Titans' young stars digging way to core
Woolfolk, Calico will play key roles this year
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer
They are reliable players who understand offensive and defensive nuances, set the tone, consistently produce and are around for a long time.
They are veterans knighted "core" players by the Titans, and there are fewer of them these days.
It's not an official designation. It won't show up on a roster or in a program or press guide. But earn it and you attain a special status with the front office, the coaching staff, in the locker room, and usually with fans and media as well.
If a core player doesn't have a long-term contract, he's usually in line for one or he's getting close to retirement.
After the 2004 season, as he prepared for the salary cap purge to come, Titans General Manager Floyd Reese spoke of how his team needed to go beyond the typical turnover of role players and make changes to the core.
So in February when the Titans jettisoned a group of popular and productive veterans, it created a void in the exclusive club.
Cornerback Andre Woolfolk and receiver Tyrone Calico are poised to graduate to core status this season.
The team's top two draft picks in 2003 were limited by injuries in their first two NFL seasons, but the Titans are counting on them to blossom this fall.
If he becomes a settling force in the secondary, Woolfolk can help offset the loss of Samari Rolle. If he can stretch the field and minimize the drops, Calico can help keep coaches and fans from pining for Derrick Mason.
"It's still a little early to include them in that core that you talk about," Coach Jeff Fisher said. "But they are very important to us and they could very well step right into that situation very soon."
Linebacker Peter Sirmon said it's simply natural progression that Woolfolk and Calico become key cogs.
"As you start getting older, those high draft picks are counted on to contribute, and when you lose guys like Mase and Samari, that's a lot of talent, that's a lot of production," Sirmon said. "Their production all year is going to be linked back to the guys they replaced."
Linebacker Keith Bulluck said he's talked with Woolfolk and Calico and thinks they have the correct mindset for their quest to enter the core.
Woolfolk looked solid last week in the first three practice sessions of minicamp. Though he often played the nickel corner when he was healthy in his first two seasons, he is now being used exclusively on the outside.
In a red-zone passing drill where he found himself matched up with receiver Drew Bennett, Woolfolk made an exceptional, twisting leap to break up a 10-yard fade pass Steve McNair threw to the back right corner of the end zone.
Woolfolk said he has adjusted to a meeting room without Rolle and Andre Dyson, the other starting cornerback for the past four seasons. But he's not happy that he's getting an opportunity because of their departures.
"You don't want to see anybody move up because of cuts and salary cap problems and stuff like that," he said. "But you've got to take advantage of it. I'm no dummy. I want to go out there and I want to play just like everybody else.
"I'm not trying to fill those shoes, I'm just trying to make sure I establish myself as a dependable player on this defense, make sure I make plays and am somebody that the rookies can look up to."
Calico is still recovering from the knee injury that kept him out of all but one game last season.
He's been on the field with receivers for work after minicamp practices, though he said he is still primarily doing straight-ahead running and not trying too much lateral movement.
"I'm loving my results," he said when asked about his rehab. "You've got to dig more into yourself. It's like a test for yourself. So what are you just going to give up?"
Is he ready for core player status?
"I think I am. I've just got to keep working and then we'll see when camp comes along," Calico said. "That's what I am striving for, that's what the team is behind me for. I think everything will work out."
Left tackle Brad Hopkins is heading into his 13th season. The senior member of the Titans said Woolfolk, Calico and other candidates to be roster staples just have to work hard and let their new roles evolve.
Core status isn't something players can go get, Hopkins said, it has to come to them.
"You have to sort of be inducted by your teammates and it's not like a vote on paper," he said. "It's who comes to you with questions? It's who looks to you and sees the way you do things and tries to emulate you?
"That's how you graduate into that core. And we've got to have guys do that." •
Paul Kuharsky covers the Titans and the NFL for The Tennessean. Reach him at pkuharsky@tennessean.com or 259-8024.
Woolfolk, Calico will play key roles this year
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer
They are reliable players who understand offensive and defensive nuances, set the tone, consistently produce and are around for a long time.
They are veterans knighted "core" players by the Titans, and there are fewer of them these days.
It's not an official designation. It won't show up on a roster or in a program or press guide. But earn it and you attain a special status with the front office, the coaching staff, in the locker room, and usually with fans and media as well.
If a core player doesn't have a long-term contract, he's usually in line for one or he's getting close to retirement.
After the 2004 season, as he prepared for the salary cap purge to come, Titans General Manager Floyd Reese spoke of how his team needed to go beyond the typical turnover of role players and make changes to the core.
So in February when the Titans jettisoned a group of popular and productive veterans, it created a void in the exclusive club.
Cornerback Andre Woolfolk and receiver Tyrone Calico are poised to graduate to core status this season.
The team's top two draft picks in 2003 were limited by injuries in their first two NFL seasons, but the Titans are counting on them to blossom this fall.
If he becomes a settling force in the secondary, Woolfolk can help offset the loss of Samari Rolle. If he can stretch the field and minimize the drops, Calico can help keep coaches and fans from pining for Derrick Mason.
"It's still a little early to include them in that core that you talk about," Coach Jeff Fisher said. "But they are very important to us and they could very well step right into that situation very soon."
Linebacker Peter Sirmon said it's simply natural progression that Woolfolk and Calico become key cogs.
"As you start getting older, those high draft picks are counted on to contribute, and when you lose guys like Mase and Samari, that's a lot of talent, that's a lot of production," Sirmon said. "Their production all year is going to be linked back to the guys they replaced."
Linebacker Keith Bulluck said he's talked with Woolfolk and Calico and thinks they have the correct mindset for their quest to enter the core.
Woolfolk looked solid last week in the first three practice sessions of minicamp. Though he often played the nickel corner when he was healthy in his first two seasons, he is now being used exclusively on the outside.
In a red-zone passing drill where he found himself matched up with receiver Drew Bennett, Woolfolk made an exceptional, twisting leap to break up a 10-yard fade pass Steve McNair threw to the back right corner of the end zone.
Woolfolk said he has adjusted to a meeting room without Rolle and Andre Dyson, the other starting cornerback for the past four seasons. But he's not happy that he's getting an opportunity because of their departures.
"You don't want to see anybody move up because of cuts and salary cap problems and stuff like that," he said. "But you've got to take advantage of it. I'm no dummy. I want to go out there and I want to play just like everybody else.
"I'm not trying to fill those shoes, I'm just trying to make sure I establish myself as a dependable player on this defense, make sure I make plays and am somebody that the rookies can look up to."
Calico is still recovering from the knee injury that kept him out of all but one game last season.
He's been on the field with receivers for work after minicamp practices, though he said he is still primarily doing straight-ahead running and not trying too much lateral movement.
"I'm loving my results," he said when asked about his rehab. "You've got to dig more into yourself. It's like a test for yourself. So what are you just going to give up?"
Is he ready for core player status?
"I think I am. I've just got to keep working and then we'll see when camp comes along," Calico said. "That's what I am striving for, that's what the team is behind me for. I think everything will work out."
Left tackle Brad Hopkins is heading into his 13th season. The senior member of the Titans said Woolfolk, Calico and other candidates to be roster staples just have to work hard and let their new roles evolve.
Core status isn't something players can go get, Hopkins said, it has to come to them.
"You have to sort of be inducted by your teammates and it's not like a vote on paper," he said. "It's who comes to you with questions? It's who looks to you and sees the way you do things and tries to emulate you?
"That's how you graduate into that core. And we've got to have guys do that." •
Paul Kuharsky covers the Titans and the NFL for The Tennessean. Reach him at pkuharsky@tennessean.com or 259-8024.
