MOBILE, Ala. — We're in between practices here at the Senior Bowl.
Titans general manager Jon Robinson just addressed questions while standing on the fence line at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, site of this weekend's game.
Three quick hits from today:
One year later
This time last year, Robinson could hardly make it up the stairs or down a hallway without being stopped.
His friends in scouting departments and personnel departments across the NFL wanted to congratulate him for getting the GM's job with the Titans. In Year Two, Robinson has settled in.
"I'd say last year was a little bit of a whirlwind,'' Robinson said. "Old faces that I was on the road with for so many years, and the congratulatory handshakes. They were appreciative of the process and how it unfolded for an area scout to be able to climb his way up.
"This year, our scouts are more into the process as well. They understand the grading scale and they know what we are looking for in players so it is a little less hectic."
The Titans went 9-7 in 2016 following an offseason when Robinson made plenty of big acquisitions, and trades.
He's getting congratulated, but for a different reason.
"We are certainly appreciative of that, and I think we took some steps to get things headed in the right direction, although we came up short,'' Robinson said. "But we're on to 2017 and onto the roster building stage of the NFL season.
"We have free agency right around the corner and we are evaluating the college players, so we'll stick to the process and try and continue to build the team."
The eye test
Robinson will get a chance to watch 110 prospects here during the week.
A year ago, the Titans selected four players who took part in Senior Bowl practices – safety Kevin Byard, receiver Tajae Sharpe, defensive lineman Austin Johnson and offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola.
So what's he looking for in players?
"Competitiveness, coachability, and attention to details, whether it's the skills they are being taught, the techniques,'' Robinson said. "And I want to see guys make plays. You want to see guys step up to the plate and compete against the best."
Robinson said Byard, who starred at MTSU, "did a good job in this game last year" and it helped his cause.
"Kevin really did a nice job,'' Robinson said of Byard's rookie season. "He came in, took to the coaching, and did a nice job on a week to week basis. He worked to improve. We were fortunate he was there in the third and we were able to take him."
Tight ends
Titans tight end Delanie Walker will play in his second Pro Bowl this weekend following another solid season.
Veteran Anthony Fasano has an expiring contract, however, and Phillip Supernaw is a restricted free agent.
The Titans also have Jace Amaro on the roster after claiming him last season.
So is the team looking for tight ends in this year's draft?
Alabama's O.J. Howard is here at the Senior Bowl, and he stood out on Tuesday.
"There's some good guys here, and there were some good guys last week at the East-West Shrine Game,'' Robinson said. "And TV scouting the NFLPA game, there were some guys at that game as well. So I think that is another deep position group in this draft and when the right time is there we'll see if we can add a guy."
