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Q: How has your experience been on Titans Caravan?
CRUMPLER: It was my first trip on the big bus. I have had a chance to visit a couple of places as a Titan, but not in terms of the Caravan. I've been able to go to Fort Campbell, and that was great getting a chance to see the troops, but this has been a wonderful experience for me.
Q: What has it been like interacting with fans outside of Nashville?
CRUMPLER: It's good because people don't realize a lot of our fan base isn't just in the local town where we play. I grew up in a small town in Greenville, North Carolina and the Washington Redskins were five hours away, but we were die-hard fans in our house growing up. I just appreciate the opportunity to get out into the community, to be in some of the schools we've gone into to preach our "Play 60" message about being active for 60 minutes a day, and to show that we're glad to have Titans fans wherever they are. We tell them 'we'll come to you' and we just want to continue to have that support.
Q: What was the biggest difference with the Titans last season after spending your entire career in Atlanta?
CRUMPLER: My knees feel a lot better after playing on grass for eight games. You get a real sense of football when you can play outdoors. I've enjoyed having the opportunity to play for Jeff Fisher, an experienced coach in the National Football League that has a staff that's been there for a long time, and just to be able to walk into a locker room and see exactly where I fit in and being able to help teach some of the younger guys how to be successful.
Q:
Was there a big difference in terms of stability coming from Atlanta?*
CRUMPLER: There really was. The Atlanta community is starving for a winner and I was excited for them last season to have a pretty decent season making it to the playoffs, but there was so much turnover with different head coaches and offensive coordinators. I lived, played and breathed in that community. They released me and I was looking for an opportunity to put aside the personal goals, the Pro Bowls and those types of things, and look to come into an organization that I felt had those same qualities that I was looking for, that being unselfish play, good teamwork attitude and I definitely found it. I had a lot of fun last season and I'm looking forward to having just as much fun during this coming season for myself, my family and the fans – and a better post-season.
Q: Were you surprised with the success the team had with Kerry Collins at quarterback last season?
CRUMPLER: No because that's the beauty of having a veteran as your backup and having the type of team that we had. Kerry was obviously the most high-profiled individual to take over a position on our team, but we had various guys go down . We had Albert Haynesworth go down and Jason Jones stepped up as a rookie and played exceptionally well. Nick Harper went down and Chris Carr came in, then the rookie play we got out of Chris Johnson was phenomenal, albeit the criticism we got after drafting the guy. We brought guys in that we felt could help our organization and we'll continue to do that again this weekend. I'm just excited about where we're going.
Q: Do you feel the Titans need to address the receiver position in the draft?
CRUMPLER: I've always had a lot of fun when the #1 receiver is a tight end. I've been that for a long time. Bo Scaife did it last season. But we do probably need some firepower somewhere on the offense end of the board. We can run the ball exceptionally well and Kerry can put it out there, we just need guys that can go get it. I know Justin Gage is excited about his opportunity. Nate Washington is a speed-burner who has won a championship and has been successful. Any weapons that we add to our ballclub will help us in a tough AFC South division that we play in. As long as they come in and they have great character, which I know that we'll draft -- and are willing to learn -- they'll come in and do some great things.
Q: Is the fumble in the playoffs something that sat with you during the offseason, and does it motivate you for this coming season?
CRUMPLER: It doesn't really sit with me now. It was tough for about four weeks after the season. All I want to do is play. I enjoy playing. I'm a competitor and I want to be out there. The only way to get past that is to get to the next season. The reward is always better when you're willing to pay the price. We're going to pay the price and I'm going to pay the price this off-season to try and do the same things that we did last season and try to make it a little bit better. We don't have to do too much. We have a really good team. Our fans know it, the guys in the locker room know it. We just have to get over that hump.
Q: Coming off a 13-3 season, is there a different mentality heading into the 2009 campaign?
CRUMPLER: I don't know. Everybody looks at the schedule, but I don't care who we play or when we play, I just want to play them. I just want to know when the bye week is so I know when I get a break and when I need to work. That's it. I don't care. I just want to get out and make sure that we can set the tone in the Thursday night opener against Pittsburgh and then just stay healthy enough to make a run in the end.
