addressed this issue during the draft. The Titans used a second-round draft pick to draft University of North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown. However, Brown figures to be more of an outside linebacker or someone who is used in nickel formations.
The Titans already have their starting middle linebacker with Colin McCarthy. They still needed a serviceable replacement to cover themselves in case of injuries. Diles is a veteran who has approximately five years of experience with AFC South organizations. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be given an opportunity to make the roster out of training camp and preseason.
The Titans have a brutal opening month that includes games against the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans. Regardless, I'm eager to see how this team responds now that they'll have an entire offseason to work with Mike Munchak and the rest of the coaching staff. Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker should benefit from having an entire offseason to learn the playbooks and schemes.
The Titans also signed former Army fullback Collin Mooney, who will ask the Army for an early release. The Titans released fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou and linebacker Lawrence Wilson to clear roster space for the aforementioned signings. Quinn Johnson and Mooney should be competing for a fullback position that was previously held by Ahmard Hall.
Joshua Huffman graduated from Middle Tennessee State University as a marketing major in 2009. He's been a Middle Tennessee resident from 1986-88 and 2001-present. He lived in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin from 1988-01 and for approximately eight months in 2009-10 as he completed a 20-game volunteer position with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers. His favorite sports organizations include the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. He can be found on Twitter HERE.
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