NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans added speed and strength during the 2012 NFL Draft. More important, general manager Ruston Webster and coach Mike Munchak said, is that they added competition at multiple positions. Webster and Munchak believe that increased competition will make everyone better as they battle for roster spots and playing time on Sundays.
Here's a recap of the Titans' draft choices:
Round 7, 211th overall: DE Scott Solomon, Rice
Solomon was a four-year starter for Rice. He missed the 2010 season with a foot injury but received a medical redshirt to come back in 2011. Solomon capitalized on the opportunity by vaulting into the NCAA's top 10 lists of active leaders for tackles for loss and sacks. The Titans like his persistence and potential, and traded a sixth-round pick in next year's draft to nab Solomon early in the seventh round.
College stats: Recorded 207 tackles, 24 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in 47 games. He added four fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and five pass breakups during his career with the Owls.
Solomon on how he recorded 24 sacks in his career and 8.5 last season:
"Really, I feel like it just comes from my toughness. When I get on that field I am going to work hard. I am going to be relentless. I am going to be tough out there, and that is kind of where I made my bread and butter and that's where I find success."
Webster on landing Solomon in the final round:
"Yeah, I think it's kind of the way it fell a little bit. We really like him and we had him higher than the seventh round, so for us that's a good thing. It just fell that way."
Munchak on what Solomon will add to the defensive line:
"I think just talking to (defensive line coach Tracy Rocker), I'm very excited about the attitude and work ethic these guys are bringing into the room. We bring in guys that would mix nicely with Karl Klug and Jurrell Casey and (Zach) Clayton from last year. You really change that room quite a bit from some of the guys that left and some of the guys we are bringing in. That's what you need with the D-line. It's all about relentless and work ethic. I think when you bring guys like that in it makes the offensive line better. I think they work against guys that are going to be some great battles in camp. Over the years, I think that is where the line has gotten better. When I coached them all those years it had to do with practice. The type of practice we have and the type of players that went against each other that made those guys better."
