Can Greg Joseph be the answer to the Tennessee Titans’ kicking woes?
If the Tennessee Titans want to be a Super Bowl contender for the foreseeable future, then they’re going to need a consistent kicker.
Throughout the 2019 season, the Tennessee Titans often found themselves looking for some consistency in their kicking game. Four kickers came through the Titans organization, yet none were able to make field goals and extra points consistently.
Ryan Succop is a player that the Titans have leaned on in the past, but only went one-for-six in field goals in 2019. The Titans had to find an alternative and looked to Cairo Santos and Cody Parkey. Santos went four-for-nine in field goals, so the Titans leaned on Parkey, who went three-for-three, but after Succop returned from injury, Parkey had to go to make room.
Greg Joseph is the only kicker on the Titans’ 2019 roster that never attempted a field goal. Although he didn’t attempt a field goal, he did go nine-for-nine in extra points.
With the focus now on the 2020 season, the Titans have an important decision to make. Who will be the Titans’ kicker for 2020? The wrong decision could send them into the same search we saw last year, where the Titans had four kickers take the field throughout the season.
The right answer, though, could give the Titans enough trust in its kicking game to lean on the kicker to keep the Titans in the game or help extend a lead.
As of right now, the Titans don’t know who the kicker will be for 2020, but Greg Joseph is ready to be the Titans’ kicker, and Titans punter Brett Kern thinks that he has what it takes.
Titans reporter Jim Wyatt reported that Joseph is looking to be the Titans’ long-term kicker, and in that, Kern talked about Joseph’s potential.
"“Greg definitely has the demeanor of a great kicker in the NFL,” Titans punter/holder Brett Kern said of Joseph. “He’s very level-headed. If he makes a kick, it is kind of the same reaction as when he misses one. He never gets really too high or too low or too hard on himself. I am excited for the opportunity that he has. He did great for us last year, especially coming in at the end of the when it is cold and not the easiest to kick the football. And he did great in our playoff games. He is a great guy and I am excited to be able to continue to work with him.”"
This isn’t too surprising coming from Kern. The two got to spend a lot of time together during Joseph’s brief time in Nashville. Kern hosted Joseph at his home when he first arrived in Nashville to help with the transition.
It sounds like they’ve continued to build on that relationship, which means Joseph could be given the opportunity to earn the starting job.
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If the Titans are going to look for a starting kicker for the long-term future, then I think giving Joseph the opportunity to earn the trust of the Titans and fans throughout 2020 would be the best option.