NASHVILLE, Tenn. —NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah calls new Titans general manager Jon Robinson a "scout's scout," and he should know.
Jeremiah worked eight years as a scout with the Ravens, Browns and Eagles. During that stretch he spent a lot of time with Robinson, who was hired by the Titans on Thursday after working previously in personnel departments with the Buccaneers and Patriots.
"Sometimes you see guys get these jobs and they are people you have been on the road with, and you've see them cut corners and you've seen them not deal well with people, and you are almost disappointed when some of these guys get hired,'' Jeremiah said. "And then there's guys like J-Rob and you've been with them on the road and you know how hard they've worked, and you know they are come early, stay late guys. You know that they know how to cultivate sources at schools and develop relationships, and he's always been one of those guys.
"He is somebody who has a lot of respect in the scouting community. He is a scout's scout, and someone who is highly regarded in that community. He's a good guy. I am happy for him and I know a lot of people are, too."
Robinson joins the Titans after spending the past two seasons as director of player personnel with the Buccaneers.
Prior to that, Robinson spent 12 seasons with the Patriots (2002-13), where he worked as New England's director of college scouting (2009-13), and prior to that served as a regional scout and an area scout for the Patriots.
Jeremiah expects Robinson to reshape the look of the Titans, who are currently conducting interviews for the head coaching position. The Titans opted not to renew the contract of former GM Ruston Webster after the season.
"As scouts, you talk and you kind of have an idea of who they like, and who they don't like. He was somebody I always felt like had a good handle on players,'' Jeremiah said of Robinson.
"Jon is one of those guys who is smart enough to realize everything is going to revolve around the quarterback. He is smart enough to build around him, and on the defensive side of the ball I think you'll see a little bit more of an emphasis on size and I would also put intelligence in there. That's the way they have done it in New England – big athletic guys who can think."
So what does Jeremiah think the Titans, and Robinson, will do with the first overall pick?
It's a heck of a spot to be in, he said.
"You always want that No.1 pick. This year it is different because the Titans don't need a quarterback and the strength of this draft is really at the positions that aren't traditionally sexy -- defensive tackle, offensive tackle has some depth, linebacker,'' Jeremiah said. "I am sure there will be all kinds of chatter about whether they could get out of there (by trading the pick).
"The two options that jump out to me is you take an offensive tackle and you have your quarterback protected the next 10 years with bookend tackles. Or do you say, "OK, we have to get a defensive playmaker in here, someone who can make a difference on that side of the ball?' I think that is kind of the decision they'll come down to."
